Santa Cruz Bicycles Nomad Carbon S Mountain Bike for Sale, Reviews, Deals and Guides

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Retail Price:
$5499.00
Used Value:
$3,299.40
Sale Value:
$4,949.10

Ride it hard, put it away dirty, repeat the next day. That's the MO with the new 2021 Nomad. This long-travel bruiser has a reputation for consistently pushing the envelope of big mountain riding, all while remaining a capable daily driver for those times when you aren't out there riding full gas. Gaps, shuttle laps, and lift passes are the Nomad's preferred business, but since it retains all the pedal-ability of Santa Cruz's VPP suspension, it's no slouch when you're racking up miles on a big loop in the backcountry.

Considering that the recipe for the Nomad V4 was already pretty close to perfect, we're not surprised that Santa Cruz opted to give this 5th generation bike a host of sensible updates instead of a complete overhaul. Like its predecessor, the Nomad V5 rolls on 27.5-inch wheels and boasts 170mm of trail-taming VPP travel. Though the two frames look very similar, the V5 now uses a twin upright swingarm to bolster frame stiffness and durability, and all build kits come with burly 38mm forks for taking on the most technical terrain on the mountain. The bike also sees improved suspension kinematics for a better overall feel on the trail, and it's now compatible with SRAM's Universal Derailleur Hanger to make finding replacement hangers a breeze.

Most of the changes lie in the bike's geometry, the most significant being the move to a 77.5-degree seat tube angleā€”a near 4-degree increase over the previous Nomad. This gives the bike a more upright pedaling position that makes steep climbs more manageable and provides increased comfort for long-mileage days. Naturally, the bike gets a bit slacker too, moving from a 74.6-degree head tube to 73.7 (in the low position), with longer reach figures to give you that extra edge when you're sending big lines in unfamiliar terrain. We're also pleased to see size-specific chainstay lengths, with the chainstays growing by about 5mm as you go up in size. This means that riders of any height get the same balanced geometry and predictable handling, regardless of which frame size they ride.

Lucky for all of us, one thing that hasn't changed is Santa Cruz's carbon construction, which is a good thing if you're after the legendary strength and unwavering stiffness of their renowned carbon layups. This particular Nomad benefits from the Carbon C layup, which makes for a resoundingly stiff frame for swift acceleration and unflappable poise while pummeling across rough terrain. It's backed by Santa Cruz's excellent lifetime warranty, so you'll have extra peace of mind while riding particularly fast on your favorite stretch of trail and shuttling downhill laps on the mountain pass.

Specifications

Bottom Bracket:
SRAM DUB
Bottom Bracket Type:
English threaded 73mm
Brakeset:
SRAM Code R
Cassette:
SRAM XG-1275 GX Eagle, 12-speed
Cassette Range:
10 - 50t
Chain:
SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
Chainring Sizes:
32t
Claimed Weight:
33.62lb
Crankset:
SRAM GX Eagle DUB
Extras:
chain guide, downtube protector, shuttle bumper, swingarm protector, shock fender
Fork:
Fox 38 Float Performance
Frame Material:
Carbon C
Front Axle:
15 x 110mm Boost
Front Travel:
170mm
Grips:
Santa Cruz Palmdale lock-on
Handlebar:
Burgtec Alloy
Headset:
Cane Creek 40 IS
Hubs:
DT Swiss 370, 32h
ISCG Tabs:
ISCG-05
Manufacturer Warranty:
[frame] lifetime
Pedals:
not included
Rear Axle:
12 x 148mm Boost
Rear Derailleur:
SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
Rear Shock:
RockShox Super Deluxe Select+
Rear Travel:
170mm
Recommended Use:
downhill, enduro, freeride
Rotors:
200mm Avid Centerline
Saddle:
WTB Silverado Pro
Seatpost:
RockShox Reverb Stealth
Shifters:
SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
Stem:
Burgtec Enduro MK3
Suspension:
VPP
Tire Size:
[front] 27.5 x 2.5in, [rear] 27.5 x 2.4in
Tires:
[front] Maxxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ TR, [rear] Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C EXO+
Wheelset:
[rims] RaceFace AR Offset 30