The 2015 Norco Bicycles range has plenty new to look at - David Rome / Immediate Media
The 2015 Norco Sight C 7.2 (US$TBC / AU$5,999 / £TBC), with a carbon frame and a hard-hitting suspension package - David Rome / Immediate Media
The GIZMO cable guide system provides a solid seal and a secure hold that will stop cable migration and rattling inside the frame - David Rome / Immediate Media
The custom-tuned CaneCreek DB Inline Air rear shock on the Sight C 7.2 provides an absurd level of dampener control - David Rome / Immediate Media
Some of the better Sight models, including this C 7.2 receive a burlier RockShox Pike 140 fork - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Sight alloy gets a new frame which shares many of the features found in the carbon version. Pictured is the Sight A 7.1 (US$TBC / AU$3,599 / £TBC) - David Rome / Immediate Media
Both the Sight and Range alloy models feature a new bolt-on external cable guide system - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Sight alloy frame features double butted and formed aluminium tubes - David Rome / Immediate Media
Just like the carbon version, the alloy Sight gets an integrated rubber chainstay protector - David Rome / Immediate Media
Those looking for even more technical terrain or perhaps some enduro racing, there's the Range. Pictured is the 2015 Range C 7.2 (US$TBC / AU$5,999 / £TBC) with a Rockshox Pike RC and Monarch Plus RC3 suspension package. A new Blackspire bashguard joins the rubber down tube protector to keep things covered - David Rome / Immediate Media
With a new frame for 2015, the Range A 7.1 (US$TBC / AU$3,699 / £TBC) brings the hard-hitting 160mm of travel to a lower price - David Rome / Immediate Media
Another view of the new Norco Range A 7.1, including its Rockshox Pike RC and Fox Float CTD Evolution w/high volume suspension package - David Rome / Immediate Media
Just like the alloy Sight's, the Range's get the new external cable guide system - David Rome / Immediate Media
A new seat tube gusset allows for greatly increased standover height on the alloy models - David Rome / Immediate Media
A new 'Maxle' 142 x 12mm thru-axle system replaces the previous Syntace design - David Rome / Immediate Media
New pivot hardware on the alloy models allow for tightening from the left side of the bike, no need to remove the cranks here - David Rome / Immediate Media
Where the carbon bikes get a lighter (and more expensive) one-piece rocker assembly, the alloy bikes get a heavier bolted design that's also said to be a touch stiffer - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Norco Sasquatch is a new fat bike model that joins the company's Bigfoot models. The Sasquatch (US$TBC / AU$2,699 / £TBC) features suspension corrected frame geometry - David Rome / Immediate Media
It's a name many Norco fans will know well, the Sasquatch is back and has put on even more weight - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Sasquatch's superlight foam grips keep this bike really light. Joking aside, we believe Norco has picked foam grips as they aren't as likely to harden in freezing temperatures - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Sasquatch features new 4.35in wide treads - David Rome / Immediate Media
No frame changes for 2015, the 120mm, 650B and 29in Fluid range continues with affordable options starting as low as AU$1,799. Pictured is the 650B Fluid 7.1 (US$TBC / AU$2,799 / £TBC) - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Fluid range use a more basic aluminium frameset and lose such features as a rear thru-axle in order to keep prices down - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Revolver 650B and 29in platforms continue with only componentry changes for 2015. Pictured is the Revolver 9 SL XO1 (US$TBC / AU$5,999 / £TBC) - David Rome / Immediate Media
A 142 x 12mm rear axle features on the Revolver frames - David Rome / Immediate Media
That bolt on the downtube is a space to hold a spare derailleur hanger - David Rome / Immediate Media
For 2015, it seems most top-end cross race bikes feature a RockShox RS-1 fork - David Rome / Immediate Media
Hidden Vale in country Queensland was host to this Norco 2015 product launch put on by Advance Traders, the Australian distributor for the brand - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Threshold is Norco's answer to cyclocross racing, but the bikes still offer fender and bottle mounts for day to day versatility. Pictured is the Threshold 105 (US$TBC / AU$2,599 / £TBC) - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Threshold's top tube is optimised for shouldering - David Rome / Immediate Media
Small details. This slot faces foward to avoid mud spray from the rear wheel - David Rome / Immediate Media
A wide and square down tube uses up the real-estate provided by a pressfit bottom bracket, before flowing onto wide-spread chainstays - David Rome / Immediate Media
A smaller 140mm rotor on the rear is said to provide more balanced brake control with the larger 160mm front rotor - David Rome / Immediate Media
An integrated chain catcher is featured on the Threshold frame, we like how simple this design is - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Threshold carbon fork features a 15mm 'Maxle' thru-axle - David Rome / Immediate Media
A simple and lightweight brake cable/hose clip features on the Threshold's carbon fork - David Rome / Immediate Media
A teaser shot of the new Valence endurance road bike. We scored last year's version with a 4.5/5, so we're interested to see if this new model can improve on that - David Rome / Immediate Media
A teaser of the new endurance-focused Valence. A large downtube flows through the BB92 bottom bracket and onto equally wide chainstays - David Rome / Immediate Media
The brand may be best known for its mountain bikes, but we're told the VFR fitness range is one of the company's best sellers. Pictured is the VFR 1 (US$TBC / AU$1,099 / £TBC) - David Rome / Immediate Media
Heavily curved seat stays add in some compliance for rougher surfaces - David Rome / Immediate Media
FLIP dropout, just un-bolt and flip it out to gain a pannier or fender mount - David Rome / Immediate Media
More GIZMO internal cable routing on the VFR 1 - David Rome / Immediate Media
In 2015, Canadian company Norco will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with its largest range yet.
In recent years, Norco has made a solid comeback to popularity with a range of highly competitive trail and enduro style mountain bikes that are accompanied by bikes for every other discipline.
BikeRadar recently visited Hidden Vale in Queensland, Australia for a product launch put on by Advance Traders, Australia’s distributors for Merida, Lapierre, Norco, Met and a handful of other brands. We take a look at what grabbed our attention from Norco.
Both the Sight and Range models receive updated aluminium versions that borrow design features from the newer carbon versions. The Sasquatch name has made a return to Norco’s line-up, this time in the appropriate form of a fat-bike. And we were teased a totally revamped version of the Valence, Norco’s carbon endurance road bike.
Mountain bikes: Range, Sight, Revolver and Sasquatch
Part of Norco’s returned success in the mountain bike line-up is due to its ‘gravity-tune’ design. This is simply rider size specific frames where both the front and rear triangle grow in proportion to the frame size, unlike many other companies that just change the front triangle size and use the same rear triangle across three to five frame sizes. The concept gives a more balanced ride quality and handling across all frame sizes.
With a new frame for 2015, the range a 7.1 (us$tbc / au$3,699 / £tbc) brings the hard-hitting 160mm of travel to a lower price: - David Rome / Immediate Media
2015 Norco Range A 7.1 (US$TBC / AU$3,699 / £TBC)
Serving the enduro and aggressive all-mountain market is the Range, a 160mm travel 650B platform that uses a Horst-link based suspension design. The Range frames feature custom tuned rear shocks with room for Piggyback shocks, integrated down tube and chainstay rubber guards and internal stealth dropper routing.
For 2015 the carbon version receives some minor componentry updates, but the big news is in the new aluminium platform. This version of the bike comes with a double butted and formed aluminium frame. The geometry receives a slight tweak to bring it in line with the carbon models, including a reduced standover height and a slacker 66-degree head angle.
Other frame features include a new external cable guide system that bolts securely to the frame, a new 142 x 12mm Maxle rear axle design that uses a new derailleur hanger setup. Additionally, the alloy models feature new pivot hardware, which can be tightened from just the non-drive side without having to remove the cranks for access.
The sight alloy gets a new frame which shares many of the features found in the carbon version. pictured is the sight a 7.1 (us$tbc / au$3,599 / £tbc) : - David Rome / Immediate Media
2015 Norco Sight A 7.1 (US$TBC / AU$3,599 / £TBC)
A little less enduro and a little more trail is the Sight, a 140mm travel 650B bike with a 67.5-degree head angle. For 2015 the Sight gets a more hard-hitting spec with shorter stems, wider bars, chunkier tyres and the top models receive a RockShox Pike 140 fork.
Just like the Range, the Sight continues with the same carbon platform as last year's, but there’s a new alloy version that receives increased stand-over height, stealth dropper post compatibility and integrated rubber chainstay protectors.
The 2015 norco sight c 7.2 (us$tbc / au$5,999 / £tbc), with a carbon frame and a hard-hitting suspension package: - David Rome / Immediate Media
The 2015 Norco Sight C 7.2 (US$TBC / AU$5,999 / £TBC)
One model that really grabbed our attention was the Sight C 7.2 (US$TBC / AU$5,999 / £TBC). This carbon version now features a RockShox Pike RC fork, custom-tuned CaneCreek DB Inline Air, SRAM X1 11-speed drivetrain and Sun Helix TR25 tubeless ready rims laced to DT Swiss 350 hubs.
The revolver 650b and 29in platforms continue with only componentry changes for 2015. pictured is the revolver 9 sl xo1 (us$tbc / au$5,999 / £tbc) : - David Rome / Immediate Media
Norco Revolver 9 SL XO1
The cross-country race-focused Revolver continues with its choice of both 27.5 and 29in wheel sizes. While the frame isn't new, the use of a colour matched RS-1 fork on the Revolver 9 SL XO1 (US$TBC / AU$5,999 / £TBC) grabbed our attention.
The norco sasquatch is a new fat bike model that joins the company's bigfoot models. the sasquatch (us$tbc / au$2,699 / £tbc) features suspension corrected frame geometry : - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Sasquatch is back
Joining the Bigfoot range of fat bikes is the Sasquatch, which features a new frame with suspension corrected geometry and tapered head tube. The Sasquatch uses a RockShox Bluto suspension fork and Shimano SLX drivetrain to bring in some trail style.
Cyclocross and Road: Threshold and Valence
In addition to the mountain bikes, Norco offers a wide range of road, cyclocross, fitness and urban bikes. The brand unveiled its new carbon cyclocross bike a few months back, the Norco Threshold.
The threshold is norco's answer to cyclocross racing, but the bikes still offer fender and bottle mounts for day to day versatility. pictured is the threshold 105 (us$tbc / au$2,599 / £tbc): - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Norco Threshold is a new carbon cyclocross machine. Pictured is the Threshold 105
The Threshold features oversized down tube and large chainstays with a carbon pressfit bottom bracket shell in the centre to help transfer power, while out back, ‘ARC’ seat stays and a slender 27.2mm seat post are there to add compliance. The UCI approved frame has a claimed weight of 990g in a medium size at the top-end offering.
The bike looks ready for the muddiest of courses, with room for a 40c tyre and sealed internal cable guides that allow for full-length cable housing. Even little details like the clamp slot in the seat tube face forward to avoid mud spray going inside the frame.
A smaller 140mm rotor on the rear is said to provide more balanced brake control with the larger 160mm front rotor: - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Threshold is full of little details, the simple low-profile fender rack mount will please those seeking a 'cross bike to commute with
To add a few further details on the Threshold, the frame features a 15mm thru-axle on the front with a 142 x 12mm axle to match on the rear. The post-mount brake mounts handle a 160 and 140mm rotor front and rear respectively, with the rear using a smaller rotor to help balance brake modulation. The derailleur hanger is said to be stiffer and stronger than previous designs and there’s an integrated chain catcher too.
Price point aluminium versions of the Threshold carry over the same geometry and feature a full-carbon fork, thru axles, Gizmo internal cable system. Norco claim the alloy makes a great commuting bike, with a flip-out pannier mount.
A teaser shot of the new valence endurance road bike. we scored last year's version with a 4.5/5, so we're interested to see if this new model can improve on that: - David Rome / Immediate Media
A sneak peak at the all-new Valence endurance bike
While we can’t spill too many details at this moment, Norco will have a brand-new Valence range, the brand’s endurance road platform. This uses many of the carbon technologies found in the Threshold such as frame size-specific tubing and ‘Armorlite’ resin, which adds impact resistance to the carbon. Other features will include Norco’s Gizmo internal cable routing system, stealthy fender compatibility and an integrated chain catcher.
For a closer and further look at the range, scroll, swipe or click through our gallery at top.
