the drizzle
Likes Bikes and Dirt
I recently jumped at the chance to pick up a secondhand nomad 4 frame for a reasonable price.
I have been riding a nomad 3 with an 11.6 shock and have found the bike amazing. Just curious to ride something a little more modern and shiny. After reading through a very long thread on mtbr, articles on the n4 with some direct comparisons to the n3 I decided I would commit to this new (to me) frame.
After selling my n3 frame and my 11.6, this frame with an X2 shock only owes me $800 which I could stomach. Unfortunately I had to part ways with my 11.6 which was superb. I looked into getting the i2i and stroke changed along with the side stack bridge and a specific tune for the nomad 4, however it was going to cost $650usd plus shipping to and from Push in Colorado so I decided to part ways with it. The frame did not include a shock so I grabbed a metric float X2 off one of the sellers mates which reviews pretty well on this particular bike.
The geometry on the nomad is designed around a 170mm fork and I planned on using parts from my previous build which included a 160mm fox 36 W/ push acs3 coil conversion. Unfortunately to increase travel on the fork requires modifications to both the damper and the push ACS3 kit. I got some quotes for the the damper mods and it was quite pricey so I found a 180mm damper for sale on us eBay for around $100usd which I snapped up. The push kit required $114usd of parts to modify the air bump stop and is a diy job. Still for a measly 10mm of travel it was a costly endeavour. I did breifly post the fork for sale and consider taking advantage of the DVO 20% off sale by purchasing an onyx single crown at 180mm travel. In the end decided I wasn't ready to part with my pushed '36. Finding a reasonably priced complete damper which had been removed from new fork helped me reach this decision. Plus matchy suspension with the X2 shock.
Sizing wise, I was on an xl n3 frame but after looking at the charts on the n4 it sits between the large and the xl when compared to the n3. According to Santa Cruz recommendations i sit between large and xl for the n4. I reckon large should be pretty spot on as I like a playful ride. Will likely swap out the 35mm stem for a 50mm stem and the 760mm bars for some 800mm bars to make it feel a bit bigger.
I have some pretty sweet carbon nextie rims laced to i9 hubs which I want to keep. Since the new frame is boost, I picked up a boost adapter kit of eBay. hopefully there are no issues fitting it. I am a bit worried about my rear rotor size as I have read that the cheap adapters which don't require the rear wheel to be re-dished recommend a maximum rotor size is 180mm and I run 203mm front and rear.
Other things I want to get sorted are:
- RWC needle bearing kit for the rear eyelet on the shock (thanks for the inspiration b-rabbit).
- Boost chain ring for my hope cranks if the chain line is terrible and creates poor shifting
- Fidlock water bottle system
- Change the hose on the brakes from braided to standard (I have one kit in my spares bin), because black.
Specs.
Frame: 2018 Santa Cruz Nomad CC (large)
Shock: Fox factory float X2 (230x60)
Fork: 2018 Fox 36 factory RC2 with push acs3 coil conversion (black spring)
Seatpost: Bikeyoke revive 185mm with triggy remote
Saddle: Ergon SMA comp
Headset: Cane creek 40 series
Stem: Hope 35mm long (35mm clamp)
Handlebars: Racefaceface sixc. Cut to 760mm. (35mm clamp)
Grips: Ergon GA2
Brakes: Hope tech V4 with braided lines
Rotors: Hope floating rotors (203mm front and rear)
Rims: Nextie AM layup 32h 38mm external
Hubs: Industry 9 torch classic 32h (boost adapter in the rear)
Spokes: DT swiss competition with brass nipples
Tyres: Front - Maxxis minion DHF 2.6 x 27.5
Rear - Maxxis DHR 2.4 x 27.5
Shifter: XTR M9000 11sp
Derailleur: XT M8000 11sp (long cage)
Cassette: Sunrace mx8 11-50 11sp
Chain: XTR 11sp
Cranks: Hope (175mm)
Chainring: Hope direct mount boost 32t
Bottom bracket: Hope 30mm spindle
Chainguide: One up bash gaurd and guide combo
Unfortunately I am stuck in Sydney and @TheAzza was kind enough to pick up the frame for me.
Hopefully get back to Melbourne next weekend to swap all the parts over.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
I have been riding a nomad 3 with an 11.6 shock and have found the bike amazing. Just curious to ride something a little more modern and shiny. After reading through a very long thread on mtbr, articles on the n4 with some direct comparisons to the n3 I decided I would commit to this new (to me) frame.
After selling my n3 frame and my 11.6, this frame with an X2 shock only owes me $800 which I could stomach. Unfortunately I had to part ways with my 11.6 which was superb. I looked into getting the i2i and stroke changed along with the side stack bridge and a specific tune for the nomad 4, however it was going to cost $650usd plus shipping to and from Push in Colorado so I decided to part ways with it. The frame did not include a shock so I grabbed a metric float X2 off one of the sellers mates which reviews pretty well on this particular bike.
The geometry on the nomad is designed around a 170mm fork and I planned on using parts from my previous build which included a 160mm fox 36 W/ push acs3 coil conversion. Unfortunately to increase travel on the fork requires modifications to both the damper and the push ACS3 kit. I got some quotes for the the damper mods and it was quite pricey so I found a 180mm damper for sale on us eBay for around $100usd which I snapped up. The push kit required $114usd of parts to modify the air bump stop and is a diy job. Still for a measly 10mm of travel it was a costly endeavour. I did breifly post the fork for sale and consider taking advantage of the DVO 20% off sale by purchasing an onyx single crown at 180mm travel. In the end decided I wasn't ready to part with my pushed '36. Finding a reasonably priced complete damper which had been removed from new fork helped me reach this decision. Plus matchy suspension with the X2 shock.
Sizing wise, I was on an xl n3 frame but after looking at the charts on the n4 it sits between the large and the xl when compared to the n3. According to Santa Cruz recommendations i sit between large and xl for the n4. I reckon large should be pretty spot on as I like a playful ride. Will likely swap out the 35mm stem for a 50mm stem and the 760mm bars for some 800mm bars to make it feel a bit bigger.
I have some pretty sweet carbon nextie rims laced to i9 hubs which I want to keep. Since the new frame is boost, I picked up a boost adapter kit of eBay. hopefully there are no issues fitting it. I am a bit worried about my rear rotor size as I have read that the cheap adapters which don't require the rear wheel to be re-dished recommend a maximum rotor size is 180mm and I run 203mm front and rear.
Other things I want to get sorted are:
- RWC needle bearing kit for the rear eyelet on the shock (thanks for the inspiration b-rabbit).
- Boost chain ring for my hope cranks if the chain line is terrible and creates poor shifting
- Fidlock water bottle system
- Change the hose on the brakes from braided to standard (I have one kit in my spares bin), because black.
Specs.
Frame: 2018 Santa Cruz Nomad CC (large)
Shock: Fox factory float X2 (230x60)
Fork: 2018 Fox 36 factory RC2 with push acs3 coil conversion (black spring)
Seatpost: Bikeyoke revive 185mm with triggy remote
Saddle: Ergon SMA comp
Headset: Cane creek 40 series
Stem: Hope 35mm long (35mm clamp)
Handlebars: Racefaceface sixc. Cut to 760mm. (35mm clamp)
Grips: Ergon GA2
Brakes: Hope tech V4 with braided lines
Rotors: Hope floating rotors (203mm front and rear)
Rims: Nextie AM layup 32h 38mm external
Hubs: Industry 9 torch classic 32h (boost adapter in the rear)
Spokes: DT swiss competition with brass nipples
Tyres: Front - Maxxis minion DHF 2.6 x 27.5
Rear - Maxxis DHR 2.4 x 27.5
Shifter: XTR M9000 11sp
Derailleur: XT M8000 11sp (long cage)
Cassette: Sunrace mx8 11-50 11sp
Chain: XTR 11sp
Cranks: Hope (175mm)
Chainring: Hope direct mount boost 32t
Bottom bracket: Hope 30mm spindle
Chainguide: One up bash gaurd and guide combo
Unfortunately I am stuck in Sydney and @TheAzza was kind enough to pick up the frame for me.
Hopefully get back to Melbourne next weekend to swap all the parts over.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
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