2021 Santa Cruz Nomad Review | Still Rad, Still Fun, Still Expensive

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Күн бұрын

The new 2021 Santa Cruz Nomad has arrived! Santa Cruz has revamped the Nomad once again, this time unleashing the all-new fifth generation enduro bike to the world with carbon frames, proportionally sized chainstays and longer, slacker geometry figures. Technical Editor in Chief, Rob Weaver takes us through all the updated features of the 2021 Nomad.
Back in 2017, the Nomad was one of the first trail/enduro bikes that Santa Cruz applied its now de rigueur suspension layout, whereby the lower of the two counter-rotating links drives the rear shock. But what do you think of the new Nomad? Are you a fan of the longer travel 650b bike? Or do you prefer a shorter travel 29er? Let us know in the comments!
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Presenter: Rob Weaver
Camera: Max Wilman
Editor: Robyn Furtado
Producer: Felix Smith
#2021santacruznomad #mountainbiketech #bikeradarreview

Пікірлер: 114

@bikeradar 3 жыл бұрын

The new Santa Cruz Nomad is here! Maybe you love longer travel 650b bikes or perhaps you prefer the feel of a 29er? Let us know what you think in the comments!

@garrettnalle6949 3 жыл бұрын

Megatower with these colorways

@AnthonyStal 3 жыл бұрын

@bikeradar what would you suggest as a good alternative to the new Nomad at a lower price point?

@bigwave7207 3 жыл бұрын

Anthony Stal the SC Bronson alloy is a good value at $3.5k US. Not quite as big as the hard charging nomad, but has 160mm travel and beast enough for 95% of Trail on this planet :)

@esteban8783 2 жыл бұрын

Hi friend. I've seen your video of the Slash 8 and this one of the nomad. I can buy the Slash new and the nomad second-hand, I'm 170cm tall. Which one would you recommend me to buy? I'm asking about the wheel size.

@win83chester10 3 жыл бұрын

I've owned the 2020 model for over a year now. The bike is unreal. Every time I jump on it it feels like a new bike day. So please to ride and I don't do big jumps etc. This bike makes you riding faster while feeling comfortable and safe. Well worth money.

@James-dn1hu 3 жыл бұрын

The promo vid for this was mint. Good to see a UK rider sam dale and his van showing how we brits do it

@thomasoconnor1570 3 жыл бұрын

I’ll be picking up this rig. I had a 2018 Gen 4 Nomad. Didn’t realize how great it was. Went on to SB 165. Super sick Bike, but I’m no pro enduro guy and couldn’t get it to speed to enjoy its performance ability. Found it “to big” and nose diving” drops I’d pop off with my Nomad. Now I have a 2020 Bronson. Also great bike but not my old Nomad. Can’t wait to get back my Nomad!

@jacoponord 3 жыл бұрын

@Thomas O’Connor Interested to know: where do you prefer the V4 Nomad over the V3 Bronson? I just sold my V4 Nomad and I am thinking if going for V5 or take a Bronson instead, for trail-enduro use (I use a DH rig for park days). Thanks!

@dank6761 3 жыл бұрын

The new Nomad is almost exactly the same geometry as the sb165, if you find the sb165 too big you will find the new Nomad too big too. Go look on 99spokes and compare the two bikes, they are almost exactly the same, the reach is smalker for a given size but pretty much in every other way they are carboard cutouts of each other.

@bensun432 3 жыл бұрын

The colours, the size and features... it's perfect, just need that winning lottery ticket

@darrenjunealibangbang2077 3 жыл бұрын

Just got the s-works enduro like last month or two and it was fun to ride but i really loving the color of that nomad

@01tangodown 2 жыл бұрын

Just ordered a 2022 can wait to shred!

@kg307 3 жыл бұрын

Is there going to be a long term test released on the Nomad? Also, curious on your opinion of the Nomad vs. Bronson for someone who enjoys bouncing around and playing on everything in sight?

@dariusbachar9600 3 жыл бұрын

I plan to buy Santa Cruz. Maybe you can give advise which better to buy.. bronson,5010 or nomad? For trail and enduro

@Whambadambadamdoo 3 жыл бұрын

The Oxblood colorway on this thing looks unreal!

@holycowbmxman 3 жыл бұрын

Best colour SC have produced in a while. Tallboy purple wasn’t bad either

@topspot4834 3 жыл бұрын

I like it too, but not sure I'd get it ... I think after a year I'd get tired of it though. It is dope though and probably looks even nicer in person.

@threeinchesoffury 3 жыл бұрын

I like the green goblin one... lol

@jerrypretzel9892 3 жыл бұрын

They're both HOT

@davidwiezalis3037 Жыл бұрын

What height and weight are people sizing a medium Nomad at? Curious as to what you are choosing for a nimble, jumpline ride, not specs straight from the website...

@Mr_RichardH 3 жыл бұрын

Rob's ALMOST enthusiastic about this one. ALMOST...😂

@robweaver5849 3 жыл бұрын

Hahah I'm trying!

@jankaskyevitchjellbet7293 3 жыл бұрын

Stick 275 wheels on 170 travel bike and you have all mountain?

@lukesteele5013 3 жыл бұрын

Title is so accurate I hardly needed to watch the video

@yurievangelista4134 3 жыл бұрын

Hi, I'm 1.74 m tall and have a proportionally sized ape index (maybe just a couple centimeters less). Would you reccommend M or L size to me? Main usage I'll do with this bike is riding in bike parks (jumping, cornering, and so on..) but I will also have some climbs on some local mountains, but just to get the top of the trails and go for downhill. I have actually already ordered an M size under suggestion of the seller, but I'm still not sure. Do you agree with this choice or should I have gone for the L size? Thanks for your feedbacks!

@45graham45 3 жыл бұрын

So if the C & CC frames are as strong as each other I assume the only difference is weight? OK then, so what is the difference in weight? Or is that information top secret? Seems to me that if you mention the two fames then you should give the information relating to them.

@andrewsouthern3517 Жыл бұрын

This is my new dream bike, just saving so I can get a new bike because I don’t like riding a hard tail on really aggressive trails with flat pedals 😂

@chadb2077 3 жыл бұрын

Whys everyone talk about the price? Is it really that bad for what you get? I mean carbon frame, carbon wheels, factory suspension, x01 groupo and its 8700 usd(i think) and starts at like 4500 for a still decent spec it really doesnt seem bad for the features

@timtrahan508 2 жыл бұрын

is that fork on backwards?

@Fuckstupidlibtards 3 жыл бұрын

Almost back to cool colors. Almost. Nothing beats the Miami Vice Nomad 3. Not enough of an improvement over my Nomad 4. Have to see if the next round of colors is more compelling...

@Flacojandro 3 жыл бұрын

I take it you never lusted after a kx500 or zx7rr... 😉

@justmtbandgaming4518 3 жыл бұрын

I like all the nomads

@jessehill3780 3 жыл бұрын

I think a lot of that feedback in the hands is that bar. I had the SC bar and that is one stiff bar, the oneup on now is much much better. Even the eastons on previous bike I think felt better. Their wheels are good, frames good but I think they missed it on the bar.

@federicomarmolejo1952 3 жыл бұрын

Man I agree, the SC bar are super stiff. After i switched to an Enve M7 bar i noticed of much less fatigue my hands were at the bike park etc. The Enve bar feels as stiff but is super forgiving, i really dig it.

@MarioV73 7 ай бұрын

I have the SC carbon bar on my HightowerLT CC X01, and that's my most uncomfortable bike. I'll be replacing the carbon bar with an alloy bar.

@ranjithpowell6791 3 жыл бұрын

Do they have an aero model?

@garywinslow5607 3 жыл бұрын

So many bikes now with steep seat tubes, making ETT look short. Kind of screws with my head when looking at a new bike. With COVID etc, demo’s are difficult to get, just worry they’ll be cramped on climbs (I enjoy climbing as much as descents). Maybe I’m just stuck in the past! Nice bike, too expensive though.

@rezenclowd3 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting. I've rented more demos during covid than my entire life....

@garywinslow5607 3 жыл бұрын

@@rezenclowd3 not by me! Demo’s from shops were stopped, and shops have minimal stock of bikes anyway. See what 2021 brings, or I buy blind.....

@scotchgod8478 3 жыл бұрын

52T sprocket? Holy shit!😄We call that a chainring and mount it on the crankset

@fiatfixie4344 3 жыл бұрын

Is the "fun, flickability factor" going down hill on 650b wheels really worth the trade off? It seems that bigger wheels calming the bike down and rolling over shit better would make up for that. They make Coke can size tree roots feel Red Bull can size))

@bigwave7207 3 жыл бұрын

It all depends on your style and preference. Some riders would rather air that root than roll it...

@ioannisparaskevopoulos1120 3 жыл бұрын

Better climber than a Megatower? More versatile than a Yeti SB 165? Also, your height if I may ask for a Medium and if you would upsize? Awesome bike indeed! Keep up the good work!

@robweaver5849 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I must admit I wasn't the biggest fan of the Megatower so yes, for me, the Nomad is my preferred choice. Not ridden the SB165 so can't comment on that I'm afraid.

@ioannisparaskevopoulos1120 3 жыл бұрын

@@robweaver5849 Thanks a lot!

@TheAllEngineering 3 жыл бұрын

Nomad is bob bob bob bob bob bob, megatower is bob bob bob bob bob so nearly as bad as each other !!!

@donotrobme9295 3 жыл бұрын

Hopefully u get a frame that was built right and inspected before dropping that much money. Speaking for a friend

@lexusstefan927 3 жыл бұрын

Is it me or the CSU is installed backwards in the fork, looks so wrong

@oreoswithasideofmilk9703 3 жыл бұрын

The 38 has a weird looking CSU that is a little more built up front than rear, so it looks backwards. I looked on fox’s website and it’s just as weird there. Got me the first time I saw it too!

@michaelvalenzuela6833 3 жыл бұрын

I want it

@romiejohnbanares1184 3 жыл бұрын

what pedal are u using bro?

@TFritz82 3 жыл бұрын

99% sure those are the Nukeproof Horizon Pro pedals, Sam Hill signature pedals in oil slick color!

@alvinzapanta1098 3 жыл бұрын

Nice bike i like bike to but dont enought money to buy..

@southpawlibranine3511 3 жыл бұрын

Comparing the carbon frame to aluminium?

@TheAllEngineering 3 жыл бұрын

some Santa Cruz aluminum frames suffer from being soft and bendy because they stuffed up the heat treatment of them. Pretty hard to maintain quality control on those Chinese built frames.

@davidfalconer9281 2 ай бұрын

Can I ask what make of trousers you have on?

@bikeradar 2 ай бұрын

They're Troy Lee Designs trousers :)

@davidfalconer9281 2 ай бұрын

@@bikeradar thanks mate👍👍

@nixonmahesaromuloserang12i27 3 жыл бұрын

Nice 👍👍👍

@rezenclowd3 3 жыл бұрын

Even a 175mm dropper is too short..... I will no longer be buying a complete setup, but building from the frame

@LCNismo 3 жыл бұрын

Might be more expensive but their warranty department is top notch. Rather ride that than POS trek and specialized.

@TheAllEngineering 3 жыл бұрын

Their warrantee is nothing special, mine is also transferable to next owner if sold before 2 years old, and it does not cost an arm and a leg to purchase.

@barkstamassi 3 жыл бұрын

How tall are you Rob Weaver riding a medium?

@robweaver5849 3 жыл бұрын

I'm 5ft 8in/172cm mate.

@barkstamassi 3 жыл бұрын

@@robweaver5849 I’m 5ft 9 so I should definitely size up to a large based on your cockpit feedback. 👍

@ioannisparaskevopoulos1120 3 жыл бұрын

@@barkstamassi 5ft 9 with shoes on? This is me too!

@barkstamassi 3 жыл бұрын

@@ioannisparaskevopoulos1120 5:9 bare feet... so I guess firmly in the large zone with shoes on. Hadn’t even considered this but my ape index is slightly over.

@ioannisparaskevopoulos1120 3 жыл бұрын

@@barkstamassi You are Large for sure, I have to measure my wingspan to make it clear. Thanks a lot!

@davidnicholson6680 3 жыл бұрын

"We need to keep this a bit longer for, uh, testing. Yeah, need more testing."

@madstoppie 3 жыл бұрын

here's some viewer feedback....how about a review of the least expensive Nomad model? As someone looking at getting into MTB, I'm sure I'm not alone....top of the line isn't even worth reviewing, it's top of the line. Entry level however, can get someone like me in the door

@bikeradar 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment. Bike brands will more often than not send our expert testers the higher spec model, which makes it difficult for us to review new bikes at the lower end of the line up. Unfortunately it is now even harder to find lower end bikes from many brands currently. We appreciate the comment and hope to review more lower spec bikes in the future when it is possible. - Felix

@OnezKrs 2 жыл бұрын

dont buy a bottom line santa cruz, you pay 3.6k for the frame and everything else is just the lowest of the low - get an alloy frame for 1.8k and good components for the same price :)

@garrettnalle6949 3 жыл бұрын

IF THEY WOULD JUST DO THE GREEN PINK COLORWAY ON THE MEGATOWER

@onemanmob6756 3 жыл бұрын

Finally, after 3 years, and 2 bike generations, the Nomad has finally caught up with Transition Patrol of 2018 in terms of geometry.... Santa Cruz has become a really conservative brand, lagging behind even such sloths as Giant and Trek....

@topspot4834 3 жыл бұрын

There's no point in changing just for the sake of changing, and I think the Nomad has progressive enough geometry to be comparable. Bronson needs an update (2021 will be released this summer) and it's not my cup of tea personally, but they're better than both Giant and Trek IMO.

@bigwave7207 3 жыл бұрын

Depends... have you rode an enduro SC bike ? Geometry doesn’t really tell the whole story...

@onemanmob6756 3 жыл бұрын

@@bigwave7207 No, I haven't - I considered it but the price and ancient geometry of SC bikes deterred me.... Your statement about the geometry would hold if SC kept the conservative values and still remained viable, yet they decided to finally, after several generations of bikes (and making their customers buy those incrementally improved bikes) move to where other, progressive companies were 3 years earlier... I'm not saying SC bikes are bad - I'm only saying they are no longer on the cutting edge of progress as they used to be in the past. Instead they decided to join the ranks of companies like Trek, who release several, incrementally improved generations of bikes even if they could do it in one move, hoping that die-hard loyalists will buy those bikes...

@tiagothieleke 3 жыл бұрын

Im between sizes...1,76cm height. want a nomad.. M or L?

@mtbsnowboard9107 3 жыл бұрын

I am the same size and am on a large nomad. It is amazing!

@tiagothieleke 3 жыл бұрын

@@mtbsnowboard9107 Thanks so much! Will do the same tbh..

@ThunderStruckMTB 3 жыл бұрын

Fun fact: I live in Palmdale (west side... none of that east side crap)

@MaxMustermannnnnn 3 жыл бұрын

I‘ve heared the area is named after Santa Cruz‘s grips 😜

@matthewstyer5587 3 жыл бұрын

As always,each generation of Nomad Is a masterpiece but £7700 for not really amazing kit. Not sure! Straight away the hubs an breaks would be changed an for that price it should have a battery operated gears an dropper! Shame that it’s not great value for money I’m afraid!

@TheAllEngineering 3 жыл бұрын

So true !!

@robygoncalves4348 3 жыл бұрын

That 80s colour

@travelthenarrowtrail8660 3 жыл бұрын

@01:07 "Santa Cruz are still sticking by the 'fact' that the smaller wheels are simply more versatile and fun than" 29ers. Presuppositions on this statement, your fact is all, not everyone else's. Santa Cruz is not "sticking" by any such thing. They still make several 29ers that are very "versatile and fun" and some would argue more than 27.5. Nothing wrong with your point of view, but you can't say the company is sticking by a "fact" because they are not. They make both and Joe, the lead CEO at SC has said, the company see's wheelsize as pointless, they make both for all, which means one is not better than the other.

@robweaver5849 3 жыл бұрын

Sorry, I think I probably phrased that badly.

@ryanmtb1 3 жыл бұрын

You sound like you’re a bit bummed out you bought a 29er

@ForkInTheButt 3 жыл бұрын

Where's the alu frame? I really don't care about paying extra for a fortified plastic frame. I trust metal better.

@mtbsnowboard9107 3 жыл бұрын

The won't be releasing a alloy model this year unfortunately. SC are now trying to move away from aluminium frames.

@ForkInTheButt 3 жыл бұрын

@@mtbsnowboard9107 they say SC always releases alloy frames 1 year after releasing the carbon frame

@titouanpasquiou6527 11 ай бұрын

Great bike , rides smooth kzfaq.infoUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L I added a bigger spring loaded seat to it . Takes a bit of adjusting cables to get brakes and shifting to perfect . I've owned quite a few bikes in the past that were absolutely uncomfortable to ride and they always ended up as garage wall decor . I'm not seeing that with this one. It's pretty light I've only ridden it a few miles but I like it . As for the pedals falling off in the other reviews , the pedal arms are aluminum along with the pedal studs look to be also . I would not overtighten them. I can see it would be very easy to overtighten them and strip the threads right off . All in all I think it's pretty good quality besides the aluminum pedal thing

@TheAllEngineering 3 жыл бұрын

Lol Putting that "cut and paste" across all models front triangle to good use. All their bikes look the same.

@chadb2077 3 жыл бұрын

Ride one and you wont complain

@alexkirby280 3 жыл бұрын

yh but if you on a xl you won't be able to

@karunyavlogKB1432 3 жыл бұрын

Please give me one mountain bike gift bro

@reyounglee5171 3 жыл бұрын

too many repeat clip

@mustclime5311 3 жыл бұрын

, no alloy, no want......to much money for what you get.

@userbarny6271 3 жыл бұрын

So I would be very careful if Rob rated a bike. He also proclaimed Canyon Torque as the winner of the Enduro Bikes. The biggest junk I've ever bought, countless KZfaq videos prove how it falls apart. But of course these are all "independent" tests, and an expensive advertisement will never be placed in return.

@rezenclowd3 3 жыл бұрын

The reviewers rarely have a bike long enough to test longevity. When they do it's awesome but too late for readership.

@userbarny6271 3 жыл бұрын

@@rezenclowd3 So you're telling me that the test is not representative? That was exactly what I said in my comment 🤦‍♂️ omg Lord let it rain brain

@Dryb1as 3 жыл бұрын

Made in China ;-)

@alexkirby280 3 жыл бұрын

Santa cruz carbon is made in their in house factory in Santa cruz

@Dryb1as 3 жыл бұрын

@@alexkirby280 so why they put sticker on frame Made in China?

@alexkirby280 3 жыл бұрын

@@Dryb1as do they as ny dad has a carbon Bronson and haven't see it on it

@Dryb1as 3 жыл бұрын

@@alexkirby280 2:44 that's what I see

@user-wk3wp3zw3l 3 жыл бұрын

Made in china???

@jeffwy5164 3 жыл бұрын

My v4 is. I assumed it was Taiwan before I bought it but was wrong. I have had no issues with frame quality but for personal preference reasons, I won’t be buying SC again.

@pennryan970 3 жыл бұрын

Meh, i don't know, Santa Cruz just doesn't really do it for me as a brand overall.

@tom2038 3 жыл бұрын

Why do you guys always have to say the santa cruz bikes are awesome but SO EXPENSIVE. What's with the hate. Every bike from evil, sc, specialized, yeti, and ibis are expensive. If that's a problem then just review direct to consumer brands