Submitted by
Duffman
a Downhiller
from Pitt Meadows BC Canada
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2009
Strengths: These reviews are all subjective to the abuse given out by the rider. So I would say the strengths are not very many. The frame is well balanced and multi link suspension is better than the single pivot.
Weaknesses: The frame is weak. Rear Chain stay already cracked and replaced. The Chain beats the crap out of the lower chain stay literally pulverizes it. The frame has a huge amount of torsional stress and feels weak. Cockpit is cramped. DHX air is aweful too wooden at high psi and too weak at lower. The forks "All mountain 4" were pathetic and should never be on any mountain. Pointless for anything.
Bottom Line:
The bike is on the cheap side of coin. You get what you pay for. Unfortunately Norco have tried to lighten this bike up far too much and it has paid for it in ridgity and accessories. The bike needs to be able to handle a 2.5 tire on the rear and should have at the least a set of 55 on the front throw away the forks before you get started. Going to the air suspension was also a mistake the spring is far better for this frame.
Bike Setup: Supra N rims, Fox Vanilla, Marzocchi Bomber 150 Drop Off, Hayes nine brakes.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
ManBearPig
a Downhiller
from British Columbia
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2009
Strengths: - Norco Six Special Edition came with top drawer spec
- Cdn retail $5800, paid $3000 from rich kid who rode it
twice in the city
- Anodized frame
- couple pounds lighter than rest of Six series
Weaknesses: - Inconsistent performance from DHX Air, swapped out for Elka
Stage 5
Bottom Line:
The bike that does everything well. Light enough for XC and extended climbing, rips downhills, very stable descender with good technical manners. I was never happy with the DHX Air, one ride it would feel pretty good and the next one it would suck. Went back to a coil with a Ti spring to mitigate the weight penalty, huge improvement.
Buy this bike if you need an all rounder that will climb well and rip on the way down.
5 Chili's with a coil shock, 3.5 with the DHX Air.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Bullit, Santa Cruz Nomad, Norco Torrent
Bike Setup: Fox 36 TALAS RC2, Elka Stage 5 with Renton Ti spring, King headset, DMR Headlock 50mm stem, Deity Dirty Thirty bar (cut to 28"), XO shifters and rear derailleur, XTR front derailleur, Avid Juicy Carbons, RaceFace Atlas FR cranks, DMR Mag 12 pedals, Mavic Crossmax SX wheelset,
Kenda Nevegals or Maxxis Highrollers depending on location, terrain, etc
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
jsrumm
a Downhiller
from Canberra, ACT
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2008
Strengths: A good, solid frame, fair amount of travel.
Weaknesses: Nothing really.
Bottom Line:
I've set this bike up for downhill, and it makes a quick, nimble ride. Because it only has 6.5 inches of travel, it's easier to chuck around. It also isn't too heavy. The boxxers work really well on it, though the travel is slightly unbalanced. All up though, it's a great bike.
Submitted by
Scott Lescak
a Cross Country Rider
from Stirling, Scotland
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2008
Strengths: Relatively good peddler, good all rounder, comfortable
Weaknesses: Bit on heavy side, frame design for carrying
Bottom Line:
I bought the six one which is the cheapest of the six bikes, and was hoping for a bit of an everything bike. I tried it up and down some of the hilly roads around the shop before buying it as I was concerned about climbing on it, but it was actually not bad at climbing. It is a heavy bike (for everyday riding), mine weighs in around 36 lbs, but it definetely pedals like it's a few pounds lighter, and you do get used to it's weight. I've had this downhilling at Innerleithen and was more than happy with the bike (biggest drops I've done with it are around 5 foot and it never even flinched), but not the brakes it came with (Hayes Soles) so I upgraded to XT which has made a huge difference. I do take the bike out on local trails, and it's surprised me at how well it climbs at times. Mine is the 2006 version, I believe the 2007 has actually dropped a few pounds which makes it an even better bike I reckon, especially for the price. This is a pretty fun bike to ride, either downhill or on local trails, but it isn't great on all day epics unless you're really fit. It's heavy for really long rides, and if you have to carry it this can be difficult because of the frame shape (which can also be a pain with bike racks), good bike for anyone who wants to blast around local trails, ride skinnies, hit drops, or tackle a full on downhill course every once in a while.
Weaknesses: heavvvy, not a freeride bike at all its far more suited to downhill
Bottom Line:
I was dissapointed in it as a "freeride" but it more then holds its own on downhill and is a bloody strong bike for its frame weight (lighter then a proper dh but still definatly not light). Fills the void between freeride and DH very nicely and more versitile then a pure DH with plenty of ability.
Strengths: the bike handles nice, i think its light. i dont mind having limited travel cause u dont need 9 inches... ur just starting to get too excessive and more costly. its a nice bike on a budget if u gotta low one. i like how its not a single pivit, i kinda with the headtube was a 1.5 though, i cant get annything that big in the front (thats where i would rather have the travel sitting)i changed almost all the parts on mine though cause i am a hard rider, and it had tru vativ on it so it was sad. on my bike i put a 66, codes, dhx 5.0, alexrims supra bh, saint cranks, e.thirteen chainguide, right now i have a broken shifter (its the stock one) and i am getting maxxis minions and some race face handle bars.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
i love my bike, i wouldent trade it for much else. i dont need a huge bike.
Submitted by
Will
a Weekend Warrior
from Grass Valley, CA
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2007
Strengths: Tough frame yet still pretty light.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
Love the bike! Decided to buy after going through two sets of bearings on Trance and having housings round out. Costly repair to say the least. This bike does it all. I can still climb anything I could with the trance and can bomb downhill when the trail descends. Have never bottomed the suspension out and have taken 10' drop to flat. I bought this as a used demo bike and have had to replace drivetrain parts but thats it. 2006 Norco Six One = highly recommended
Similar Products Used: Specialized Stumpy Hardtail, Giant Trance 3
Bike Setup: shocks - Z.1 front, 5.0 DHX rear, tires 2.7 maxis front 2.5 wtb rear, hayes nine hydros w/ 7" rotors, sram x9 everything, syncros rims: next upgrade-gravity dropper seatpost.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
lorn scanlon
a Downhiller
from bowmanville
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2006
Strengths: this is for the 05 model -big burly frame -super plush fork(66r upgraid) -nice geometry -nice in the air
Weaknesses: -rims arent the best i upgraded to MTX's though and there pimp -need to get 650lbs spring and crank the compression and it will work frin just the stock 550lbs spring feels to soft personal preference.
Bottom Line:
this bike is pimp it soaks up the bumps the same as the aline i tryed but u dont loos senseation of the ground i know other people say that this bike dosnt have anough travel and i know what they mean but it doesnt make a differnce as fart as what you can ride over and it doesnt slow u down so i really like 6" of travel because they dont make this bike any more (the new six's are not the same) i would recomend buying the shore 1 witch is very simular but it already has the good rims and brakes ect.
Bike Setup: stock accept for: avid juicy 7 brakes,sun MTX rims,maxxix mobster tires dirty chain guide(they suck bad upgraide),hussefelt dh cranks,marzocchi 66r and azonic recoil hub.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Cody McCuaig
a Weekend Warrior
from Dunmore, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2006
Strengths: Amazing bike. I just got it and so far it has taken everything ive thrown at it. It is super light for a good freeride full suspension. Love the DHX 3
Weaknesses: The pedals are brutal. Fork bottoms out easily no matter how much air you put into it
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike that will do it all. From freeride to downhill(not for hardcore downhill racers), to ceoss country, amd she climbs like a beuty. Make sure if you like freerideing that you cut the seatpost down a bit so it dont hit the rear shock. I love this bike it is a great deal and it is super light. I LOVE IT BUY A SIX 2 NOW!!
Similar Products Used: 2006 shore 3, atomic, cannondale gemini 900
Bike Setup: 2006, shore 2. All stock. Hope to upgrade the frop of IV to a Z1 freeride fork
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Peter J
a Downhiller
from Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2006
Strengths: Good all around frame, can do anything pretty well. Comes with a very good parts spec. A perfect bike for one who is progressing their skills. Good price.
Weaknesses: It's not a downhill bike, and it's not an all mountain bike. The 2004 and 2005 Sixes try to do to much. Once your skills advance, the limited amount of rear-end travel becomes a problem. I'm 6'1 and 170, and find myself bottoming the rear-end more and more often on larger drops. I've replaced the shock with a DHX 3.0 with a 650 pound spring.
Bottom Line:
Great starter bike for someone looking to get into Downhill and Freeride. Can still be pedaled through your favorite XC trails( to a certain extent). Get full on DH bike of thats what you plan to use it for.
Similar Products Used: Nothing similar, Norco Sasquatch, KHS DH,
Bike Setup: Stock with mentioned DHX 3.0 shock, as well as New Race Face bars, and signature series BB, Ringle rear hub and Mavic 321 rim, Ringle flat pedals, had chainstay replaced due to tire rub from a crash.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick klisiewiz
a Downhiller
from Sale, Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2006
Strengths: Very light weight, really strong frame, extremely plush travel in rear.
Weaknesses: This bike could have had at least an extra inch of travel in the back, appart from that no weaknesses.
Bottom Line:
This is a extremely nice bike for the price i paid,if your looking for a bike that you can do downhill and freeride on this is the bike for you, this bike would also b suitable for extreme xc. worth every penny.
Bike Setup: BBB head stem and bars, everything else standard.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bill
a Weekend Warrior
from Auckland, NZ
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2006
Strengths: Perfect geometry for freeride Good rear suspension setup Light and strong Awesome value
Weaknesses: Can't fit fat tyres on the rear end
Bottom Line:
Awesome bike for an awesome price. Super nimble on structures and singletrack, rips up DH lines and bumps and feels really stable on landings. Can do it all except get to the top first, but if that bothers you then you should be looking at something else! I'll probably upgrade to a 66 fork one day and try and get some fatter rims/tyres on there. But rides sweet as it is, so there is no rush. Recommended for anyone who likes to do DH and freeride, but has to pedal to the top.
