Mountain Biking - Santa Cruz Nomad

Has anyone out there bought a Santa Cruz Nomad? I've seen ccome preliminary reviews in the mags but haven't talked to anyone who has one. What other brands does this compare to? Seems like a good in between for the Blur and their downhill bikes which are way too loud for me.

It's a 2006 model.

It's so ugly.

man, i love the chameleon..

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=96451&highlight=santa+cruz+nomad

I was looking at one in a shop yesterday - it seems like kind of a VPP Bullitt or something. Looked squishy.

It's so ugly.
dude! you're being sarcastic, right?

i am generally not one to choose a bike becuase it looks cool, but this is the ONLY bike in the last 2-3 years where i really say "wow, now that looks REALLY cool!"

i think it's a true freerider --- which one can see as a heavy-duty long-travel enduro or a lightweight freerider with pedal-friendly uphill capabilities.

i forgetting now exactly, but i think it is going to have about 6-7" travel and weigh around 31-35lbs depending on setup... unfortunately also with a high price tag :(

if i were only allowed to have only one bike ---> this would be it

dude! you're being sarcastic, right?

i am generally not one to choose a bike becuase it looks cool, but this is the ONLY bike in the last 2-3 years where i really say "wow, now that looks REALLY cool!"

i think it's a true freerider --- which one can see as a heavy-duty long-travel enduro or a lightweight freerider with pedal-friendly uphill capabilities.

i forgetting now exactly, but i think it is going to have about 6-7" travel and weigh around 31-35lbs depending on setup... unfortunately also with a high price tag :(

if i were only allowed to have only one bike ---> this would be it

lol, I think it's real ugly, call me old fashion but the quazimodo look just isn't for me. :D

lol, I think it's real ugly, call me old fashion but the quazimodo look just isn't for me. :D

Agreed.

I have seen some Nomads built up and even though I still think it is ugly, they look beter than the frame by itself.

But really, who cares. If it is a sweet ride, so be it, hump be damned.

Its expensive. Frame-only with a vanilla-R its still a bit more than a vp-free with a DHX-5. Yikes. I considered it, but for the money I'll go with the bigger bike.

Agreed.

I have seen some Nomads built up and even though I still think it is ugly, they look beter than the frame by itself.

But really, who cares. If it is a sweet ride, so be it, hump be damned.

I agree to a point. I think most of us will agree that looks have a bit to play in the part of buying a bicycle. I'm not going to hate someone for buying it, I just think its personally ugly. So there for, I wouldn't ride it. But again I'm just arguing the principles of the fact, nothing it against the bike, except its fugly. :p Of course, I WOULD ride a pink bike so ugly-ness is all relative.

When I first saw it on the cover of Mountain Bike Action I didn't like it but the more I look at it the more I like it - -kind of reminds me of an Airstream trailer. Their review says it has all the wrong angles and dimensions but somehow rides like a dream. I'm really wanting to go with Santa Cruz something, the shop in our area handles these and Fishers and they have a free service policy for the life of the bike. Also I like the fact that you can mix and match components, the Specialized shop told me it's take it or leave it with them and they have some weak components. I'm thinking this is what I need as the Blur just didn't feel right to me and the Superlight felt like a toy, although a very fast toy. Kept feeling like I would break it in half. Still want to test those new Blurs though, the one I rode was an 04 and I see they split it into tow styles now. If anyone's ridden a Nomad let me know what you think.

--
GU is People...

lol, I think it's real ugly, call me old fashion but the quazimodo look just isn't for me. :D

It's the most elegant bike I have ever seen. If Apple made a bike, it would be the Nomad.

MAB did a review on it.. check it out.. it says that it is a bike ment for everything.. literally..

dude! you're being sarcastic, right?

i am generally not one to choose a bike becuase it looks cool, but this is the ONLY bike in the last 2-3 years where i really say "wow, now that looks REALLY cool!"

i think it's a true freerider --- which one can see as a heavy-duty long-travel enduro or a lightweight freerider with pedal-friendly uphill capabilities.

i forgetting now exactly, but i think it is going to have about 6-7" travel and weigh around 31-35lbs depending on setup... unfortunately also with a high price tag :(

if i were only allowed to have only one bike ---> this would be it

Wow we don't disagree much but for pure looks. I find the bike amongst the ugliest made today. That hump makes me wanna hide.

http://www.santacruzmtb.com/graphics/bikes/nomad_large.jpg

It has a certain apeal based on its current uniqueness. But...not a pretty bike imo :)

I was looking at one in a shop yesterday - it seems like kind of a VPP Bullitt or something. Looked squishy.

Wow you nailed it. That was the point :p

I bought one and recently built it up.

Large Gunmental Grey Frame
FOX DHX Air (w/o the notorious clunking problem)
Pike Team Air w/ Pop Loc
Full XT Drivetrain
XT Rapidfire Shifters
WTB tires
and other parts

I really enjoy it for my style of riding, as I am not to crazy about the VPP when it comes to climbing and some what of a brake jack issue. It descends like a monster, corners incredible well. Partially due to a shorter fork, people have said the geometry is thrown off if running the 36 Van or Talas. And it pedals excpetionally well up hill.

Bought it because I can take it out on all day epics and then throw it off some jumps at the same time and not think twice, as if I was on my superlight.

I bought one and recently built it up.

Large Gunmental Grey Frame
FOX DHX Air (w/o the notorious clunking problem)
Pike Team Air w/ Pop Loc
Full XT Drivetrain
XT Rapidfire Shifters
WTB tires
and other parts

I really enjoy it for my style of riding, as I am not to crazy about the VPP when it comes to climbing and some what of a brake jack issue. It descends like a monster, corners incredible well. Partially due to a shorter fork, people have said the geometry is thrown off if running the 36 Van or Talas. And it pedals excpetionally well up hill.

Bought it because I can take it out on all day epics and then throw it off some jumps at the same time and not think twice, as if I was on my superlight.

So they are on the market now. How much travel on that fork? Have you weighed it? Sounds like a great all-around bike.

I got my frame in late July from Yuba Expeditions in fabled Downievills. The Pike is 140mm if I am not mistaken, the bike can handle 6" forks, think Vanilla 36. The biker overall weighs in the sub 35 category, the frame weight is in the 7lb 6oz. area, but I could be mistaken. Not really into that weight shaving, buying leight weight components. I need some durability on my bike.

This is from MTBR.com, a lot of Nomad information over there. Here is some hot stuff, all recognition goes to Tscheezy over at MTBR.com for posting pics and reviews.

Santa Cruz Nomad- Fox 36 Van/DHX Air (6.5x6.5"). We were actually all a bit disappointed in the Nomad, possibly because we had very high expectations for it (partly because we liked the seemingly similar 6.6 a lot, and that was a medium) that went unfulfilled. This was one bike which did not seem as well suited to the 36 Van as the 6-Pack and others. It was hard to put a finger on just what did not click with us, but it seemed that the frame was designed around a Pike-height fork, and the Van just tipped it over backwards too much like the 888 made the VPFree somewhat annoying for much other than dedicated FR or shuttle use. I increased the air pressure to what I run on my 6-Pack in the DHX Air and it did reduce sag to about 25% and stop the rear end squish to a point, but the handling didn't really recover fully. Whereas the Pack and 6.6 felt balanced and confidence inspiring, the Nomad felt unbalanced and sort of vague in handling so you felt like you were reacting to what was going on and not totally in control. It was very plush and pedaled well, it just did not come together as a package. None of us could pinpoint what was bugging us about it though...

And some Nomad pRon



http://img202.echo.cx/img202/9043/nomad1eb.jpg
http://img202.echo.cx/img202/7171/nomad11ll.jpg
http://img202.echo.cx/img202/503/nomad27jf.jpg
http://img202.echo.cx/img202/3554/nomad41dg.jpg
http://img202.echo.cx/img202/5509/nomad52bj.jpg


Here is a good thread to check out too, bunch of Nomad owners:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=124539

THanks for the link. I'm convinced. Anyone want to front me the money?
;-)

Hmmm, looks way better in the gunmetal grey than in burnished silver, but the hump still kills me. Personally, I'd dig a Blur LT. Just over 5 inches in the rear and geared more toward trails than downhill...and less hump.

http://santacruzmtb.com/graphics/bikes/blur-lt.jpg


It's the most elegant bike I have ever seen. If Apple made a bike, it would be the Nomad.
Actually, if Apple made a bike, I'd be expecting something more like a Cannondale: different for the sake of being different. My first instinct, though was to suggest the Landrider: fewer buttons, fewer levers, fewer uses.