[canadmos]

How much rebound are you running relative to what Trailhead app says for your pressure? It's weird but I find that running the rebound fast (2-3 clicks faster than Trailhead rec) on 3.0 & 3.1 helps quite a bit on dive. Also feels like you need to run LSC at least between middle and 1/4 open. I'm running both my Zebs with 0 tokens and had to add 2-4 psi vs. what Trailhead says to not be undersprung. I wasn't bottoming out at stock pressure with 0 tokens, but was somewhere over 20% sag.

I currently have 2 more clicks of rebound, from closed, from what Trailhead recommends (8 from closed).

But I'm running a few psi less.

0 tokens. I've bottomed out this fork (170mm) only 3 or 4 times.

I feel like if I go above 85 or approach 90psi the fork starts getting really harsh. But maybe need to run less LSC?

 

[toodles]

I currently have 2 more clicks of rebound, from closed, from what Trailhead recommends (8 from closed).

But I'm running a few psi less.

0 tokens. I've bottomed out this fork (170mm) only 3 or 4 times.

I feel like if I go above 85 or approach 90psi the fork starts getting really harsh. But maybe need to run less LSC?

How heavy are you and what airspring? I found the Buttercup spring thingy I ran higher pressure than the A1 and still had good sensitivity. I've gone back to the Luftkappe and its even higher pressure but still nice feel. 2.1 damper tho

 

[canadmos]

How heavy are you and what airspring? I found the Buttercup spring thingy I ran higher pressure than the A1 and still had good sensitivity. I've gone back to the Luftkappe and its even higher pressure but still nice feel. 2.1 damper tho

250, debonair with buttercups. Trailhead thing says I should run 90psi, but that seems overly hard, feels like a rock.

 

[bullcrew]

Update and thoughts:
I sold the Zeb and stuck the ohlins rfx38 back on...I don't fault the Zeb, it rides good and the new damper yeah keep rebound open let fork stand up quicker helps a ton...damn good damper...

I just prefer Ohlins and the way I ride it works for me....not as light feeling and numbs down shitty line choices amazing....vivid air is awesome probably best feeling air shock I've riden to date ...

But I'm slapping. Ttx22m on slash....I'll get some time on the new fox stuff later this year....so I have a personal take and unbiased....

I think that there's not 1 suspension good for everyone just like no 1 bike rips for everyone...torso, weight, riding style, body mechanics, MX, BMX all play a massive role in what works for us..
Mines off road race trucks. MX track and desert...I like a solid hit where I focus on the speed and next line and not have to do the suspensions job, I prefer a more MX style pocket...which nomad hits extremely well...

 

[bullcrew]

Both identical builds aside of frame
Slash 37.4 lbs
Nomad 36 lbs

Nomad feels easier to pedal but hangs up on rocks going up, slash seems to roll over rocks easier on uphill..downhill it goes to slash as well but nomad with o-chain handles it own.. the slash feels a bit better when getting after it and holds line a little deeper, nomad seems to sit on the top of dirt in a corner instead of being down into corner...both are fast but both different.

 

[canadmos]

Which one is prettier and can carry a bigger burrito in its downtube?

 

[jstuhlman]

hmmm...nomad was 12 sec faster in time, same average speed, climbed a foot higher, and your heartrate was lower tho?

 

[bullcrew]

Which one is prettier and can carry a bigger burrito in its downtube?

Slash...hands down the Mexican food favorite

 

[bullcrew]

hmmm...nomad was 12 sec faster in time, same average speed, climbed a foot higher, and your heartrate was lower tho?

Trying to mix specs with how it feels and find the faster one that's easier to pedal
..

What I've come to the conclusion of is "JACK SHIT!"

Times distance and speed were almost identical..not as big a difference as I was shooting for .

They feel different have different characteristics when riding but have damn near the same times...I was hoping for a bigger difference, One that reflected how different they ride and pedal up..., I even kept the downhill speed at 33mph on both so it was more based on uphill and pedalling..

Heart rate was lower on nomad overall and yes slighlty faster time...so now to the DH trails on em to do times runs....

 

[jstuhlman]

you know i'm just nomad biased and giving you shit, right?

 

[bullcrew]

you know i'm just nomad biased and giving you shit, right?

Yeah if your going to be biased that's a good bias..

Lol i love the way it rides like MX...and yeah it's sexy as hell ..they did a good job on the aesthetics..
Nomads kick ass for sure...

That new Bronson if I was into smaller travel looks like a badass machine, may grab one for the wife and retire her 2018 model ..she loves that thing...

 

[Andeh]

So over the last month or so, and definitely reinforced by Dario's article on PB yesterday, lately I've been having Intrusive Thoughts on my Nomad 6. Its an amazing bike for what it is. The problem is that my local trails really don't need 170mm of freeride bike, since there just aren't any rocks. The jumps I do are not big, and 150mm of well sorted suspension is plenty. I'm sure the new Bronson would be perfect for what I ride 98% of the time, mostly because it's essentially a non-motorized version of my Heckler SL, which is fun as hell. But I don't really want to get rid of the Nomad entirely because for the 1-3 days per year I get up to the bike park, it's nice to have the extra squish. And I also don't like the colors of new Bronson - hot pink or translucent turd.

So yesterday I got to thinking, what if I put a 160mm Lyrik and a 57.5mm shock on my Nomad? It looks like the geometry gets damn close to what the new Bronson is. When I plug the numbers into one of those geometry calcs, the only numbers that look not awesome are the stack drops 5mm, the reach grows 7mm, and the HTA steepens up to 64.4 (staying in the poppier High setting). Then keep the 170mm Zeb & 65mm Vivid for when I need/want more travel.

 

[bullcrew]

I'd do it, the numbers aren't deal killers when adjusting a little . The color ways on new Bronson are CRAP for sure ..lol
Was telling wife I want to upgrade her and she was all for it if it's tan or cute lol .neither for her bill either.

The one thing I notice and more aware of with the nomad is pedals strikes I'm going to 160 cranks
..

If I were going to drop travel I'd do 160 fork and short stroke shock down 5mm...then like ohlins coil throw a 2.5 spacer under piston and seal head to drop shock i2i 2.5mm keeping some HA


You can slacken HA pretty easily...use a short ass stem with 0 rise or a i9 and flip it so it drops 3mm...


I haven't looked at the numbers on new Hightower but I'm curious as to how close it comes to nomad now ..

 

[bullcrew]

Slash
Pushed harder on hills especially the steep ones.

Doesnt mean squat to others , lol I know ..
but I am pretty happy with myself and .4 mph faster on mainly hills.....and now shooting for 11mph

I'd kill it on a Bronson or other bike lighter more designed for uphill..but that defeats the purpose...run what you brung and you do you type of timing and accomplishment

 

[Andeh]

I'd do it, the numbers aren't deal killers when adjusting a little . The color ways on new Bronson are CRAP for sure ..lol
Was telling wife I want to upgrade her and she was all for it if it's tan or cute lol .neither for her bill either.

The one thing I notice and more aware of with the nomad is pedals strikes I'm going to 160 cranks
..

If I were going to drop travel I'd do 160 fork and short stroke shock down 5mm...then like ohlins coil throw a 2.5 spacer under piston and seal head to drop shock i2i 2.5mm keeping some HA


You can slacken HA pretty easily...use a short ass stem with 0 rise or a i9 and flip it so it drops 3mm...


I haven't looked at the numbers on new Hightower but I'm curious as to how close it comes to nomad now ..

I rode my Nomad again yesterday and was frustrated again at how much harder it is to pop small roller doubles than the HSL, so starting to put some more thought into Bronson-ing it - aka Bromad. I need a sanity check on the below:

1) dumb question, but for most of the travel, is running the current 170 Zeb at the same pressure I'd run it at if it was 160 going to feel the same? Measuring sag, that looks like a difference of ~2%. I have a 160 Zeb I can swap on but this keeps the geometry the same for now.

2) related to above, keeping the 65mm stroke shock on - what's best way to replicate the feeling of a shorter travel bike? Both bikes have the same shock (Vivid Air) with same shock tune & same number of tokens. One way I was looking at it was that 30% sag on the HSL's 55mm stroke is ~16.5mm, 25% sag on the Nomad's 65mm stroke is 16.25mm, so I'd think that running 25% sag on the Nomad should make most of the travel feel similar. Going by the Trailhead app suggestions, that's like adding 30 psi. OR... should I just run the same pressure as I run on the HSL (~20 psi more)?

3) have you messed around with the High/Low flip chip settings much? I found the Low position to feel like it has a much higher starting LR, gets into its travel a lot more, and sort of has a less consistent midstroke feel. I've been running High, but was thinking that if I do step down to a 160 fork and firm up the rear, I might want to run Low for better geometry. But Low might make it harder to get some of the pop back I'm looking for.

Last night I added ~9 psi to the fork and 30 to the shock, definitely firmer in the garage, but haven't ridden it yet. I do notice the higher BB already though, so I'm thinking I'll almost certainly need to swap to the 160 fork and maybe the low flip chip setting.

 

[bullcrew]

I rode my Nomad again yesterday and was frustrated again at how much harder it is to pop small roller doubles than the HSL, so starting to put some more thought into Bronson-ing it - aka Bromad. I need a sanity check on the below:

1) dumb question, but for most of the travel, is running the current 170 Zeb at the same pressure I'd run it at if it was 160 going to feel the same? Measuring sag, that looks like a difference of ~2%. I have a 160 Zeb I can swap on but this keeps the geometry the same for now.

2) related to above, keeping the 65mm stroke shock on - what's best way to replicate the feeling of a shorter travel bike? Both bikes have the same shock (Vivid Air) with same shock tune & same number of tokens. One way I was looking at it was that 30% sag on the HSL's 55mm stroke is ~16.5mm, 25% sag on the Nomad's 65mm stroke is 16.25mm, so I'd think that running 25% sag on the Nomad should make most of the travel feel similar. Going by the Trailhead app suggestions, that's like adding 30 psi. OR... should I just run the same pressure as I run on the HSL (~20 psi more)?

3) have you messed around with the High/Low flip chip settings much? I found the Low position to feel like it has a much higher starting LR, gets into its travel a lot more, and sort of has a less consistent midstroke feel. I've been running High, but was thinking that if I do step down to a 160 fork and firm up the rear, I might want to run Low for better geometry. But Low might make it harder to get some of the pop back I'm looking for.

Last night I added ~9 psi to the fork and 30 to the shock, definitely firmer in the garage, but haven't ridden it yet. I do notice the higher BB already though, so I'm thinking I'll almost certainly need to swap to the 160 fork and maybe the low flip chip setting.

I actually flipped to high position yesterday when I did the suspension on nomad...I put vivid on when I swapped..I'm headed to ride in 20 min to see


Yes if you reduce travel you will have a bit more pop the fork is still running same psi and ramping in a smaller amount of space...it'll have a bit more pop...the shock depending on if hi or low makes a small difference...drop it to lower if bb height is a concern..

Mine i pedal strike the crap out of it in lo hole, BB sits a bit low for pedaling rough sections...I'm dropping to a 160 crank and trying the hi hole...

The lo should help for sure ..

Upping pressure will give you more pop on rear, depending on shock add a volume spacer to go more progressive..


Another option depending on shock..
-drop fork to 160
-shim shock down 2.5mm to 62.5 add spacer and smidge of air