NS Define AL 170 launches with fashionable mullet and .. 180mm of travel

NS adds a new Define to the range sporting a mixed wheel combo and 180mm of front wheel travel! Meet the NS Define AL 170!

Perhaps you follow Joe Breeden or the UR Team and have been wondering what this orange NS models is (see video below).

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Well, today we can finally reveal that it’s the new NS Define AL 170 model, a bike which we’ve had lurking at Singletrack Towers since the start of this year! Yup, being the ‘ahead of the trend’ types of mountain bike riders that we are, we have already fully tested the 2021 NS Define AL 170 and the review is in the latest printed edition of Singletrack Magazine! What’s more the magazine should be arriving with subscribers today! What timing.

For those of you not signed up to the mag (do so here), the NS Define 170 AL is a new mixed wheel machine from NS. Visually the bike is very similar to previous Define models, but changes have been made to the geometry, kinematics and shock mounts to make it 27.5in wheel happy. Available in two alloy builds, the 170 actually boasts 180mm of travel at the 29er end and 170mm of travel at the rear.

NS Define 170 AL Geometry

The Define 170 AL still features adjustable geometry, but now uses a flip chip arrangement rather than the adjustable lower shock mount that we had seen previously. Flipping the chip is a simple on trail process and will knock / add 0.5 degrees to the head and seat angle while adjusting the reach by 4mm also.

At the rear 170mm of travel is provided through a Horst Link arrangement and NS has managed to give the Define AL 170 great pedalling efficiency which is impressive for a bike that is effectively a modern-day freeride rig.

Define AL 170 1 Specifications

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• Frame: AL6061-T6/AL6066-T6
• Sizes: Small, Medium, Large
• Fork: Fox 38 Performance, 180mm travel
• Shock: Fox X2 Performance
• Crankset: Truvativ Descendant DUB 6K 170mm 34t
• Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle
• Brakes: SRAM Guide RE, 200mm discs
• Dropper post: X-Fusion Manic
• Tires: Maxxis High Roller II 29×2.5” WT TR EXO Maxxis High Roller II 27.5×2.4” TR DH
• MSRP: €4 499 or £3,999

Define AL 170 2

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• Frame: AL6061-T6/AL6066-T6
• Sizes: Small, Medium, Large
• Fork: RockShox Zeb, 180mm travel
• Shock: X-Fusion Vector R
• Crankset: Shimano Deore FCMT5101 170mm 34t
• Derailleur: Shimano Deore
• Brakes: Shimano MT420, 200mm discs
• Dropper post: X-Fusion Manic
• Tires: Schwalbe Big Betty BikePark 29×2.4″ Schwalbe Big Betty BikePark 27.5×2.4″
• MSRP: €3 399

Pick up your issue of Singletrack Magazine 136 to read the full NS Define 170 review.

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