2022 Santa Cruz Nomad 5 CC X01 Coil

The 2022 Santa Cruz Nomad 5 CC X01 Coil stands as one of the most unapologetically rowdy long-travel machines on the mountain, purpose-built for riders who demand uncompromising downhill capability without sacrificing the agility needed for technical climbs. Blending Santa Cruz’s top-tier Carbon CC construction with a fully coil-sprung suspension system, a premium SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain, and bomb-proof wheels and tires, this Nomad is engineered to inspire confidence on the steepest, roughest terrain you can find.

At the heart of the Nomad 5 X01 Coil is Santa Cruz’s Carbon CC frame, the brand’s highest-grade carbon layup. It offers an exceptional stiffness-to-weight ratio, translating into precise handling and lively responsiveness whether you’re charging into a rock garden or popping off a trail feature. The frame includes a molded shuttle guard along with down tube and chainstay protection, so it’s built to endure seasons of shuttling, bike park laps, and rocky backcountry missions. Built around 27.5-inch wheels, the Nomad emphasizes maneuverability and playfulness, making it easy to flick, manual, and slash through turns.

Coil-Sprung Suspension & Big-Mountain Control

The Nomad 5 CC X01 Coil is all about control and confidence in brutal terrain. In the rear, Santa Cruz spec’d a Fox Float DHX2 Factory Coil shock with a 2-position lever in a 230 x 62.5mm configuration, delivering 170mm of rear-wheel travel. The DHX2 Factory is renowned for its ultra-supple small-bump sensitivity and incredible traction, while the coil spring adds a planted, “glued to the ground” feel with outstanding mid-stroke support. The result is a bike that feels bottomless on big hits and incredibly composed when the trail gets rough and fast.

Up front, the bike is matched with a Fox 38 Factory Grip2 fork providing another 170mm of travel. This fork is built for aggressive riding, with a burly chassis that resists flex under heavy braking and hard cornering. The Grip2 damper offers high- and low-speed compression and rebound adjustments, letting riders fine-tune their suspension for everything from bike park flow lines to steep, technical chutes. Together, the Fox 38 Factory and DHX2 Coil create a suspension platform that devours obstacles, encourages speed, and provides the stability needed to push the limits.

Cockpit & Handling

Steering precision starts at the cockpit with a Santa Cruz Carbon handlebar, 800mm wide with a 35mm rise, paired to a Burgtec Enduro MK3 stem in a 42.5mm length. This combination delivers a confident, responsive front end that feels rock solid at speed but still offers enough finesse for technical sections. Riders get either Santa Cruz House grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Minnaar grips, both offering excellent traction and comfort for long days in the saddle. A Cane Creek 40 IS headset keeps steering smooth and consistent, completing a cockpit that’s every bit as premium and downhill-focused as the rest of the build.

Braking Power & Drivetrain Performance

When it’s time to rein in speed, the Nomad 5 CC X01 Coil relies on SRAM Code RSC brakes, a favorite among gravity riders for their power and modulation. Paired with SRAM HS2 200mm rotors front and rear, the Code RSCs deliver serious stopping force and excellent heat management, staying consistent on long, sustained descents where lesser brakes can fade. With this setup, you can charge harder into corners and steep sections knowing you’ve got the control to scrub speed when it counts.

Shifting duties are handled by a full SRAM X01 Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, including an X01 shifter, derailleur, chain, and the XG-1295 Eagle 10-52T cassette. This setup provides an enormous gear range, giving you an easy gear for grinding up steep fire roads and plenty of top-end to carry speed on fast, open sections. The crisp, precise shifts of the X01 system shine even under load, which is ideal for aggressive trail riding and enduro racing.

Power is delivered through a SRAM X1 Eagle Carbon DUB crankset with a 32-tooth chainring, spinning on a SRAM DUB 73mm English/BSA threaded bottom bracket. The threaded BB design is appreciated for its durability and ease of service in harsh conditions. A OneUp upper slider with bashguard chainguide keeps the chain secure and adds protection for the chainring when smashing through rock-strewn lines.

Wheels, Tires & Traction

The Nomad’s wheelset is built to handle serious abuse while still delivering precise handling. Race Face ARC Offset 30 rims provide a modern 30mm internal width for optimal tire support and a stable footprint, laced via Sapim Race spokes to Industry Nine 1/1 hubs. These hubs feature quick engagement and reliable performance, with Boost spacing (110x15mm front, 148x12mm rear) and an XD driver ready for the wide-range Eagle cassette. The result is a wheelset that feels stiff, responsive, and fully capable of taking repeated hits in aggressive terrain.

Traction is handled by a gravity-focused Maxxis combo. Up front, a Maxxis Assegai 27.5" x 2.5" with 3C MaxxGrip compound and Double Down (DD) casing delivers legendary cornering bite, braking traction, and confidence on everything from loam to dust and rock. Out back, the bike rolls on a Maxxis Minion DHR II 27.5" x 2.4", also in 3C MaxxGrip DD. Together, these tires provide a stable, predictable feel at speed, with the casing durability to resist pinch flats and sidewall cuts when you’re pushing hard in demanding terrain.

Dropper, Saddle & All-Day Comfort

Rounding out the build, the Nomad 5 CC X01 Coil features a RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post, offering smooth, on-the-fly saddle height adjustment with clean internal routing. Up top, you’ll find either a WTB Silverado Team or WTB Volt saddle, both known for their supportive shapes and all-day comfort. This combination ensures you can stay comfortable on long climbs and transitions while instantly getting the saddle out of the way when it’s time to drop in.

The Ride Experience

Put it all together and the 2022 Santa Cruz Nomad 5 CC X01 Coil is a purpose-built gravity machine that thrives in the roughest, steepest terrain, yet remains versatile enough to pedal into remote zones and tackle big days in the mountains. The coil-sprung suspension delivers a planted, composed feel that begs for speed, while the Carbon CC frame and premium build keep things light and responsive. With its 27.5-inch wheels, aggressive geometry, and high-end component choices, the Nomad 5 X01 Coil is a dream bike for riders who love bike parks, freeride lines, and enduro stages—and who expect their bike to perform flawlessly, lap after lap.