NS Bikes originated as Northshore Extreme in 2003 before later being renamed to their current incarnation. Based in Gdansk, the Polish company was the brainchild of Polish rock singer Szymon Kobylinski and has evolved in just ten years to be who they are now, with internationally recognised riders like Sam Pilgrim on board their team. Last year the NS products we showed got so much attention that this year we've given them their own article. Bold colours, striking designs and some awesome products makes them really stand out.
Clash 1 |
This is a new model, available only as a full build. Built around an aluminium frame the NS Clash is a do it all bike. 140mm X-Fusion Slant forks and a mix of SRAM 8spd keeps pricing reasonable and helps to maintain the inherent toughness that NS have become known for. An E13 chain guide and Ruktion cranks keeps the chain rotating up front to keep you moving and SRAM Elixir's do the slowing. Finishing kit is a blend of matching colour from NS Bikes and sister company Octane Components. |
• 6061-T6 Aluminium frame with taper headtube
• NS & Octane finishing kit
• SRAM 8spd drivetrain, E13 chain device and Avid Elixir 1 brakes
• Available in two sizes, medium
(15"/570mm top tube) and large
(16"/585 top tube) • 14.9kg
Soda FR (Soda Air and Soda 1 pictured) |
The Soda FR frame isn't new as such but as it's received some updates for 2013 we think it's worth inclusion. The frame is targeted at the do all/all mountain market, a market which is quickly expanding. Featuring 152-177mm travel driven through a Marzocchi Roco R coil shock and a coil RS Totem up front (on the Soda 1), it's certainly no weight weenie's bike. Think a bike park bike which can be ridden back up if needs be rather than an out and out trail whippet and you'll be close to the mark. A 65.5 degree head angle and +13mm BB height should keep it all stable and confidence boosting. On the Soda 1 seen here the spec is a combination of SRAM X7 drivetrain, Avid brakes and NS controls & wheels. The Soda Air pictured below is the lighter build option, coming in at just over 15kg. Built up with Rock Shox Lyrik R Solo Air forks mated to a Monarch Plus R the weight is reduced significantly which makes it a lighter and faster proposition for trail riding. |
• 6061-T6 Aluminium frame with 152-177mm
6-7” travel
• Marzocchi Roco R coil rear shock (8.5" x 2.5")
(Soda 1) or Rock Shox Monarch Plus Air
(Soda Air) • ISCG05 chain device tabs
• Two sizes: M
(576mm TT) and L
(596mm)• 3.35kg
(exc shock)
Decade |
The Decade is a new addition to the NS Bikes line up for 2013. The name was for good reason, for it is ten years since they produced their first steel hardtail frame. The Decade is an aluminium frame aimed at dirt jumpers and 4x racers and is pretty light at a claimed 2.1kg. Suitable for 100-140mm forks the frame comes with horizontal dropouts, a removeable derailleur hanger and ISCG05 tabs (using the same standard as several other manufacturers), and a 69.5 degree head angle when built with 100mm travel forks. Tubing is similar to the Soda series, has a ton of tyre clearance and has similar geometry to the Majesty steel dirt jump frame. |
• 6061-T6 & 6066-T6 butted aluminium tubing
• 2.1kg frame for 4x and dirt jump
• Removeable derailleur hanger and ISCG05 tabs
(pictured) • Geometry based on the Majesty frame with a 69.5 degree head angle
(when using 100mm fork)
Suburban Dirt & Suburban Park |
The 2013 Suburban is the culmination of numerous development cycles, years of experience and improvements discovered from previous versions of the frame. The Park version is essentially an updated Suburban 24, the original Suburban model. This now incorporates greater tyre clearance and an ability to run 26" wheels with up to 2.3" tyres for a super short build as well as the originally specified 24" wheels. The Dirt features a lower bottom bracket height, 7mm longer chainstays and a 19mm longer top tubefor greater stability although the remaining angles remain unchanged over the Park. |
• Custom butted 4130 cromoly tubing
• Sub 2.5kg
• Integrated headset
• Dirt geometry: 69 degree head angle, 70 degree seat angle, -7mm BB height
• Park geometry: 69 degree head angle, 70 degree seat angle, +10mm BB height
Components |
As well as offering numerous frames, build kits and full bikes there is a complete range of NS components too. Here are just a few of them, as well as a peak at the 24" Void frame from their sister company, Octane. |
•
Top left Aerial Pro pedal
(390g pair) •
Top right Rotary 20 front hub
•
Middle left Quark Pro 40mm stem
•
Middle right Trailmaster wheelset in Brazilian Acid, featuring revised Trailmaster II rims
•
Bottom left Octane is a sister company of NS and this is their Void 24" park & street frame
•
Bottom right Proof Bar is 730mm wide, comes in 25.4mm clamp with sweep at 4 degrees up and 10 degrees back
NS Bikes