NS Bikes Synonym TR2 review

The NS Bikes Synonym was among the first bikes to truly embrace progressive suspension design in the cross-country category, boasting geometry and numbers that seem almost radical for a rig with just 120mm of travel. On the trail, it performs exceptionally well — delivering an impressively confident and playful ride that stands out as the most enjoyable cross-country bike I’ve ridden to date. That said, it’s not without its shortcomings, and a few key flaws hold it back from reaching its full potential.

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NS Bikes offers two versions of the Synonym, both based on the same carbon frame. The RC model comes with 100mm of travel front and rear, while the TR bumps that up to 120mm. Each variant is available in two builds. At the top of the TR range is the TR1, equipped with high-end kit including a Fox Factory 34 Step-Cast fork, a blend of SRAM Eagle X01 and GX components, and Hunt wheels. The model tested here, the TR2, is priced at £4,399 and features a more modest specification but shares the exact same frame.

NS Synonym TR2 – Technical Details

The Synonym has been in the NS Bikes line-up for five years now, with only minor specification tweaks introduced each model year. The frame remains unchanged since its debut, yet its geometry still sits firmly on the progressive end of the spectrum, outpacing many newer bikes that also claim to push boundaries. At launch, its key figures must have seemed almost outrageous: a 66-degree head angle paired with a 76-degree seat angle might easily have been mistaken for a typo. It’s a bold combination — bringing downhill bike (at the time) slackness up front with time-trial bike steepness at the rear. Consider the recently updated Kona Hei Hei, which now shares those exact angles in a size medium when fitted with a 130mm fork, showing just how far ahead NS Bikes was.

NS Synonym TR2 fork.jpg, by Matthew Page

NS Bikes is traditionally known for long-travel and dirt jump machines, making the Synonym its first dedicated cross-country platform. Rather than simply adding more travel, the Synonym TR is designed to give riders a more capable position on technical descents. NS claims many riders are choosing the TR over the RC version for precisely that reason, often supported by quicker lap times and faster trail segments.

Built around a full-carbon frame, the Synonym utilizes flex-stays to eliminate rear pivots, thereby reducing weight, alongside a press-fit BB92 bottom bracket shell. The frame also features full internal cable routing, a push-to-unlock (PTU) dual remote lockout, and a thumb-actuated dropper seatpost across all models.

NS Synonym TR2 shock.jpg, by Matthew Page

It’s available in four sizes (S to XL), and our medium test bike tipped the scales at 12.94kg out of the box, without pedals and running inner tubes.

NS Synonym TR2 – Components

The Synonym TR2 is equipped with a Fox Performance Elite Float DPS shock, featuring a two-position remote and the larger volume Evol LV air chamber. Up front, it’s paired with a Fox Performance 34 Step-Cast fork.

NS Synonym TR2 levers.jpg, by Matthew Page

Our test bike rolls on NS Bikes’ own-brand hubs with straight-pull spokes, laced to WTB ST Light i28 rims — although the official specification lists narrower i25 rims. If accurate, that would be a notably tight fit for the kind of riding this bike is built for, especially when paired with the fitted tyres: a Maxxis Rekon 2.4in WT EXO up front, and an Ikon 2.35in EXO at the rear.

NS Synonym TR2 front tyre.jpg, by Matthew Page

The 12-speed drivetrain is a mix of SRAM components, combining a Truvativ chainset with a 34T chainring, a GX rear derailleur, NX shifter, and a PG1210 cassette and chain. Braking is handled by SRAM Level T brakes with 180mm rotors at both ends, hinting at the Synonym TR2’s trail-orientated intentions rather than being a purebred XC race machine.

Crank lengths are fixed at 170mm for all sizes except the XL, which gets 175mm. It’s a shame not to see more size-specific options here, as shorter riders — myself included — would likely benefit from shorter cranks, particularly on steep or technical climbs, something that became evident throughout testing.

NS Synonym TR2 drivetrain.jpg, by Matthew Page

The finishing kit is made up of NS’s own-brand alloy components, with all sizes, except the XL, fitted with a 50mm stem; the XL gets a 60mm stem. A WTB saddle sits atop a Race Face Aeffect R dropper post, rounding out a practical and capable build.

NS Synonym TR2 – Performance

Before turning a pedal, there was already a disappointing discovery. Although the wheels are labelled tubeless-ready, the WTB rims should have come fitted with proper tubeless tape and a slim rim strip beneath to increase the height. Instead, they arrived with only basic rim tape installed. The correct WTB-specific tape isn’t readily available and, according to WTB itself, should have been fitted at the factory. Without it, a tubeless setup was impossible — a frustrating oversight on a bike of this calibre and price, especially given that virtually every rider will want to run a tubeless setup. Fortunately, I was able to source the correct rim strips directly from WTB and complete the conversion.

Once the wheels were sorted and I could finally get the bike out on the trail, the Synonym immediately felt worlds apart from a traditional cross-country bike. Even compared with the recently tested Orbea Oiz — another bike with progressive geometry — the Synonym feels longer and lower. As soon as I hit the dirt and pointed it downhill, the stretched-out position translated into a stable and composed ride that inspired confidence right from the off.

NS Synonym TR2 suspension.jpg, by Matthew Page

My first proper outing was on Afan Forest’s waymarked trails, which offer a mix of steep, technical climbs and rougher downhill sections. The bike’s standout feature is undoubtedly its geometry, but this route also highlighted mixed results from the suspension performance. With the fork set up to achieve correct sag for general XC riding, it felt sluggish and harsh over rougher ground, even with the rebound damping set fairly quick. It simply couldn’t keep up when the trail got choppy. In comparison, the newly updated Fox 32 Step-Cast Factory fork, despite offering less travel, feels far more capable thanks to improved damping and support.

Climbing performance is strong, with the rear suspension exhibiting minimal pedal bob — likely a result of the shock’s factory tune. However, when the terrain gets rough, either while climbing or on rougher flat pedalling sections, the rear end can feel a little underactive over the bumps. A more supple feel here would have been welcome. The two-position remote lockout works well enough for a pure XC race setup, but for the more trail-focused TR model, a three-position system — with open, climb, and full lock modes — would offer better versatility for general riding.

NS Synonym TR2 handlebar.jpg, by Matthew Page

The lockout system itself is arguably one of the bike’s most frustrating elements. The Push-To-Unlock (PTU) mechanism means the suspension is locked by default, requiring a push of the lever to open it. It’s all too easy to accidentally engage the lockout mid-ride, and in my case, the dropper lever’s default position occasionally caused the lockout lever to engage when the post was dropped. Moving the lever out of the way created reach issues and compromised cable routing. The whole setup feels like an afterthought, especially when compared with more ergonomic systems like Orbea’s Squidlock. While Squidlock is not perfect, it’s significantly more refined and user-friendly. That said, despite the jumble of cables, the internal routing is neatly executed, with large ports that should make future maintenance relatively painless.

NS Synonym TR2 routing.jpg, by Matthew Page

Drivetrain-wise, the components are serviceable for general XC use, but the inclusion of SRAM’s lowest-tier 12-speed PG1210 cassette is disappointing given the bike’s price tag. At 640g, it’s both heavier and less capable than higher-tier options and lacks the smallest sprocket found on higher-tier 10-52 cassettes. Shifting is decent — smooth and reliable – but the range and weight fall short. A GX-level 1275 cassette, for example, offers a wider range and drops nearly 200g in weight, making it a much more appropriate choice for a bike of this price.

Riding the Synonym has reshaped my expectations of what a cross-country bike can be. After years spent racing and riding more traditional XC-focused bikes, I was quickly won over by the riding position and the extra confidence that comes from the longer reach. Despite this added stability, the handling remains sharp, even around switchbacks. The 760mm handlebar is noticeably wider than those found on many XC bikes — something that won’t suit everyone, but this can easily be fixed and cut if preferred.

The inclusion of a dropper post is essential, and I found myself using it more than usual. This is likely due to the steep seat tube angle, which places the rider further forward — a position that works excellently for climbing. When things turn steep and technical on the way down, having the ability to shift weight rearward is vital, but while the Race Face Aeffect R dropper post works well, the lever’s compromised position was frustrating. The frame’s long seat tube, measured to the top, also limits post insertion. Despite falling within NS Bikes’ recommended size range for the medium, the 150mm drop post left the saddle a few millimetres too high for me, even at its lowest point — a small but annoying detail that detracted from the fit.

NS Synonym TR2 seatpost.jpg, by Matthew Page

On technical climbs, I would have preferred shorter cranks. The 170mm arms combined with the relatively low bottom bracket led to a few too many pedal strikes, especially on stepped ascents. While this is more of an industry-wide issue than one unique to NS Bikes, it’s still something that affects ride quality in practice.

Tyre choice on the TR is well judged. The combination of a more aggressive Maxxis Rekon up front with a faster-rolling but still grippy Ikon on the rear strikes a solid balance between speed and traction. The Rekon’s open tread pattern and solid shoulder grip offer good support when cornering or navigating slick terrain, without compromising too much on rolling speed.

NS Synonym TR2 rear tyre.jpg, by Matthew Page

Mud clearance is acceptable, although the seat stay bridge is fairly tight when paired with the 2.35in rear Ikon. This will likely be the limiting factor if you want to upsize tyres. Up front, the fork has ample space around a 2.4in tyre, which is reassuring for those planning more rugged use.

NS Synonym TR2 tyre clearance.jpg, by Matthew Page

The Synonym TR2 feels like a bike with something of a split personality. It combines race-focused elements — such as the two-position lockout, firm suspension tune, 34T chainring, lightweight Step-Cast fork and full remote cabling — with more trail-friendly features like a wider bar, larger brake rotors and a more versatile tyre setup. Pure racers might wish for a lighter overall package, but at 12.9kg, the TR2 is still respectably light for a trail-capable bike. While it can absolutely appear on a start line, it seems far more likely that it will be used mostly for general trail riding.

NS Synonym TR2 bar right.jpg, by Matthew Page

Some components, like the drivetrain or cockpit, can easily be changed to suit individual preferences. Others — such as the frame’s geometry, the shock tune, and the dropper post insertion — are fixed into the design. As a result, the TR2 walks a fine line between cross-country speed and trail confidence, and while it doesn’t always get that balance perfect, it offers a fresh and engaging take on what a modern XC bike can be.

NS Synonym TR2 – Verdict

As a riding platform, the Synonym TR2 has masses of potential — but at £4,400, there are compromises and a sense of mixed intent that feel out of place. With the RC models clearly targeting the pure XC racing crowd, a few key changes to the TR line could transform it into a far more cohesive and compelling trail option. The biggest hindrance is the suspension setup, particularly the PTU remote and two-position lockout, which simply don’t suit the TR’s intended use.

NS Synonym TR2 cables.jpg, by Matthew Page

The TR2 is the more affordable of the two TR models, but it finds itself surrounded by some strong competition. If you’re open to an aluminium frame, the Gen 4 Trek Top Fuel 9 offers SRAM AXS T-Type shifting and a bit more suspension travel, with a 130mm fork, for £4,500. The Specialized Epic 8 Evo Comp also sits at this price point, delivering a full-carbon frame and Eagle AXS drivetrain, with a more trail-focused build. If you’re leaning towards lightweight trail or occasional cross-country racing, the Canyon Lux Trail CF 8 offers a carbon frame, Shimano XT groupset, and Reynolds carbon wheels — all for £4,199. All of these bikes match or exceed the Synonym TR2’s performance on paper, especially in terms of components, while staying within the same price bracket.

Despite being several years old, the Synonym’s geometry still feels sharp and forward-thinking. In fact, other brands have only recently caught up. And while the fork and elements of the suspension feel outdated, the ride itself remains hugely engaging. The TR2 descends with far more confidence than most 120mm bikes, encouraging you to push harder into steep or technical sections. It’s genuinely fun to ride, with handling that keeps up with much longer-travel bikes.

That said, the fork feels harsh, the suspension tune is unforgiving, and the PTU lockout remains a frustrating piece of the puzzle. A three-position system would better suit this more trail-orientated TR model, while reserving the firmer, dual-mode setup for the RC version. Component choices are generally fine, but shortcuts are evident — most notably in the drivetrain and cassette — which dull some of the bike’s shine at this price.

NS Bikes has created a brilliant frame that makes for a fast, fun, and capable trail-focused XC bike. It’s perfectly suited for big days in the saddle and could easily toe the line at a race. But while the geometry is still ahead of the curve, the supporting components — particularly the suspension and drivetrain — let it down slightly, making it difficult to justify the full retail price without some key upgrades.

• nsbikes.com
• The reader’s guide to Off-Road.cc’s review scoring system

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