Suspension travel remains the same with an impressive 170mm of trail front and rear. However, Santa Cruz has upgraded the kinematics with the goal of making the Nomad more supple on square-end hits, improving geometry stability, and creating a more consistent feel through the stroke. With the larger front wheel, the geometry changes. Taking what it learned from the Hightower and Bronson mountain bikes, Santa Cruz claims to have struck a balance between the high-speed stability of a long-travel bike and the agility that Nomad riders expect. Geometry is frame size specific, with chainstays and effective seat tube angles that change on larger bikes. Five sizes are available and there are 10 build options, with prices starting at £5,499 / $5,649 / €5,799 and topping out at £9,699 / $11,199 / €11,799. There’s also a frame-only option for £3,699 / $4,249 / €3,899.

Santa Cruz Nomad 6.0, what’s new?

The new Nomad uses Santa Cruz CC and C carbon.  Each provides the same strength and stiffness, but the more expensive CC Carbon is lighter. Santa Cruz Bicycles

The bike shares the same 170mm front and rear suspension as the outgoing Nomad. The new bike has a 29-inch front wheel in an effort to increase the Nomad’s agility. Available in five frame sizes, from small to extra large. The Nomad is available in both Santa Cruz C and high spec CC carbon layup options. The latter is said to offer the same strength and stiffness as carbon C, but for less weight. As is customary with Santa Cruz carbon frames, each size has a specific carbon layout that affects frame stiffness. This means that larger bikes are stiffer than smaller frames, so each size should provide a similar riding experience. There’s handy storage in the Nomad’s down tube. Santa Cruz Bicycles The new Nomad uses Santa Cruz’s Glovebox internal frame storage. It comes with two inner bags, a pouch and a tool wallet to keep everything organised. Frame storage on the downtube allows you to store essentials for your ride. Two interior pockets help keep everything organized. The suspension system is Santa Cruz’s tried and tested VVP platform with the links rotating together and the shock leading to a lower link. However, Santa Cruz has made some updates designed to improve the Nomad’s performance. Firstly, the anti-squat has been lowered compared to the previous model. This can reduce pedaling efficiency, but it’s also meant to minimize harshness on square-end bumps like rocks, roots, and trail braking bumps. Santa Cruz lowered the Nomad’s anti-squat in an effort to improve square-end shock absorption. Santa Cruz Bicycles Anti-squat on sag is still claimed to be over 100%. It’s great to see Santa Cruz publishing their data on how they measure squat – including frame size, gearing and center of gravity. It would be nice if there was an industry standard for this. The lower starting leverage rate is intended to help better support body weight movements and maintain geometry stability. Also, overall headway has been reduced, which “allowed the suspension to have consistently better tracking qualities throughout the ride,” according to Santa Cruz. With a lower leverage ratio and less headway, Santa Cruz hopes to make the new Nomad more predictable and less prone to weight shifts that upset the suspension’s balance. Santa Cruz Bicycles The rear triangle has 180mm stanchions and can accommodate 27.5×2.6-inch tires according to Santa Cruz. It also uses the brand’s version of SRAM’s universal derailleur hanger. The frame features a folding high and low position chip on the bottom link that allows you to fine-tune the geometry. The flip chip on the bottom link allows you to select your preferred geometry settings between the Nomad’s high and low settings. Santa Cruz Bicycles The Santa Cruz keeps things simple with a threaded bottom bracket and the frame features ISCG05 tabs to attach a chain guide.

New Santa Cruz Nomad geometry

The new Santa Cruz Nomad is available in five sizes, from small to extra large. Santa Cruz increased the chainstay lengths for each frame size with the goal of keeping the weight distribution between the wheels more similar for each frame size. For the high-reversal setting, reach values ​​start at 430mm for small and end at 520mm for extra large. The corresponding chainstay is lengthened from 439mm to 450mm between the small and extra large frames. The head tube angle is 63.8 degrees for all frame sizes. However, the effective seat tube angle increases as the frames get bigger to help keep taller riders in a more centrally seated pedaling position. These range from 77.2 degrees on the small frame to 77.7 degrees on the ultra-large frame, with a peak of 77.9 degrees on the large frame. Seat tube lengths should allow riders to choose between sizes and range from 380mm to 500mm. The bottom bracket is relatively low at 346mm, with 27/28mm drop from the front and rear axles. Replacing the flip chip on the low setting loosens the head tube by 0.3 degrees and the effective seat tube angles by about 0.2 degrees. It drops 3mm from the lower arm heights and reduces reach lengths by around 3mm. Chain lengths gain almost a millimeter.

Santa Cruz Nomad specs and prices

The new Nomad is available in four drivetrain models. The two higher spec bikes with SRAM GX AXS and X01 AXS have a choice of air or coil shocks as well as different wheel options. Thus, 10 construction kits are available. Coilover bikes feature Maxxis DoubleDown tires, while air shock bikes use Maxxis EXO+ tires. While 10 construction kits sounds like a lot, they are easily simplified. The two base models, the Nomad R and Nomad S, use Santa Cruz’s carbon C frame, with no options to choose between coilovers and air shocks. The next model is the Nomad GX AXS MX. This also uses the Carbon C frame. There are four models for this drivetrain build kit. All builds use RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ shocks. There are air and coil options. Both shock options are available with either RaceFace ARC rims or Santa Cruz’s Reserve 30 Carbon, both built around Industry 9 1/1 hubs. That gives four bikes to choose from for this drivetrain. The higher spec Nomad X01 MX bikes use the brand’s CC carbon frame. The four models here follow the same pattern as the GX AXS builds. There are airbag and coilover options for RaceFace ARC wheels and Santa Cruz Reserve 30 carbon rims. Coil bikes for the XO1 AXS use Fox Float DHX2 Factory shocks, while air shock bikes have Fox Float X2 Factory shocks. There’s also a frame-only option so you can build a custom bike. It’s built with higher spec CC carbon and costs £3,699.

Santa Cruz Nomad CR MX

Santa Cruz Nomad CR MX. Santa Cruz Bicycles

Frame: Santa Cruz C carbon, 170mm (6.7in) travel. Forks: RockShox Zeb R, 170mm (6.7in) travel. Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select Drivetrain: SRAM NX Eagle (1×12) Wheels: RaceFace AR rims, SRAM MTH hubs, Maxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ 29×2.5in WT (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ 27.5×2.4in WT (r) Brakes: SRAM Guide G2 RE, 200mm rotors Seatpost/Saddle: SDG Tellis Dropper/WTB Silverado Medium CroMo Bars/stem: e13 TRS Base, 800mm/e13 Base, 40mm Price: £5,499

Santa Cruz Nomad CS MX

Santa Cruz Nomad CS MX. Santa Cruz Bicycles

Frame: Santa Cruz C carbon, 170mm (6.7in) travel. Forks: Fox 38 Performance GRIP, 170mm (6.7in) travel. Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle (1×12) Wheels: RaceFace AR rims, DT Swiss 370 hubs, Maxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ 29×2.5in WT (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ 27.5×2.4in WT (r) Brakes: SRAM Code R, 200mm rotors Seatpost/Saddle: RockShox Reverb Stealth/WTB Silverado Medium CroMo Bars/stem: Burgtec RideWide alloy, 800mm/Burgtec Enduro Mk3, 42mm Price: £6,599

Santa Cruz Nomad C GX AXS Air MX

Santa Cruz Nomad C GX AXS Air MX. Santa Cruz Bicycles

Frame: Santa Cruz C carbon, 170mm (6.7in) travel. Forks: Fox 38 Performance Elite GRIP2, 170mm (6.7in) travel Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ Drivetrain: SRAM GX AXS Eagle (1×12) Wheels: RaceFace ARC Offset 30 rims, i9 1/1 hubs, Maxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ 29×2.5in WT (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ 27.5×2.4in WT (r) Brakes: SRAM Code RS, 200mm rotors Seatpost/Saddle: RockShox Reverb Stealth/WTB Silverado Medium CroMo Bars/stem: Santa Cruz Carbon 35, 800mm/Burgtec Enduro Mk3, 42mm Price: £7,899

Santa Cruz Nomad C GX AXS Coil MX

Santa Cruz Nomad C GX AXS Coil MX. Santa Cruz Bicycles

Frame: Santa Cruz C carbon, 170mm (6.7in) travel. Forks: Fox 38 Performance Elite GRIP2, 170mm (6.7in) travel Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ Coil Drivetrain: SRAM GX AXS Eagle (1×12) Wheels: RaceFace ARC Offset 30 rims, i9 1/1 hubs, Maxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip DoubleDown 29×2.5in WT (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra DoubleDown 27.5×2.4in WT (r) Brakes: SRAM Code RS, 200mm rotors Seatpost/Saddle: RockShox Reverb Stealth/WTB Silverado Medium CroMo Bars/stem: Santa Cruz Carbon 35, 800mm/Burgtec Enduro Mk3, 42mm Price: £7,899

Santa Cruz Nomad C GX AXS Air RSV MX

Santa Cruz Nomad C GX AXS Air RSV MX. Santa Cruz Bicycles

Frame: Santa Cruz C carbon, 170mm (6.7in) travel. Forks: Fox 38 Performance Elite GRIP2, 170mm (6.7in) travel Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ Drivetrain: SRAM GX AXS Eagle (1×12) Wheels: Reserve 30HD rims, i9 1/1 hubs, Maxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ 29×2.5in WT (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ 27.5×2.4in WT (r) Brakes: SRAM Code RS, 200mm…