2000 NRS-XTC, now sub 21lbs (Updates on page 3)

El Capitano

This was it at the start of the year:



a shade over 22lbs, but stuffs kept breaking and being generally unreliable/unrideable (especially the forks).

This is the NRS in it's currently built:



Current build:

Frame: 2000 Giant NRS-XTC Medium (rear bushes upgraded to bearings with the BETD kit)
Fork: 2009 Reba Team with pushloc
Shock: DT Swiss 190
Headset: Cake Creek ZS2
Wheels: Mavic 717's on Hope XC
Tyres: currently shod with Panracer XC Fire pro's but most of this year's racing has involved a pair of XC Mud Pros...
Tubes: Continental stupidly light ones
Skewers: Kore Ti
Brakes: Avid Elixir CR, with the addition of Ti caliper and rotor bolts
Shifters: 2009 XTR with Goodridge enclosed cables.
Rear Mech: 2009 XT with Ti pinch bolts and KMC Jockey wheels.
Front Mech: 2007 XTR
Crankset: 2007 XT (with 2008 rings, alloy outer bolts, Ti inner bolts and Ti pinch bolts)
Bottom Bracket: Hope with Ceramic bearings
Cassette: XT
Chain: Sram PC990
Pedals: XTR
Bars: Profile Bar-None 0 degree bend
Grips: Odi Ruffians
Bar Ends: Pyrotec
Stem: Raceface Deus XC (with Ti bolts) with Hope Stemcap
Seatpost: Raceface Deux XC (old skool) with Ti clamp bolt
Seat Clamp: Hope Q/R
Saddle: Selle Italia SLR (135g version)

Current weight is apporx 24.5 lbs, which is 'okay' but at least everything works now.

saltyman

8) nice

ride_whenever

tasty...

Andy

Needs more blue hubs!

jay12

really nice bike. as Andy said get some blue hubs!!

HandjobDan

I think you need a blue Giant sticker to replace the turquoise one you have and Blue Reba stickers too, other than that don't touch it.

What's it like to ride? I thought the NRS was a longish travel trail bike, is that right?

Andy

HandjobDan wrote:

What's it like to ride? I thought the NRS was a longish travel trail bike, is that right?

Nope its between 3-4inches. Adjustable between two settings like 3.5 and 3.75 or something similar

El Capitano

HandjobDan wrote:

What's it like to ride? I thought the NRS was a longish travel trail bike, is that right?

Short travel, 3.5 inches. It also locks out when you stand up out of the saddle, and handles like a hardtail. TBH, I wasn't feeling that good earlier on in the year, until I replaced all of the pivot bearings and upgraded the horst link from bushes to bearings with the upgrade kit from BETD. I think this kit will also fit the upper bushings, so I'll probably upgrade that joint as well. Now the suspension moves freely.

I did originally run it with 120mm MX Pro's but it made the front end a but too high. As I'd run them on an identically sized XTC hardtail frame without any issues, I was a bit surprised about this. The SID's were set at 68 (ish) travel and that seemed to work 'okay' for a while, but I kept blowing the seals. Now run with 100mm Rebas and everything seems fine.

As to the colour, I'm considering getting the rear triangle sprayed red, to match the hubs, forks and shock. Then replace all the blue bolts with the red ones I already have...

Anonymous

paint the rear triangle black,

jay12

sheepsteeth wrote:

paint the rear triangle black,

my thoughts exactly

El Capitano

That is another option...

The Big Cheese

I really wanted one of these, for ages, struggled to find one in my size so ended up getting a Trek

Nice ride, good kit, I agree with the others, if you are getting the rear end re-sprayed. I'd go with the black!

Top drawer!

El Capitano

The Big Cheese wrote:

I really wanted one of these, for ages, struggled to find one in my size so ended up getting a Trek

I'd also wanted one for ages. And even though I already had the hardtail XTC and the Coiler, I still wanted one of these frames. I ended waiting 2 years before one my size came up on flea-bay. Ganted, it wasn't really what I expected when I first rode it, but having replaced the rear shock (which came with the stock Giant NRS one) and the bushings and bearings, it's now awesome.

I did try out the Trek Fuel frames, but wasn't that impressed at the time, comparing them to the Coiler.

Andy

Needs more carbon fibre.

adb1006

sheepsteeth wrote:

paint the rear triangle black,

Triangles have three sides

El Capitano

Thought as it’s been through a bit of a transformation cosmetically, functionally and dietary I’d post up some updated pictures and the current spec sheet.

Crankskins & new chainring bolts:



Replaced the blue bottle cage bolts with black ones:



Adjusted the grips/barends/poploc:



Replaced the Token bar ends with the KCNC ones:



Changed the seat-clamp:



Fitted Tune Head-cap:



Rear Mech on the scales:



Cassette (before I changed the wheels):



Wheels now all black:



Complete Bike as it is now:



Stuff in Bold has been added/changed since the last spec list:

Frame: 2000 Giant XTC NRS
Forks: 2010 Rockshox Reba Team (Inc Pushloc, fitted upside down as it works better for me like that)
Bars: Profile Bar Non
Stem: Race Face Deus XC (inc Ti bolts)
Headset: Cane Creek Zero Stack II (With Tune Carbon Fibre Cap)
Grips: ESI
Bar Ends: KCNC

Front Brake Lever assy: Avid Elixir CR (with Ti clamp bolts)
Front Caliper: Avid Elixir CR (with Ti bolts)
Front disc: 160mm Avid Elixir CR (with Ti rotor bolts)
Rear Brake Lever assy: Avid Elixir CR (with Ti clamp bolts)
Rear Caliper: Avid Elixir CR (with Ti bolts)
Rear Disc: 160mm Avid Elixir CR (with Ti rotor bolts)
Hoses: Stock Avid ones.

Shifters: Shimano XTR M970 (with Ti bolts)
Cables: Goodrich
Front Mech: Shimano LX M570
Rear Mech: Shimano XT Shadow M772 (with KCNC Jockey wheels and Ti bolts)
Chain Device: None

Seat: Selle Italia SLR
Seat Post: Race Face Dues XC (with Ti clamp bolt)
Seat Post Clamp: KCNC

Cranks: Shimano XT M760(with Carbon Crankskins, A2Z alloy outer chain-ring bolts, Ti inner bolts and Ti clamp bolts)
Chainring(s): Shimano XT M770 (needed to remove some material from the middle ring with a Dremel to get it to fit)
Chain: Sram PC991
Cassette: Sram PG 990 Redwin (with Token Lockring)
Pedals: Shimano XTR M970
Bottom Bracket: Hope Hollowtech (with ceramic bearings)

Front Wheel:
Rim: Mavic X719
Spokes: DT Swiss, plain gauge
Hub: Hope Pro2
Tube: Continental Supersonic
Tire: Maxxis Flyweight
Skewer: KCNC
Dust Cap: KCNC

Back Wheel:
Rim: Mavic X719
Spokes: DT Swiss, plain gauge
Hub: Hope Pro2
Tube: Continental Supersonic
Tire: Maxxis Flyweight
Skewer: KCNC
Dust Cap: KCNC

Weight: 10.8kg (or 23.9lbs)

Other info:

Will probably keep it in this spec for the summer’s enduro races (with various changes of tyres depending on conditions!) as I’m really happy with the way it currently rides. Without spending stupid amounts of money, I’m not really going to get it any lighter and still be useable (although see paragraph below regarding wheels).

I’m looking into getting the whole frame re-sprayed (the same glossy black as the forks) in the autumn.

Also might be getting some new wheels later in the year as these ones, although very good, aren’t exactly the lightest. The ones featured in the original pics (Mavic X717’s on Hope XC) are lighter, but don’t fit in with the colour scheme…(and are currently sitting on the XTC – see separate WIP thread for details).

El Capitano

Update:

New Seatpost:



KCNC SC Pro Scandium. Currently weighs 193g, but it's the 400mm (couldn't get a 350mm one in time) version so there's some of the length to be lopped off.



Stikk0rz! This not only has lowered the overall weight of the bike by at least 10lbs, but has increased it's overall speed by at least 10mph*



All set up ready for SITS, fitted with the Worm Drive tyres. In this spec, it currently hits the sacles at 11029g (or 24.3lbs).








*May not be entirely accurate.

blister pus

did you manage to get those wormdrive in folding?

if so, where?

El Capitano

blister pus wrote:

did you manage to get those wormdrive in folding?

if so, where?

CRC earlier in the year. Can't find any anywhere now, I'd like to get some more as they are absolutely awesome tyres. Not even listed on the Maxxis site anymore, so I'm assuming they are discontinued.

blister pus

humm. just checked CRC now and they have a "special order only" next to the folding (above the wire) for some reason. maybe they are on the way out as you say. odd.

joshtp

and, most importantly, and what makes more dif than anything else.... its running Nut Lube....

El Capitano

Indeed it is.

ilovedirt

You know, you'd probably benefit hugely from a new rear shock, rather than new wheels

Anonymous

Very nice giant there Buddy, 8)
wer'nt to keen on Giants till a bought a Xtc and luv them,
could u upgrade your rear triangle to carbon that would look awsome,
those avid carbons you av are they better than juicy ultimates as im after a set dont know which 1's.
Paul

Andy

ilovedirt wrote:

You know, you'd probably benefit hugely from a new rear shock, rather than new wheels

That shock isnt old and works well. How is that going to be a more worthwhile upgrade than wheels which are lighter?

El Capitano

Andy wrote:

ilovedirt wrote:

You know, you'd probably benefit hugely from a new rear shock, rather than new wheels

That shock isnt old and works well. How is that going to be a more worthwhile upgrade than wheels which are lighter?

This.

ilovedirt

Andy wrote:

ilovedirt wrote:

You know, you'd probably benefit hugely from a new rear shock, rather than new wheels

That shock isnt old and works well. How is that going to be a more worthwhile upgrade than wheels which are lighter?

I thought it was an old rockshox bar or something that may have come on the bike stock when it was new

jay12

looking good el cap

El Capitano

ilovedirt wrote:

Andy wrote:

ilovedirt wrote:

You know, you'd probably benefit hugely from a new rear shock, rather than new wheels

That shock isnt old and works well. How is that going to be a more worthwhile upgrade than wheels which are lighter?

I thought it was an old rockshox bar or something that may have come on the bike stock when it was new

DT Swiss SSD 190L, 179g of awesomeness.

Andy

jay12 wrote:

looking good el cap

I agree. So is your NRS

ilovedirt

El Capitano wrote:

ilovedirt wrote:

Andy wrote:

ilovedirt wrote:

You know, you'd probably benefit hugely from a new rear shock, rather than new wheels

That shock isnt old and works well. How is that going to be a more worthwhile upgrade than wheels which are lighter?

I thought it was an old rockshox bar or something that may have come on the bike stock when it was new

DT Swiss SSD 190L, 179g of awesomeness.

Ahhh right, i've never seen a DT rear shock before!