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- Light weight
- Versatile
- Full suspension
- Handling
- Expensive
- Best for shorter rides
It's expensive, but if you can afford it, the Santa Cruz Nomad is one of the best enthusiast mountain bikes. The Nomad is probably overkill if you just want a bike for occasional trail rides or commuting, but if you plan on a variety of riding from steep trails to hard tracks, reviewers say the Santa Cruz Nomad is a versatile bike. At about 31 pounds, the Nomad is relatively light. This is an all-mountain bike, with dual suspension and 160 mm of travel and top-of-the-line components. The Santa Cruz bike comes in four unisex sizes. It is available as a frame only, starting at $1,850 or as a complete bike with different builds. The most affordable build, the Nomad RAM 1.5 (*MSRP: $3,000), is outfitted with a RAM 1.5 kit. The Santa Cruz Nomad is also available as a complete bike with an X9AM 1.5 kit (*MSRP: $4,300) or XOAM 1.5 kit (*MSRP: $5,200).
Several expert review sites cover the Santa Cruz Nomad, and all offer praise for its many virtues. Decline Magazine and Dirt Rag both have extensive reviews that include real-world testing on a variety of terrain. About.com's mountain bike guide also gives a thorough and objective review of the Nomad. Bicycling.com offers a good review and awards the Nomad its 2007 Editor's Choice Award. In addition, user reviews at MTBR.com offer helpful consumer perspective on the abilities, pros and cons of the Santa Cruz Nomad.
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Bicycling.com editors awarded the Santa Cruz Nomad the Editor's Choice Award in 2007, the second time the bike had earned that honor. Testers of the all-mountain bike say it is "super playful" and "climbs like a mountain goat and descends like a downhill rig." Editors review both the specs and capabilities of this versatile bike.
Review: Bike Reviews: Santa Cruz Nomad, Editors of Bicycling.com, June 2007
2. About.com
Though unattributed, this balanced review is clearly written by a knowledgeable contributor. The reviewer especially likes the "excellent geometry and handling," the "plush feel" and the "tight cockpit" of the Santa Cruz Nomad. Extensive testing is detailed, with pros and cons, and a conclusion is reached that the Nomad is "tons of fun" and "leaves little to be desired." (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Santa Cruz Nomad – Bike review of the Santa Cruz Nomad, Editors of About.com
3. Decline MagazineDetails/Subscribe
Decline Magazine offers a very thorough review of the Santa Cruz Nomad based on multi-terrain testing. They detail the various tests of the bike and offer a rundown on the specs. Editors conclude that the Nomad is "a truly versatile trail bike" and say, "The Nomad excels at fulfilling two of the most important needs of an all-mountain bike -- geometry and suspension."
Review: Santa Cruz Nomad, Editors of Decline Magazine, July 1, 2006
Editor Maurice Tierney at Dirt Rag tests the Santa Cruz Nomad for this detailed review. At the end of the day, Tierney writes, "Try as I might, I was unable to find a weak point with this bike." Tierney also comments on the fact that the Nomad fit him even though he is over six feet and 200 lbs.
Review: Santa Cruz Nomad, Maurice Tierney, May 15, 2007
5. MTBR.com
MTBR has well over 100 reviews for the Santa Cruz Nomad and they are all overwhelmingly positive. A few users mention minor issues with the Fox DHX shocks, and some taller riders say that the cockpit is a little tighter than other bikes they have ridden. Otherwise, the only complaint mentioned is the price, but everyone who mentions price later concludes that the bike is worth the investment.
Review: Santa Cruz Nomad, Contributors to MTBR.com
Editors at MountainBikeTales.com detail exactly the terrain used to torture-test the Santa Cruz Nomad. About the only quibble in this rave review is the bike's weight, which at 31 pounds is too heavy for the "gram counting cross country crowd."
Review: Gear Review: Santa Cruz Nomad, Editors of MountainBikeTales.com
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