Review: NS Bikes Synonym TR1 - Not Your Typical XC Bike

Both bikes share a smart carbon frame and swingarm, par for the course on XC bikes, but it’s the geometry that sets this bike apart. Borrowing heavily from its burlier bikes, this is an XC rig with geometry that lives up to the oft used progressive tag and is enough to embarrass many longer travel trail bikes.

There are four complete builds available in the range. The top of the range TR1 model here costs €5,999 and is specced with a SRAM Eagle X01/GX groupset, Level TL brakes with 180mm disc rotors, NS wheels with Maxxis Recon/Ikon tyres, a Fox Transfer 150mm dropper, and a Fox 34 StepCast fork and Float DPS shock both linked to a remote handlebar lockout lever. The TR also gets a shorter stem, wider riser bar and wider tires.

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Construction and Features

At the heart of the Synonym is a full carbon fiber main frame and swingarm with the same mold used for both the RC and TR; the only difference is that a higher-end carbon layup is used for the RC to shed a bit of weight for a claimed frame weight of 1,900g. The TR, as it’s built to take more abuse, weighs a claimed 2,050g, which is still damn light.

Frame weight has been kept low by omitting a seatstay pivot and instead using flex into the flattened tube profile. A short rocker linkage drives the vertically mounted shock with oodles of space for a big water bottle, with high and low positions, and spare tubes and tools strapped to the frame.

The frame has been optimised for 1x drivetrains as is common these days. All cables and the rear brake hose are internally routed, though the latter does pop out of the down tube and kink around the bottom of the shock and into the end of the chainstay, which looks a little convoluted but presented no issues during riding. There’s a 1.5” tapered head tube up front and Boost axle spacing out back.

Geometry & Sizing


Progressive is the keyword here and I really do mean it, NS Bikes hasn’t pulled any punches in penning geometry that is longer than many trail and enduro bikes.

There are four sizes to choose from with the size large pictured here weighing in with a mammoth (for a XC bike) 491mm reach and slack head angle (again, for a XC bike) of 66-degrees. The seat angle is reasonably steep at 76-degrees while the wheelbase is 1232mm and the 438mm chainstays are the same across the size range.

The RC version is even longer! Due to a 20mm shorter fork it has a longer reach of 500mm and the angles steepen to 67-degrees and 77-degrees for the head and seat tube angles respectively.

Suspension Design

The suspension has been designed to provide a bike that pedals very efficiently with a progressive leverage ratio and regressive end. The anti-squat is above 100% throughout most of the travel, sitting at 124% at sag in the lowest gear, dropping to 117% in a middle gear. This is aimed at ensuring there is minimal unwanted suspension movement when pedalling but also, according to NS Bikes, to provide active suspension that helps on technical climbs.

The lockout lever has been integral to the Synonym, as the company explains: “For riders coming from the classic enduro/trail scene the remote switch on the bars may seem like something that just adds clutter to the cockpit, but actually our core test riders swear by it. Once you get used to it, switching the suspension on and off becomes something like a sixth sense - kind of like lowering or raising the dropper post.”

The RC and TR models share the same suspension design and shock, but the stroke is longer on the latter to deliver that extra 20mm of wheel travel. The TR uses a 165x42.5 shock paired with a Fox 34 StepCast fork, compared to 165x37.5 with a Fox 32 for the RC bike.

Both bikes employ a remote push-to-unlock lever which activates both fork and shock simultaneously for more efficient pedalling when you need it on the climbs. But as you can see from the pictures, the result is a lot of extra cabling in front of the handlebars. Good job most of it is routed inside the frame.

Climbing

The one thing that all bikes with XC in their description must be able to do is climb fast and efficiently, and the NS Bikes Synonym does not disappoint. It’s not the fastest bike I’ve tested on my local climbs, but it sure does haul ass when you’re battling gravity. Smooth fireroads are dispatched as effortlessly as is possible without a 250W motor between your legs. There’s minimal movement from the shock in open mode, with the lockout lever useful on very smooth trails or if you’re raging out of the saddle.

If you’re not trying to squeeze out every ounce of efficiency, there’s adequate anti-squat in the suspension that it’s very stable in the fully open mode. On more technical climbs the Synonym lets you monster over any root and rocks in your path, with ample traction even from the stock Maxxis tires. I did, however, find some very tight uphill switchbacks that required some of my best trial bike skills (I have none) to get around without stalling or dabbing, but it was fine in all other cornering situations.

It is long compared to most other XC bikes on the market and those I’ve tested in the last year, but I never felt intimidated or swamped by the reach and with a shorter stem, the position and fit are one of comfort. Weight distribution is good, with your position putting you forward of the bottom bracket and keeping weight on the front wheel, helping to keep it glued to the ground on steep climbs.

The Synonym feels more muted than shorter and steeper XC bikes, which is to be expected given the geometry differences. It’s not quite as flighty or edgy perhaps, which can lull you into writing it off as a ponderous bike, but that calmness makes it ideal for long-distance marathon rides when you’re going at 80% rather than eyeballs out 100% XC racing. This is where I gelled with the bike, plotting a long route that was going to see me out in the saddle for most of the available daylight. If I ever do Cape Epic again, this would be an ideal bike because it’s got that relaxed feeling about it.

But it is bloomin’ fast when you really open up the tanks and do your best gurning.

Descending

Did somebody say downcountry? This is more than just a pumped-up XC bike, and it fully lives up to the trail designation. It’s more than just able to get down steep and techy descents without scaring the living daylights out of you like so many traditional XC race bikes; you can truly rip up the corners as if you were on a longer travel trail bike. For the rider that values speed across all terrain and wants to enjoy the descents, and has some big marathon rides planned, it’s a damn good choice.

The geometry gives you immense confidence. There's no teetering down techy trails looking for the chicken line - instead, you can cash in your climbing tokens for a wild and thrilling ride down the hill. The Synonym feels perfectly balanced and you’re able to put the Fox 34 precisely where you want it, pointing and shooting around or over obstacles with enough nimbleness to ensure it’s a lively ride.

As you might expect, the Synonym’s geometry does entice you into hitting lines harder and faster, and there is a limit to what you can get away with when you’ve only got 120mm suspension travel. But the suspension copes with the hard stuff, absorbing the chunky landings extremely well with no harsh bottom out, and the frame and Fox 34 fork are stiff enough to ensure it delivers a precise feeling ride. I had no ‘oh shit I’m in out of my depth’ moments as I have done on more conservative XC bikes. There’s ample grip from the tires when it’s dry or mildly moist, but you might want to swap in a burlier front tire if you are going to ride in the mud or wring it hard on the technical trails.

Dropper posts are integral to longer travel bikes, but they’re starting to appear on top-level XC racer bikes, and in this trail tune it’s something I appreciated, with a 150mm dropper on the large and XL sizes. I’m indifferent to the remote lockout, I appreciate it’s a requirement on a XC race bike, but I feel this trail focused bike could have done away with the lockout lever and its mess of cables and relied on the excellent suspension in all situations. It would then avoid the annoyance of accidentally tapping the lockout lever when you reach for the dropper lever directly above it just as you’re dropping into a steep chute.

NS Bikes set out to create a XC bike that would bring all their experience with bigger trail and enduro bikes to create a XC and lightweight trail bike that could descend better than anything else out there, and they have succeeded. From groomed trail center fodder where it’s smooth and precise to natural rooty tracks where it can show a clean pair of heels to most other XC bikes, it’s a very accomplished bike. Impressive for the company’s first stab at a XC bike.

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How does it compare?

Modern XC bikes are transforming from previously steep and short geometry to increasingly progressive numbers and angles. Of the bikes I’ve ridden in the past year or two, the Mondraker F-Podium RR, the racier version of the Downcountry edition put through the Field Test recently, is a good comparison. It’s not quite an apples to apples comparison (the Podium comes in a trail build as well), but it’s close enough to draw some interesting differences.

When it comes to raw speed, the Mondraker streaks ahead. It’s much lighter, which pays dividends on the climbs, while the shorter reach and steeper head angle provide a bike that handles much more sharply. It feels more like an XC race bike designed for the sole task of going flat out everywhere. In comparison, the Synonym isn’t quite as light so climbing progress is dented, and the geometry gives a much calmer persona which pays you back on the steep techy stuff, where it can leave the Mondraker in a cloud of dust. Both bikes are extraordinarily good compared to what was available 5-10 years ago and shows XC bikes are going in the right direction.

Technical Report

Maxxis Tires: Tires on XC bikes are very much course and condition dependent and for the majority of my riding on muddy trails the Rekon/Ikon pairing worked well, though I did chuck on a beefier front tire when the trails got gloopy just to keep the front wheel going where I wanted it on steeper trails.

SRAM Eagle Drivetrain: The price isn’t cheap, so the X01 Eagle rear derailleur looks good, but look closer and you find money-saving in the GX shifter and XG-1275 cassette. Granted they worked just fine with crisp gear changes and reliability.

Fox Suspension: The upgrade to the 34 StepCast fork with its 120mm travel is a clear indication of the sort of riding the bike is intended for, and performance is excellent. It’s easy to set up, smooth and controlled throughout and pairs well with the Fox rear shock. Both can be locked out at the same time but it’s something I rarely used.

Pinkbike's Take

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Reviews and Tech Reviews Trail Bikes XC Bikes NS Bikes Ns Bikes Synonym