Santa Cruz Nomad 7 Review: First Look

The new Santa Cruz Nomad has officially landed, and if you’re searching for a true long travel trail bike that can climb efficiently and descend without limits, this might be the most complete Nomad yet.

For the seventh iteration of the Nomad, Santa Cruz took an already performant platform and tweaked it to make it even better.  With updated VPP suspension and meaningful frame improvements, the latest Nomad is built to handle modern enduro riding at the highest level.

So what’s actually new, and is it worth the upgrade? Here’s everything you need to know.

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What’s New on the Santa Cruz Nomad 7

Redesigned VPP Suspension

One of the first things you'll notice, is the shock tunnel design carried from the Bronson and Hightower, making it easier to access the shock bolt on the lower link. As always, Santa Cruz has clearly put a strong focus on serviceability, making this bike as easy to work on as it is to ride. Like the rest of their lineup, it’s backed by a lifetime warranty and the brand’s well known “Bearings for Life” program, which continues to set the standard for long term reliability.

The reworked VPP platform delivers:

• More efficient climbing with improved anti squat characteristics
• Reduced harshness on square edge hits
• Better traction and composure across rough terrain

On descents, the updated anti rise reduces brake induced stiffness, allowing the rear suspension to stay active and maintain grip when it matters most.

It’s equipped with a two position flip chip that lets riders fine tune the bike depending on the terrain and riding style. Set it in the high position for more efficient pedaling and a snappier feel on the climbs, or switch it to low for added stability and confidence when things point downhill.

170mm Travel + Mullet Setup = Maximum Capability

The Nomad stays true to its identity with:

• 170mm VPP rear travel
• 170mm fork up front
• MX (mullet) wheel configuration

This setup balances stability and agility, making it ideal for aggressive riders tackling steep, technical terrain or bike park laps. If you’re looking for a long travel enduro bike that doesn’t feel sluggish, the Nomad hits a sweet spot.

Lighter, Stronger, More Refined Frame

Geometry and Fit: Built for Every Rider

Fit and balance have clearly been a major focus in the new Santa Cruz Nomad. Instead of scaling the same design up and down, Santa Cruz has taken the time to refine each frame size individually, adjusting stiffness, chainstay length, and seat tube angle to better suit the rider it’s built for.

It’s a subtle approach, but one that pays off on the trail. No matter the size, the bike feels composed, predictable, and well balanced. Smaller riders get the same confident handling as those on larger frames, and taller riders won’t feel like they’re overpowering the bike. It all adds up to a more consistent ride experience across the entire size range.

Each frame size (S–XXL) features:

• Size-specific stiffness tuning
• Size-specific chainstay lengths
• Optimized seat tube angles

First Ride Impressions

We were fortunate to get early access to the new Nomad several weeks ahead of its official launch, and we knew exactly who should be first in line to ride it.

Branden, our Warehouse Operations Manager and a long time Santa Cruz devotee, was the obvious choice. He’s been part of the Steed team for nearly 21 years (!) and has been riding Santa Cruz bikes for nearly just as long.

Currently on a Megatower, Branden has owned and ridden a wide range of Santa Cruz models over the years, including multiple generations of the Hightower (LT, 2, and 3) and earlier versions of the Nomad (1 and 2). He’s also spent time aboard most of the lineup through testing and demo rides, giving him a well rounded perspective on how the bikes have evolved.

Here are his first impressions on the all-new Nomad 7.

Branden's Setup

• Height: 5'11"
• Weight: 160 lbs
• Inseam: 30"
• Bike: Nomad X0 AXS Reserve - Size M 

Cockpit:

The setup featured a OneUp Carbon bar with a 35 mm rise, trimmed to 780 mm, with 10 mm of spacers under the stem. This positioned the bars at a comfortable height relative to my saddle, which works well for my relatively short inseam.

Seatpost:

The seat tube on the Nomad is quite short and the dropper length (OneUp V3 180mm on size medium) was definitely suitable but I could have run one size longer to get even more drop and the saddle further out of the way. Size large come with a 210mm and XL come with 240mm. 

Suspension: 

On the suspension side of things the bike came spec'd with the brand new Fox 38 Factory Grip X2 fork and Fox Factory DHX2 coil rear shock. I set both of these up with Santa Cruz’s recommendations.

• Fork: 68psi in the fork with low speed rebound 8 clicks from closed and high speed rebound 7 clicks from closed, while low speed compression was 8 clicks from closed and high compression 6 clicks from closed.
• Shock: The rear shock had a 450lbs spring and low speed rebound at 13 clicks from closed and high speed rebound 5 clicks from closed. Low speed compression was 12 clicks from closed and high speed compression was set to 6 clicks from closed.

Tires:

• Front - Maxxis Highroller III MaxxGrip EXO+ inflated to 21psi
• Rear - Maxxis Minion DHR II MaxxTerra DD inflated to 23psi

Descending Impressions

The Nomad has always favoured descending, and this latest edition is no exception. I found the frame geometry easy to get comfortable on almost immediately, which inspired confidence right away. Despite its 170mm of front and rear travel, the bike’s length and mullet setup gave it a surprisingly agile feel on descents. At higher speeds, it remained composed and stable, encouraging you to push harder with confidence. It was also easy to jump and pop off trail features.

As for the new Fox 38, the updates feel like a step in the right direction. With my baseline settings, it performed very well out of the gate, supple off the top, reducing small bump chatter, with smooth progression through the travel. For North Shore terrain, I would personally run the compression a couple of clicks firmer than recommended.

The DHX2 rear shock paired well with the bike, absorbing everything with ease and delivering a deep, plush feel on bigger impacts like drops or g-outs. While the Nomad meets expectations as a capable, confidence inspiring descender, what stood out most was its playful character and the lightness in how it handles.

Climbing Impressions

Climbing the Nomad caught me off guard in a few ways. For a bike with 170mm of travel, it feels quite efficient. I expected it to feel sluggish on the way up but was pleasantly surprised. On roads or smoother climbs, the VPP suspension pedals efficiently with minimal movement, and the DHX2’s pedal switch can firm things up even more, almost locking out the rear.

The bike excelled on technical climbs over roots and rocks, with the revised VPP keeping the rear wheel tracking the ground extremely well, never feeling hung up on obstacles.

What really stood out, though, wasn’t the bike itself but DT Swiss’s new DEG freehub technology. It’s designed to isolate drivetrain forces from the suspension, helping the bike stay more active on descents by adding float and reducing engagement frequency. I do think it benefits descending, but it takes some adjustment when climbing. On technical sections where you’re ratcheting the cranks or using half pedal strokes, you have to time your efforts because of the slight delay before engagement. I noticed this right away because the bike was setup in the most extreme 20° setting, though it can be adjusted down to 10° or even 0° depending on preference.

Ultimately, it comes down to riding style and trail choice, but it’s an interesting piece of technology with clear benefits.

Megatower Comparison

After the initial ride on the new Nomad, I compared it to my daily driver, the current Megatower from Santa Cruz. Both sit in the same category, long-travel enduro bikes built to handle anything, and in many ways, they’re very similar. You can ride either for the same purpose and have a great time.

The Megatower, with its dual 29" wheels, feels more composed at high speeds when really pushing, like in an enduro race. The Nomad, on the other hand, has a more playful character with quicker, more agile handling on the trail.

Climbing wise, they’re surprisingly extremely close. The Megatower might edge out slightly on technical terrain, but it’s marginal.

Ultimately, both are incredibly fun bikes, it just comes down to how you want your bike to feel on the descent.

Additional Notes:

I played around with the updated Glovebox, and it’s definitely an improvement. The door fits more tightly to the frame, and the latch has a more solid, positive click than before.

Santa Cruz Nomad Review: Who Is It For?

The Nomad 7 is built for riders who want:

• Maximum travel without sacrificing pedaling efficiency

• Confident, aggressive geometry

• A bike that can handle bike park laps, enduro racing, and big mountain trail days

If your riding leans toward steep descents, technical terrain, and pushing limits, this is where the Nomad shines.

Builds Available at Steed Cycles

At Steed Cycles, the new Nomad will be available in multiple builds, including:

• 90
• GX AXS
• XT Di2 Coil
• XO AXS RSV Coil

Most models will be available in the Matte Metallic Earth colourway (shown above), while the 90 build stands out with an Aqua Magenta finish. Riders looking for the best value should keep an eye on the XT Di2 Coil build, which pairs Factory suspension with premium components like DT DEG hubs and Shimano’s electronic drivetrain.

Final Thoughts: Is the New Nomad Worth It?

If you’ve been searching for a “Santa Cruz Nomad review” to decide whether this bike is right for you, the takeaway is clear:

This is the most refined Nomad to date.

It climbs better, descends faster, and offers more usable performance across the board. With updated suspension kinematics, reduced weight, and thoughtful real world features, the Nomad 7 continues to push the boundaries of what a long travel enduro bike can be.

Shipping Canada Wide

Whether you’re ready to upgrade or just want to learn more, we’re here to help. We ship Canada wide with full online support, so you can get the bike you want no matter where you ride. Reach out to our team now at sales@steedcycles.com.

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