New link plates offer more travel with a decreased leverage ratio and more adjustability. This equates to 5.5" of the plushest travel to date with an option of 4" of travel.
New Marzocchi Z-1 QR 20+ forks with 130 mm of travel
Grimeca System 8 brakes offer four-piston stopping power in a low-profile package
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Vernon, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2001
Strengths: Solid bike with a tough frame. Handles steeps and drops well. Well equiped for lighter riders (160 pounds)
Weaknesses: Grimeca brakes, gripshiAt, seat and tires - toss em
Bottom Line:
Excellent all round freeride bike. Has a good feel when climbing (bike not body) and is a consistent and reliable bike in all terrains. Ride with a smile on your face and a hard on in your pants!
Submitted by
Chad
a Weekend Warrior
from Halifax NS Canada EH!
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2001
Strengths: Tough as hell! Takes a beating and comes back for more. The frame is really holding well, the paint is very tough.
Weaknesses: The stock Fox Vanilla Shock sux my hairy bean-bag! It rides different every time - squeaky, flimsy piece of junk. Bent the shaft after 3 months, and I land relatively smoothly.Replaced it w/ a Stratos Helix Expert, this thing is BEEFY! Do yourself a favour WHEN you blow your Vanilla and go Stratos!
Bottom Line:
This is my 3 month update review. Big bang for the buck. Buy yourself one of these and be happy! If you are a lunatic and like to huck off everything in sight, you can't go wrong here.
Bike Setup: Super T, Maxxis rubber front and rear, Hayes Hydros, Kooka Flip dh stem, many other upgrades. The stock Z1 was sweet, but I switched it out for the Super = more travel. The Super T is the best fork on the planet for hits and speed.
Strengths: Comonents-bars, wheels, drivetrain, pedals indestructable fork, brakes, very squishy
Weaknesses: Tires, tubes, tiny itti bit on the slighlty heavy side bit on the cramped side in the cockpit
Bottom Line:
Handles great for Freeriding and Downhilling, could be a full on downhill sled with longer shock and bigger fork. funn bike and is for damn sure built good ( go Canada ) I love this bike, have done 10 foot drops without bottoming the fork, best bike ive ever ridden, eh
Any body who wants a DH / freeride rig should definitely check the Launch out... With Intense 2.35 and 2.5 tires this bike weighs in at a beefy 42 pounds so anybody looking to go up anything should look elsewhere, unless of course they're crazy
Similar Products Used: Devinci Maxx Santa cruz Bullit Cove G-spot Giant XTC-AC1
Bike Setup: Freeride
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Submitted by
Meat
a Weekend Warrior
from British Columbia
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2001
Strengths: Wicked frame, forks, wheelset, and most of the stock components. Believe it or not, this thing can go uphill if you put your heart and legs into it. Makes me look like my skill level is way higher than it actually is. Cool paint job that takes a ton of abuse.
Weaknesses: The seat...c'mon guys, this thing doesn't even belong on a Huffy. The headset was a problem, it blew apart after my fifth ride, luckily the shop warrantied/upgraded it. Grimecas...on long descents these things make the worst grinding sounds you can ever imagine. The tires, these things just plain suck on any surface but pavement. Prodigy cranks, bent one of them yesterday, fortunately that is warranty as well.
Bottom Line:
Despite the negatives above, this bike is killer value based on mostly excellent components, awesome frame (4 bar linkage is soooo plush), warranty and pure riding fun factor. I am doing things that I should not be able to do, and have never even dreamed of doing. Do yourself a favor if you are an "old school" type of rider (like I was) thinking that your best riding days are behind you...Buy this bike and you'll think (even if you don't quite ride) like you're 21 again. Having said that, I don't want the young punks thinking that this bike is for 30 something geezers, you can't do better than this bike for the $, period, and you would have a hard time finding a better bike for another $350-$400 US. Smokin' all-around bike (but loves to freeride the most).
Bike Setup: stock except for: NRG DH seat, Tank Aheadset (BMX), Race Face NSXS cranks
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Submitted by
old geezer
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver B.C. Canada (the Shore)
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2001
Strengths: First squishy bike so I may just be in awe of the whole full suspension concept. Definitely ups the confidence (and speed) a couple of notches. The Z1s are great and the braking power of the Grimeca's more than adequate. But....
Weaknesses: Whoever designed the Grimeca's should be forced to ride Ladies Only without brakes. I had to when the hydraulic line snapped at the junction with the brake lever. Putting a 90 degree bend in the connection to the lever just about guarantees that it will snap off and spill brake fluid at some point. Just spinning the bars in a crash tensions the hydraulic cable until it snaps at that 90 degree bend. Costs about $50 Cdn for another cable (+ an exciting ride-out). GET YOURSELF SOME HAYES!! Also lose the gripshifts.
Bottom Line:
A good "freeride" bike (whatever that may be) that is strong enough to handle most big hits while still being functional for uphill riding. For the money a pretty good buy if you intend to be abusive (or abused) in your riding. In other words, just perfect for here on the North Shore. But get your dealer to upgrade you to a set of Hayes. (You will end up spending that much just to replace broken cables on the Grimeca anyways.)
If you don't think there is any possiblity of you ever: (1) falling; (2) spinning the handle bars; (3) catching your brake line on a branch; or (4) dropping your bike onto a rock/stump/object then by all means keep the Grimeca's that the bike comes with. If however you intend to RIDE the damn thing then get Hayes put on.
Only because of the brakes do I give the bike less than 5 flaming Grimeca engineers as a rating.
Bike Setup: Stock except switched out gripshift for shimano LX. Will definitely be dumping the Grimeca's soon!
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Submitted by
Jeff Mack
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2001
Strengths: Extremely comfortable to ride, even for a heavy bike. The Grimeca brakes are the best between V-brakes and the Hayes Hydraulics. And You Can not beat the LIFE TIME WARRANTY for a fre ride bike.
Weaknesses: Grip shifters
Bottom Line:
If your looking for a free ride bike this is the bike to get. It's lighter than most bikes of it's cailper, but it'll take twice the beating. Don't let the pictures in the magizines fool you, in person it's a sweet ride.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Enduro Sport, same sort of rear suspension.
Bike Setup: Stock except for xt rapid fire shifters
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Submitted by
Buechsi
a
from Steinhausen Switzerland
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2001
Strengths: Great to ride in any situation. With a long 105mm stem it's also easy to climb the hill befor riding down. I tested the bike on small singletrail, fast and hard fireroads, 4-feet drops and other great jumps. In every situation i felt great.
Weaknesses: I missed the 44-chainring and some chlick-pedals for fast downhills. Last week i smashed the derailleur screw on a rock and had to fix them with an Swiss Army Knife.
Bottom Line:
After some beautiful rides in France i hope the weather will be better here in Switzerland. I need to ride again as soon as possible because it's so much fun!! Buy a Norco VPS Launch and you'll feel like i do.
Similar Products Used: That's my first real freerider. Befor i tested some Specialized, GT, Giant, Cannondale and Scott my friends have but non of them can't catch on with the VPS Launch
Bike Setup: Raceface 44-chainring Shimano Freeride-Chlickers X-Tas-Y 105mm Downhill Stem
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Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas,Texas,USA
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2001
Strengths: Frame is Great,looks,and handles great. Beats the hell out of my GT 2000 i-drive
Weaknesses: Not sure about stopping power yet haft to test more
Bottom Line:
Bike fells and looks great cant wait till weekend to ride. When I ordered the bike the color was I thought going to be green but recieved a dark grey not what happend. I didnt even know it came in grey anyway the grey looks awsome,even better looking than the green, so know problem there. If your looking for a tank of a bike this is it. You can purchase the bike from a dealer in Canada Go to www.johnhenrybikes.com and they will ship to USA Cost well worth the $2300 American.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Bullit, Cove G-Spot, Rocky Mountain Pipeline, DeVinci
Bike Setup: All factory original. QR-20 front shock, Grimeca System 8 disc brakes (I haven't had any problems with them), XT.
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Submitted by
Norco Launch
a Downhiller
from Kelowna
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2001
Strengths: The most plush bike i have ever felt with 5.7 " of travel... yes... 5.7" not 5.5 i had it measured exactly.... this bike feels so nice.. and is built like a tank. If you are looking for an awesome price on a downhill/freeride bike i suggest u pick up one of these. You will not regret it. -Bought for 3300$$ CDN Tax in... w/ Jr. T, hayes, new hub, rim, shifters.
Weaknesses: GRIPSHIFT! YUK... switch for like a shimano LX rapid fire.. Z1... great fork but rather have the Jr. T... even though u dont get the QR20.. who cares.. jr. is phatty -GRIMECA !!! OH GOD DONT GO THERE! Swap those puppies for a pair of hayes... you will not regret it... trust me nothing else... the bike is great.! i luv mine!
Bottom Line:
GO BUY THIS BIKE. 100 % GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT! I LUV MINE SO MUCH I NEVER WANT TO GIVE IT UP. YOU GET A GREAT FREERIDE BIKE... 6 AND 6 " OF TRAVEL... HAYES... ITS WORTH ANOHTER 100$$ DEFINITELY... DONT LET THE DEALER TRY AND TALK YOU OUT OF IT.. GRIMECAS ARE SH!T! THE BIKE FEELS SO PLUSH THAT ITS AMAZING! IT FEELS LIKE A DREAM
Similar Products Used: FSR Big Hit... Stinky Primo, Dee... and Stinky. KHS Dominatrax... Kona firemountain (w00t!) Brodie ZigZag the launch is by far the best yet... go for it.. go buy one :) thank me l8r
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Bomber Jr. T 6" Travel Sun double wall front rim. Hayes 6" brakes LX Rapid fires... RACE FACE cranks, rock ring, and b/b... everything else stock
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Submitted by
Tim Price
a Downhiller
from Melbourne
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2001
Strengths: Travel, while still being climbable,
Weaknesses: Brakes, XT copys they may by but I switched mine for Hayes.Low bottom bracket height(i.e. you smack your cranks at times)
Bottom Line:
Dispite the minor problem with the cranks, I love this bike for it's versitility. this bike is built tuff, if you want to downhill but have to ride to the top of your course this is the bike for you.It ROCKS!!
Similar Products Used: Specailized FSR Bighit, (has nothing on the NORCO)
Bike Setup: Hayes Brakes, azonic bars, the rest standard
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Submitted by
Chad Lindenbach
a Weekend Warrior
from Halifax, NS Canada
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2001
Strengths: Built like a tank! Very carvey feel. Turns relatively quick, not like a bus. Looks good, priced good, handles good, its good.
Weaknesses: Nothing yet.
Bottom Line:
I have never been a VPS fan - judged them by looks alone. Now that I have ridden the platform, I am a convert! Rock steady, solid feel. Eats drops for breakfast. The amount of metal on this frame is insane! If I break this, you can visit me in the intensive care ward!!! The rear end is very stiff and puts my old rm6 to shame! Not the plushest design out there, but a good comprimise for drops and overall riding. Very satisfied so far - will post again this summer. If your in the market for a new fs fat-ass bike and can't afford a ultra-swag rig, look no further than the Launch. If you're in Halifax, go talk to Tom and the boys @ The Bike People, they will hook you up.
Bike Setup: Z1, Hayes, Rhino Lites on XT hubs / Mobster 2.7 front and Tioga 2.3 rear. Kooka Flip dh stem, Profile rise bar. Hussafelt splined w/ dh bb. Full XT and Tioga dh saddle. This thing is stocked!
