Video: NS Bikes Launches an Aluminum Version of the Define

Jun 25, 2020
by NS Bikes  
NS Define AL 160 Race

Press Release: NS Bikes

Over a year ago we launched our completely new carbon fibre platform – the Define. The Snabb’s descendant, available in 130mm and 150mm travel versions, earned riders’ respect and praise from the press, so we decided to go and metalize it. This is how the Define AL was born.

The concept of the bike remains the same. We wanted to use the best features from the top-notch carbon frame and implement them in more affordable aluminium. This also applies to the shape of the frame which actually mimics the carbon frame design. The customized aluminium tubes meet the NS standards and will definitely survive what they are made for- shredding.

NS Define AL action

It was a big challenge to translate the complex lines of this bike to another material, and we have sweated every detail of this high-end alloy frame to make it as light and as sexy as possible. Some of the unique features include an adjustable BB height and semi-integrated cable guides - a practical and elegant solution of the internal / external cable routing dilemma.

Key Frame Features
The Define AL allows to raise the BB height from stock settings by 5mm thanks to the adjustable shock mount. You can even transform the bike’s characteristics completely by swapping both rear shock and its mount. This move allows you to change the rear wheel travel from 130 to 155 mm (or vice versa). Note: different lengths of shock mounts available separately.

NS Define Al shock mount
NS Define AL shock mount
NS Define AL shares the same adjustable shock mount system as carbon Define

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Another cool feature copied from carbon Define is hybrid external/internal cable routing. The special channel let the cables blend in the down tube elegantly and yet gives the user super-easy access to cables - anytime, anywhere. Safecracker skills not needed anymore, to get them through the tricky internal routing channels.

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NS Define AL internal cable routing

Suspension design
The Define AL range use the same suspension as carbon Define and Snabb range, tried-and-true Horst Link design. A good amount of anti-squat prevents suspension actuation when pedalling. As you go deeper into travel the anti-squat drops off in a linear fashion which provides better suspension action in rougher terrain. Progressive leverage curve with slightly regressive end pair well with an air shock providing excellent support in the middle of the stroke and bottom-out resistance. Consistent Anti-rise throughout the full travel range was applied to achieve the best compromise between keeping the geometry of the bike balanced under braking, but at the same time keeping the suspension active under braking.
Leverage ratio
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Anti- rise
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Anti- squat
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Specifications
The NS Bikes Define AL comes in various travel and wheel size specifications. The range includes a mullet setup, with the a 29” wheel up front and 27.5" wheel in the rear.

NS Define AL 130
NS Define AL 130

• Fox Performance 34 Float Grip
• Fox Performance Float DPS
• 140/130 front/rear travel
• SRAM GX 1x12 drivetrain
• Sram Guide R brakes
• X-Fusion Manic dropper post
• Truvativ Descendant DUB 32t crankset
• MSRP: €3999

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NS Define AL 150
NS Define AL 150

• Fox Factory 36 Float Grip fork
• Fox Factory Float DPX2 rear shock
• SRAM GX 1x12 drivetrain
• SRAM GUIDE RE brakes
• NS Bikes cockpit
• X-Fusion Manic dropper post
• Truvativ Descendant DUB 32t crankset
• MSRP: €4199

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NS Define AL 160
NS Define AL 160

• Fox Factory 36 Float Grip fork
• Mullet: 27,5" rear/ 29" front wheel
• Fox Factory Float DPX2 rear shock
• SRAM GX 1x12 drivetrain
• SRAM GUIDE RE brakes
• NS Bikes cockpit
• X-Fusion Manic dropper post
• Truvativ Descendant DUB 34t crankset
• MSRP: €4199

NS Define AL 160 Race
NS Define AL 160 Race

• Fox Factory 36 Float Grip2 fork
• Mullet: 27,5" rear/ 29" front wheel
• Fox Factory Float DPX2 rear shock
• SRAM X01 1x12 drivetrain
• SRAM GUIDE G2 RSC brakes
• NS Licence Carbon 35 bar
• Fox Transfer Performance Elite dropper post
• Truvativ Descendant Carbon DUB 32t crankset
• MSRP: €5699

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NS Define AL 160 Race front end side view
NS Define AL 160 Race front end
NS Define AL 160 Race cockpit

NS Define Al shock mount
NS Define AL 160 Race Cockpit
NS Define AL 160 Race frame protector
NS Define AL 160 Race rear shock

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55 Comments
  • 50 1
 Now please define for me...affordable.
  • 18 0
 Yep. NS Define AL 130 seems to have a spec similar to a Fuel EX 8 but MSRP is almost a grand more?

NS is a cool brand but I'm not seeing anything warranting the premium pricing in their products.
  • 9 0
 Yeah, I thought NS used to be at the "good value" end of the spectrum?
  • 4 0
 That word is thrown around so loosely in the mtb industry...
  • 2 0
 Paying more for bike from a "small-ish" company. Scale of production has a lot to do with it... The more you can produce, the cheaper/more pricey you can sell them for.
But it also works the other way, if you don't have good advertising/brand recognition, you flop. Case in point: Giant vs Calibre.
You can say Giants bikes are overpriced for what you get, compared to many other brands (Norco, Marin, Trek), and Calibre is underpriced for what you get, but like what were seeing, Giant has there ducks in a row, Go Outdoors does not.
  • 19 0
 Affordable? Is the pricing in PLN?
  • 7 0
 XD you made my day.
  • 14 3
 « A good amount of anti-squat prevents suspension actuation when pedalling »
Worst marketing sentence I ever read about a full-sus...
  • 3 1
 but it kinda is tru!
  • 7 0
 I'm confused why the two middle models get guide res and then the highest end one gets g2s. Wouldn't the logical step up be codes.
  • 3 1
 Be happy that they didn't throw there simple levels as they always do...
  • 6 0
 especially when you can have this :

www.yt-industries.com/detail/index/sArticle/2344/sCategory/77

200E cheaper.
  • 8 0
 deleted my post :

4200 E for a aluminium bike is kind of expensive. I would rather buy a carbon bike and upgrade it as i go than a Ns bike.
  • 1 0
 @bkillah: Ya man every mtb brand now thinks they are a boutique brand and can charge the prices of the high end brands... NS used to be an "affordable" option...
  • 5 0
 Is that leverage ratio graph correct for the 150?
Not only you have that inflection in the end but also by looking at the Y axis the leverage is really linear
  • 4 0
 Yep, ~5% progression before it becomes regressive is hardly a progressive suspension layout.
  • 1 0
 The good news is that it's actually completely flat, so there shouldn't be any reason to worry about that inflection.
  • 12 6
 NS, go back to what you did well, DJ and slope bikes, frames, and parts. Bigger bikes just aren’t your thing.
  • 1 1
 Their dj bikes and so simple and clean, a shame they haven't brought that aesthetic to their full sus bikes
  • 2 0
 Dh bike has adjustable chainstays, reach adjust headset, great kinematics great look and dialled geometry...
  • 5 0
 NS bikes are so overpriced, that I can't believe they are actually selling one. Cool bikes for sure, but their prices are going to kill them.
  • 5 0
 Down-tube routing of cables will always be my nemesis. Cleaning mud out of there is something else...
  • 6 0
 6.5grand gets me an x-fusion dropper oh boy
  • 1 0
 I want FRAME only option, the red one with 130mm travel.
I’ll built it with 27.5 wheels (dtswiss EX 511 front, EX471 rear laced to 350’s 54t ratchet) rockshox suspension (red lyrik at 150mm, RT3 debonair rear shock) Schwalbe Magic Mary rubber, Red sdg grip and ti-alloy saddle, nukeproof Horizon stem and Pro tharsis 9.8 30mm rise 780 aluminum bar, guide RSC’s or XT’s with galfer rotors 203/180, pnw lever, one up dropper, wolftooth drop stop chainring, Shimano xt drivetrain, and DMR or Nukeproof Sam Hill horizon pedals. I want this frame!
  • 1 0
 define ain't affordable....4200USD for the cheapest AL mullet? I dunno but my income is NOT rising like "all boats" with a rising tide. I must have some serious 'effin leaks over here...........
  • 5 2
 front end looks like an old school khs bitch
  • 7 2
 the entire bike looks like something from 2010
  • 4 3
 Worst costumer service I have ever seen. Had an opportunity to buy one some time ago. Send 3 e-mails asking a technical question about forks. No answer.
  • 11 0
 They don't make forks...
  • 1 1
 @bman33: Oh, really!!!
  • 1 0
 @bman33: And what about having a fork and knowing if the offset difference would change to much the behavior of the bike? You think they could answer?
  • 1 0
 @Queixo: Eles poderiam responder a essa pergunta. No entanto, eu entraria em contato com o fabricante da suspensão (Rockshox ou Fox). Não estou dizendo que o serviço precário é aceitável, mas o reforço da questão da NS de não fazer garfos de suspensão.
  • 2 0
 on the contrary, I had one of best customer approach from NS = IBIS,
after 2 yrs of abusing my snabb (3yrs warranty), there was an issue around bb, and I've been advised to send the front triangle for expertise.
day after frame arrived I've been granted a brand new front triangle, I could even upgrade to a current model without extra fee / even 29er - but at that time they had the only alloy so I've stayed with my Snabb.

they are good to go guys there!!

I'm still smashing my Snabb Razz

#ns-bikes
  • 2 0
 Felt pretty lackluster throughout the article and the comments are exactly what I was thinking. Maybe next year NS!
  • 2 0
 Looks pretty conservative to me to be honest.
  • 2 0
 I'd ride it. Always wanted a Snabb, althought I'm too cheap to buy either.
  • 2 1
 Wow. One of the lamest bike videos I've ever seen in my life. Who signed off on that video and said "this is going to help us sell a ton of bikes".
  • 3 0
 Looks exactly like the previous gen Canyon Spectral...
  • 1 0
 except geometry / sizing
not even close
  • 2 0
 Takes time to align pedals and tires, leaves dropper down.
  • 3 0
 No mention of geometry?
  • 1 0
 It’s an alloy define go to their website for the carbon on.
  • 1 0
 never seen NS full sus in the wild. Is there an area where these are popular?
  • 5 0
 Plenty here in the U.K., I had a Snabb trail and it was great but sold it and regret it now
  • 3 0
 quite a bit of those in my neck of woods as well.
  • 2 0
 I rodea 130 with a dvo 150 upfront; really fun, burly affordable bike, but that was a 2018 model.
  • 3 0
 here you can see few of them too, I have ridden a Snabb 130 also and heck, the construction feel as solid if not even burlier than some Downhill bikes. Those bikes are made for a lifetime, no doubt.
  • 3 0
 Still no size XL ...
  • 2 1
 Check the L size chart. We believe the L is big enough to cover your needs.
  • 1 0
 that is a ton of dough for Sram base parts. The bike looks OK but I am leery
  • 2 0
 How does a regressive end stroke help bottom out?
  • 2 0
 FINALE LIGUREEEEE !!!!!!







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