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Submitted by
ran chen
a Weekend Warrior
from ramat gan
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Strengths: | cheep, good rear suspention, good body | | Weaknesses: | nrs 2 is the best for their pric.
had to up grade all the moving parts and the fork. | | Similar Products Used: | 1995 used the 970 atx of giant with full LX parts. | | Bottom Line: | do not buy them and go for the NRS 2 and up.
it's like buying a porsche body with lada parts. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Julius
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | Extremely light for a MTB, affordable entry, solid rear suspension setup (Rock Shox SID), feels like a hardtail on climbs! | | Weaknesses: | Front suspension, Hutchinson Python tires, chain may skip from 2nd gear to 1st gear under heavy load. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Trance 2 | | Bike Setup: | Cross country and Trail. | | Bottom Line: | I felt like I stole this bike with the perfomance it could dish out for under $1,000. If you could find this bike thru dealers, friends, and anywhere else buy it! Even the NRS3 frame is the same as the 1 and 2. If you ride serious please please upgrade the tires and fork. The Pilot SL is terrible for riders +200lbs. Tires were terrible (can't corner and wore quickly). Uphill oh boy this bike can fly! Upgrade to disc brakes if possible. I added Avid BB7, Rock Shox Reba SL, Mavic CrossRides and turned it into a XC/Trail beast! Paying attention to the chain wear is key DO NOT ignore it or you will damage your drivetrain. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
graham fergus
a Cross Country Rider
from uk
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | hamsterley forest black run | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | uk shop | | Strengths: | light weight and comes with pretty good components. Shimanio, race face crank set. Shram v brakes and average huchision xc tyres. | | Weaknesses: | front forks are not very easy to adjust and the air system takes a while to get used to. | | Similar Products Used: | scott | | Bike Setup: | now up graded the forks and replaced the tyres to contintental explorers. Disc brakes where a must and i chose shram hydralic . | | Bottom Line: | The bike comes ready to go. this i found was a good upgrade from an old scrapper. The bike feels very light and difficult to get used to at the start but afet 5 or 6 rides i found the correct set up for myself and was very comfortable. £400.00 bought me this bike and i have found myself doing the same as many other XC riders with out difficulty. Due to the gearing and weight composition it is very easy to accelarate on inclines and goes like a bat out of hell on the downs. As i upgraded i have started to build a hard tail and used all the old parts to make it up . I love my bike and would recommend it for and new riders. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Super Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Leeds, UK
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclesense, Tadcaster, UK | | Strengths: | Price, full suspension, 31lb weight, looks, handling | | Weaknesses: | Occasional gear slip under heavy pressure | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Standard off the shelf | | Bottom Line: | Having decided to upgrade from my 9 year old hardtail & hard nose mtb, I was wondering whether to spend my hard earned wedge on a hardtail with front sus or this full susser. I was concerned whether I would loose out on climbs with a full susser over a hardtail. My riding preference is xc.
I decided that I would regret not going for the full sus option, so I bought the Giant NRS 3. This is a SUPERB bike. It climbs virtually by itself thanks to it's light weight (compared to many other full sussers - 31lb). It is entremely well balanced, meaning it will take you up, round and down anything with confidence. The hydrailic discs stop me on a sixpence in any weather, even when covered in mud.
Giant are replacing this bike so it's possible to negotiate deals with retailers, making the attractive pricetag positively stunning.
My only annoyance is when powering down hard in 2nd gear, it slips into 3rd. This may be gear setup but I suspect it's more likely due to the tail flex others here have mentioned.
In conclusion, if you have £600 sheets burning a hole and are tempted by full sus (which you should be!), buy this. It looks hard, rides hard, climbs hard and loves being treated like a dawg! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Highlands Ranch, CO
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | The one I am riding | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike Colorado | | Strengths: | All around great MTB, lightweight, excellent riding position and response for a 5'10 192 lb guy. Solid Full suspension, no bob on uphill. Solid Mavic x139 wheelset, i beat on em for 2 yrs b4 replacing. It was the right price for an mid grade entry level bike. I should be using it for years and wil definetly consider other Giant bikes in the future. | | Weaknesses: | Should come with Pilot SL forks adjusted to 100 MM not 80 MM,Python tires were replaced in under 60 days,no shoulder for cornering. Replaced chain in first 6 - 9 months. | | Similar Products Used: | None, my first full suspension bike. Was on GT Hardtail b4. | | Bike Setup: | New Mavic 717, Replaced Avid Single Digit 3 with digit 7 V Brakes (I wore the front pair out), New Easton EA70 seat post (got fat & or wrecked and bent old titec), running with Fire XC Pro Tires and swap with Specialized Enduro's for single track mountain. | | Bottom Line: | This is one sweet bike. It does everything except extreme downhill. If you want downhill check out the 05 Giant bikes reign and faith. This NRS will treat you right, for a first time full suspension and beyond. Excellent riding position makes for a comfortable ride, better response and handling on technical trails. The center shock is a little weird with pressure because of the geometry of the bike. None of the shops told the same story, so I called Rock Shock and Giant to confirm. Almost no other bike requires your riding weight (clothes, Camel Back and all)in pressure PSI on top chamber (no more than 250 psi top), no more than 50 psi bottom. The bike is rigid, prevents compression loss, is perfect for climbing and knows when to absorb shock riding back down hill. One sweet bike. I have used this bike riding, colorado front range single tracks, Green and Blue single track trails at Vail, Keystone, Breckenridge, WinterPark and Copper mountain resorts in Colorado. And had a great ride everytime. You dont need a bike that costs twice as much to have a good time, but you need a better bike than WalMart sells to do these type of rides. GIANT NRS is the ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lucas
a Cross Country Rider
from Krakow, Poland
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | This bike sells on it's excellent rear suspension, go ahead and find me a better system... then again... dont bother - there is none | | Weaknesses: | like people below said, accessories are crap and tires are hopeless, frame on my NRS was made from AluXX, not the AluXX SL | | Similar Products Used: | GT i-drive, kelly's beast | | Bike Setup: | put on XT deraileurs, SRAM Rocket shifters, Magura Julie, suntour E-LO up front | | Bottom Line: | Excellent XC bike, competition just doesn't seem to be able to catch up. It feels like a hardtail untill you get on bumpy surfaces - I noticed the difference (as compared to hardtails) especially on downhill singletracks full of tree roots and some loose stones (theres lots of those here). At the same time this bike climbs like mad with absolutely no loss of energy - speaking of which, it is a good idea to invest into front fork with lock out. then you can change your NRS into rigid bike when need be.
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Submitted by
Ev
a Cross Country Rider
from Edm, AB, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | from a family member | | Strengths: | VALUE, VALUE, VALUE,
NRS rear suspension works great.
Pretty light for its price. | | Weaknesses: | The front shock bobs lots, if you get serious, i would buy a fox shock with lockout.
Stock rims are heavy, try upgrading to crossmax. | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS 3, added disc brakes, | | Bottom Line: | This is an awesome value bike, you can find it for around 1000$ on ebay, pink bike, ext. The rear shock is the best system without a lockout on the market. THis bike is best with 'Wildgripper' tires on it (by michelin). If you get more serious the upgrades you would want would be a new front shock, new wheels, and a new seat & post. If you are just getting into mountain biking this is the bike for you.
And dont worry about upgrades, they are easy to get, the frame will last a lifetime. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Damián Lara
a Cross Country Rider
from Juarez Chihuahua/El Paso TX
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Chupacabras 100 KM | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$660.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Very light to be a full suspention, the same as NRS AIR and 5 grams lighter than the carbon fiber frame, very strong rims, true NRS system no one has it I had a Santa Cruz but this is much better in performance every thing is marketing this one is a very good and strong bike | | Weaknesses: | Not the bike the python tires are very light but not durable the chain has broke in the first ride | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Heckler | | Bike Setup: | For me the components are like jewels a few ones really make a difference but I put the Titec Titanium Stem, the Giant Carbon fiber seat post, Weyless Carbon fiber Hand bar, Sette titanium skewers, XT rear and front derailleur, Velociraptor tires and the Mavic Cross Ride Rims | | Bottom Line: | Just remeber this... everything in this hobbie is marketing first thing if you need less weight start with you then continue with the bike my handle bar is the CFX2 weyless and is a 175 gms 30.00 bucks if you want the CFX1 is 30 bucks too but is 125 gms new very good artifacts the titec titanium stem is 150 gms 50 bucks new, the sette titanium skewers 18 dlls, the seat post 50 dlls, my mavic cross ride rims are very light and durable you do not have to pay over 600 dlls to have a light weight rims i bought them for just 140 dlls new on ebay, theres not too much option on the derailleurs but buy the shimano XT they are the same as the XTR the only difference is the price so do not spend money the pilot fork is the child of the SID Fork just heavier now my bike works like a cadillac for me is the best I have money to buy a Santa Cruz Blur but it does not make any sense just to brag it Theres some better bikes but remember Lance Armstrong defeat you with a Wal-Mart bike improve your self comments dlara@telennia.net | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dwayne Weeks
a Cross Country Rider
from 617 Overbrook Road, Baltimore, USA
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Blue Knob XC Expert race trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | Good strong mountain bike for cross country, climbing, rock gardens, log jumping, mud skidding, single track, and having fun in the woods. Get the front and rear shock air pressure adjusted at the bike shop before you leave the shop, and make sure the bike fits your frame. The Perfomance Bike folks were great with bike set up and adjustments, and this needs to be done before you ride hard. | | Weaknesses: | Replace the Hutchison python lite tires before you ride in the rain, mud, rocks, or anywhere other then dry-hardpack. If you ride on the east-coast, these tires are not for you. The original tire side-walls were ripped out in the rock gardens within 3 months, and I am glad they expired. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Hard-rock, no-suspension (no comparision) | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for upgrade to Richie seatpost and IRC Mythos 2.1 tires which were a massive improvement to bike. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for the guy (or girl) who likes to ride hard in a wide variety of conditions. The Rock Shox pilot SL fork works fine as long as it is adjusted for your wieght, and you set the re-bound for your riding conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jake
a Cross Country Rider
from Pocatello, ID USA
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Bartlet wash, moab | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$825.00 | | Strengths: | I feel like I have a lot of control on this bike. I like to be able to feel what I'm riding on a little bit. The bike I had before this one was an older Marin hardtail, so maybe it's just a comfortable transition for me.
Avid V brakes bring me to a hault, and that's all I would ask of them. I've never ridden disk brakes, and I don't really have a desire to.
The dampening on the rear shock is very adjustable, and the shock is very efficient on the uphill battle. I was considering other bikes with more aggressive suspension, but it seemed like the uphill bob, and additional weight really dragged me down. | | Weaknesses: | Tires are going to be an immediate replacement for any semi-serious rider. Not only do the "pythons" wear fast, the shoulders are not knobby enough for tight cornering.
There have been times where I wished I had more travel in the fork. I'm still deciding if I like the Pilot or not. I have had some little problems with chain suction. | | Similar Products Used: | marin eldridge grade | | Bike Setup: | Stock. Yeah I know, LAME. My wallet is still recovering from the initial purchase of the bike. I'm poe "will work for accessories" | | Bottom Line: | I'm more of a rider than a reader. I don't know a lot of technical stuff. Of course we all know that the three is the cheap version, and we're going to add our own little goodies as we can afford them. It's a good bike for those of us who are still willing to do the uphill to get the reward of the downhill.
I knew before I got this bike that giant cut corners on things like the fork and tires to make the bike more affordable. I planned for upgrades of parts. But for someone who just came off of an older hardtail, it's already a primo bike. (although they may as well be selling these things with no tires). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Malden, Ma
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Race course at Camden Snow Bowl - Camden, ME | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Maine Sport, Camden, ME | | Strengths: | Does not feel like you are losing any power on the uphills. Great riding position. Feels fast, and it is. | | Weaknesses: | The tires are weak... work well on fast dirt. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Sugar 3+DISC | | Bike Setup: | Stock + pedals, chain rings(repair), and a rock ring. | | Bottom Line: | Great full suspension bike. I wanted the NRS2 for the disc brakes, but it was sold before I could snag it. I'll upgrade to disc soon. I've been riding about a year on the suggested setup, but I tried the new rear shock setup as suggested by another review. It is worth trying... body weight - 10PSI in the (+), then 100PSI in the (-). Now it's an even better ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim Jimma
a Cross Country Rider
from London UK
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Some place in Twickenham | | Strengths: | Great first full suss bike. Good components for the price. Also good for road use. | | Weaknesses: | Could do with better forks. Tires suck. Had to replace the raceface cranks due to unsolvable creaking issues | | Bike Setup: | Factory spec with Hope mono minis, hope XC hubs, mavic x618 rims and Deore Hollowtech cranks.
| | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike about a year and a half ago. Sadly its not seen as much xc as i'd like and a bit too much road but then I use it to get to work every day. With that in mind though, i'd have been hard pressed to find a better full suss for road use (for the price, obviously). There really is very little bob on hard climbs and yet the rear suss soaks up the bumpy stuff. Its so damn light, yet it dosen't feel flimsy and when I get the chance I can still chuck it about a bit on the trail. I've put some weedy 1 inch tires on it for road use and now can overtake roadies!
Not too keen on the forks though.. definately my next upgrade. Oh and stick some disks on if you have the chance... the v's aren't bad but don't compare to a good set of disks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jake Wiggins
a Weekend Warrior
from Mobile
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Bama Trails | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | Cadence 120 | | Strengths: | Great overall bike, love the no sag suspension, all the advantages of a softail without the disadvantages!! | | Weaknesses: | The chain will rideup on the lower part of the swingarm if you shift the front derailer during hard cranking (makin you fall mostly)... the Hitchison Python tires belong on a road bike NOT a MOUNTAIN BIKE!! | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Jekyll 400 | | Bike Setup: | Titec bar ends, IRC Mythose XC tires... otherwise stock | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for someone who wants a great bike for a good price, performs VERY VERY well!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allen
a
from montreal, canada
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | bromont | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | nice priced for an awsome bike. same frame as NRS2, NRS1. | | Weaknesses: | craking/squeezing sounds at where you tighten your seatpost ('cause dirt gets in from there??). | | Bike Setup: | upgraded to rock shox SID XL, hayes hydraulic disk brakes and disk rims. everything else stock | | Bottom Line: | even stock, it's a very good XC bike. as i did the upgrade the front shocks, it performs much better (the pilot SL that came with was kinda crappy). Wide range of upgrading because the NRS 3 frame is the same as the NRS 2 and NRS 1 but different components. Just when you get to the level of wanting a high perf xc bike, change your components and you will have a NRS 1! :) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas Rawlins
a Cross Country Rider
from Cordova, Alaska, USA
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | the state of Ak | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | HDK Cycles in Virginia (do NOT recommend them) | | Strengths: | Awesome frame and suspension geometry, pretty decent components, lightweight, ergos are about perfect for me, and it just looks killer. | | Weaknesses: | Stock fork sucks, the tires are junk, and the brakes comes out of adjustment fairly quickly | | Similar Products Used: | mostly hardtails, Specialized FSR, Rockhopper, C'dale Jekyll | | Bike Setup: | Stock with the addition of an NSR-1 rear shock (adjustable rebound) | | Bottom Line: | Quite the deal. It is just an awesome pure XC bike - I get beat up a lot less and go much faster than a comparable hardtail. It just needs to come with better stock tires. I'm ditching the Hutchinsons and putting on WTB Velociraptors!
You can't go wrong with this bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque, NM
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | foothills | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike World | | Strengths: | Suspension is great, looks great just setting in the garage (and even better on the trail), possibliity for upgrades | | Weaknesses: | Pilot SL fork seems like crap, after the first month the seal blew and i had to send it back to rock shox, not the greatest components (but what do you want for the price) | | Similar Products Used: | Old crappy hardtail, test rode specialized epic with brain shock | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | this is a great bike. I am fifteen years old and spent my life savings for this bike, i have not been disappointed with its performance other than the fork problem. If you are a light teenage or adult rider and want a nice bike, this could be it. However keep in mind this is not a downhill bike or a freeride bike or anything like that. it is a fairly lightweight xc bike. it is home on a small jump park and can do some small drops and really shines on singletrack when you want to go fast. this bike climbs like no other bike, i can climb stuff that i never thought would be possible on any bike the suspension feels like the specialized epic, so this is a great, cheaper alternative | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gorio
a Weekend Warrior
from Anaheim, CA
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | whittier | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | nice silver paint job, no bob SID rear shock, affordable, comfortable v rocket seats, looks awesome. | | Weaknesses: | im not sure about the pilot fork, a bit too slushy for me. chain jumped out of the gears a few times, maybe needs some tuning. | | Similar Products Used: | other bike is an old school trek y3, and test ride all kinds of bikes. | | Bike Setup: | carbon fiber handlebars, eggbeater pedals, and everything else are stock. | | Bottom Line: | awesome bike for its price. great for weekend warriors. recommend this bike for beginners to intermediate mtbers. buy this bike then personalize it with the components you like. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Cross Country Rider
from CT
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | my yard | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$505.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Ok, I just have to say almost everything, beacuse it comes with some awesome stock parts for what you are going to pay. | | Weaknesses: | the judys, crankset a little on the heavy side | | Similar Products Used: | GTS, Treks, specailized | | Bike Setup: | stock, excluding the fork, upgrade to a duke. | | Bottom Line: | If you want to begin to ride, without getting a huffy, or anything close to it get this, awesome all around, not on complaint with it so far, its good for beginners, and all the way up.
The only bad thing i have to say is that they should add another 100$ to the price and put a better fork, because i just hate judys.
I would say that if you don't have this bike already you should just go out and buy it already, because iif you don't you will never no what you are missing for an awesome XC bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric Painter
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, AZ USA
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Starr Pass | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | not a bad entry levle bike for a weekend rider, not ment for much more. | | Weaknesses: | Since I bought this bike I have had a problem with the chain jumping off the front middle chain ring while I was climbing. Thank God I bought this bike at Performanace Bke shop because those guys have changed out the bottom bracket, adjusted the bike a few dozen times and have tried everything else to fix this problme. They have Contacted Giant to see if there is any thingk Giant can do to fix this problem. The bottom line is that since I am about 250lbs really crank while I am climbing they think the rear end linkage is twisting and causing the chain to jump off the front. Performance is giving me a full refund of purchase price and I going to up grade to a better bike, not a Giant. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for new tires. Python lites are useless | | Bottom Line: | If you are over 250 this is not the bike for you. Maybe I got a lemon but the new NRS3 has a much shorter linkage in and should be stronger. I would not have believed this could have ever been a problem but after 6 months of the same problem I am moveing on to a better bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gordan
a Cross Country Rider
from Zagreb, Croatia
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Turbo sport | | Strengths: | Climbs really well, due to the geometry feels very stable downhill. After quite a lot of searching, I finaly feel peacefull and I'm focused on riding now. | | Weaknesses: | A bit on the heavy side, otherwise truly good performer. Paintwork very sensitive to scratches. | | Similar Products Used: | NRS 2, NRS Team, Trek Fuel 90 | | Bike Setup: | Marzzocchi MXC ECC, Full XT group, XT discs, XTR rear der, Ritchey WCS, Mavic 219D/Hutchinson Scorpion, Swissstop disc pads, WTB Rocket V, Ritchey V-3 Comp | | Bottom Line: | Actually, I bought complete NRS 4 bike, but used only the frame. I built it with parts I bought before and I can say that this setup is the result of lot of experimenting. My preference is to set shoch a bit softer - comfort is preserved but pedaling efficiency is still very high. Considering the price it is really a hell lot of good ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Freeman
a
from Nampa, Idaho, USA
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Hulls Gulch | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Bobs Bikes Boise Idaho ROCKS!! | | Strengths: | Rides like a Hardtail. Looks Awesome. Huge value for the money!! No other bike comes close for this price. | | Weaknesses: | Front fork is cheese (I am 6-4 230 it is a little soft for my liking) Keep looking at the price. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel, Haro extreme, Schwinn, Fisher Sugar, Specialslut FSR comp, Turner 5 spot, Turner XC etc I swear I rode them all. | | Bike Setup: | XL Frame in Blue (Had to special order) Avid Discs Sun rhino lite rims XT hubs, BLUE Panaracer Fire XC 2.1 tires. (This bike looks FINE) | | Bottom Line: | If you have less than 3K there is no reason to keep looking. This bike is the ultimate climber for the money. I swear there is no BOB in the butt. You can stand up and pedal and still feel solid. Comming down is great. It is an XC bike not a DH so ignore any comments by lazy DH riders. (You don't use a pickup to get this bike to the top.) If you have the money go for the nrs2 it is 1600 but you get discs and a better fork and hubs and stuff. My buddies have Turners (4k) and this bike is more efficent pedaling and I kick their butts. I am serious you don't need a lockout with this bike. Besides this thousand dollar bike comes with the same frame as the $3k NRSAIR just cheaper components so you can upgrade forever. I race and this is the best bike for the money hands down !!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
johnnyb
a Cross Country Rider
from San Anselmo
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | somewhere in west Marin | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$899.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Light, good parts spec except fork and NO BOB when climbing. Dream silver glows in cloudy light! | | Weaknesses: | The Rock Shox Pilot SL fork does not work for anyone large. I weigh 215 lbs and have always used Marzochhi shocks for their stiffness. The steering of the Pilot fork is so wobbly that I have lost control in rock gardens and cutting up my shins. Forget about uphill switchbacks, you will lose control or confidence in this fork. I have replaced it with the newest BOMBER-- a Fox Float RLC on the advice from the mechanics at Gravy Wheels and have not regretted this ($525) upgrade! The Pilot is going to my 100 lbs. son on his MTB. The tires could be better but I've been riding in mud and rain and these are racing tires for dry conditions. Also, I'm not sure if it was the builder (Performance) or Giant but grease and retighten everything! | | Similar Products Used: | 14 years of hardtails, Sugar, Enduro, Superlight, Dakar and Trek | | Bike Setup: | Large NRS, Fox Float RLC 80mm, Avid mech discs, Rhynolites, Motoraptors (winter) | | Bottom Line: | I've been dreaming about this bike for a long time and it lives up to it and the reviews I've found here. Since I'm on a budget, $900 for the bike is a deal. Keep the rear SID--it works great., change the fork ($525) and add discs (from a Performance team card for buying the bike, I got a set for $90) wheels for another $90. So, for a grand total of $1605 I have something comparable to a $1800 NRS1 but with the fork of my choice (in fact the fork of just about everybodies choice).
But the ride is worth mentioning. Changing from hardtail riding to full suspension has changed the way I look at the trail. I can bomb down stuff that I would normally pick a line for. For crosscountry riding, this is the bike. Just make sure to set the rear shock to specs and maybe add 10-20 psi in the negative for a little dampening, I haven't noticed anything different though. I get full travel on the SID and the frame has a nice lateral stiffness now that I have a better fork.
One observation that may ruin the whole ride is that the frameset has some thin walls in the middle and that I have a very slight depression on the top tube from either a bike carrier or something that fell on it. So be careful with how you handle the bike.
A great ride; quiet, fast, light and bombs the heck through singletrack!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Reed Uhlemann
a Downhiller
from littleton colorado
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | i dunno proqupine rim | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Big Kahuna Bicycels | | Strengths: | strong frame can take a beating
| | Weaknesses: | tires blow and so does fork | | Similar Products Used: | trek fuel | | Bike Setup: | lots of dh parts thats y im selling the frame to get a dh | | Bottom Line: | this bike is good for xc i bought it for fun but then i started to freeride alot and the frame has held up well but dont get it even if you are thinking of doing anything hardcore just get a giant ac or dh or if you like to go between freeride and xc then get a giant vt | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonas Mendoza
a Weekend Warrior
from Philadelphia, Pa. USA
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Belmont Plateau | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Breakaway Bikes | | Strengths: | Light weight alluminum frame, great frame geometry, 4 point rear suspension linkage works like a charm, drivetrain shifts like an XT bike, rim brakes are smooth and powerful | | Weaknesses: | Judy XC front shock could be stiffer, Scorpion Air lite tires wear to quiclky, | | Similar Products Used: | Trek, C-Dale, Gary Fisher | | Bike Setup: | Stock: LX rear, Deore front, Giant Hubs, Giant cranks, | | Bottom Line: | The price I paid is well worth it. Keep the bike tuned properly and it will ride the way it was intended. Change your tires according to terrain. By the time you read this, my NRS-3 will be a full XT XC bike, with the suspension switched to the Carbon World Cup SID fork w/lockout, SID rear suspension w/lockout, carbon seat post and handle bars. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy C
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakland, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | san rafael trails | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Alameda bicycle | | Strengths: | NRS setup is great and really helps when your trying to smash up those hills. Feels and acts just like a hardtail climbimg up and still has all great features of dual suspension bike once the trail starts to get crazy bumpy again or your jumping around. front suspension is sufficient and is plenlty for all your small to average sized drops and jumps(remember, this is a xc bike). | | Weaknesses: | my drivetrain has had some good amount of problems, had to replace casssette and chain and adjust derailluer hanger multiple times. | | Similar Products Used: | demo'd, fsr, trek fuel, gary fisher sugar | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS 3....sun ringle singletrack rims, xt hubs, avid ball-bearing discs, michelin wildgripper hot s', deaore lx rear cassette, XT chain, shimano pedals, cycle computer | | Bottom Line: | Great bike overall, especially for all you XC riders out there looking for a little more plush ride for your behind and still want to go fast. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a Cross Country Rider
from Netcong, NJ
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Deer Run State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycleworks | | Strengths: | Compared to my other bike, light! First full suspension bike and I love it. | | Weaknesses: | Chain slaps like crazy. Derailers won't shift completely into 1-1 or 3-7 but a little adjustment and it works fine. | | Similar Products Used: | Mostly GT HT | | Bike Setup: | Stock for now. Winter is when the work will be done. | | Bottom Line: | I think this is a great bike for the price. I use to be a die hardtailer that said I would never go full. The NSR3 made a lier out of me. There is no bob, which was my big concern, and the rear suspension makes it a joy to rip down single track. I don't know if it was the actual bike or the fact I don't have a 50 pound bike any more, that I am no longer in the back of the pack. The blue paint is awesome! Catches the ladies eyes when you go flying by. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Folkestone, England
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Bonethrone Bikes | | Strengths: | Lightweight and build quality, climbing and excellent value for money | | Weaknesses: | Tyres, and gear shifting sometimes a little vague - probably a set up thing though. Brakes not quite powerful enough - I'm 92kg. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 6500 | | Bike Setup: | Standard | | Bottom Line: | This bike is excellent value for money and great for the first timer / enthusiast. As mentioned below maybe the NRS2 would’ve been a better investment in terms of the upgrades that I’m already considering.
One area that I feel is very weak is the tyres. Yes they are light but useless in the wet/mud and puncture way too easily – especially with super lite inner tubes. I am a little disappointed by this.
Overall a great bike that I’m pleased I bought. With a couple of, reasonably cheap, upgrades it really is a great go (almost) anywhere XC bike.
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Submitted by
François Dumais
a Cross Country Rider
from L'Assomption, Québec, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Centre du vélo | | Strengths: | Very light frame, efficient v-brakes, great climber, quality drailleur and shifter ( even though not top of the line ), handles like charm
looks cool , excellent price/ quality ratio, perfect for first-timers (like me ) | | Weaknesses: | seat is average, setting the rear shock is easy but needs a lot of time and trial to get PERFECT results, light tires but very fragile and wears very fast | | Bottom Line: | The NRS 3 is my firts real mountain bike and I'm in love with it, I can't even count how many hours I've spent riding on this bike.The NRS 3 is the perfect XC bike for first timers you will get you money's worth and have great time. If you wan |
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$ 1200.00
