Say Hello to the 7th Generation of the Santa Cruz Nomad

In 2022, Santa Cruz made some pretty vital adjustments to one in all their enduro rigs, the Nomad. Together with some geometry changes, the acquired inside body storage, and ditched the 27.5” entrance wheel.

Like each bike in Santa Cruz’s lineup that rocked 27.5 wheels entrance and rear, mullet could be the best way of the long run. Now, this newest era of Nomad doesn’t get any type of 32” mega mullet, or something like that. Quite, Santa Cruz targeted on smaller refinements and simplifications to eke out each little bit of efficiency they might.

The New Santa Cruz V7 Nomad

First, let’s speak about a number of the adjustments made to the Nomad’s body. And, in Santa Cruz’s personal phrases, a few of these adjustments had been made to proper the wrongs of the previous.

I’m speaking about cable routing. In the event you keep in mind, on some Santa Cruz CC-level carbon frames, inside cable routing for mechanical derailleurs was not an choice. The holes merely weren’t there, and clients had been pressured to make use of digital shifting. 

You didn’t prefer it, and Santa Cruz heard. This newest era of Nomads permits any drivetrain, mechanical or digital, for use. 

In reality, Santa Cruz solely presents this newest Nomad within the model’s highest degree CC carbon. The change simplifies the lineup and offers all clients with the top-performing body materials.

They had been additionally in a position to shave a little bit of weight (86 grams) off in comparison with the earlier era. Many of the materials eliminated got here from slimming the downtube. Doing so not solely saved weight but additionally made the body a bit extra compliant, offering higher efficiency within the chunk and fewer abuse in your physique.

Santa Cruz additionally tweaked its in-frame storage. The Glovebox V2 incorporates a beefed-up latch for simpler use and a greater maintain, and total, the compartment is quieter and extra sturdy. For added storage, additionally they added accent mounting factors on the underside of the highest tube.

Refined Geo & Kinematics

The Nomad stays an MX-wheel bike with 170mm journey entrance and rear and continues to characteristic a excessive/low flip chip. Nonetheless, Santa Cruz did tweak the geometry barely for even higher downhill efficiency.

In comparison with the previous-generation Nomad, the Gen 7 incorporates a barely slacker head angle. This new HTA matches the Bullit at 63.6° within the excessive place and 63.3° within the low place. The seattube angle can also be barely steeper, matching the Bullit, however the stack, chainstays, and backside bracket peak all stay the identical. 

Taking notes from the latest Bronson, Santa Cruz additionally decreased anti-squat on the brand new Nomad. (In reality, the V6 Nomad had decreased anti-squat numbers, they usually went even additional on the V7.) Dropping anti-squat will increase traction and suspension efficiency, particularly over square-edged hits.

Anti-rise was additionally decreased to mitigate brake dive and preserve the suspension working when you’re on the stoppers. Regardless of the adjustments, Santa Cruz nonetheless claims improved pedaling effectivity, which nearly appears counterintuitive. 

Along with adjustments to anti-squat and anti-rise, the V7 Nomad additionally sees decreased development in its leverage fee. This transfer higher matches the bike’s entrance and rear and will increase sensitivity to small bumps deeper within the journey.

Whereas a few of these adjustments might sound counterintuitive to pedaling effectivity, Santa Cruz nonetheless claims enhancements. Nonetheless, even large bikes pedal so nicely now that the adjustments may not be that noticeable when climbing.

V7 Nomad Builds

At the moment, the Nomad is obtainable in 4 builds, but it surely appears just like the fifth and most inexpensive construct can be out there quickly. Full particulars on that aren’t but out there. Santa Cruz presents frames in 5 sizes (S-XXL), and, as I already talked about, all builds characteristic CC carbon.

The Nomad 90 and GX AXS construct characteristic SRAM drivetrains, Maven brakes, and Rock Shox suspension. The upper-spec’d builds characteristic digital shifting from Shimano and SRAM, Fox Manufacturing unit suspension, and Maven Silver brakes.

All builds see Reserve 30 wheels, with the carbon variant on the highest spec’d mannequin. And, in fact, Santa Cruz presents a lifetime guarantee on its frames and bearings. Builds begin at a formidable 33.8 lbs.

Nomad Pricing

90 Construct: $6,099

GX AXS Construct: $7,299

XT Di2 Construct: $7,799

X0 AXS RSV Construct: $9,499

Body: $3,999

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