Nomad Carbon S Complete Mountain Bike - 2017
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While we typically avoid sweeping generalizations, it's safe to say that few bikes in the industry have had as much influence on their particular discipline as Santa Cruz's Nomad. It's proven itself on lines across virtually every possible piece of enduro furniture — from root lattices to rock gutters — while exhibiting a hunger on climbs that seems at odds with its slack, 65-degree head tube and borderline DH travel. The Nomad Carbon S Complete Mountain Bike continues this tradition, returning for the new model year with a revamped paint job, refigured build kit, and the same proclivity toward unfettered, off-road roaming as the previous generation.
It's impossible to mention the Nomad without bringing up the Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension a the bike's heart. VPP returns for the new model year with the same improved mid-stroke support and small bump compliance, maintaining the snappy pedaling that's been complementing the Nomad's stiff, lightweight chassis and efficient, 17.1in chainstays going on three generations now. The VPP system's dynamic pedaling platform owes its consistency to two counter-rotating links, which coordinate to yield a vertical wheel path in initial travel to maintain a firm pedaling feel over small bumps and climbs. As the bike compresses deeper into the suspension, the axle moves rearward to accommodate big hits for extra margin of error when you’re experimenting with the ragged edge of control.
All the suspension technology in the world won't salvage a leaden, unresponsive frame, though, and Santa Cruz's carbon expertise may be even more important to the Nomad S's ride than its VPP or SRAM/Shimano build kit. This Nomad features a less-expensive, slightly heavier carbon layup than the price-is-no-object Carbon CC frames, bringing the claimed weight up by around 280g, depending on size. The Carbon C material has a lower modulus, so slightly more material is required to hit the same stiffness and durability properties as the CC models. It's not as light, but those extra few grams won't feel like anything more than a half-full water bottle while climbing or if you have to shoulder the bike to walk across a steep talus slope.
The latest Carbon C frames enjoy the same meticulous construction methods of previous generations. Santa Cruz uses a single layup for both triangles instead of a jigsaw puzzle of individually-cured carbon tubes, allowing the engineers to wrap the fibers continuously around structurally important junctures like the head tube and bottom bracket. This continuous wrapping strengthens the frame, dissipates the force from impacts, and more efficiently channels pedal input. Efficiency, durability, and even a touch of weight loss compared to building with individual tubes — the advantages of Santa Cruz's construction methods go some way toward eliding the differences between Carbon C and Carbon CC while also setting the Nomad even further apart from its peers.
For its S build, Santa Cruz is kitting the Nomad with the new GX shifting, SRAM's general admission ticket to the one-by show. The VPP suspension and slack front end are linked to RockShox's Monarch and Lyrik, respectively, for dial-able travel in front and back that keeps pace with the Nomad's versatility across changing terrain. Whether that terrain's pointing up, down, or straight ahead, the Race Face Aeffect crankset and huge range across the 10-42t SRAM cassette mean you'll be hard-pressed to spin out on a descent or find an un-rideable grade while climbing.
Details
- Enduro bike far nimbler than its DH-ready travel suggests
- VPP suspension adapts to quickly changing terrain
- 170mm front and 165mm of capable, plush travel
- Slack front end for stable descents with nimble rear triangle
- Carbon C blends low weight, strength, and impressive rigidity
- SRAM one-by drivetrain has a gear for every climb and descent
- Santa Cruz Bicycles leads in industry innovation and memorable aesthetics
- Item #SNZ006F
- Frame Material
- Carbon C
- Suspension
- Virtual Pivot Point
- Rear Shock
- Rock Shox Monarch Plus
- Rear Travel
- 165 mm
- Fork
- Rockshox Lyrik RC Solo Air
- Front Travel
- 170 mm
- Headset
- Cane Creek 40
- Shifters
- SRAM GX (right only)
- Front Derailleur
- n/a
- Rear Derailleur
- SRAM GX
- ISCG Tabs
- yes, ISCG 05
- Crankset
- 32 t Race Face Aeffect
- Bottom Bracket
- BSA threaded
- Crank Arm Length
- 175 mm
- Cassette
- 10 - 42 t SRAM XG1150
- Chain
- SRAM PC1130
- Brakeset
- Shimano SLX M675
- Brake Type
- hydraulic disc
- Rotors
- 180 mm Shimano RT66
- Handlebar
- Race Face Chester
- Handlebar Width
- 785 mm
- Grips
- Santa Cruz Palmdale Lock-On
- Stem
- Race Face Turbine Basic
- Saddle
- WTB Volt Race
- Seatpost
- RockShox Reverb Stealth
- Wheelset
- [rims] Easton ARC 27
- Hubs
- SRAM MTH 716/746
- Front Axle
- 15x100mm
- Rear Axle
- 12x142mm
- Tires
- [front] Maxxis Minion DHR2 TR 3C, [rear] Maxxis Minion DHR2 TR
- Tire Size
- 27.5 x 2.3 in
- Pedals
- not included
- Extras
- Stan's Sealant
- Recommended Use
- enduro, trail, freeride
- Manufacturer Warranty
- lifetime on frame
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