We tested the Synonym TR around San Diego and Orange County on a wide variety of trails. Other frame details include internal cable routing, molded chain stay protection, a tapered head tube, and Boost hub spacing. A short rocker link drives a vertically mounted trunnion shock, leaving ample space inside the front triangle to mount a large water bottle. To help save weight and create a fast, lively platform, NS chose to use a one-piece flex-stay rear triangle that does away with the seatstay pivot. With a lot of focus put on elevating the descending prowess of the Synonym, make no mistake it's still a lightweight bike designed to smash climbs. The only downside is the additional cables, which could be minimized with some electronic components. While the lever does function the opposite of typical push-to-lock levers, we found that having the ability to fully lockout the suspension was great for maximizing efficiency on smooth climbs. At 5' 10", we typically fall between medium and large frames, but the size medium with a 466mm reach felt comfortably spacious on trail.īoth Synonym models feature a push-to-unlock lever that simultaneously closes the fork and shock. At the same time, the steep seat angle combined with the low weight allows the Synonym to maintain a responsive, fast pedaling demeanor unmatched by a typical trail bike. The chain stay length remains 438mm across all sizes.īy opening up the front center of the bike and moving the front axle further out front, the Synonym allows riders to descend with their weight more rearward than what's usually possible on a 120mm travel bike. The standout tweaks come in the form of longer reaches across all sizes, a steep 76-degree effective seat tube, and a slack 66-degree head tube angle. The Synonym's geometry package separates it from a dedicated cross-country bike. We tested the more expensive TR1 build that retails for € 6,199 and is highlighted by a FOX Factory 34 Step Cast fork, FOX Factory Float DPS shock, SRAM XO1 drivetrain, SRAM Level TL brakes with 180mm front rotor and 160mm rear rotor, and Maxxis EXO Rekon tires. The TR naming signifies the 'trail' version, and besides boasting 20mm more travel thanks to a longer shock stork, it has a FOX 34 fork (instead of a 32), wider handlebars, a longer 150mm dropper post, a shorter 60mm stem, and wider tires.īoth the RC and TR models are available in two build kits. Both iterations share the same frame and swingarm molds, but the RC uses a premium carbon layup to reduce weight. NS offers the Synonym in two versions: the RC with 100mm of rear travel and the TR (tested) with 120mm of travel. Since its release over three years ago, multiple brands have launched similar models, ushering in a new wave of short travel bikes that are light, fly uphill, and rip descents. Representing a clear departure from their bread and butter, NS ensured that its first cross-country-esque bike would stand out against the rest, featuring a progressive geometry package and aggressive on-trail mentality. NS Bikes has deep roots in the freeride and dirt jump segment and have long-developed burly bikes to the beat of their own drum. Push-to-unlock suspension lockout was counter-intuitive.Carries great speed on flat or rolling terrain.Very capable and confident descending for 120mm bike.Measured weight (size medium, no pedals): 26.24lbs (11.9kg).120mm (4.7 inches) of rear wheel travel // 120mm (4.7 inches) fork.Combining the quick-moving pedaling habits of a true cross-country weapon with enough travel and progressive geometry to handle rowdy trails, the Synonym is a short-travel bike created for those wanting a light, snappy bike that won't feel limiting on descents. Welcome to NS Bikes Synonym TR, an absolutely ripping cross-country bike that boasts capabilities well beyond the typical expectations of a 120mm travel bike.
The problem is that once your ride-everything bike is dialed in, you tend to search for that second bike to supplement your desire for multiple riding experiences. The classic yet dangerous N+1 equation, the question is, what do you get? Downhill bike? Road bike? E-Bike? Cross Country bike? Nowadays, most mountain bikers own a trail or enduro bike that satisfies their daily need to get out and tackle trails efficiently and confidently.
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