Small man syndrome. This could be a superficial judgement when you see how big the small Polish forge NS Bikes is taking on the competition. With chunky 29er tyres, a 160 mm Fox 36 fork, the longest wheelbase, longest reach and by far the highest stack value, the Snabb makes the other bikes in the test field look small. However, after a little familiarisation, the green Bolide is surprisingly easy to handle. Only on very tight bends does the NS have to let the more agile 27.5er bikes pull away. The suspension sticks to the ground in exemplary fashion, and in combination with the Schwalbe Magic Mary on the front wheel, the Snabb is the definition of stability and safety in this test. Thanks to the high front end (stack 648 millimetres), the NS doesn't get rattled even in rough, steep sections. On the climbs, however, the rider has to work hard - at 14.7 kilos, the NS is the heaviest bike in the test. Nevertheless, the rear end offers good traction. The slight bobbing on the climbs is effectively calmed by the platform.
Test summaryThe NS Bikes Snabb 150 Plus is a downhill machine for all those for whom a big grin on the descent is more important than light-footed climbing.
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