Santa Cruz Bicycles has long been a powerhouse in the MTB world, famous for producing high-performance mountain bikes featuring their signature Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension design. Within the Santa Cruz bikes range, the Santa Cruz Nomad stands out as a flagship, long-travel enduro MTB built for steep descents, bike park laps and rugged terrain. The seventh-generation Nomad 7 features a mixed-wheel (mullet) configuration, pairing a fast-rolling 29" front wheel with an agile 27.5" rear wheel, alongside a premium, ultra-compliant Carbon CC frame.
To suit different riding styles, component preferences and budgets, the Santa Cruz Nomad MTB range offers several build packages. Rather than choosing a single "best" option, finding the right Santa Cruz mountain bike comes down to whether you prefer air or coil suspension, mechanical or electronic shifting, and your desired wheelset material.
Santa Cruz - Comparison Chart
Nomad 7 CC 90 2027
The Nomad 7 CC 90 build serves as an excellent entry point into the premium CC-grade carbon frame line, offering a highly dependable, hard-charging component package. Up front, it utilizes a RockShox Zeb Select fork with 170mm of travel, paired with a RockShox Super Deluxe Select rear shock, creating a balanced and easily adjustable air-sprung suspension platform. For stopping power, it relies on SRAM Maven Base brakes, which deliver massive gravity-oriented performance. The drivetrain features a SRAM 90 Eagle T-Type 12-speed system, bringing robust electronic shifting to a more accessible tier. This model rolls on an aluminum wheelset consisting of a Reserve 30|TR AL on the front and a Reserve 30|HD AL on the rear, providing a durable setup built to withstand hard impacts on the trail.
Nomad 7 CC XT Di2 2027
For riders who favor Shimano's electronic ecosystem and a highly tuneable coil shock, the CC XT Di2 configuration steps up the technical features significantly. This build swaps over to a premium Fox 38 Float Factory fork with the advanced Grip X2 damper, giving riders 170mm of highly adjustable front travel. The rear end is handled by a plush, downhill-focused Fox DHX2 Factory coil shock, providing superb small-bump compliance and traction. It is powered by a Shimano XT M8250 Di2 SGS 12-speed electronic drivetrain, giving fans of Shimano crisp, automated, or manual electronic gear changes. Braking is upgraded to SRAM Maven Silver brakes for enhanced heat management, and the bike features a tough, resilient Reserve 30|HD AL 6069 aluminum wheelset.
Nomad 7 CC X0 AXS 2027
Sitting at the top tier of the lineup, the Nomad 7 CC X0 AXS is a premium dream build designed for maximum precision, weight optimization, and elite componentry. It shares the same high-end suspension architecture as the XT build, utilizing a 170mm Fox 38 Float Factory Grip X2 fork alongside the ultra-plush Fox DHX2 Factory rear coil shock. The defining feature of this build is its wireless SRAM X0 Eagle AXS T-Type 12-speed transmission, which delivers incredibly smooth shifting even under heavy pedaling loads. Braking is managed by the high-performance SRAM Maven Silver brakes. To round out this elite package, the bike moves to a top-of-the-line Reserve 30|HD Carbon wheelset, offering unparalleled stiffness, acceleration, and a dampening quality that elevates the ride feel on aggressive descents.
Posted by Paul Hoyle on 20th Jul 2026
Need any further help in choosing your next bike? Drop us a line on 01254 959345, or alternatively fill out the form below. We'd be glad to help.
