The highly gravity-focused sixth generation Santa Cruz Nomad is designed to be more agile than ever. The most obvious change to the new bike is that the Santa Cruz ditched the 27.5-inch front wheel and now uses a mullet wheel setup called the “MX”. It has a 29-inch wheel at the front and a 27.5-inch wheel at the rear.
Suspension travel remains the same with trail-breaking 170mm front and rear. However, Santa Cruz has updated the kinematics with the goal of making the Nomad more supple on square-edged hits, improving geometry stability, and creating a more consistent feel through the stroke.
With the larger front wheel comes geometry changes. Taking what it learned from its Hightower and Bronson mountain bikes, Santa Cruz claims to have struck a balance between the high-speed stability of a long-travel bike and the agility that Nomad riders expect.
Geometry is specific to frame size, with chainstays and effective seat tube angles changing on larger bikes.
Five sizes are available and there are 10 build options, with prices starting at £5,499 / $5,649 / €5,799 and going up to £9,699 / $11,199 / €11,799. There’s also a frame-only option for £3,699 / $4,249 / €3,899.
Santa Cruz Nomad 6.0, what’s new?
The new Nomad uses Santa Cruz’s CC and C carbon. Each provides the same strength and stiffness, but the more expensive CC Carbon is lighter. Santa Cruz Bicycles
The bike retails with the same 170mm of front and rear suspension travel as the outgoing Nomad.
The new bike is fitted with a 29-inch front wheel in an attempt to increase the versatility of the Nomad. Available in five frame sizes, from small to extra large.
The Nomad is available in both C and high-spec CC trim options on the Santa Cruz. The latter is said to offer the same strength and stiffness as C carbon, but for less weight.
As is common with Santa Cruz carbon frames, each size has a specific carbon stack that affects frame stiffness. This means that larger bikes are stiffer than smaller frames, so each size should provide a similar riding experience.
There’s a handy storage space in the Nomad’s down tube. Santa Cruz Bicycles
The new Nomad uses the internal memory of Santa Cruz’s Glovebox frame. It comes with two inner bags, a tube bag and a tool wallet to keep everything organized.
Frame storage in the down tube allows you to hide your travel essentials. Two interior pockets help keep everything organized.
The suspension system is Santa Cruz’s tried and tested VVP platform with its co-rotating links and lower link actuated shock absorber. However, Santa Cruz has made some updates designed to improve the Nomad’s performance.
First, it has reduced anti-squat compared to the previous model. This can reduce pedaling efficiency, but it’s also meant to minimize the harshness of square-edged impacts such as rocks, roots and trail braking bumps.
Santa Cruz reduced the Nomad’s anti-squat in an effort to improve square-edge shock absorption. Santa Cruz Bicycles
Anti-squat on sag is still claimed to be over 100 percent. It’s great to see Santa Cruz publish their data on how they measure anti-squat – including frame size, gearing and center of gravity. It would be nice if there was an industry standard for this.
The lower starting leverage is intended to help better support bodyweight movements and maintain geometry stability. In addition, the overall progression is reduced, which “allows the suspension to have consistently better tracking qualities throughout the stroke,” according to Santa Cruz.
With a lower leverage percentage and less progression, Santa Cruz hopes to make the new Nomad more predictable and less susceptible to weight changes that throw the suspension off balance. Santa Cruz Bicycles
The rear triangle has 180mm stanchions and can accommodate 27.5×2.6in tires according to Santa Cruz. It also uses the brand’s version of the SRAM universal derailleur hanger.
The frame has a flip chip with a high and low bottom link position that allows you to fine tune the geometry.
A reversible chip in the lower link allows you to select your preferred geometry settings between the Nomad’s high and low settings. Santa Cruz Bicycles
The Santa Cruz keeps things simple with a threaded bottom bracket and the frame features ISCG05 chain guide attachment tabs.
New Santa Cruz Nomad geometry
The new Santa Cruz Nomad is available in five sizes, from small to extra large. Santa Cruz increased the chainstay lengths for each frame size in order to keep the weight distribution between the wheels more similar for each frame size.
For the high flip-chip setting, reach values start at 430mm for the small size and end at 520mm for the extra large. The corresponding chainstay extends from 439mm to 450mm between the small and extra-large frames.
The head tube angle is 63.8 degrees for all frame sizes. However, the effective seat tube angle increases as frames get larger to support taller riders in a more centered seated position on the pedals. They range from 77.2 degrees on the small frame to 77.7 degrees on the extra-extra-large frame, with a peak of 77.9 degrees on the large frame.
Seat tube lengths should allow riders to choose between sizes and range from 380mm to 500mm. The bottom bracket is moderately low at 346mm, with 27/28mm drop from the front and rear axles.
Changing the flip chip to the low setting relaxes the head tube by 0.3 degrees and the effective seat tube angles by about 0.2 degrees. It drops 3mm from the bottom bracket heights and shortens the reach lengths by about 3mm. The length of the chain nose is increased by almost a millimeter.
Santa Cruz Nomad specs and pricing
The new Nomad is available in four drivetrain models. The two highest spec bikes with SRAM GX AXS and X01 AXS have a choice of air or coil shock, plus different wheel options. So there are 10 building kits available. Suspension bikes come with Maxxis DoubleDown tires, while air suspension bikes use Maxxis EXO+ tires.
Although 10 building kits sounds like a lot, they are easily simplified. The two base models, the Nomad R and Nomad S, use Santa Cruz’s C carbon frame, with no coilover or air shock options.
The next model is the Nomad GX AXS MX. This also uses the Carbon C frame. There are four models for this drivetrain. All builds use a RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ shock. There are air and coil options.
Both shock options come with either RaceFace ARC rims or Santa Cruz’s Reserve 30 Carbon, both built around Industry 9 1/1 hubs. This gives a choice of four bikes for this group of drivetrains.
The top-spec Nomad X01 MX bikes use the brand’s CC carbon frame. The four models here follow the same pattern as the GX AXS. Air and coil shock options are available for RaceFace ARC wheels and Santa Cruz Reserve 30 carbon rims.
Coilover bikes for the XO1 AXS use a factory Fox Float DHX2 shock, while air shock bikes have a factory Fox Float X2 shock.
There’s also a frame-only option so you can build a custom bike. This is made with higher spec CC carbon and costs £3,699.
Santa Cruz Nomad CR MX
Santa Cruz Nomad CR MX. Santa Cruz Bicycles
- Frame: Santa Cruz C carbon, 170mm (6.7in) travel
- Forks: RockShox Zeb R, 170 mm (6.7 in) travel
- Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select
- Drivetrain: SRAM NX Eagle (1×12)
- Rims: RaceFace AR rims, SRAM MTH hubs, Maxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ 29 × 2.5 inch WT (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ 27.5 × 2.4 inch WT (r)
- Brakes: SRAM Guide G2 RE, 200mm rotors
- Seatpost/Saddle: SDG Tellis Dropper/WTB Silverado Medium CroMo
- Rails/Barrel: e13 TRS Base, 800mm/e13 Base, 40mm
- Price: £5,499
Santa Cruz Nomad CS MX
Santa Cruz Nomad CS MX. Santa Cruz Bicycles
- Frame: Santa Cruz C carbon, 170mm (6.7in) travel
- Forks: Fox 38 Performance GRIP, 170 mm (6.7 in) travel
- Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle (1×12)
- Rims: RaceFace AR rims, DT Swiss 370 hubs, Maxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ 29×2.5in WT (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ 27.5×2.4in WT (r)
- Brakes: SRAM Code R, 200mm rotors
- Seatpost/Saddle: RockShox Reverb Stealth/WTB Silverado Medium CroMo
- Rails/Barrel: Burgtec RideWide Alloy, 800mm/Burgtec Enduro Mk3, 42mm
- Price: £6,599
Santa Cruz Nomad C GX AXS Air MX
Santa Cruz Nomad C GX AXS Air MX. Santa Cruz Bicycles
- Frame: Santa Cruz C carbon, 170mm (6.7in) travel
- Forks: Fox 38 Performance Elite GRIP2, 170mm (6.7in) travel
- Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX AXS Eagle (1×12)
- Rims: RaceFace ARC Offset 30 rims, i9 1/1 hubs, Maxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ 29×2.5in WT (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ 27.5×2.4in WT (r)
- Brakes: SRAM Code RS, 200mm rotors
- Seatpost/Saddle: RockShox Reverb Stealth/WTB Silverado Medium CroMo
- Seats/Stem: Santa Cruz Carbon 35, 800mm/Burgtec Enduro Mk3, 42mm
- Price: £7,899
Santa Cruz Nomad C GX AXS Coil MX
Santa Cruz Nomad C GX AXS Coil MX. Santa Cruz Bicycles
- Frame: Santa Cruz C carbon, 170mm (6.7in) travel
- Forks: Fox 38 Performance Elite GRIP2, 170mm (6.7in) travel
- Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ Coil
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX AXS Eagle (1×12)
- Rims: RaceFace ARC Offset 30 rims, i9 1/1 hubs, Maxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip DoubleDown 29×2.5in WT (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra DoubleDown 27.5×2.4in WT (r)
- Brakes: SRAM Code RS, 200mm rotors
- Seatpost/Saddle: RockShox Reverb Stealth/WTB Silverado Medium CroMo
- Seats/Stem: Santa Cruz Carbon 35, 800mm/Burgtec Enduro Mk3, 42mm
- Price: £7,899
Santa Cruz Nomad C GX AXS Air RSV MX
Santa Cruz Nomad C GX AXS Air RSV MX. Santa Cruz Bicycles
- Frame: Santa Cruz C carbon, 170mm (6.7in) travel
- Forks: Fox 38 Performance Elite GRIP2, 170mm (6.7in) travel
- Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX AXS Eagle (1×12)
- Rims: stock 30HD rims, i9 1/1 hubs, Maxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ 29×2.5in WT (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ 27.5×2.4in WT (r)
- Brakes:…
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