Would a Giant NRS be OK with 120mm forks? I'm thinking head angle, but also frame stress.
I'm thinking of getting a cheap, short travel frame for my other half to try, and something like an NRS may be spot on, I'd just transfer the bits over from her HT to see if she liked it. Trouble is, I've got 120mm MX comps on that, but I'm guessing most of the early short travel frames were suited to more like 80mm forks?
Failing that, anyone got any suggestions for frames that may fit the bill without costing too much (I'm thinking sub £100 if poss)?
I'm only thinking about it at the mo, her confidence and general technique is getting better the more we go out, but she still complains of arse ache, and isn't the most confident at getting out of the saddle and pedalling. I think she thinks about it too much so it becomes a bit awkward.
A couple of times on our last ride she was wobbling around with both feet of the pedals, I'm guessing because she had hit a bump and not lightened herself on the saddle in time. This is where I think she may get on better with a short travel full suss.
Maybe!!
I'll be selling my NRS soon. And it will be well under £100. However I wouldn't put 120mm forks on it. I run mine with a 100mm Reba and originally it had a 80mm something. At 100mm it still climbs well but the front end lifts off on very steep stuff but it also does feel a bit more neutral with a slacker head angle. I have to say I'm pretty impressed with how it performs. If You put 120mm it may be ok on downhill bits but it will probably be cr4p on everything else.
I think You can shorten travel on some bombers, so worth looking into it.
My frame is an 18", recent newish shock and HD mounting hardware, new headset and it had a check up at TBC in Edinburgh, bushes cleaned and greased (very small amount of play there) and the bearings are still good and no play.
miesko I bought that saracen from you/mate I would be interested in the NRS. email in profile.
A 4" travel NRS frame will be OK with 120mm forks. I ran some 125mm Vanillas on an NRS 4 and it was fine.
I think it is dangerous to give someone full sus as a means of encouraging them that it is ok to remain seated. You need to stand up and move around, fs or no fs, so constructive encouragement to do that would be a much better approach.
For a fraction of the cost of changing the bike you could get some skills training…
Lucas was sad to see the Zen go, now rides a 6" FS, kind of evolution, hope the frame is ok 🙂
It's not that I'm bigging up my frame but the NRS is a good and cheap way to try out an efficient FS frame. Didn't like my 100mm Fuel Ex as it just felt slow and suspension had a lot of pumping even with the Motion Control on max. This thing however is rapid and it now has a rear shock with a platform, so one flick of the lever and it's going up hill like mad or fully open the suspension is very active. Doesn't feel like 90mm for sure. Great for xc riding I'm doing and the suspension is good enough to give me a bit more confidence on the downs so now I'm just a mincer-lite 😉 I bought it to give FS a try again as my back was killing me on longer rides riding my hardtail. Now 3hrs+ rides are not a problem. It builds up pretty light, mine is 28lbs with full xt, reba and bonty race lite wheels. So no bling or very light kit on it.
So if anyone is looking to try out a cheap and efficient short travel FS frame than NRS is a good buy. Just don't get 2001 models as they break. Mine is a 2002 and the seat tube area looks different.
It'll handle like a pig, but if you've got them & want to fit them, do it.
100mm they're fine, but much more & they tend to lift a lot when climbing & don't turn in as well as they do with a shorter fork
Thanks for the comments 🙂
I did look into shortening the MX Comps, but I think because they are ETA ones it wasn't as easy as other Bombers I've had before (spacers) so left it. I may well swap them for some 100mm anyway as they are probably a bit too much for the riding she does so far.
I wasn't looking at FS as a solution to poor technique, it was a bit of both really. I feel that her current frame is a bit too small for her really, but part of that was her lack of confidence to raise the saddle. Now I've got her raising the saddle a little bit, I think she'll be over the thoughts of a frame 'looking' too big.
I'm no expert, but can ride OK, and I've been trying to give her tips, etc (not riding for about 20 years she's still at quite a basic stage!) just thought a lightweight, short travel full suss might be a good idea for her. Plus I could scratch my itch every now & then, even though I love my Trailstar LT!!!
Mieszko - what inside leg or height would you say the 18.5" frame would suit?
I'm around 5`10" with a 30-31" inside leg. Frame fits me fine with with enough seatpost to lower it. Here is a pic of my NRS set up for my height.
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So if anyone is looking to try out a cheap and efficient short travel FS frame than NRS is a good buy. Just don't get 2001 models as they break. Mine is a 2002 and the seat tube area looks different.
It's the 2000 models & some very early '01 frames that had the problem, later '01 onwards were all fine. As long as they have a full length piece between top & bottom shock mounts on each side of the seat tube & not a seperate piece welded at each end (hope that makes sence)
18.5 would suit 5'7-5'11 according to Giant, but in reality upto 6', 6'2 at a push IMHO.
Thanks for that. I'm 5'9, the missus is around 5'7 so I'd guess an 18.5" would suit both of us.
So the later ones were called XTC?
Miesko I have replied, I think I'll have it.
They were all called XTC NRS* The blue/white one is an '02 XTC NRS 960.
'00 & '01 had names-Mammoth, mount snow etc. then went onto XTC NRS 950/960/980 etc.
'03 NRS 1/2/3/4 & that carried on until it was dropped in '06? when the Anthem took over.
Composite ones came out in '04 iirc.
Design changed slightly in 03 as the main pivot moved to be higher than the BB & all pivots were bearings, instead of some being top hat bushes.
Hope some of that makes sence.
I have run my early NRS with 110s for ages and love it, I recently changed my springs to 130s and it still handles fine, if a little less fun climbing, but certainly no worse than plenty of factory XC bikes I've felt.
This NRS frame is up for sale again due to a change of plans email in profile and see [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/giant-nrs-medium-in-blue?replies=1#post-1778033 ]here.[/url]
goldenwonder - Member
It'll handle like a pig, but if you've got them & want to fit them, do it.
No it won't - or at least, not necessarily - really depends on your setup. Mine handled fine with Revs set to 115mm. Unfortunately it died after 5 rides - dodgy STW classifieds purchase unfortunately.
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Ran my NRS with a 115mm Reba & it was fine,but be careful on the sizing as the 18.5 was too small for me at 6'1"....