Hi all, thought I’d share my new build with the community and ask what you all think. It’s an NS Surge frame which arrived this morning:

The frame arrives. Very nice build quality for anyone interested in getting an NS, and very reasonable pricing compare to the likes of a Transition TransAM or Ragley.

Clever sliding dropouts for those that want to go single

It begins

A few hours later

Did it all go smoothly? It never does, front derailleur wrong size and wrong pull direction, bent the headset cups putting them in, and a 29.8mm seat clamp is almost unheard of in bike stores ( I cheated and used a more common 30mm)

I’ve only had a quick spin around the block but first impressions are good. The frame is very slack so I’m hoping it will be good on the trails. The steel frame makes a big difference to comfort and the short chain stays allow easy pick up of the front end.

Anyway what do you guys think?

Nice! I’ve got a slightly older Surge and really want the new model! Oddly enough, your colour scheme is rather similar to mine too 😀

That looks nice, that does.

Very nice. I like the colour scheme, makes it look tidy.

Looks great, I love the feel of the Surge!

tidy

like it! 🙂 now you need to get it muddy 😀

Nice. However 2 points

1. Tyres and rim logos

2. You could have swept that bit of grit and gravel out of that concrete channel

Gotta love building a bike up in the kitchen!

Thanks for all the comments guys, and I’ll make sure to sweep the grit up 😀

Crag, building a bike in a kitchen is a nightmare, especially a small one like this, the vinyl is now ruined

I have a surge and love it, too bad it’s a touch to small. Lovely bike, only thing is the bars look a bit high?

Flick the downtube.

That is a really nice frame, but why the uber high risers? is the head tube really short or something?

I nearly bought a Surge but decided it was too much bike for where and how I was riding.. and then I moved to East Dartmoor.. DOH!

love those frames and that build looks smart..

Yeah it’s a 40mm stem, I probably need to shorten the steerer tube and lose some of the spacers. The risers are probably a touch too “risey” as well (new word there)

head tube is only 4.3″, so pretty short

how high are those risers?

perhaps it’s the lighting or shadows, they don’t seem as high in person, I think 25mm rise

no way they are 25mm… they look about 2.5 – 3″ ?

ok I measured, 1.5″ rise

I like your bike

Very nice, pity about the gold bits, look tacky 😯

🙁

gold bits look fine IMO.

lose the outer ring and replace middle with 36er. you’re likely to bend a tooth sooner or later if you put the bike to good use.

flat bar, not riser would look better, but if you’re happy with how it rides then leave it.

overall 8/10. i likes.

Looks great fella, must be good to get this many posts before the inevitable dissing starts! 🙂

lol I thought it started with the gold bits, thanks for the comments though, appreciated

Can i ask as my knowledge of tyres is small but whats the back tyre? I fancy a pair of them for my Blue Pigs as the High Rollers seem to drag?

Does no one else think those pedals are **** nasty? I like the rest though.

The back tyre is a Kenda Small Block 8, John Tomac Series, and the pedals are Superstar (and they’re awesome)

Nice. A friend has a lovely blue coloured one and it looks so sweet.

I like the look of that, that’d be just right for battering down the local mountains and getting up and across ’em as well? what does the built bike weigh? looks like a really versatile frame that, if a bit of a lump for my needs.

It’s not the lightest bike, weighs 12.9kg, but the frame is fairly heavy to be strong, as it’s meant for the rough stuff.

What seatpost, how much setback?

The gold looks good. I think you can get some goldy coloured grips.

Just as an update to this thread…. the OP is now looking to sell the frame for a trail bike full sus.

So… if you’re after a hardcore hardtail, and have a full sus frame to swap – drop him a line 🙂