[Closed] Mk1 / 2 Santa Cruz Nomad

MK2 has the same head angle as the current Bronson, slightly shorter chain stay and lower BB height, in keeping with the smaller wheels.

Mate of mine has gone MK2 Nomad to Bronson, it descends about the same I'd guess, but the Bronson is more flexible in terms of climbing etc.

In short, it's hardly out of touch, the only way it's 'old fashioned' is the wheel size.

Interesting. It doesn't seem to follow the old Santa Cruz format of tall with a short top tube *too* much, and I could always slacken it off with an angleste too.

Hmm.

when you say modern bikes, the mk2 was being sold up until 2014!

i've had a mk 2 for the 3 years and they're great. not as short in the TT as SC's i've had in the past. really capable truly do it all bike. it's the only bike i have now and use it for everything from uplift and DH tracks to enduros to general trail riding.

main criticism would be it sits quite low in the stroke when climbing and can feel a little wallowy, however still climbed well enough. however had my shock pushed tuned an made the world of difference.

can't comment on the MK1, suspect that might feel a bit dated though

Had or extensively ridden all three. Mark 1 was great and lairy but is weird in smaller rings and ate bearings. Mark 2 is great, with a bit steeper HA and more agile feeling than the mark 3. Mark 3 has the spirit of the mark one in a better package, personally I would love to try a 26 version of it as I find 27.5 a bit sluggish on the ups and flats. So all in the mk2 would be my vote if you can't get a three (with little between them)

Had a Mk 2 alu for the last 2 years. Great all rounder. I put works components -2 degree slackset in about 6 months ago to "modernise" it. Even better on the descents now and no great compromise when climbing. Just awaiting a set of Marzocchi 55s to replace my slants ready for the Alps. 🙂

Just rebuilt my mark 1 and rode it round afan last weekend. PRs on every single descent, compared to anthem or scale I've ridden there before (since strava). Personally I think it's great, have used it as 160AM double ring bike, a dh rig with a set of 180 domains and now with a 140 coil pikes and 10 speed set up. Very versatile. The fan threads on mtb say the mark 1 is more DH orientated than the later versions, and is slightly worse at up hill pedallly stuff. Can't say I've noticed really. The frame does come up short, I've a medium, and also ride a large 29er. It probably is a bit to small for me, but it doesn't slow me down. Pro pedal seems to do nothing noticeable to the vpp.

Bearings wise, mine have been replaced once and they are covered by a lifetime warranty....even on the mark 1

Dammit I was hoping you were going to put me off. Not sure what it is yet, friend of a friend job but it sounds like it might be fun. Don't think I'd want to replace the Hemlock though, sounds like the Nomad might be a bit big for trail centres and stuff. But then again I do have an Inbred too.

Hmm.

hmmm I ride a hemlock and have recently been wondering about upgrading to a 26" nomad.
Do you have an angleset on your hemlock fmc?

Mark 1 was great and lairy but is weird in smaller rings and ate bearings.

a polite way of putting it. Climbed like a dog with a broken back in the granny, as it compressed the bottom link effectively shortening the chain stay by 3/4 inch every pedal stroke.

Bearing kit was, what, 90 quid, and lasted less than a year.

Also blew through midstroke on the standard shock (DHX), there were some tuning guides on the web that allowed me to sort it but it involved using some quite extreme settings IIRC.

My dream bike and turned out to be the worst frame I've owned (and I'd been riding exclusively full sus since '97 and have owned most designs). Sold it after less than a year.

Replaced the frame with an Alpine 160 and still got it 4 years later.

That was the kind of convincing I needed 😀

I wouldn't entertain a mk1. A few friends have carbon mk2's built up with good kit and they are nice to ride and a good weight for their travel.

Overkill for most trail centres, but once gravity is on your side they'll quickly come into their element.

Bearings wise, mine have been replaced once and they are covered by a lifetime warranty....even on the mark 1

unlikely the OP is going to be the first/original owner so bit of a moot point.

It's inability to climb efficiently was pretty stark as I took it to Colorado for 2 weeks, which required a lot of granny ring climbing!

I run 1x10, so granny ring climbing is a walk for me. Bearing life could be an issue.

I don't need a new bike, I love my Hemlock but I always fancied a Nomad back in t'day.

I have a mk1 frame - rode it up to a couple of years ago when I changed to a mega for no reason other than I liked the colour.

Owned since 2006 - my thoughts:
- had to replace the bearings twice - second time I used SC life time bearings, they've been fine.
- didn't climb as well as the mega but was fine - took it on plenty 50 mile epics
- angles seemed fine - i like slack bikes
- I had a DHX coil on mine, descended like monster 🙂

Mk 1 geo:
[img] [/img]

Mk 2 geo:
http://www.santacruzbikes.co.uk/site2009/bicycles/geom/nomad.html#

Not much difference at all. Note the Mk1 came in two versions - 06 and some 07 had 1 and 1/8 head tubes, ones after that had a 1.5 headtube.

Edit: I should probably sell my Nomad frame really - anyone want it? Its a 2006 large - have a DHX coil with ti shock and / or a RS monarch for it.

didn't they change the linkages on the Mk2, making the leverage curve less severe and (relatively speaking) more linear?

CTM - sounds like you just didn't get on with the bike, that doesn't make it crap.

I never noticed any issues with granny, but then again it replaced a single ring VP free. I'm a single 34t up front at the moment, and had no issues riding all of the afan trails

Bearings wise, maybe you had a frame slightly out of alignment or something? Mine has done 3 weeks DHilling in morzine now which takes its toll, no problems with bearings.

I did find the DHX air was not great, and if you are buying a mk1 it is probably ready for the bin now any way. I used a slightly longer coil shock for a while which gave it a little more travel, raised the BB and worked well with a 180 fork. I'm using an RP23 off an orange alpine at the moment, and apart from propedal doing nothing it suits the bike and me well.

It is a great bike...I had a go at the energy section at afan full gas on my 140 mrk1 setup - 42/6520. Generally in the top 10% on every segment....I am slower by about 10% uphill than my scale. It weighs 30lb with silly heavy uturn coil pikes, but no dropper.

Don't believe the nay sayers.

Just wish mine fitted properly 🙂

Cant work out how to post pic - here is a linky to a morzine pic
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44108154@N06/10074210334/in/dateposted-public/

Latest build
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44108154@N06/17058242653/in/dateposted-public/

[img] http://https://www.flickr.com/photos/44108154@N06/10074210334/in/dateposted-public/ [/img]