4/12/2024 0 Comments Giant farrago bike review![]() The front fork had a 1-1/8" steering tube diameter without taper. Most of the design was standard for a mountain bike of the time. Shock options varied by the model with earlier bikes receiving RockShox and later receiving Fox, depending on the market. The shock pivot arms came in a few varieties depending on the market and spec level with some variants having multiple upper shock mounting holes to provide an option of two travel settings. The rear pivot bushings changed to cartridge bearings in 2004. In 2004, the rear frame geometry was changed slightly and the chain stays redesigned. The first revision was in 2002 when the rear shock mount and frame received some reinforcement. Giant started selling the bikes in 2001 and the last model was sold in 2005. NRS Team bikes had special paint jobs and were produced in aluminum. ![]() The later carbon frame bikes received NRS Air designation. The NRS3 was the lowest end bike with the NRS1 being the highest end aluminum framed bike. ![]() Higher end models had first generation hydraulic disk brakes and eventually the option of carbon frames. Lower end models were aluminum frame construction with lower end spec'd components including rim brakes. Other than the rear suspension design, the NRS was fairly conventional. The idea of a trail bike hadn't even occurred to anyone. Trails were generally tamer than today and efficiency was the overriding design criteria. However, it must be remembered that the NRS was designed for cross country racing in the 2000's. The design required fairly precise no-sag setup by varying air pressure in the rear air shock. As well, it was not tolerant of an incorrect setup. While the suspension lived up to the theory, in reality, the suspension design didn't provide much small bump compliance and was harsh in comparison to other designs. The NRS design has the efficiency of a hard tail, but some rear suspension compliance, even under pedaling. The sweet spot for the design was between a cadence of 45 to 90 rpm. Essentially the design relied on pedaling forces to extend the shock while tuning the linkages to eliminate resonance, which, left unchecked, would amplify bobbing. What they came up with was the NRS or No Resonance Suspension. This would provide an efficient pedaling platform with the advantages of a full suspension ride. ![]() They wanted a bike that was very efficient without requiring a lockout. So Pascal Tribotte, an avid mountain biker and a member of the Renault Sport Formula One team, convinced Giant to allow the Renault team to design a suspension for their cross country full suspension bike. This was a real issue for cross country racing. So if it rode well, it would bob under pedaling and require a shock lockout to be an efficient climber. When it was designed in the early 2000's, most full suspension bikes were fairly basic and traded ride quality for efficiency. The NRS is one early of a Horst Link design inspired full suspension bicycles. There are not many of these around, but as I have one and have done a bit of work keeping it going, I'll post my helpful hints and part sources here. This is a bit different as its really about keeping an old NRS ridable and maintainable. smashysmashy created a thread about customizing his NRS ( ). This is a thread to cover how to keep an old Giant NRS going, forever. ![]()
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