Submitted by
Ron
a Cross Country Rider
from Reading, Pa USA
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2011
Strengths: Durability. Lightness. Still a great bike 10-years later. It's a great combination of no-bob and full suspension; climbs like a hardtail and still is light and plush for long rides.
Weaknesses: Flexing Frame At Crank With Age; I recall this from new, Horner with age and Metal fatigue it seems to be more but still not excessive or a problem. Giant still has OE frame bearing/bushings kits.
Bottom Line:
If your looking for a durable, no-bob, full suspension bike any of the 2001-2006 Giant NRS lineup could be a great starting point depending on use history. It performs almost as great as my 2010 Anthem X1, and actually prefer the NRS 1 for long rail trail rides due to longer frame and lower seated position (less drag, more of a racer stance with high seat and low handlebars stock). Given Giant still offers frame parts it is still maintainable, Rock Shox still has rebuild kits and motion control upgrades from the pure air system. IMHO one of the greatest bikes for advanced XC trail biking in the past 10-years.
Similar Products Used: Giant Anthem X1; it is technologically better than the NRS-1, however NRS1 still holds it own in compatison to many others.
Bike Setup: Stock; 3rd set of Hutchinson Python tires and stems, on second set of brakes. I've ridden this bike easily 7,500 miles. Otherwise this has been a trouble free ride ...I simply keep it clean and store indoors. I ride a mix of dust, coal fines, asphalt, mud and snow (not in road salt)
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Submitted by
O.F.29
a Cross Country Rider
from Pisgah, N.C.
Date Reviewed: December 23, 2010
Strengths: NRS works once you get the rear shock dialed.You can pick these frames up for a song!
Weaknesses: Hard to find suspension bearings and bushings anymore. If people knew how good these old bikes ride-somebody could make a good buck reproducing these parts. If anybody out there knows of a source, please share the info.
Bottom Line:
I bought this frame on eBay for $84 with no shock.Got an old AD-5 and rebuilt it with all the updated internals. Scored a rear suspension rebuild kit and got the rear end tight.Built it up, put a 650b front wheel on it and rolled away from the truck not knowing what to expect? Took a while to dial in the suspension, but I got to say, once that's done-this is a great riding bike. Climbs as well or better than everything I've ridden and dial that old Psylo out to 120mm of travel and you can descend just about anything your courage and talent allows.Haven't tried it with a 26"front wheel-don't really see the point!!For the money,untouchable. Happy Trails,ya'll
Similar Products Used: Turner Flux,Seven Duo-lux, Klein Palomino,Sugar292 and Supercaliber,Jet9
Bike Setup: Rock Shox Psylo with adjustable travel,Cane Creek AD-5,bb-7s,XT drivetrain,Thomson post-stem,monkeylite,I-9s with 355 rims,Nevegal front, Raven rear-tubeless
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Submitted by
Bird26
a Downhiller
from Auckland, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2010
Strengths: - Light light and light.
- NRS system does work, I heard some claims that it is simply pumping the rear shock to no sag, but that is not true. If you feel so then you need to adjust your air pressure.
- Long distant uphill is no longer such a big pain (still a pain lol).
Weaknesses: - It does feel "harder" than a true double suspension bike, but the comfort it provides when riding off road definitely outscores any hardtail.
Bottom Line:
This bike rules, you can ride whole day and it is still easy on your butt. An awesome XC and/or endurance bike.
Don't expect the same kind of comfort you'd get on a true double suspension bike but it pays off when you hit uphills.
Similar Products Used: Giant MCM, Giant XTC HB3, GT Force 1.0.
Bike Setup: Stock.
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Submitted by
robriw3
a Cross Country Rider
from Nashville
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2009
Strengths: Light weight, stiff and flex free (I weigh 200 lbs), great climber, excellent marathon or long ride racer. Builds up light. The aluminum rear and carbon front are a good combination. The shiney black carbon front with the gracefull arcs and carbon weave under clearcoat just doesn't get any sexier.
Weaknesses: Rear has a tiny bit of bob when seated, but barely noticable. Not suited for drops or heavy rocky sections. May benefit from a more modern shock now that the frame is a few years old and rear shocks have gotten better. Can get a little unsettled with wild hair decending - as you replace with lighter parts it feels "less planted". The front shock you chose will determine the ride quality.
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike that is best suited for ultra endurance rides, long XC, adventure racing, and any standard trail. You can ride for hours and your back and butt don't hurt. A great transitional bike between a hardtail and a true full suspension 120mm+ travel bike. Not made for hucking, downhilling, or big hit rocks. I feel that Giants run a little tight in the cockpit, so a large feels more like a medium / large. Still a great design (thanks Specialized) that still keeps up with todays modern bikes. For what this bike is it gets 5/5.
Submitted by
rob bowers
a Cross Country Rider
from Mount Tamo Qld Australia
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2006
Strengths: Has the combination of anti bob and active suspension that I like. Great ride quality
Weaknesses: not sure it is any lighter than the alloy verson
Bottom Line:
Great cross country bike. Fast enough to cut it with the elite guys I ride with. Easy to set up. Good value compared to other things I tried. Suspension active, without pedal induced feedback. AVA does the job and balances its action with the fork to give a fraction of cush when pedaled hard, not bob but cush. Much better than the Anthem that has replaced it. And getting it for 50% of what they were going for retail I'm all smiles. It is the ultimate for me and I coudn't even begin to think what I'd replace it with.
Similar Products Used: Blur, Spyder, Epic, Rocky Mtn Element Team, Alloy NRS, Scapel, and have now tried an Anthem
Bike Setup: AVA, f100x (both run plush enough to get max travel at my fav trails, this means the fork sits 20mm into its travel and follows the ground well), xtr rapidfire, easton ec stuff, american classic hubs, Stans Olympic rims, alloy discs and sealant, Conti Explorer Supersonic, Atacs
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Submitted by
dave lynch
a Cross Country Rider
from blue mts australia
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2006
Strengths: very light strong and good looking
Weaknesses: not as light as a hardtail
Bottom Line:
great so far.coming from a hardtail the same weight [23.1 lb] and handling but better on hill have not race yet but so far so good will let you know. all the products above work well with the NRS AIR much better bike then the rider
Strengths: Carbon frame, suspensions and top of the line components
Weaknesses: Can't go smaller than 16.5
Bottom Line:
Nrs Air is giving me a natural high for speed and comfort in every ride so far that made me wish all the time to buy my 5 sisters and 4 brother each nrs air as soon as I can afford. I can't wait for shorter stem I special ordered from the dealer to correct the weakness. The carbon frame and suspensions took all the beatings that I don't have to take a nap post ride as compared to my hardtails. It has become my passion to ride a bike and get high in each ride.
Strengths: Light, nicely finished great overall performace.
Weaknesses: price
Bottom Line:
Great crosscountry bike. Good climber, geometry is well balanced and thought out. This is a beautiful bike for a hardtail lover that needs just the right amount of suspension.
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2004
Strengths: Geometry, weight, responsivness, componets.... everything about it so far.
Weaknesses: Bike size is different. I'm six four, and the 22.5 inch frame size is way too big. Next down is a 20.5, which is borderline small.... would like to see more 'generic' sizing, ie: 21 inch frame size!
Bottom Line:
Only have six rides, but what a stunning difference from my Specialized S Works with the brain shock. This carbon beauty is the smoothest riding thing I've ever been on, and after trying several, nothing else could compare. I'm approaching Clydsdale weight, and no unwanted frame flex noted! The VPP was a close second on types of suspension for me, but if you're looking, try them both, and you'll be amazed at the difference.
Similar Products Used: 2003 Specialized S Works FSR.
Bike Setup: Crossmax discs, Magura Martas, Easton Monkeylight bar and easton seatpost/stem, Gripshift 9.0.
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Submitted by
Craig
a Cross Country Rider
from Israel
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2004
Strengths: In Israel the bike comes with full XTR setup and rock shox SID team front shock, as well as XTR hydrolic disc breaks. Although I am an amateur rider, the bike is light as a feather while still being strong and rugged. It climbs like a panther and is as fast as a chitah. The shocks when properly set are unbelievably smooth and protect my fifty year old joints and back. With no trouble I leave other bikers who once passed me in the dust, literally. In Israel there is lots of sand on the trails and this bike cuts through like the proverbial knife through butter. This is an experience that is so far from that which I felt on my old Haro Extreme and NRS 2. I would highly recommend this bike for a person who is willing to pay for the best and wants to have the ultimate experience on a crosscountry bike. The carbon fibre frame is so strong while being so unbelievably light.
Weaknesses: None that I have found.
Bottom Line:
A wet dream for all cross country bikers looking for the best.
Strengths: Beautiful finish, great climber and stable on the dowm slope. CARBON! Extremely light.Great geometry.
Weaknesses: none yet.
Bottom Line:
This is a beautiful full suspension bike for the XC rider who wants a bike that does everything like it should. A little costly, but what the ......it´s worth it.
Submitted by
Ghisallo
a Cross Country Rider
from Minneapolis
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2004
Strengths: Proven rear suspension design
Weaknesses: Fork needs to be upgraded to a Fox IMO
Bottom Line:
I didn't hold out a lot of hope that this bike would descend all that great but the rear end is like buttah. Maybe it's the new shock, new geometry and carbon fiber but it feels even better than the '03 Air I was riding. I like the Skareb better than the SID but it has some funky characteristics that make you feel like the headset's loose (it isn't) and it wobbles on descents around 30mph. If I had the cash it would have Fox F100x on it instead.
Racing has been a dream. The Crossmax power transfer is excellent of course. I don't get any ghost-shifting yet as NRSs of the past have done, but I do get some chain suck. To prevent this I spray a little PAM cooking spray in the strategic location and that seems to help--that and babying it on quick shifts.
The whole bike does seem to bob a bit out of the saddle so you have to adjust your sprinting style to not rob yourself of power.
Originally I wanted GripShift and Magura Martas on this bike but it didn't happen and I have to say the XT shift paddles are no big deal. They work much like my road bike's Ultegra and it's totally second nature. Brakes are strong and consistent but do take a little monkeying around with after remounting the front wheel--otherwise it rubs.
Rating: I'm not sure anyone should be paying $4000 for a MTB but compared to others this spec is a pretty good value. Put a better fork on it and you've got 5 chilis.
Bike Setup: Stock with Speedplay Frogs and bar ends
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Submitted by
Deb
a Downhiller
from FT Collins, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2004
Strengths: Very responsive! Better than my S-works Epic from last year! This bike is a very good climber, is quite plush when the suspension is needed and is still the most efficient full suspension I have been on. A good bike when I just want a XC break!
Weaknesses: Very hard to get. I was nervous at first, riding on a carbon bike because I tend to be very hard on equipment. It has held up like a champ. Weak: Comes spec'ed with a 110mm stem, also, the Skareb Super doesn't have a lockout, but the SPV is very effective.
Similar Products Used: 2003 Specialized S-works FSR(Epic).
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Submitted by
Byrren
a Cross Country Rider
from Rocklin, CA
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2004
Strengths: Superlight, Great climber, Stable on XC singletrack, looks good, no bob NRS, but still plush on larger bumps
Weaknesses: None for its intended purpose, fast XC riding/racing on trails that aren't too technical. A little bit of ghost shifting, but its probably just time to recable it.
Bottom Line:
One of the best "pure" XC riding / racing bike around. Climbs like a road bike (really fast), I can keep up with all the singlespeeders. Descends very well (stable and responsive, but not twitchy) on non-technical, fast, tight singletrack. I don't feel much brake-jack - I think that was fixed by the stable-platform Fox propedal rear shock. Looks really sick with the carbon-fiber patterns. Buyer would be someone that wants one of the best XC/racers around. Non-buyer would be someone that wants to do jumps, rough or technical trails.
Does anyone know where I can get a new set of bearings? I am currently having my LBS look it up, but wanted to see if I could find it cheaper online. Read More »
bike is getting louder with this- just a nice "tick" noise with every rotation of the cranks. usually about the same spot in rotation. Does it with very light loading all the way t Read More »
I have a 2004 NRS2. I have seen other references to NRS, NRS3, NRS Air. I don't think it is dependent on the year made, so what makes one bike a NRS3 as opposed to a NRS2? Is it th Read More »
