The brand-new Santa Cruz Nomad 5 is a true eye-catcher. No wonder, with its flashy green/pink finish, the bike really stands out from the crowd. If you’re not too fond of loud colour schemes, don’t worry because there’s also a more discreet and elegant-looking burgundy finish with visible carbon. The fifth rendition of the Nomad still rolls on 27.5″ wheels, has 170 mm front- and rear-ravel and relies on Santa Cruz’s popular lower-link suspension platform. While the new model looks very similar to its predecessor, both the kinematics and the geometry have been significantly improved. In case you’re wondering whether the new Nomad will also be available as a mullet bike, you’ll be disappointed to hear that Santa Cruz currently have no plans to release a version with mixed wheel sizes.
The frame of the Santa Cruz Nomad 5 in detail
Like all Santa Cruz models, the new Nomad comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame and bearings. If you decide to go for the expensive Reserve wheelset upgrade, this is covered by a lifetime warranty too – at least you’ll feel a little less guilty! The engineers at Santa Cruz wanted the new Nomad to be easy to service. The cables are routed through the frame in separate sleeves, the bottom bracket is threaded and all bearings are located in the alloy rocker link rather than in the carbon frame to prevent stressful moments when changing them. Neuralgic points such as the downtube and chainstays are covered with a generous rubber protector. A flip-chip on the shock-mount adjusts the geometry of the bike by a marginal 0.3°. The chainstay length, on the other hand, can’t be adjusted. According to Santa Cruz, this is due to the SRAM UDH rear derailleur, which makes it hard to integrate a flip-chip in the dropouts. Beware, tuning nerds! The new Nomad frame was designed to accommodate most common shocks on the market – both air and coil. Of course, you’ll have to make sure that the shock you want to install is compatible and tuned to match the Nomad’s kinematics.
The spec of the new Santa Cruz Nomad 5 in detail
The new Santa Cruz Nomad is available in several builds with prices ranging from € 4,799-8,999. In typical Santa Cruz fashion, the frame of the new Nomad comes in two versions which are built with different carbon fibres; the lighter CC model and the more affordable C version, which is slightly heavier but just as solid. With the XT and X01 builds, you can choose between a coil- or air-shock and also buy the Reserve carbon wheelset upgrade. Bikes specced with a coil shock are delivered with robust MAXXIS DoubleDown tires, all other models come with the lighter EXO+ casing. All models in the new Nomad lineup feature a fork with 38 mm stanchions. Except for the entry-level R version which comes with a RockShox ZEB, all other models feature a FOX 38 fork. The most attractively priced model, in our opinion, is the Nomad C XT, which costs € 6,399 and features a GRIP2 fork and a complete XT 12-speed drivetrain. If you want to build your dream bike with components of your choice, you can also get a frame kit for € 3,499.
The geometry of the new Santa Cruz Nomad in detail
Santa Cruz offer the new Nomad in a total of four sizes, S-XL. On the latest rendition of the Nomad, the reach has grown to 472 mm (size large in the low setting) and the 63.7° head angle slackened by almost 1°. A steep 77.5° seat angle ensures a good climbing performance. The bottom bracket is 14 mm lower. The chainstay length increases by 5 mm intervals as the frame-size grows. Santa Cruz achieve this by changing the position of the pivot points on the mainframe. In size Large, the chainstays measure 436 mm in the low setting. Thanks to the short seat tube, the Nomad can accommodate long-travel dropper posts. It’s a shame that there’s no size XS because it would be a great option for small riders who like to shred hard.
| Size (Low/High) | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 380 mm | 405 mm | 430 mm | 460 mm |
| Top tube | 552 mm | 582 mm | 610 mm | 644 mm |
| Head tube | 115 mm | 130 mm | 140 mm | 165 mm |
| Head angle | 63.7/64° | 63.7/64° | 63.7/64° | 63.7/64° |
| Seat angle | 77.9/78.2° | 77.7/78° | 77.5/77.9° | 77.2/77.6° |
| Chainstay | 426/425 mm | 431/430 mm | 436/435 mm | 441/440 mm |
| BB Drop | 14/10 mm | 14/10 mm | 14/10 mm | 14/10 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1186/1185 mm | 1223/1222 mm | 1257/1256 mm | 1297 mm |
| Reach | 422/425 mm | 447/450 mm | 472/475 mm | 497/500 mm |
| Stack | 603/601 mm | 617/615 mm | 626/623 mm | 648/646 mm |
The new Santa Cruz Nomad 2021 on the trail
We’ve spent a lot of time on board the new Santa Cruz Nomad. Not only did we ride the bike for two days in a row at the official press camp in Tuscany, but also compared it with the most exciting bikes of the upcoming season in our latest ENDURO group test. The bike has already had to prove itself on a wide range of scenarios, from flat flowy trails to steep and technical terrain and from dusty-dry to slippery and wet conditions. Of course, from time to time we also climbed to the trailhead solely with the power of our legs with the new Nomad.
The riding position of the new Nomad is spot on. While the seat angle doesn’t feel as steep as it looks on paper, you still feel very centred on the bike. The rear-end, which generates a whopping 170 mm of travel, is tuned for maximum traction and therefore not 100% bob-free when pedalling uphill – on monotonous climbs we recommend activating the lockout lever. On more technical climbs, the bike generates good traction, but here you can’t help but notice the poor rollover characteristics of the small 27.5” wheels. These tend to get stuck more easily than bigger 29” wheels on obstacles and require more physical effort from the rider.
When talking about different wheel sizes, we’re used to hearing all sorts of clichés and stereotypes: “29ers are cumbersome, small 27.5″ wheels feel nervous”. The Santa Cruz Nomad is proof that that’s only partly true. Sure, physics is not an opinion, but still, this bike has a very special character and implements direction changes super fast and with extreme precision. Left, right, left right – the new Nomad changes direction as fast as you want it to. However, if you’re now assuming that the Nomad is super playful, you’re wrong. Instead, the bike is in constant need of speed and scores with a very balanced handling and superb traction. Downhill, this inspires confidence and makes you feel in control, with the rear-wheel literally sucking itself into the ground. However, if you want to scandi-flick into a corner, you’ll have to fight the huge amounts of traction generated by the rear-end. Pulling manuals with the Nomad requires a little physical effort, too. This bike is made for high-speed bike-park laps and really comes to life when you hammer through a berm at Mach 10 or hit a big jump. Here too, you’ll notice the excellent rear-end of the Nomad, which responds sensitively and offers a well-chosen progression without blowing through its travel abruptly. One more positive aspect is that the Nomad is very quiet – we didn’t hear a single rattling noise throughout our test.
Nomad, Megatower, Hightower or Bronson?
Hardly any other manufacturer has such a finely graded line-up of trail and enduro bikes as Santa Cruz. Of course, having a wide range of models to choose from is great, but for some potential customers perhaps a little confusing. So the question is, which bike suits you best? We rode all four of them over the years and can give you a brief overview. If you like to play on trail features, pull off ledges and prefer super nimble handling over high-speed stability, then the Bronson is your bike! While the Hightower is not dissimilar to the Bronson, it combines the above-mentioned features with the better rollover characteristics of bigger wheels. On the other hand, the Hightower is not as agile on tight trail sections and has a slightly firmer rear-end. The Megatower is a great allround enduro bike. If you want to blast down rough trails at full pelt and be prepared for any situation, it’s a superb option. That being said, you’ll have to make some compromises uphill. The Nomad, on the other hand, is the bike-park specialist, built for trails like Dirt-Merchant or A-Line in Whistler. It literally flies from one berm into the next and inspires with its nimble turning behaviour. Small riders, in particular, should find a very strong and powerful all-rounder here – tall riders, on the other hand, should go for the 29er Megatower instead.
Santa Cruz Nomad 2021 – our conclusions
The brand-new Santa Cruz Nomad 5 is a great choice for riders who spend most of their time at the bike park, riding full tilt, sending massive jumps and carving through berms at Mach 10. The bike scores with its terrific suspension and inspires with outstanding cornering manors. That being said, it’s not your typical, super nimble 27.5″ rig. If you’re looking for a versatile all-rounder and ride a frame size Medium or above, you’d be better suited with a 29er like the Megatower.
Tops
- Implements direction changes quickly and with extreme precision
- Oustanding suspension generates loads of traction and offers huge reserves
- Well-thought-out frame
Flops
- Limited all-round characteristics
- Climbs are just a means to an end
- Not the most playful
For more information visit the Santa Cruz Website.
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Words: Photos: Christoph Bayer, Max Schumann
