Great review! I unfortunately had my bikes stolen last year. However, my renters insurance paid me out for the loss and i was left with quite a bit of money. So i got to test almost a dozen bikes including the Nomad and the Megatower. I loved em both but on my timed testing i was faster on the nomad and i credit that to my cornering speed. Both bikes charge hard in the straights and over tech, but there is a lot of time lost in races in the corners. So i wound up buying the nomad in the xo1 axs reserve air model (what a mouthful 🤣) Both of those bikes have the same front triangle and the rear triangle is what really differentiates them along with the rear wheel size. there are a couple of things id like to add and comment on after owning the bike for a year even though its not the megatower i think these things will apply to either bike. First off im a big guy and im riding the xxl frame. having the size specific chain stays and the size specific carbon layouts this bike actually feels like the same bike throughout the size range. Even though some other companies claim to do this many use 2-3 chain stays so the xl/xxl and the S-L will have the same rear triangle. With Santa Cruz you get a bike that has been individually tuned for that specific size. Something that is really appreciated when you are at either end of the spectrum. The bike is awesome and id say if you're riding a small or a xl/xxl i would really recommend testing out a Santa Cruz they really went the extra mile trying to make every size ride the same. Not to mention the lifetime warranty and free bearing replacements are a huge reason to look at the brand regardless of what bike you're looking to buy. i had two big cons with the bike and they had to do with the part spec. The EXO+ casing i really dont feel like belongs on a bike like this. The tires i immediatley replaced for some magic mary addix ultra soft Dh casing. It immediate improved my handling performance. The second was the seat post. Santa Cruz is saying it has the One up dropper post but you will still find some with the RockShox reverb post (which they are phasing out of their inventory) avoid that seat post at all costs. Ive had two replaced under warranty and when this third one goes im just gonna replace it with a cable operated post. lastly id like to talk about that flip chip. As far as my understanding goes after a year of riding the bike the flip chip isn't really there to change geometry. It does slightly change the geo however what it really does is change the leverage ratio in the rear end. So if you want the bike to feel a little more progressive put it in the high setting, and if you want to have the bike have a more linear feel keep it in the low setting. Having the factory float x2 i keep the bike in the low setting having it be more linear and i rely on volume spacers in the shock to increase the progressive feel in the rear end. i know that's a lot to read hopefully someone who is looking to purchase either the megatower or the nomad will see it and it will help the understand the bike more and help them decide which one they want!
@bradholmes4 Thanks for the comment! Some great information there that should really help people considering this bike or the Nomad. I agree that SC does a great job with all the attention to detail, build quality and warranty
I absolutely love my SC Megatower V2, I got the GX AXS RSV build which comes in at 15.19kg, I'm stoked on it and have been riding it for the past 5 months. I've got mine set to high position as I prefer the manoeuvrability of it in that position. Still the C frame, but I'm not phased over 300grams ha ha. Nice review, where you're riding looks unreal!
I always felt my Megatower v2 the climbs better in low. It just feels faster to me uphill that way. But I also have a coil. An air shock might change that.
Nice, I feel like a lot of that can be personal preference depending on your body type. When I was testing this bike my climbing times were BARELY faster in the high position. But it felt more comfortable on my knees in the low position because I wasn’t as far over the front of the bike
I come from Denmark, Scandinavia (no mountains)... the trails you ride looks awesome :)
Sick bike...and wow the views on these trails!! Cheers bud keep them comin'!
Thanks for watching! Definitely hard to keep my eyes on the trail sometimes when I’m riding the ridgeline trails with great views
That trail looks NUTS. haha
Some of the best MTB camera work on youtube, you deserve a ton more viewers and subs.
Thanks I appreciate that. Hopefully that’ll come with time 👍
Great review! I unfortunately had my bikes stolen last year. However, my renters insurance paid me out for the loss and i was left with quite a bit of money. So i got to test almost a dozen bikes including the Nomad and the Megatower. I loved em both but on my timed testing i was faster on the nomad and i credit that to my cornering speed. Both bikes charge hard in the straights and over tech, but there is a lot of time lost in races in the corners. So i wound up buying the nomad in the xo1 axs reserve air model (what a mouthful 🤣) Both of those bikes have the same front triangle and the rear triangle is what really differentiates them along with the rear wheel size. there are a couple of things id like to add and comment on after owning the bike for a year even though its not the megatower i think these things will apply to either bike.
First off im a big guy and im riding the xxl frame. having the size specific chain stays and the size specific carbon layouts this bike actually feels like the same bike throughout the size range. Even though some other companies claim to do this many use 2-3 chain stays so the xl/xxl and the S-L will have the same rear triangle. With Santa Cruz you get a bike that has been individually tuned for that specific size. Something that is really appreciated when you are at either end of the spectrum. The bike is awesome and id say if you're riding a small or a xl/xxl i would really recommend testing out a Santa Cruz they really went the extra mile trying to make every size ride the same. Not to mention the lifetime warranty and free bearing replacements are a huge reason to look at the brand regardless of what bike you're looking to buy.
i had two big cons with the bike and they had to do with the part spec. The EXO+ casing i really dont feel like belongs on a bike like this. The tires i immediatley replaced for some magic mary addix ultra soft Dh casing. It immediate improved my handling performance. The second was the seat post. Santa Cruz is saying it has the One up dropper post but you will still find some with the RockShox reverb post (which they are phasing out of their inventory) avoid that seat post at all costs. Ive had two replaced under warranty and when this third one goes im just gonna replace it with a cable operated post.
lastly id like to talk about that flip chip. As far as my understanding goes after a year of riding the bike the flip chip isn't really there to change geometry. It does slightly change the geo however what it really does is change the leverage ratio in the rear end. So if you want the bike to feel a little more progressive put it in the high setting, and if you want to have the bike have a more linear feel keep it in the low setting. Having the factory float x2 i keep the bike in the low setting having it be more linear and i rely on volume spacers in the shock to increase the progressive feel in the rear end.
i know that's a lot to read hopefully someone who is looking to purchase either the megatower or the nomad will see it and it will help the understand the bike more and help them decide which one they want!
@bradholmes4 Thanks for the comment! Some great information there that should really help people considering this bike or the Nomad. I agree that SC does a great job with all the attention to detail, build quality and warranty
Really nice review! The quality of the video is insane, what kind of camera are u using?
Thanks for the kind words! I’m using the Insta360 X4 for most of it. I think I used the X3 for part of it as well
I absolutely love my SC Megatower V2, I got the GX AXS RSV build which comes in at 15.19kg, I'm stoked on it and have been riding it for the past 5 months. I've got mine set to high position as I prefer the manoeuvrability of it in that position. Still the C frame, but I'm not phased over 300grams ha ha. Nice review, where you're riding looks unreal!
Awesome! Congrats on the bike. Such a solid choice for an enduro bike 👍
Great review, fun watching you go down Tres!
Thanks man! Had to really test the bike out on some gnarly stuff 👌
What trail is this? Thanks
I always felt my Megatower v2 the climbs better in low. It just feels faster to me uphill that way. But I also have a coil. An air shock might change that.
Nice, I feel like a lot of that can be personal preference depending on your body type. When I was testing this bike my climbing times were BARELY faster in the high position. But it felt more comfortable on my knees in the low position because I wasn’t as far over the front of the bike