Submitted by
rkj__
a Racer
from Niagara Falls, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2011
Strengths: A great combination of efficiency and comfort.
Weaknesses: Not a dramatic improvement over the aluminum version.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. It sprints like a hardtail, but is much more comfortable. Cartridge bearings all around, and a Fox rear shock stay smooth for a long time.
I got this frame as a warranty replacement for an aluminum NRS. Honestly, I did not notice a significant difference moving to the carbon front triangle.
Bike Setup: Fox RLC 100 mm, Hayes Mag, SRAM X.9 / X.0, Truative Stylo carbon,
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Submitted by
noguerol
a Cross Country Rider
from Madrid, Spain
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2008
Strengths: Very light, super finish, really effective anti-bob suspension.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
Absolutely great frame. Very light (2.5kg at 22,5") and very effective suspension system, with no bob when pedaling in the seat nor standing while offering true absorption of medium to big bumps. Top notch carbon manufacture with a very sleek gloss finish.
Bike Setup: Manitou R7 Platinum, American Classic wheel set, XTR/XT group, Formula oro k24 brakes with alligators, FSA / Kore elite / Saso titanium parts.
Strengths: A very well-designed suspension system/frame that allows you to build a light bike that won't fall apart. Superb Giant carbon layup as usual.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
I transferred many of the parts over from my 23.75 pound '99 DS1 to this frame. I also upgraded the fork and some other parts. This bike resolves many of the issues I had with my DS1; having to use my Risse Astro-5's lever to stop bobbing, and a few other small things. The frame is an absolute work of art per usual for Giant. If you want a plush-riding bike this isn't it! It is a great trail bike that does all it's advertised to do. I also like the fact that the shock and fork offer a significant range of adjustment. Plus the fork has an inch more travel than my old '99 SID. This bike may not be for everyone, but if you want a serious cross-country style ride then grab one of these while you can still find them. I found a frame/shock and didn't hesitate to grab it.
Bike Setup: '05 NRS C1 M frame, '06 Reba World Cup, King/317 wheelset, RF Next LP crankset/ti bb, '08 XTR frt/carbon rear derailleurs, XTR shifters, Formula Evo brakes with Alligator rotors, Cane Creek Cloud 9 shock, USE carbon post, WTB saddle, Profile ti stem, Titec ti bar w/carbon Mid 100 bar ends, Arundel cage, etc...
Strengths: Does all it is claimed to; like a hardtail until you need the suspension. I was amazed at how well it worked after wheeling through some local trails that I'd ridden with my old frame/fork/shock ('99 Xtc DS1/'99 SID/Risse Astro-5). Perfect bike for my needs and I got a deal on it too.
Weaknesses: Clear coat easy to scratch, but I can live with that.
Bottom Line:
I wanted to drop from the 18.5" frame with my old bike to a frame with more standover. And maybe upgrade a little at the same time. I did that, and am still amazed at how well the NRS suspension works when it needs to, and how well it pedals when you don't need it. The fork is a huge improvement over the old flexy SID. Giant really offers some nice bikes, and I'm still kicking myself for waiting this long to get the NRS C1 frame going. The NRS may not be for everyone, but if it suits your rides it is a top-notch suspension design to say the least!
Bike Setup: '05 16.5" frame, '06 Reba WC, '08 CC Cloud 9, '08 XTR frt/'08 Shadow rear derailleur, XTR shifters, Formula Evo discs with Alligator rotors, King hubs laced to X317 rims with Specialized tires, RF Next LP cranks and ti BB, Time ATAC pedals with Stan's ti axle/spring kit, Titec ti bar, Profile ti stem, Titec carbon ends, USE Alien post, Selle Italia FKS ti saddle, Arundel carbon fiber cage, etc. Just barely hits under 24 lbs on an accurate digital hanging scale.
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Submitted by
wellen mercado
a Racer
from edinburg,texas usa
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2007
Strengths: fastest climbing bike ive ridden period!!
Weaknesses: a little short of travel in the backend but if your a racer who cares it all comes down to speed and effeciency..
Bottom Line:
if your willing to sacrifice comfort for performance then this is the bike for you.. dont buy it if your looking for a comfy bike to ride around.
Similar Products Used: s works epic,ellsworth truth
Bike Setup: spinergy wheelset,xtr,sram xo's,xrp.
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Submitted by
KPK
a
from Chicago-Home of King Daley
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2006
Strengths: Lightweight, nice finish on carbon, compliant, NRS worked well but not as well as advertised, price
Weaknesses: Product Warranty, reliability, Still some bobbing. Dialing out stiffness on climbs gives up compliance on down hills.
Bottom Line:
After finding a hairline crack in the seat tube of the frame, I was told it would not warranty due to user error on install. I am an Elite level rider riding and racing for 15 years with money spent from my own pocket, I think I can follow directions on correct seat post placement. What a cop out. A similar crack on a Carbon Fuel was repalced two years ago.
I guess when your're a big Asian bike company that doesn't sponsor any North America grass roots development, you don't have to stand by your product.
Weaknesses: Would prefer regular headset over hidden
Bottom Line:
I can't believe Giant dumped this rear suspension design--maybe they didn't want to pay patent royalties on the rear pivot any more. I considered many frames before I settled on this one and it's everything I'd hoped. It's a simple, light and elegant design. It handles any trail I can throw at it and asks for more. The zero-sag rear setup is unique and easy. It climbs like a cat and really doesn't bob. I gave it only four chilis for value because I got one of the last ones and my LBS wouldn't deal much.
Similar Products Used: hardtails - I'm an old guy and didn't want to get beat up any more
Bike Setup: Purchased frame, built with Fox FRL 80 fork, Spinergy Zyclone disc wheels, XT combo levers, derailers, cassette, & chain, Avid mechanical disk brakes, Race Face Deux XC crank, stem & bars, Time pedals
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Submitted by
Tommy
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2006
Strengths: Light weight, excellent parts spec, great looking, and suspension performance.
Weaknesses: Carbon fiber makes me nervous.
Bottom Line:
I was not even looking for this bike when I was shopping and I couldn't believe my luck. I ended up with a fantastic ride at an amazing price.
This bike climbs better than anything I've ridden since my hardtail days and bombs down hills as fast as I would care to go.
Similar Products Used: C'Dale Jekyll 700 & 900SL, Santa Cruz Superlight, Iron Horse Azure Expert
Bike Setup: Bike is stock with the following changes: - Swapped out RF stem and post for Thomson - Put on a set of Fire Pro XC tubeless tires
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Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2006
Strengths: Lightweight, easy to maneuver, really does what it says--NO PEDAL-BOB! I even had a Fox Float RL shock with lockout from another bike ready to swap, but haven't felt the need for it.
Weaknesses: I wish the rear triangle was also carbon fiber.
Bottom Line:
This is a great carbon frame for a great price. To bad Giant isn't making it any more. Buy one while they are still around!
Submitted by
Howard Neale
a Weekend Warrior
from Stockton, England
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2006
Strengths: Amazing Speed, ive lopped about 17 minutes off my fave local loop. Very capable trail bike. Carbon frame is luurvely, overall bike weight about 24.5 lbs. Got this for only £1400 from Bonthrone Bikes, it was £2500 6 months ago
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
I bought this to help improve my Marathon times - if my local loop time is anything to go by, i should fly round them.
Similar Products Used: Also own a Giant VT, Orange 5, and On One 456
Bike Setup: Standard except shorter stem and wider flat bars with Titec Carbon Bar Ends.
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Submitted by
Sam
a Cross Country Rider
from Thousand Oaks, California
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2006
Strengths: Low weight, smooth no-bob suspension that seems to lock out on climbs, fast climbing bike.
Weaknesses: Occasional chain suck
Bottom Line:
This is the best bike I've ever had. I bought this bike following a rather miserable experience with the Cannondale Scalpel Team and I've never looked back. I raced Sea Otter for my first time (and only my second race ever) and placed in the top 10% with this bike. This year I expect to be on the podium at Sea Otter. Aside from the occasional chain suck problem, which can be minimized by keeping the drive train very clean, this bike has no flaws. As set up, my bike weighs a hair under 24 lbs. This bike is well worth every cent I spent on it.
Bike Setup: Modified stock setup by adding Easton Monkey Lite carbon bars, a carbon seatpost, Selle Italia 135g saddle, Triple Ti Egg Beaters, XTR cranks and rear deraileur, and XTR rear cassette.
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Submitted by
Dave Atkinson
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2006
Strengths: Climbs better than a hardtail, very smooth due to carbon frame, suspension there only when you need it
Weaknesses: Expensive
Bottom Line:
This is my first full suspension bike. When I went looking I found SO many options available it was overwhelming. After spending several long nights at the computer digging for info, I went to the bike shop and tried several bikes.
I rode about 10 other bikes before choosing this one. Going for mad suspension was very tempting, but after taking a good hard look at how I would really use the bike I came to the conclusion that the NRS C1 was the best bike for me.
I ride about 50% road, 50% XC on local trails. I like to leave my house, ride to where I'm going, and ride back. I don't usually cart the bike anywhere so I end up spending a lot of time on the roads. This was a huge factor in my final decision.
I had a hard time believing many of the reviews that said it climbs 'better' than a hardtail, but it's absolutely true. The wheels (Mavix CrossMax) are super rigid, transmitting more power to the ground. Absolutely zero pedal bob makes it feel like a hardtail. However the suspension is still active so it eats up the bumps and saves you work on the climbs. I have never had a bike that was so easy to pedal.
Still, it was very tempting to get a big plushie with 6+ inches of suspension. However those bikes are 5-10 lbs heavier and even though most are pretty good on the climbs I found that the NRS C1 beat them all.
The C1 has a 'no sag' setup, meaning that there is no initial sag in the shock (at least in the rear anyway). This is part of the reason it feels so much like a hardtail. The suspension feels like a 'switch' - it's only on when you actually need it.
At first I thought this might be troublesome, or just plain no fun on the roads or if you're just screwing around jumping or whatever. After riding about 50 miles I have found that the suspension is easily activated by just standing up and bouncing a bit. You can preload the suspension to do a quick bunny hop over a curb, get some extra air off a jump, or whatever. The suspension is there only when you want it. It's so freaking choice!
The stock components are great. Shifting is precise and smooth, much better than any other bike I tried. I love the trigger shifters - they are reversed from what I'm used to - the bottom lever moves to a harder gear instead of the other way around. Makes it super easy to sweep several gears when coming off the top of a hill. The RaceFace cranks and gears are fantastic, I have no trouble shifting under power and I haven't missed a shift yet.
This bike climbs better than a hardtail, has modest suspension for the downhills and screwing around, has excellent stock components, and is nearly as light as a similarly equipped hardtail. All in all, it's the best bike I've ever ridden.
Go out and try one now, but be sure you have the money 'cause you'll want to buy it right there :-)
Strengths: + Ride Quality (carbon is sweet) + Acceleration - crazy fast + Race"ability" and tune"ability" of the shock + "Hardtail-like" when you need it and fully active when you need it + Giant's dependability
Weaknesses: None, I guess some may say price but you get what you pay for... quality
Bottom Line:
I have owned various NRS bike since 2000. This is my first carbon one and I thought I loved the NRS before this is a whole new level. That have made several improvements which make the suspension more active under braking and more sensitive to small bumps but it is even stiffer than the Aluminum version for better acceleration. This thing flies. But it is also sooo sweet on the downhill. Much faster (going up and down) than my hard tail (Litespeed Tasani). Hard to believe that could make it better but the ride quality of carbon and the refinements to the shock system have made the best FS bike even better. This is a classic for all time.
Similar Products Used: Also own Litespeed Tasani hardtail and a Dean Ace FS bike.
Bike Setup: 2005 NRS Composite Frame built with all race stuff- XTR cranks, Stan's NoTubes Olympic Wheels, Ritchey stem, carbon bars and carbon seatpost, SLR saddle, XO shifters and rear drl, etc, etc, etc - weighs in at 23.1 lbs
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Submitted by
SPOKES574
a Weekend Warrior
from Tracy, CA
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2005
Strengths: Absorbs low frequency twinges that you would normaly feal on a Al bike
Weaknesses: Frame does feal a tab bit bigger than the ussually size. I had a Al frame 18.5" and this carbon frame seams bigger.
Bottom Line:
This is a custom build, not the stock bike off the floor. First the frame does feel bigger when compared to AL NRS of same size. Second, do not upgrade the shock to the RP3! The stock shock has a fixed negative chamber of 50psi! I had upgraded to the RP3 initially and it always had 1/4" of sag and the bike rode badly with the 1/4" of sag - this bike you do not want sag in the rear shock. Also the 3 adjustments of the RP3 is way over rated. I tried all 3 and the variation is very small - not worth the extra $170 more for the upgrade. Third!!!!! If you ride in the rain/mud you better put a clear film strip on the top frame tube!!! The mud on your shorts will scratch up the top tube when getting on and off and the top tube will lose it shiney look. The clear coating gets a cloudy look to it. I had to put some mop and glow(which is used to shine floors) then put a thin clear film tape that I got at Walmart in the school supplies section. Now I do not worry about my muddy shorts touching the top frame tube when I get off the saddle.
I read a lot of reviews before purchasing the carbon frame. I already had an Al NRS bike so I know its a great bike. None of the reviews gave me any worthwile information.
My first ride on the bike was a shock to me and a little bit wierd. The shock is that the bike is lighter than my previous nrs but the feedback to me when riding felt like I was on a mack truck. I could not really feel much ground feedback at the handle bars at all. I would bomb down rough down hills and would not feel much. I am use to taking the ground feedback at the handle bars to understand my tire tracking - that is all gone now. So all the low frequecy vibrations seem to be gone. This I think has to due with the frame, all the other carbon parts on the bike and the stiff fork.
I guess due to the carbon frame and stiffer fork the bike has less feedback at the bars. Also the REBA fork at 85-90mm is great - it holds a line and no flexing at all. The fork action is just like the SID but w/o the flex. The tab bit of extra weight is well worth the improved fork tracking and less vibration that I use to get with my SID SL. Also I think the 85-90mm that I set the fork at is perfect for racing and fast down hills. The Reba legs are 1" longer than the Sid so I had to take all the spacers out below the stem to try to make up for the extra rise in the front end.
I read reviews on the fox fork and watched guys on the trail climbing with them - they still bob a bit and if you hammer out of the saddle they do dive! That is why I wanted a fork with a lockout and went with the REBA TEAM with PopLock Adjust - what a great fork! all at $200 less than fox and more features.
The one upgrade I did that I would do differently was the Easton Monkey Lite XC 0.75" This bar has the weirdest bend! The ends of the bar are up atleast 2" - but I thought the bar rise was 0.75"? apparently the bar has an upswing of 4degree in addition to the 8degree back swing. Its the upswing that makes the bar look like a V shape when looking at it from the front. It has forced me to purchase a longer stem(200mm) to move me more forward over the front tire for better climbing. I know its claimed to be the strongest 31.8mm bar and can handle bar ends and looks great, but the rise is all F... up. It is very decieving when looking at it.
This bike I put the SRAM XO shifters and I will never go back to trigger. After 3 rides on it I was sold! I can go up or down 3 gears w/o any worries or issues. Flawless shifting that I never experianced before. Rear Dereiller is XO but Front is an XTR. Ohh ya do not think you can take your current bikes XTR front dereiller and put on this carbon bike. The carbon down frame tube is wider. I had to purchase a different XTR front dereiller than what was on my Al frame NRS.
Brakes - the Juicy 7 - are the easiest breaks I ever had to setup interms of getting rid of roter drag. Hands down very easy to setup and adjustability that is offers is great. I was reluctant to buy at first because I was going to use my Hayes brakes from my current bike, glad I didn't these brakes are more powerful and have lots of custom adjustments. Great brake!
Sid SL rims. Great. Only issue is that the SRAM 990 cassette body is made out of a composite and not hogged out of a solid Al like Shimano's. So the Cassette body does not fit snugly onto the SL rear wheel spline. The end result is a cassette that has some 1-2mm of wiggle/play in it - which can make noise when you first peddle. My bike shop agrees that the tollerances of the SRAM 990 composite body is too much so I have ordered a shimano cassette to fix this problem. Bike shop said they have seen this issue before with the SRAM cassette due to poor mfg tolerances.
Shock - I weight 175lbs and the best traction is at 175psi. I can get 0 sag at 169psi but I have learned that I can do technical sections better with a stiffer rear end after watching hard tails and my bike through the same section.
USE Alien Seat Post - may be lite, but is a pain in the butt to setup. Very difficult to get seat lose to re-setup. and as you tighten the seat bolts it moves the seat placement around. I do not recommend to anyone to purchase. Setup is a big pain!!!! Tires - well I use serac on rear because good traction and rolls fairly quick and Fire XC pro in the front for extra traction when turning- though it is not the fastest rolling tire- it will grip fast turns. Pythons do not grip on turns so you have to slow down and they do not grip will on climbs. Oh ya I use stans sealant and never had a flat on these tires in over 3yrs!
This bike is a work of art, light, stiff, no flex, no vibration back, tracks great. A bike I will keep or pass to my son in the future. Will never be selling this one, too much money spent on it and it rides like a champ.
I think the cost of the frame is way too much. I also read that in Y06 Giant might not produce the NRS and make a race version of its new Trance bike to save on mfg cost(Do not have to make so many frame off the line). Some of these race Trance bikes were seen at the California Sea Otter Race. So for those of you planning to purchase this bike now, you may want to wait 3 months and see what hits your dealer floors. As for me I purhased well before learning of this Y06 lineup change.
Similar Products Used: Y02 & Y03 NRS with SID SL Fork
Bike Setup: Components Y05 NRS Composite Frame 18.5" Fox FloatR w/ fixed neg pres Thompson Elite X4 31.8mm 200mm Juicy 7 Brakes Reba Team U-Turn Air 90mm Race Face Dues Cranks Selle San Marco SKN Pro seat Easton Y05 EC70 31.8 0.75"26" Grips Time ATAC XS Carbon Pedals SL Rims Shimano XTR Front Derailler SRAM XO gripshifters SRAM XO Rear Derailler SRAM 990 cassette USE Alian Carbon Seat Post Sette VX Ergo Carbon Bar Ends Serac Tubeless Tire-Rear Fire XC Pro Tubeless-Front Specialize Odometer Bell Wimperman Graphite Chain Stans Latex Sealant Lizard Skin
