Submitted by
derek
a Weekend Warrior
from high places in new england
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2002
Strengths: plush, strong, fast, big, loud. this is a very good bike.
Weaknesses: a little tall ay the bb, but you get used to it.
Bottom Line:
a lot of people are knocking this bike but either i got the only good one that they made or norco got it right for 2000. this bike has the bearings at the main pivots where earlier models used bushings. i'm a little over 200 lbs. and with an 850 lb. spring and the suspension in the 7" setting this bike can handle anything i can dish out. the suspension is ballanced with the jr.t and it has a geometry that works for the type of riding that we have in new england. it makes a great freeride bike as well as a very very fast and stable downhill bike. mine dresses out at about 42 lbs. and i ride everything with no front derailleur, although i've talked to the guys at john henry's and it is possible to fit a front derailleur to it. i was really interested in this bike ever since i read the review for the vps2 in mba and for me it was worth the wait - definately a satisfied customer! this rig gets 5 steamers accross the board from me.
Bike Setup: mine is actually a 2000 (7") with a 2001 jr.t (6"), gremeca disc brakes, intense tires on tioga dh rims, truvativ crank, protapers, xt drivetrain, king headset
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Submitted by
Monna laculotte
a Weekend Warrior
from Montreal
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2001
Strengths: the colors on this bike are so nice, you feel confident riding this monster, the price is well worth it, nice geometry, but make sure to take a good size for your height, the frame itself is not that heavy compare to some like the super 8 or the brodie 8 ball
Weaknesses: i had to replace the bushings, no original rear disc mount, the head tube is too long, could be a bit more travel in the back, 750 pds spring is too stiff(i weight 160), so i can't fell the whole 6.5 inches of travel.
Bottom Line:
the thing is i bought this bike from a guy , because he sold it cheao, 575 canadian with seat post, the only thing a had to do was replace the bushings, cost me about 20 bucks, my frame is a medium and i wish i had a small, i'm 5"10. that and a new lighter sring coil. for 1999 frame you can't ask for anything better. i just hope this bike is going to stay in one piece till the end of next season. it's a good buy if you get it cheap, don't make this your first choice.
Similar Products Used: aeon joker, 8 ball, super 8, rm7
Bike Setup: mavic 321, stratos superstar 8, purple hayes 8", kugo's and a little deore derailleur..!
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Submitted by
nicolas
a Downhiller
from CHILE !!!!!!!!!!!!
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2001
Strengths: Lots of travel, reliable, plush, looks.
Weaknesses: steep head angle, bb height, rear end flexes
Bottom Line:
Great frame, a bad thing no one notices is that if you ever want to replace the Monster T, it´ll be difficult for you to get an appropiate fork, My LT8 had to be settled down to 7 inches of travel, and the boxxers fitted only with the XXXXXL upper triple clamp.
Similar Products Used: Kona Stab Deeluxe, super 8, M1
Bike Setup: hayes, mavic521, kujo/tioga, FRANKENBRINK SHlT (used to, now boxxers, hope i get my new WB dh3 soon)
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Submitted by
Fred Dubois
a Downhiller
from Le gardeur,Qc,Canada
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2001
Strengths: It is really reliable,strong,really plush,goes anywhere,has a good paint job(doesn't come off),a bit of a flexy rear end(What I mean by that is that it won't snap 'swingarm'like I see a lot of Intense does or really rigid bikes.)
Weaknesses: A tad heavy,bottom bracket is too high,Intense tire(Drop them),ghanges to be made when you buy it,slow steering side.
Bottom Line:
Fast bike,you got to keep you're momentum so maybe that's why it is so fast.You really have to take care of those pivots but you have to do this on any other bike anyway.For the money nothing comes close,well maybe this year there will be the GT but all in all you can't go wrong with this one.I hear a lot of complaints about norco bikes ,maybe it's because the old bikes catalog but I'm telling you try it before you judge.A lot of review about this bike are made from a single ride ,and I dont think it's fair or honest about you guys to judge a product with so little input (this product or any other one.).By the way you will learn about the meaning of PLUSH when you get a leg over that bike.I used to own a Stab delux ,and tought it was plush ,but man was I wrong.Overall the bike will keep up if you're up to it.
Similar Products Used: Khs dh,Kona stab delux,wheeler,Balfa bobonum,Balfa BB7,Tomac204 and a bunch of others.
Bike Setup: Hayes f/r,Michelin tires (service course),Mr dirt stem,MRP roller guide,DX pedals everything else is stock.
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Submitted by
Kyle Kusznieryk
a Downhiller
from Qualicum Beach
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2000
Strengths: Plush, nice ride (not stock, needs tuning), fairly light frame, rear end is strong.
Weaknesses: Falling rate on 99 frames, a longer shocks and a 2000 compression strut fixed it for me. I wouldn't call the frame weak, but i managed to snap the support bar, and buckle the monocoque. No hard feelings really it held up well, but im a little mad norco wouldnt even sell me a new front triangle, they said i would have to buy a whole new frame.
Bottom Line:
This is a bit of an update, I have a review here a few posts down. just wanted to let you know (because i thought it) the frame is NOT indestructible, as norco claims. although it took a 15ft to flat drop to break it, it can be done. The component spec and price is great for a DH bike. The 99 needed full disc brakes. Great bike for a racer, but it cant take everything. if you want a super huck bike, get a Balfa or some other overbuilt frame.
Similar Products Used: LOBO'sSAnta cruz's, losta DH bikes.
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Submitted by
Chris Johnson
a Downhiller
from Mission B.C. ,Canada
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2000
Strengths: looks,design,its huge,monster t freeride or dh course ready
Weaknesses: ummmmmmmm nothing
Bottom Line:
ok the morron down near the bottom says that norco copied intense. Really i think intense did some copying of their own if you look closely on intense adds in magazines you will see that they proudly are usin speciallized's design im not sure but i think norco is doing the same so there isnt any stealing of the design before you write make sure you have your information straight. This bike is good but its not as good as the gt dhi race i am getting so if you see someone cruising down the hill with a gt jersey and chrome helmet on a dhi race GET OUT OF MY WAY,thanks
Similar Products Used: gt lobo,super 8,rm6,and im gettin a new gt dhi race
Bike Setup: i tested this bike out in the parking lot where i ride and she worked bautifully
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Submitted by
Bryden
a Downhiller
from Port Alberni, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2000
Strengths: price,durability, easy to maintain,not to heavy,chicks dig it.
Weaknesses: pivot bushings, rear end flex, high bottom bracket height,steep head angle, not enough travel in stock configuration.
Bottom Line:
In stock form the bike has room for improvement, but it is a fairly good platform to build from. It is a good strong and reliable ride that can take a beating and keep on dishing it out. My bike is actually a '98 that has been seriously upgraded, but it is still strong to go. Wanna buy it?
Similar Products Used: khs dominatrix, mountain cycle san andreas, santa cruz bullit,kona stab dee-lux,brodie 8-ball,rocky mountain rm6,
Bike Setup: manitou x-vert carbon forx, stratos helix expert shock, easton monkey light bars, raceface crankset, hayes hydraulic disc brakes, hayes hugi hubs with mavic 321 hoops.
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Submitted by
mike s
a Weekend Warrior
from b.c canada
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2000
Strengths: this bike take a beating ive taken this thing off 15 foot wheelie drops a lot and it keeps coming back for more
Weaknesses: its loud but thats good because this bike is fast , and the good thing is all you slow a$$es can get out of my way
Bottom Line:
the bottom line is if you ride hard and most free riders do ! you need something that can take more than you can and the vps 2 provides you that comfort i mean this bike will take it . to all those people who say that the bearings suck in the rear end of these bikes it because you dont take care of it and thats the bottom line if you still think this bike sucks get sept 2000 mtb action maybee they will change your mind about canadian bikes ,made by the king of b.c mtbs norco and that the bottom line im out
Submitted by
Simon Carbonneau
a Downhiller
from LaSalle,Québec,Canada
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2000
Strengths: can handole anything,parts,PRICE,
Weaknesses: too plush,bushing,rear shock,look,rear brake (magura),rims
Bottom Line:
the vps-1 it's a good dh bike for the price and hif you are thinking to do serious dh make sure to change the rims frist,a rear disc brake would be a good investement.Be ready too change every bushings one it, especialy if you buy the bike used
Similar Products Used: pipeline, all fs previous bike cro mo hard tail(norco)
Bike Setup: stock,vanilla R, z1 qr 20's
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Submitted by
Joel
a Downhiller
from Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2000
Strengths: it's CANADIAN.
Weaknesses: canadian bikes don't have weaknesses.
Bottom Line:
to the guy a few reviews below me it's not a rip off of the M1. try riding them they're completely different bikes. i'd rather have the VPS for a few grand less. and to the guy 7 reviews below me, i've seen guys take this bike off 18.5 footers more than a few times, and it didn't break.
Favorite Trail: pink starfish/ladies only and urban
Duration Product Used: Tested or demo'ed only
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Submitted by
Kyle Kusznieryk
a Downhiller
from Vancouver Island BC
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2000
Strengths: Looks Cool (I got a custom metalflake paintjob and the rear end chrome plated) That FORK RULES! Best buy for a downhill rig.
Weaknesses: Piviots wear. But so will any other 4 barlinkage. The nylon roller on the chainguid is noisy, replace it with a MRP roller instead.
Bottom Line:
This Bike RULES (for the price) for 6 grand (I paid 3) you get a bike that can compete with the big boys. Not many bikes have a monster t for 7500 let alone 6! The fork isn't that heavy, well it is, but it's not noticible. Buy a '99 used for even better value. The privateer should on a budget should buy this bike. A weight wuss not.
Strengths: plush as four bar linkage,gnarly hayes setup what more can i say
Weaknesses: little bit of overkill on the rear end,stick with a lobo if you ask me[if you can afford twice the price+++,otherwise flawlessly designed
Bottom Line:
with a couple of changes the vps-1 will keep you going but if your into light-wait s*#!,grap a vps-2,make your own or get your local bike store to engineer you a 7 inch. rear linkage plate,change the 5 inch. marzochies for a pair of boxxers or boxxer pro's,change the front disc size and your have practically the same bike only lighter,cheaper and one number different[ie:vps1/vps2]so take my advice or just work it out for yourself ,VPS-1 & 2 are both pretty sweet! keep hitting the trails !
