MTB Reviews > Mountain bikes > Full suspension > Santa Cruz Nomad

Santa Cruz Nomad Reviews

Description: (from santacruzmtb.com)
t's plain and simple folks. Here we've got two bikes for the price of one. On one hand, we've got a peach of a trail bike that will allow full immersion in your masochistic love affair with the climb without any bothersome bobbing or mushy feeling. On the other hand, we've got a rip-roaring, died-in-the-wool freeride bike that will devour

Add a review (form opens in right column) reviewed by RideorDie   on March 20, 2009   Pros Climbs like a goat, and decends like GPS guided missile! This bike makes me look and feel like a better rider. I've taken 10 ft drops like it was NOTHING! This is a trail monster! Cons I've ripped through 2 of 3 front chain rings in one year. I ride hard about 5 times a week, though. Verdict If you do a lot of different riding, XC, AM, DH, FS, then this bike is for you. Ride hard, she can take anything you can give her! reviewed by ChiliPepper   on August 23, 2008   Pros Have had the opportunity to ride this sweet MTB and loved it. I will quote another member for my PRO's : This bike is just amazing, it cans do XC and All mountain stuff without problem. Very stable during downhilling, it climbs without pumping, thanks to the VPP device. Cons ???? Verdict A very good and solid MTB that I would highly recommend. reviewed by Dov   on January 2, 2008   Pros This bike is just amazing, it cans do XC and All mountain stuff without problem. Very stable during downhilling, it climbs without pumping, thanks to the VPP device. Cons The quality of the frame paint. It marks easily. SC told me it was one of the best paint in the world...I had my frame repainted by SC swiss for free. Thanks to them. SC USA wouldn't do anything. Verdict Yes buy it definetely, but get the anodized version! ;-)) Why not a carbon version Mr SC ??? reviewed by Bombardier   on April 9, 2007   Pros The VPP suspension is everything that it has been touted to be. It has proven to be reactive to small bumps and large hits while under pedalling or braking forces. The suspension does firm up a bit while pedalling, especially up hill while in low gears, but this is far from a negative trait. It in fact contributes to the VPP's attractiveness as an effective suspension. It will claw uphill as long as I concentrate on staying smooth with my pedal stroke. The absolute best feature of the Nomad is in its ability to suck up nearly anything that a rider could possibly encounter, and then some. With over 6 inches of travel the Nomad is in its element during more gravity oriented pursuits. With a slack head angle and long chainstays, the bike rails corners and sticks to the trail while screaming downhill, and retains a stability and surefootedness that instills a natural intuitiveness to the ride. The Nomad can be built anywhere between the 30-40lb range, depending on both budget and riding style. The bike will never win any XC races, but it is perfectly suited to everything else, from all-day trail rides, to Super D and excursions into lift serviced black-diamond trails. I personally built my Nomad without any consideration towards keeping weight down. With only strength and reliability in mind, my Nomad is nearly 40lbs, but it easily outpaces and flies past even the best downhill specific bikes. On twisty, curvy singletrack, it nearly steers itself just by looking in the desired direction of travel. Cons The original Nomad had a 1-1/8" headtube, but for '07 the bike now has a 1-1/2" headtube, which is better suited for the newest crop of long-travel single crown forks. Not exactly a con, as the 1-1/8" headtube is plenty strong with the right fork. Verdict If your taste in riding has you searching for the fastest, roughest trails; and you enjoy riding epics past the sunset on unknown singletrack, the Nomad is for you.