Great video again, thank you - I think that you and (Connor at) Bikers Edge are doing the best reviews on YT at the moment. A Bronson vs Druid v2 comparison would be interesting (but now I own a new Bronson, I don’t want the Druid to win that one!). More relevant for me would be either / both a carbon vs alloy wheelset comparison for the way you ride (and just as how they ride, don’t need to run through price, durability etc as this is well documented) and comparing different carbon wheels for the way you ride (Reserve vs WR1 Triad my main two but there’s RaceFace Era, new ENVE series, Crank Brothers etc). 🙏🏻
@@timclayton6674 thanks! The Bikers Edge is doing great stuff. I’m really enjoying my new Bronson. I wish it jumped a touch better, but that was one of my main issues with the Druid so 🤷🏻♂️
Sick comparison. I had my eyes on that new Dreadought last year but got the Nomad instead bc of the deal on Jenson (then I added a 5010 to the garage after watching your reviews on that - so fun!). Looking forward to taking the Nomad off that big dawg drop at Virginia Canyon this summer if I can find the will! But I raced that Nomad at Floyd last year for my first ever podium. It's not missing a thing IMO
How does the handling of the MX Dreadnought compare to the 29" version? I’m considering a frame swap from my Insurgent MX to a Dreadnought but can’t decide between full 29 (like the demo I tried) or MX. I already have a Druid MX and a compatible rear wheel, but since the Dreadnought isn’t superboost, I’ll need to build a new wheel anyway. Should I just go full 29 or re-lace my MX wheel and run mullet full-time? Would love to hear your thoughts!
Two things I'm most interested in for my next bike: high pivot and mixed wheels. The former, according to a lot people I have respect for, makes a huge difference when descending and adds a great deal to performance. The racing implications are obvious, but I'm not much of a racer and so I think high pivot might really shine for me in short(er) travel/wheelbase applications like the Deviate Highlander, Forbidden Druid, Norco Sight, and Norco Optic. Unfortunately, all the bikes are hard to demo where I live, but I'm really interested in the combination of short (static) chainstays with high pivot on the Norco frames. Mixed wheels I don't really see the point of, but I know Santa Cruz has done a lot of yeoman spade work designing frames specifically around this spec, so I'm eager to try them out. I've tried it out on 29er frames and been pretty disappointed. Full 27.5 is super fun for a bike park set up though. I've never been disappointed with full 29, and I do actually love climbing. Edit: one other thing I'd be super curious about is which enduro bikes do best with a dual-crown fork. I could see myself getting, say, a Nomad and putting a Fox 40 on the front with a 27.5 wheel for the park, and then back to the 38 and 29 when I wanted to ride trail. As always, the detail-oriented work is much appreciated.
Thanks, I'm still trying to get a Norco setup. The biggest benefit of MX setups for a rider like myself is on really steep terrain. It has smaller benefits in other areas, but going back and forth on steep terrain its huge.
Great comparison! For those of us who are HPivot curious but don't ride the gnarliest of gnarly and do some park sounds like the Nomad will more than get the job done 👍.
Great comparison, the enduro version of GuyTV’s 5010 vs. Druid v2 MX video! Side note, did you ever try an O-Chain on the Nomad? Just got one for my 5010 and haven’t gotten a chance to put it on yet.
Thanks, I haven't gotten to try O-chain or the new Rimpact version. I would really like to, but have also found that hubs with lesser engagement like the 36t DT hubs help in that aspect. I know those and the Ethirteen hub work regardless of where you are in the hubs engagement so I am still hoping to check it out.
@@azzy9532 I have, but I ran the last gen with a Fox Float X2 and really liked it. I’ve also gotten some good time on the new Vivid on other bikes and it’s also really good.
Nice review, and I agree with your assessment. If you're racing go with the dreadnought v2. Trail and bike park go with the nomad v6. What are your thoughts on how their suspension kinematics feel? I felt the nomad was more plush and progressive while the dreadnought had a firmer suspension feel with better mid stroke support.
@@Star_lord22 Thanks, I’d agree with the Nomad feeling more progressive, but I also thought it was a touch better for mid stroke. I was able to set the Vivid to have a good feel off the top and turn up the hydraulic bottom out to help my ankles when I landed flat
New subscriber! Awesome vid! Sorry if been done but have you compared Nomad or Megatower? I have a Nomad 6 L and I’m swapping the frame to an XL due to the stack height feeling so so low to me. Curious how your thoughts are between the 2 bikes. Anyways love the videos 🤘
Thanks for subscribing. I haven't gotten to ride version 2 of the Megatower enough to make a comparison video, but I really like the Mega. I do prefer the Nomad for my area, but I raced version 1 of the Mega around Colorado and at the time had trouble finding a better option.
Nice! Well I’m in Texas so pretty flat mostly and I wanna race enduro so that’s why might be leaning towards a Mega but geez the Nomad is fun! Maybe even the New Hightower. Hope to see ya on a newer Mega soon either way. 👍
The only reason to go for one of those hpp monsters is to ride dh tracks without shuttle access. For anything else a conventional bike is better, more silent and less draggy.
Another great video Nic. Awesome trails.....
@@JasonChambersPhoto 🙏
Great video and footage.
thanks!
Great video again, thank you - I think that you and (Connor at) Bikers Edge are doing the best reviews on YT at the moment. A Bronson vs Druid v2 comparison would be interesting (but now I own a new Bronson, I don’t want the Druid to win that one!). More relevant for me would be either / both a carbon vs alloy wheelset comparison for the way you ride (and just as how they ride, don’t need to run through price, durability etc as this is well documented) and comparing different carbon wheels for the way you ride (Reserve vs WR1 Triad my main two but there’s RaceFace Era, new ENVE series, Crank Brothers etc). 🙏🏻
@@timclayton6674 thanks! The Bikers Edge is doing great stuff. I’m really enjoying my new Bronson. I wish it jumped a touch better, but that was one of my main issues with the Druid so 🤷🏻♂️
Thanks for making the comparison!
@@oliverkrieger-fritsch4726 Happy to do it!
Sick comparison. I had my eyes on that new Dreadought last year but got the Nomad instead bc of the deal on Jenson (then I added a 5010 to the garage after watching your reviews on that - so fun!). Looking forward to taking the Nomad off that big dawg drop at Virginia Canyon this summer if I can find the will! But I raced that Nomad at Floyd last year for my first ever podium. It's not missing a thing IMO
@@stevenparisi Nice, good job on the podium! The Nomad should be perfect for the 22k drop, the Sentinel was a bit under gunned.
Mullet sentinel vs patrol would be interesting to me - cheers!
Agreed!
@@SudoChuckwalla I’ll have to see how much Patrol footage I still have, but I really enjoyed the Sentinel mullet.
What about yeti sb165 vs Santa Cruz nomad
Oh man the 160 vs the Nomad too
@@cheetogod2074 I’ll put it in the queue
How does the handling of the MX Dreadnought compare to the 29" version? I’m considering a frame swap from my Insurgent MX to a Dreadnought but can’t decide between full 29 (like the demo I tried) or MX. I already have a Druid MX and a compatible rear wheel, but since the Dreadnought isn’t superboost, I’ll need to build a new wheel anyway. Should I just go full 29 or re-lace my MX wheel and run mullet full-time? Would love to hear your thoughts!
Great vid.. Druid V2 in 29 compare same Druid V2 in MX 🤞🙂👍
That would be a good one
What we needed!
Thanks 🤙
Two things I'm most interested in for my next bike: high pivot and mixed wheels. The former, according to a lot people I have respect for, makes a huge difference when descending and adds a great deal to performance. The racing implications are obvious, but I'm not much of a racer and so I think high pivot might really shine for me in short(er) travel/wheelbase applications like the Deviate Highlander, Forbidden Druid, Norco Sight, and Norco Optic. Unfortunately, all the bikes are hard to demo where I live, but I'm really interested in the combination of short (static) chainstays with high pivot on the Norco frames. Mixed wheels I don't really see the point of, but I know Santa Cruz has done a lot of yeoman spade work designing frames specifically around this spec, so I'm eager to try them out. I've tried it out on 29er frames and been pretty disappointed. Full 27.5 is super fun for a bike park set up though. I've never been disappointed with full 29, and I do actually love climbing.
Edit: one other thing I'd be super curious about is which enduro bikes do best with a dual-crown fork. I could see myself getting, say, a Nomad and putting a Fox 40 on the front with a 27.5 wheel for the park, and then back to the 38 and 29 when I wanted to ride trail.
As always, the detail-oriented work is much appreciated.
Thanks, I'm still trying to get a Norco setup.
The biggest benefit of MX setups for a rider like myself is on really steep terrain. It has smaller benefits in other areas, but going back and forth on steep terrain its huge.
@@NICADV Yeah, it's just not that steep in Northern California.
Please do a comparison with the Madonna V3
That is one I really want to try out.
Great comparison! For those of us who are HPivot curious but don't ride the gnarliest of gnarly and do some park sounds like the Nomad will more than get the job done 👍.
Thanks!
Great comparison, the enduro version of GuyTV’s 5010 vs. Druid v2 MX video! Side note, did you ever try an O-Chain on the Nomad? Just got one for my 5010 and haven’t gotten a chance to put it on yet.
Thanks, I haven't gotten to try O-chain or the new Rimpact version. I would really like to, but have also found that hubs with lesser engagement like the 36t DT hubs help in that aspect. I know those and the Ethirteen hub work regardless of where you are in the hubs engagement so I am still hoping to check it out.
Had this same debate - went with the Nomad over the Dreadnought
@@joehoeper3941 🔥
Did you run the Nomad with the coil the whole time?
@@azzy9532 I have, but I ran the last gen with a Fox Float X2 and really liked it. I’ve also gotten some good time on the new Vivid on other bikes and it’s also really good.
Great review.! We’re you riding the Dreadnought MX or full 29er?
@@macrio5 Thanks, it was setup MX
Nice review, and I agree with your assessment. If you're racing go with the dreadnought v2. Trail and bike park go with the nomad v6.
What are your thoughts on how their suspension kinematics feel? I felt the nomad was more plush and progressive while the dreadnought had a firmer suspension feel with better mid stroke support.
@@Star_lord22 Thanks, I’d agree with the Nomad feeling more progressive, but I also thought it was a touch better for mid stroke. I was able to set the Vivid to have a good feel off the top and turn up the hydraulic bottom out to help my ankles when I landed flat
New subscriber! Awesome vid! Sorry if been done but have you compared Nomad or Megatower? I have a Nomad 6 L and I’m swapping the frame to an XL due to the stack height feeling so so low to me. Curious how your thoughts are between the 2 bikes. Anyways love the videos 🤘
Thanks for subscribing. I haven't gotten to ride version 2 of the Megatower enough to make a comparison video, but I really like the Mega. I do prefer the Nomad for my area, but I raced version 1 of the Mega around Colorado and at the time had trouble finding a better option.
Nice! Well I’m in Texas so pretty flat mostly and I wanna race enduro so that’s why might be leaning towards a Mega but geez the Nomad is fun! Maybe even the New Hightower. Hope to see ya on a newer Mega soon either way. 👍
I need to put a coil on my nomad
Its pretty good!
Yeti sb165 vs norco range c1
I'd love to check out the Norco, but I'm not sure when I'll be able to get on one.
Santa Cruz hightower compared to an Orbea Occam LT would be pretty sweet!
I'm working on checking out some Orbea bikes. 🤞
let's get a Banshee Titan review.
Working on it night now, but no promises
🤟🏼
@@big_sky_yota 🤟
Re: Bearings - the SC are known to munch through them whereas a Dread should be a less frequent maintenance timeline.
I haven't experienced that on any of the new(low link) bikes
The only reason to go for one of those hpp monsters is to ride dh tracks without shuttle access. For anything else a conventional bike is better, more silent and less draggy.
@@Bonky-wonky spot on