Is the new Santa Cruz Nomad V6 what its cracked up to be? 2023 Review.

[@andrewcox7416]

I have also noticed that Santa Cruz’s Matte finishes are extremely durable, hats off to quality

[@letsgoletsgoletsgoletsgoletsgo]

matte.. would that make it difficult or impossible to add frame wrap ?

[@andrewcox7416]

@@letsgoletsgoletsgoletsgoletsgo no it doesn’t make it anymore different than a gloss color from my experience, you can also choose to do a gloss or matte finish protection as well

[@seanykinz]

Super happy with my v3 hightower but i keep watching these nomad/megatower videos and wish i had gone with a longer travel bike

[@alex_rogan]

This has been one of the most helpful reviews of the Nomad. No fluff just the facts. Particularly in comparison to the Mega Tower and Bronson. I am trying to figure out which of the three to buy and to hear this is more playful then the Mega Tower i think has made my decision. Thank you.

[@mikehenkelman2111]

What an awesome Nomad review. Love the laid back informative approach

[@jonthesailorman]

I’ll hopefully be able to add a Nomad to the quiver along side my 5010 v5. You know, speaking of 5010, noticed you don’t have a video review up on that yet. Cmon man that things a riot! 😁.

[@hermansonking1137]

I'm pretty sure I bought my nomad 6 frame from you on pinkbike. Best thing I've ever bought the bike rips

[@DrJMTB]

This is the one 👌

[@DarrenSmith-x6h]

Great review ,im tossing up between nomad and mega ur review really helps,cheers

[@chriswoodard8813]

It would be interesting to compare this to the Transition Patrol and if that bike fits between the Bronson and Nomad.

Thanks for review 👍🏻👍🏻

[@coastqr5123]

Could we please see a comparison between this Nomad and the Intense Tracer S? Maybe throw the Propain Tyee in there also. They all have a VPP style suspension design and all are supposed to climb great for enduro bikes. Thanks!

[@mattgrogan6353]

Solid review 👊🏽

[@chrispalanca1250]

ive seen 4 of these color in person. but the liquid matte blue is definitely a killer but thats subjective i wish ive seen it first before i pull the trigger. also i agree that bb is a bit low on this model. but i never expected this bike to excel on uphill atleast compare to my cf7 spectral.

[@HD-on2eg]

I have a V4 Nomad, with the CC rear link. Bike absolutely shreds. With a coil it plows anything, with air shock (X2), with two tokens, it feels snappy and playful. I just can’t get with the mixed wheel sizes.

[@DrJMTB]

That would be wild with a Cascade link for sure. My only real gripe on MX is that it does seem to hang up a bit more when landing in roots/rocks. What’s your main gripe?

[@HD-on2eg]

@@DrJMTB I have never ridden the newer MX bikes, but I would just feel unbalanced (in my head at least), with a mixed wheel setup. I don’t like full 29 either because your butt gets wheel burn when your hanging over the back or landing jumps. They should have the option to have full 27.5.

[@damianjensen7092]

Great video Really helped me understand the differences between Bronson and nomad and which to buy Thanks again

[@tabby4kyeet589]

There probably going to put a high pivot on the v7. Love Santa Cruz but wish they kept 27.5. Hey just seem to be following trends I love mullets but still the full 27.5 is better in my option

[@sztigirigi]

For park for sure. But if you're going in the wild it's super nice to have mixed wheels. I'm 6 foot and I'm the Alps I still rub my ass against a 29" rear wheel. And 27.5 up front is too small for many features. So mixed makes a lot of sense there. And it still rips in a bike park. So as a one quiver machine mullet is better. If someone spends 90% of the time in a bike park then sure. 2 small wheels is the choice.

[@HD-on2eg]

I also think they need to raise the BB up a bit on the Nomad. I mean it’s a 170mm travel big bike. People who ride this bike are going to probably ride some chunky terrain. Shorter cranks are almost a must on the bike. I have 165mm cranks on mine, probably should have went with 160mm. Shorter cranks also make climbing the bike a bit easier too.

[@ccallure]

So sick

[@DrJMTB]

👊🏽

[@juanhidalgo7043]

I like the bike except the 27.5 rear wheel. I don’t see any venefit of MX wheels on my riding. I bet 100% if the bike had option for full 29er, 60-70% of riders would ride full 29er Nomad. I decided to go with a yeti sb 160. Best decision I have ever made.

[@DrJMTB]

Full 29er Nomad is basically the Megatower. Congrats on the Yeti, they're nice bikes.

[@KtunaxaMTB]

I bought the new Nomad in Gypsum but seeing your set up in how it looks makes me wish I went with block. The metallic decals and grey ZEB fork look mint!

[@DrJMTB]

I think it's the nature of being a MTBer. I've seen several gypsum builds that made me jealous lol! Cool thing is, I think SC nailed both colors.

[@lenkrad7946]

What's your feeling with the 2023 coil shock? Have you compared it with an air shox in that Nomad? And how is it with climbing when you switch it to closed (pedal) mode?

[@DrJMTB]

It's the same exact bike, just with a Fox coil instead of the Rockshox SDU coil I used. From my experience, climbing is quite good relative to it being a longer travel bike. The lockout will certainly help for longer, mellower climbs.

[@lenkrad7946]

@DrJMTB thanks mate. I'm just curios it could be too plush with coil and less poppy ..

[@danielberube4142]

Hi, Thanks for the really informative vids. You rode the Mega and the Nomad,how is the Nomad climbing vs the Megatower? Big thanks!

[@DrJMTB]

Slightly better on the Nomad. Slightly.

[@denduro]

Thanks for the video! Im exactly your size and Im leaning towards a L too... but simply adding a 32mm stem to slightly reduce the reach while staying in Hi position. Have you tried that yet ? Thanks

[@DrJMTB]

I’d almost suggest going medium if you’re thinking of running a stem that short. A reduced offset fork with this slack of a head tube angle can start to feel wonky with a super short stem. As an example, Transition recommend not running any shorter stem than 40mm with their SBG bikes which is basically the same concept here.

[@robertrob6547]

I have V1 megatower, L size. 5.9 height. Wonder if I should go L nomad too. Maybe will put 10 mm spacer under steam, na put lower handlebars, to be on the same Reach as now. Stack will rise then. Do You feal that New nomad is higher on stack?

[@jonibz1456]

What would you say the comparisons are between the Bronson V4, both up and down? i Have a v4 Bronson, but only go to a bike park once a year for a week. The Bronson v4 was way heavier then my old V2, so i keep thinking may just go for a Nomad. I'm pretty happy with the Bronson on my local trails, but keep thinking with todays better suspension, just go with the bigger bike.

[@DrJMTB]

If you watch my “big built Bronson” video, you’ll see I had the new Bronson with 170/180 travel. I’d say the new Nomad pedals better than that setup did. I’d say the stock Bronson pedals better than either of those, but only slightly. But the V6 Nomad is super impressive, and if you’re on the fence, don’t let the Nomad’s travel numbers scare you away.

[@jonibz1456]

@@DrJMTB Thanks for the info

[@jamesmarshall7551]

How does the Nomad compare to your previous V4 Bronso n with Cascade link?

[@DrJMTB]

@@jamesmarshall7551 if I knew in advance that I wanted to make the Bronson longer travel, I would just get the nomad upfront

[@jamesmarshall7551]

@@DrJMTBI’m currently on V4 with Cascade link. I recently started seeing V6 Nomad frames on sale. I am curious how much of a difference there really is and if it’s worth the investment.

[@patrickshoemaker6047]

Would you take this over the megatower for bike park? I'm leaning towards more playful. I think this would be the ticket. I ride a high tower for trail.

[@DrJMTB]

If I were getting it for an exclusive park bike, I'd probably lean toward Megatower, but the Nomad will most certainly take you there as well. If I were going to do some trail/enduro style riding and also take it to a bike park, Nomad.

[@323johnnybravo]

How would you say this bike stacks up to the V1 Megatower??

[@DrJMTB]

Rear suspension kinematics are improved exponentially. I was fairly put out with the lack of progression in the rear-end of that bike. I would say that the Nomad(and even the V2 Mega) is an improvement in every way. Plus a 38 stanchion fork goes a long way on this style of bike towards the side of capability. Hope this helps 👍

[@323johnnybravo]

@@DrJMTB Sick build !! Thanks for the input. Both bikes are on my short list for this season.

[@Nichaelesv]

My 2018 5010 had a low bb. I had to get used to the half crank game.

[@womanofgoldenwords3881]

I have a 2022 5010 and I too have a lot of peddle strikes

[@whitneymcduffee6529]

What’s the snack capacity of the glove box? Asking for a friend. 😂

[@DrJMTB]

I’d say you could live for at least 3 days, depending on how smart with your food selection you are 😂

[@whitneymcduffee6529]

@@DrJMTB Not gonna lie. I had to look up “kinematics.” We didn’t cover that in the accounting program.

[@DrJMTB]

@@whitneymcduffee6529 I don’t even know what it means. It just sounded like I did 😅

[@danielray1558]

So I’ve got the Bronson- stock setup- but I’m thinking about selling it and buying a nomad- would you make that trade? I know I could put a 170 zeb on the Bronson, but that v begins to mess with the geo- so been thinking to just swap bikes?

[@DrJMTB]

Bronson is an awfully good bike as well. If you're finding yourself smashing park/shuttle laps a lot, I'd consider it. If not, the Bronson is pretty burly in its own regard, but definitely more nimble.

[@koreanmtnbiker2931]

Why is glove box not water proof? Considering the cost of bike this is not acceptable!

[@panicrev555]

why does "do me a solid" always remind me of taking a dump?

[@MYZT1KON3]

Would you buy a Medium if you could do it again? I’ve ridden the large, same height and inseam as you. Dropper insert depth is a major concern on the medium.

[@DrJMTB]

Yes, you'll definitely have to have more exposed post on a medium at our height. That being said, if I were doing it again, and we're going to be doing a lot of mixed riding/mellower riding, I'd probably be inclined to go medium and try running it in the high setting. I feel like I'm perpetually between sizes...

[@hewitt3784]

Why would you build such a sweet bike?😂

[@JoeDemmer]

What Santa Cruz Logo is that? Slik graphics? If so which colorway.. Thanks

[@DrJMTB]

Custom done locally

[@JoeDemmer]

@@DrJMTB thx it looks killer. Do they have an online shop?

[@DrJMTB]

@@JoeDemmer thanks! And no, just a local guy that comes by the shop and puts them on by hand

[@schloemo]

Nobody buys SC bikes anymore, they’re way too expensive relative to other great bikes available.

[@DrJMTB]

As a shop owner who sells them, people are definitely still buying them. There's a quality factor that Santa Cruz has dialed in that isn't found with all brands and is hard to put into words unless you're able to get your hands on one. That being said, I agree that Santa Cruz does need to continually evaluate their pricing, like all brands.

[@dadventuretv2538]

😂

[@thelittleewokboss9929]

I just ordered one lmao