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Santa Cruz Bicycles
Nomad Carbon 27.5 Mountain Bike Frame

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Third time's the charm.

We’ve heard it said that there’s no such thing as a perfect bike for all conditions, but if there’s one bike that has repeatedly challenged this notion, it’s the Nomad. Now in its third generation, the Santa Cruz Nomad Mountain Bike Frame builds on the all-terrain ability of its predecessors to deliver a ruthless trail shredding experience. In keeping with modern riding styles, it’s slacker, longer, and more stable, with tighter chainstays to keep it responsive. And yes, it’s now built around 27.5 inch wheels. It’s fast, aggressive, and capable of keeping up with the wildest riders on the planet. In other words, this is the bike the Nomad was born to be.


The Nomad’s VPP suspension platform has been considerably improved as compared to the previous version, with particular focus being paid to improving mid-stroke support, as well as off-the-top small bump compliance. Much as it always has, it still maintains the snappy pedaling that’s essential for piloting a long-travel bike to the top of your favorite runs. At the heart of VPP is two aluminum counter-rotating links. The upper-link, borrowed from the V10, provides most of the rotation as the bike compresses into the sag point. This yields a vertical wheel path, which is responsible for the firm pedaling feel.


As the bike compresses deeper into the suspension, the lower-link activates, moving the axle path rearward. The rearward axle path enables the rear wheel to travel out of the way of impacts. This affords you extra margin for error when you’re experimenting with the ragged edge of control. It’s a design that’s well matched by the incredibly capable Rockshox Monarch Plus RC3 DebonAir rear shock (RockShox Vivid Air R2C also available), which has been redesigned to offer even better small-bump compliance than its predecessor. And you'll find the same collet-style pivot hardware that's become standard for Santa Cruz's suspension bikes. This means that your pivots stay tight, and are easily serviceable by home mechanics.


Santa Cruz's industry-leading carbon fiber construction is on display here as well. Both the front and rear triangles are constructed as a whole, rather than bonding them together from sub-assemblies. With this process, the fibers remain uninterrupted by seams, maximizing strength on an already notoriously bulletproof frame. Additionally, the inside of the tubes have the same perfectly smooth finish as the outside thanks to maximum the compaction of the layers. The benefit is that it's lighter, because any excess epoxy is squeezed from the frame prior to curing. And testing has proven that this provides the ideal degree of compaction, further enhancing frame strength.


As compared to previous iterations of the Nomad, it’s safe to say that this is the most aggressive version yet. The head angle has been relaxed to an ultra-stable 65 degrees. Rear wheel travel has been increased to 165mm. By doing away with the need for a front derailleur, the chainstays have been shortened to a highly responsive 17.1 inches—no small feat when considering that the wheel size has grown to 27.5 inches. In keeping with modern bike fit, the reach measurements have grown by a full inch per size to provide adequate reach with today’s shorter stems. The result is a bike that’s most at home charging full-bore into hair-raising terrain. And while it yields stability traditionally reserved for downhill bikes, the 6.2 pound frame weight, combined with steeper seat tube angles, means that it’s surprisingly pleasant to pedal back up for another lap.


The Nomad utilizes a 44/49mm headset for compatibility with tapered forks. The rear dropouts accept a 142x12mm thru-axle rear hub, which keeps the frame stiff under power. The 73mm English threaded bottom bracket shell ensures a creak-free crankset and easy service. The frame requires a 31.6mm seatpost, which makes it compatible with extra-long six inch dropper posts. And it’s not compatible with a front derailleur. You have the option to run a narrow-wide chainring, as has become the new standard for aggressive trail bikes, or should you desire maximum retention, the ISCG05 tabs allow for simple chainguide setup.


The Santa Cruz Nomad Mountain Bike Frame is available in four sizes, from Small, to X-Large, and in the colors Matte Black/gloss black, and Turquoise/pink.


Details

  • 142x12mm rear axle
  • RockShox Monarch Plus RC3 DebonAIR or RockShox Vivid Air R2C shock
  • Third-generation VPP suspension
  • Standard, threaded, 73mm bottom bracket
  • Easily-serviceable pivots with grease gun fittings, and grease gun included
  • 44/49mm headset
  • ISCG05 tabs
  • Item #SNZ001F
Frame Material
carbon fiber
Suspension
VPP
Rear Shock
RockShox Monarch Plus RC3 DebonAir, RockShox Vivid Air R2C
Rear Travel
165 mm
Head Tube Diameter
ZS44/EC49 mixed tapered
Headset Included
no
Bottom Bracket Type
73 mm BSA
ISCG Tabs
yes, ISCG 05
Cable Routing
internal
Front Derailleur Mount
none
Seatpost Diameter
31.6 mm
Seat Collar
35 mm Santa Cruz bolt-on
Rear Axle
142x12 mm DT RWS thru axle
Claimed Weight
2812.2 g
Recommended Use
all mountain, enduro
Manufacturer Warranty
5 years

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