i've had the fork for months but haven't rode it yet as i'm having troubles with the bb7's, front & rear. don't know how it flexes, but would imagine it does as its 500 a/c cheapo steel

 

Found the creaking! Wasn't actually the dropouts, it was the quick release. I had to tighten it much more than I would normally, to the point where I could barely force it closed with all my strength. It stopped the noise though.

Ride report:
This bike is amazing! It took me a while to remember how to ride a hardtail but once I did it was incredible. I got a proper Pisgah ride in today and except for when it get really rough I was hardly slower on the Nimble than my 6 inch bike. In some cases I even felt faster, which I'm sure has to do with the bigger wheels. Essentially it rides like my 6 inch bike but more playful. It jumps and corners sooo well.

In short, I did not know a hardtail could be so capable. If I wasn't racing enduro for a team next year I would probably have no desire to keep a full suspension bike short of a dh bike.

I could not be happier with this bike.

 

erikrc10, your build spec suggests that you have a 1:1 single speed gear ratio. Is that a typo?

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Oops, yes that was a typo. Fixed now. Just for the record I'm running 32x20.

 

That doesn't look so brief now that I've posted it!!!

 

AST ive too found that i had to adjust for heel strikes. main shoe is 5.10 macaskill, but i do ride street in vans and dc's & still get the strikes. kinda sucks cuz when i adjust, that just means a wider stance and a loss of a couple pins worth of grip on my f20's. i had to compensate w/ 2mm longer pins on toe side & heel side & leave stock pins (10mm) on the spindle. what post are you running & do you like it? LOL wifey squattin' a stump

 

Yeah it was a bit annoying getting heel strike but it didn't seem to happen as much by the end of the ride. The bike is so much fun to ride so I think I can put up with a small annoyance.
Seat post? I'm using a reverb. It's pretty good. The mounting head is not as good as the Thomson seat posts that I'm used to but you can't beat a dropper post. I'll never go back to a normal seatpost. My next seatpost will probably be a KS Lev, because the cable doesn't move. I've tried one out and it's very nice.

 

Met a fellow mtbr member on a group ride tonight, and he reminded me that my frame glows in the dark. He kept shining his light on my bike, and I was like wth, but then we all turned off the lights. Awwwwwww....ohhhhhh!!

 

It's done!

First off the ride was incredible. I did stuff on this bike that I have never even attempted on my 26". The bike is confidence inspiring.

Spec:
N9 Gen2
Manitou Tower Pro 140mm
Shimano SLX group
Hope Pro2/evo hubs laced to Stan's Flow EX rims
Bontrager 29 XR3 Team issue
Thomson post
Bontrager 60mm stem
Bontrager 720 Race X Lite Carbon riser bar
Phenom saddle
Time ATAC pedals

 

Could you take a pic that shows the grip height in relation to the seat?

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Here you go. it is just about level. My xc bike had a ton of drop from saddle to bar.

 

Damn that's sexy. I'll order my XL PNW Green next week. I'm soooo stoked by your build. Thanks.

 

Pictures definitely do not do the frame color justice. It is a pretty sweet color. Best description I can come up with is the old muscle car forest green.

That said after riding this bike I can say I would ride it even if it were baby poop brown.

 

My first bike build. Lots of fun. Super "nimble" compared to my superfly 100

Frame: Nimble 9 Med
Fork: White Brothers Loop, set at 120mm
Headset: Cane Creek 40
Crank: Truvativ Stylo 1.1
Pedals: Crank Bros Egg Beaters
Bottom Bracket: Truvative Stylo 1.1 GXP
Shifter: Shimano Saint
Cassette: 11-36 Shimano XT
Chain: KMC
Brakes: Shimano XT
Rotors: Ice Tech 160mm, 180mm
Seatpost: Thomson Dropper
Seat: WTB Rocket V
Seatpost Clamp: Canfield
Stem: Easton Haven
Grips: ODI lock ons
Handlebar: Easton Haven Carbon
Wheels: Stan Flow ex laced to Hadleys
Tires: 2.35 Nobby Nic and 2.4 Maxxis Ardent

 

For those that setup their N9 with a FD did you dremel off the arm on the FD that is for a bottom pull setup? It is really close to the tire and would give more clearance if I did this.

Also any close up pics of this area would be helpful. thanks,

 

The Green Machine

Frame: Nimble 9 Medium Green
Fork: Fox 34 Talas 140mm-110mm, tapered, 15mm thur axle
Headset: CaneCreek 40 Series
Crank: Shimano XT
Pedals: Shimano DX
Bottom Bracket: Shimano
Chainring: Salsa 34T
Chainguide: MRP Lopes
Cassette: Sram 990 12-32T
Chain: Sram
Brakes: Elixr Carbon, 185mm rotors
Seatpost: KS e-ten
Seat: Lynskey Sport
Seatpost Clamp: Canfield
Stem: Thomson 70mm X4
Handlebar: ODI Flight control
Wheels: Canfield 29"
Tires: Maxxis Ardent 2.4" front, 2.25" rear
Rear D & shift: Sram X-9

 

Anyone running 2x10, if so what chainrings give you the necessary clearance?

 

I am running 2x10. I have a 26/38 with one spacer on the bb drive side.

 

Is that a 1st gen N9 or 2nd gen N9? Almost sounds like a 1x10 or 1x11 would be easier.

 

Sorry, that was a G2 N9. Not really complicated just used a single 2mm spacer that was included with the crank.

 

Looking for some sizing help for a G2 N9. I am 5'11.5" tall, inseam 32.5". I am currently riding a Medium Bandersnatch with a 80mm stem. Fits well. Also ride a Large Turner 5 Spot with a 50mm stem.

 

I am your height with an inch or two longer inseam and riding a large frame with a setback seat post (plenty of it showing) and a 65 mm stem comfortably. I might go a little shorter on the stem, but it's tough because I have a short torso and pretty long arms. My vote for you is large.

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I would ask Sean at Canfield. That said, I am 6'1" and w/ a 33" inseam and I am riding a large with a 60mm stem and it fits great.

 

i guess it depends on your riding style. sean will probably tell ya to go w/ a L. i'm 6'2" with 34" inseam & ride a lg xc frame, but this frame i ride xl. reason being, 30" bars and a 50mm stem. holy hell i just put a 10mm dt swiss thru axle on the rear and def a noticeable improvement. now just waiting to get my hope floating rotors from crc. had to go with a fatty 203 up front cause my shitty xo brakes need to stop me. i only have front as my rear is leaking like a stuck pig where the 2 halves of the caliper mate up. oh how i hate avid, gunna replace em with some m4's when i get the funds

 

Looking for more XC type riding due to the terrain here in central GA. T/W Sean, he said to go with a Large and a 70mm stem. I've looked at other non-custom steel frames and the G2 N9 geo just sells the frame. Fun, easier to maneuver and get over obstacles, I'd start with a 100mm fork and go from there. The N9 isn't a "light" frame compared to other steel frames unless you go custom. My thoughts are that if the bike moves under you, you really won't notice the weight difference unless you have to man handle the bike to get around the terrain. I want something that allows me to flow and the rear end will follow you around turns, rather than waiting for the rear wheel to catch up to you. I welcome any comments.

 

You pretty much just described the G2 N9. Mine built up at 29lbs which is a bit heavy but I have 140mm fork and I went with Flow EX rims so I could have saved some weight but I went with durability. That said the only time I notice the weight is when I am putting it on my car.