Nomad vs. Slash vs. Slayer

**WaistDeepGroomers** · 03-17-2014, 12:50 PM

Would love to get one of these three bikes for the upcoming season. Lee Lau described the Nomad as "firm" while the Slash as more plush, and the new 650b Slashes are sure getting a hell of a lot of hype this year. Slayers are a super solid bike as well and can be had for far cheaper than the two other rigs. Ride mostly XC, lots of granny gear climbing with the intent of getting my money's worth on the down. Would like the flexibility of a burly enough bike to do laps on Teton Pass or bike parks. Been riding an '08 Trek Fuel EX which has been super loyal but more than anything else, the geometry just isn't slack enough to feel natural on the downhills. I also like keeping the amount of adjusting and servicing I need to do to an absolute minimum...

Thoughts?

**JoshP** · 03-17-2014, 02:22 PM

Haven't ridden either of the three, but I think a Giant ReignX might do the trick too.

**nickwm21** · 03-17-2014, 02:31 PM

Expect an update to the nomad in a few months...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using TGR Forums

**beast** · 03-17-2014, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by Ryan Dunfee

Ride mostly XC, lots of granny gear climbing with the intent of getting my money's worth on the down.

Of the three bikes you mentioned, the new Slash 27.5 is the standout in this department. Pedaling performance has been improved greatly over the 26-inch Slash. And yes, it'll rally with the best of them on the way back down: http://www.vitalmtb.com/product/guid...7-5-650b,13180

**jamesp** · 03-17-2014, 02:45 PM

I like my Slayer, its definitely overkill for my local pedally trails but its lots & lots of fun on the downs. Its heavier & more work than the carbon rigs that most in my group ride, but it pedals well enough that I can still keep up with them so I don't care much. Nice that it handles the DH & lift serviced trails that I occasionally ride slowly.

People say VPP rides different to 4 bar designs but I can't add much else as I've not ridden anything VPP or the others bikes mentioned.

**shirk** · 03-17-2014, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by nickwm21

Expect an update to the nomad in a few months...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using TGR Forums

I'd expect a new Slayer coming soon also.

**ridevt** · 03-17-2014, 04:44 PM

I was on the Slash 26 and now have about 100 miles on the new Slash 9. Mag 7 to a flow trail with some air so I feel like I'm getting a feel for it. Vs the old model = longer, lower, slacker FASTER! Loving this new one. Trek did everything I was hoping for other then carbon (although it still builds pretty damn light for aluminum). It will be lower + slacker then both the Slayer and Nomad so keep that in mind. The VITAL review sums up the bike pretty well but I think the ABP system is some of the best out there. Incredibly active and almost like velcro in the rear when cornering. No new Slayer coming from what I know but def a new Nomad launching soon. Might want to check that new Intense Tracer Carbon as well.

**kidwoo** · 03-17-2014, 05:14 PM

**alewi11** · 03-17-2014, 08:55 PM

I've done a couple rides on the Slash and the Nomad. It was the 26" Slash. That bike was really fun and playful and it sounds like the new 650b version is even better. The Nomad never really felt right to me. It just felt like a tank.

**dawnchairy** · 03-17-2014, 11:22 PM

I've had a Slayer for a couple of years and it's a great bike. My only complaint might be that it's a bit too slack. It has to be got up to speed to really perform, which makes it a bit trickier to ride up technical climbs or tight corners.

I would take it to a bike park if I either weren't riding jump/drop trails, or I knew I could make the transitions. The back end is probably fine, but I would worry about the effect that coming up short on a few jumps would have on it.

**iscariot** · 03-17-2014, 11:36 PM

The Slayer has no problems being thrashed on the reg at several bike parks in the Canadian Rockies. I have flogged it from Moose to the Horse to silverstar to...etc etc etc and not the green runs.

It is a true free ride bike in the sense that it will CLIMB WAY BETTER than most 26" xc specific bikes from 4 years ago, and will mini-dh right beside a TR250. The slayer is MORE THAN BURLEY ENOUGH.

The slayer is so under rated and so under the radar.

Go buy one.

I am not a believer in the quiver of one, than can handle whistler double black tech dh, and that can climb powder face the hard way.

The slayer is the bike that proved me wrong.

And I have worked at bike shops off and on for the better part of a decade... so I've ridden a few bikes.

Of all the choices I have, I own a slayer.

**kevin267** · 03-17-2014, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by iscariot

The slayer is so under rated and so under the radar.

Because it's 'stale' been pretty much the same for a few years and little wheels=no hype lol. Might mean deals are out there too!

**iscariot** · 03-17-2014, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by kevin267

Because it's 'stale' been pretty much the same for a few years and little wheels=no hype lol. Might mean deals are out there too!

Yah. I mean if it doesn't have 650b its practically got square wheels and you can't ever ride it or ever have fun again.

How did we ever enjoy riding biked before 650b?

FWIW the slayer will fit a 2.2 650b as is, so you can run a weight weenie 650b wheel set and easily get you bike to below 26# or run a fully resort mini dh 26" 2.5 setup at 28#.

**decay** · 03-18-2014, 03:05 AM

I'd just get a Bronson Carbon

Owning the Nomad C for 2 years the best way to go 650b is the Bronson. I use my Nomad for everything, riding mostly european alps, trails and freeriding, park too but with different wheelset. It's a phenomenal bike, light, stiff, stable, versatile, climbs as good as bikes with less travel too. Mine weighs 13kg with dropper post

**radair** · 03-18-2014, 06:56 AM

You can't go wrong with any of them, IMO. I owned a Slayer for a few years and have a retired Nomad, which I loved. One thing I would say is an adjustable Talas-type fork is highly recommended. A big fork with slack geometry means the steeper granny climbs can be a bear.

I most recently went to a Blur LTc (I call it my Smallboy), rides like a Nomad with less weight. Go with Slash or Bronson if you want the 650B wheel size.

**Lindahl** · 03-18-2014, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by radair

You can't go wrong with any of them, IMO. I owned a Slayer for a few years and have a retired Nomad, which I loved. One thing I would say is an adjustable Talas-type fork is highly recommended. A big fork with slack geometry means the steeper granny climbs can be a bear.

So true. The geometry improvement from travel adjust makes some climbs sooo much easier for me.

If you can find an old U-Turn Lyrik Coil, pretty awesome. Coil goodness with travel adjust. The Vengeance adjustables kick ass too, I've heard. Fox Talas is fraught with issues. Guys I know that have had one never really liked it and went back to a normal fork.

I'm a coiled Nomad fan myself, but if I could only have one bike, it'd be something more playful and snappy. Its a burly tank that crushes rough trails at speed. So plush and super stable feeling. Definitely a pocket DH bike, imo. It rides in its sag quite a bit so it actually feels slacker, longer and lower than the numbers indicate. Feels awesome landing bigger stuff too. I don't go huge, but have taken it on naturalish rock drops up to 10-12' and it feels great. At the park, bigger tables and ladder drops with good transitions are great too, of course.

My other bike is an ASR5 and I couldn't be happier with that combo. Very playful bike and fun on the flowier/jumpier trails.

Built em both up for around $1500 each. Get smart with your money and you can say goodbye to compromise. An SB66 would be a good one-quiver bike though. Not as smooth as a Nomad when it comes to rough at speed, but more snappy.

**beast** · 03-18-2014, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Lindahl

Fox Talas is fraught with issues. Guys I know that have had one never really liked it and went back to a normal fork.

Used to be... 2014 sees some nice updates to the Talas system.

**D(C)** · 03-18-2014, 01:19 PM

Another often overlooked option is the Cannondale Jekyll. I love mine. The remote-adjustable rear travel is awesome for transforming the bike's personality on the fly. Just make sure to get a build with a 34 or 36 fork.

**jamesp** · 03-18-2014, 01:40 PM

sometimes I wish I had a travel adjust fork on my Slayer, climbing with the 160mm fork is a bit more work but its not so bad that the cost of a new fork is justifiable. Most of my trails are up & down, not many long steep climbs, which means its not a big deal.

**decay** · 03-18-2014, 02:04 PM

I ride the Nomad with a 160mm coil fork without travel adjust without any problems. Modern 150+ geometries do hardly benefit from travel adjust.

**Lindahl** · 03-18-2014, 02:10 PM

I lived without it too, but you don't realize the benefit till you try it, imo. Maybe some of it is riding style/position?

**decay** · 03-18-2014, 04:14 PM

Well, i usually have a lashing strap with me to do old-style travel adjust, but getting the nomad i never really needed it.

Sure it's position etc. related too. I use a very short stem too (30mm), which should make it worse, the Nomad just works. Sweet thing

But enough for now, thinking of going biking tomorrow and wait for the powder stoke on monday, you gotta love europe

**chatton18** · 03-18-2014, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by D(C)

Another often overlooked option is the Cannondale Jekyll. I love mine. The remote-adjustable rear travel is awesome for transforming the bike's personality on the fly. Just make sure to get a build with a 34 or 36 fork.

Claymore is a sweet bike too if you're looking for something a little more park friendly that can handle some climbs.

**WaistDeepGroomers** · 03-18-2014, 11:38 PM

Thanks for the input mags, seems like a Slayer is the closet deal here with minimum budget... which do people feel is the snappiest one at less than balls-out speed?