Norco won't say when the new Revolver will be officially announced but given the level of finish on the frame, our guess would be very soon - James Huang / Immediate Media
Norco teased a new Revolver cross-country platform at this year's Sea Otter Classic. The new chassis features carbon fiber construction, 100mm of travel front and rear, and a choice of 27.5in or 29in wheels - James Huang / Immediate Media
Not surprisingly, Norco is sticking with its tried-and-true four-bar linkage design for the rear end. Both the chainstays and seatstays are made of carbon fibre - James Huang / Immediate Media
Norco looks to be using a RockShox Monarch rear shock with a high-volume air can and additional negative volume to improve initial sensitivity. The rebound adjuster is a bit tricky to access in this configuration but it does leave more room for the water bottle below. Note how the seatstays are joined together, too, which should presumably increase stiffness - James Huang / Immediate Media
The new Norco Revolver will be Shimano Di2-ready, complete with wiring ports and an internal battery mount - James Huang / Immediate Media
The sculpted seatpost collar is a nice touch - James Huang / Immediate Media
The internal routing port covers are removable to ease setup and servicing. Moulded rubber covers provide a clean appearance while also helping to prevent rattling - James Huang / Immediate Media
Blank covers can be used for entry/exit ports that aren't in use - James Huang / Immediate Media
The post mount rear brake tabs are sized for 160mm rotors. Pivot hardware is notably neat and tidy - James Huang / Immediate Media
The driveside chainstay is dropped to minimize chain slap while the non-driveside one takes a straight shot from pivot to pivot - James Huang / Immediate Media
Norco's new Revolver will use a PF92 press-fit bottom bracket shell along with an array of internal routing ports. In addition to the single bottle mount inside the main triangle, there's another one underneath the down tube - James Huang / Immediate Media
Both the seatstays and chainstays are dramatically bent so as to boost heel clearance - James Huang / Immediate Media
Rather than pick one or the other exclusively, Norco plans to offer the new Revolver cross-country bike in both 29er and 27.5in versions - James Huang / Immediate Media
Norco hid in plain sight at the Sea Otter Classic a new cross-country race machine called Revolver. That it’s made of carbon fibre and sports a taut 100mm of suspension at both ends is no surprise – but that it’ll be offered in both 27.5in and 29in wheel sizes certainly is.
Norco teased a new revolver cross-country platform at this year's sea otter classic. the new chassis features carbon fiber construction, 100mm of travel front and rear, and a choice of 27.5in or 29in wheels: norco teased a new revolver cross-country platform at this year's sea otter classic. the new chassis features carbon fiber construction, 100mm of travel front and rear, and a choice of 27.5in or 29in wheels
The new Norco Revolver looks ready to go at this year's Sea Otter Classic
Norco officials at the company’s race truck wouldn’t say too much about the new bike but there’s plenty to glean just by inspection. The new frame will be made of carbon fibre from head to toe, including the main triangle, the bridged seatstays, and asymmetrical chainstays. From the looks of things, even the stubby shock link will be made of moulded composite. Claimed weights weren’t available but somewhere just under 2kg seems like a reasonably safe bet.
Not surprisingly, Norco is sticking to its proven true four-bar linkage rear end for the new Revolver with 100mm of travel at either end. At least on the team bikes we spotted, both the rear shock and fork can be locked out via RockShox’s new dual remote lever, and the Monarch rear shock also wears a new air can with an expanded negative chamber for what should be a more supple initial stroke.
Not surprisingly, norco is sticking with its tried-and-true four-bar linkage design for the rear end. both the chainstays and seatstays are made of carbon fiber: not surprisingly, norco is sticking with its tried-and-true four-bar linkage design for the rear end. both the chainstays and seatstays are made of carbon fiber
The carbon fiber rear end features asymmetrical chainstays and a true four-bar design
Other features include a PF92 bottom bracket shell, 142x12mm rear hub spacing, front and rear thru-axles, a high direct-mount front derailleur bracket, and an internal cable routing setup that will not only work with mechanical and electronic drivetrains (apparently including an internal battery mount) but looks to be very impressively well finished, too. The tapered 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in head tube is also notably short to accommodate the ultra-aggressive positions typical for the segment.
What is surprisingly, however, is that Norco will release the new Revolver in both 27.5in and 29in-wheeled versions – and not just based on size. Norco apparently decided early on in the Revolver’s development that it would offer both options to satisfy rider preferences: 29in wheels for racers who prize all-out speed, and 27.5in ones for riders who want more agility and quicker acceleration for punchier courses.
The internal routing port covers are removable to ease setup and servicing. molded rubber covers provide a clean appearance while also helping to prevent rattling: the internal routing port covers are removable to ease setup and servicing. molded rubber covers provide a clean appearance while also helping to prevent rattling
The internal routing setup looks very well done
Either way, the test mules’ highly refined and finished appearances suggest that an official release is imminent. If we had to guess, we’d say that we’ll hear more around the autumn trade show season at the very latest.
James Huang is BikeRadar's former technical editor. After leaving BikeRadar in 2016, he worked at CyclingTips and Escape Collective. He now runs the Substack cycling publication N-1 Bikes.
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