Santa Cruz Bicycles

Nomad Carbon CC Eagle X01 Complete Mountain Bike - 2017

Santa Cruz's Nomad Carbon CC Eagle X01 Complete Mountain Bike returns for 2017 with the same slack, long, and low geometry reminiscent of a DH-specific bike like the V10, so it's built for riders whose days in the saddle typically resemble the barely controlled chaos of a calcio storico match rather than an easy spin on singletrack. All that line-sticking slackness and terrain-gobbling suspension don't come with a DH weight penalty, though, as the claimed frame weight hovers right around 2,800g. The Nomad obliterates the already-blurred lines separating trail, all-mountain, and DH rigs, combining a slacker-than-slack 65-degree head tube angle with 6.5in of travel and a responsive Virtual Pivot Point suspension for a bike that flies to the top and drops in like a gravity machine.

If the Nomad's geometry says "DH bomber," then the light, stiff Carbon CC frame construction absolutely screams "jet engine climber." The frame features the same material and build as 2015's top Nomad model, which means that it remains Santa Cruz's best. For the CC build, the engineers use a higher modulus carbon than the Carbon C model, so less material is required to hit the same strength and stiffness numbers. Less material equates to less weight, and, well, you can see where we're going with this. Climbing and pure speed both benefit when there's less mass for your engine to propel.

The frame's two carbon triangles are built as whole pieces rather than glued together from disparate bits. This saves weight and increases structural integrity by allowing Santa Cruz to wrap carbon continuously through and around key junctures. This method reinforces the frame with less material while eliminating the artificial stress points that result from bonded construction methods. Finally, the carbon is also compacted from the inside and the outside for a more even finish that avoids any structural defects, excess material build-up, and resin pooling for — you guessed it — even more weight savings.

All that carbon goodness meets at a VPP suspension platform, which returns for the new model year with the same improved mid-stroke support and small bump compliance that maintains snappy pedaling to take advantage of the stiff, lightweight chassis and efficient, 17.1in chainstays while piloting the Nomad's 6.5in of travel to the top of your favorite runs. The system's two counter-rotating links yield a vertical wheel path in initial travel to maintain a firm pedaling feel over small bumps and climbs. As the bike compresses deeper into the suspension, the axle moves rearward to accommodate big hits for extra margin of error when you’re experimenting with the ragged edge of control.

The build kit is just as equal to the hardships of demolishing all aspects of a course, featuring SRAM's 11-speed X01 groupset and a massive 10-42t cassette. As with the previous Nomad X01, suspension duties are handled by RockShox with a Lyrik RCT3 up front, and a Monarch Plus in the rear. This has become perhaps our favorite suspension package for aggressive use, thanks to the combination of controlled stroke and plush feel. RockShox's Reverb Stealth dropper is another returning highlight, but the brakes change from Shimano's XT to SRAM's new Guide RSC model.