Submitted by
Eduard
a Cross Country Rider
from europe
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2006
Strengths: Frame geom. and brakes are awesome! I feel very stable while going down and there is much brake power to slow me down. 2,5 Kendas are nice, cornering with high speed is like a dream. I havent fell so far. Everything is good besides things i will mention.
Weaknesses: Well, front der. isnt very good idea to keep. Chain is falling off, all the time. Also im not satisfied with drop off 2, it acts weird. Its just not moving as I want to. I want it to move smooth like Marz marathon SL ;)
Bottom Line:
good bike for this money. frame is heavy, but hey, i wil get stronger riding with it. I will look forward to buy next year Norco Torrent or some better fork.
Strengths: Strong, beefy rear triangle. Great headtube angle and overal geometetry
Weaknesses: The chain would often slap off drops and get caught between the frame and the tire, wearing down the frame. The fact that it can only run a 24" rear wheel is kind of a draw-back.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for only $1700 CAN. Seat bent like a wet willow, but other than that the bike is great. I upgrade the fork from the Marz. Jr. T2 because i needed abit more travl for the drops and stunts I am doing, but if your just a beginer or hitting drops from 0 - 20 feet you'll have no problems with them. If you like to ride to your hills I wouldn't suggest the rampage due to it's fairly heavy weight and 24 ich rear wheel. Im pretty sure if you read the manual you get with the bike it says "Bomb Proof" somewhere in it : )
Bike Setup: 04 Marzocchi Jr. T's(didn't come with bike), Alex Dx32's, Hayes HFX9's, Replaced the Truvativ Hussefelt with a RaceFace North Shore crank and BB.
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Submitted by
Jorge Soto
a Weekend Warrior
from Caracas
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2004
Strengths: WOW. THE PERFECT hard tail. Perfect geometry, perfect balance, totally predictable, stable, climbs perfect, perfect upward seat position, stable front end, perfect energy transmition....
Weaknesses: A little on the heavy side. Bare frame weights 5.3lbs. 2.4 tires wont fit... :( limited to 2.3
Bottom Line:
Is the closest to perfection you will ever find. The geometry is just perfect. Longish, the seat angle is very steep, so when used with tall fork, the saddle still can be is a good position for climbing. Very good ground clearance, bottom bracket is at 13.5 in with a Marzocchi Z1. Great ground clearance.
Perfect welding and finishes, the rear end is very stiff, CLIMBS like nothing I ever tested. You save energy, because every bit of energy on the pedals is transmitted to the ground. Drops like are just natural on this bike. Head angle is somewhat relaxed, so the bike is VERY stable in every situation. Tubes are very thick, they sound like a hammer.
This frame is a classic, a GREAT hard tail. Norco: GREAT JOB!, I would recommend this bike to anyone.
Similar Products Used: Spacialized P2, Specialized Hard Rock.
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Z1, Avid disk brakes mechanical 8in, XT Cranks, WTB DH Rims, Thompson steam and seat post, WTB Saddle, XTR shifters, levers and derailleur.
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Submitted by
Zoltan Cucu
a Downhiller
from North Van Canada
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2004
Strengths: Extra stiff rear triangle. Love the 2.6 tires on it. Hussefelt bar and stem are great. Good set of cranks and bb. Love the seat and the colour
Weaknesses: The bike is slow and heavy. The chain comes off quiet often. The pedals are worthless. I slip off everyride, they hAve no grip at all. The front brake doesn't seem to have much power. After I changed the oil in the fork it became much easier to ride
Bottom Line:
The bike looks good and its great. I did an 8 foot drop to flat and the rims are spotless. The bike goes great downhill, but it takes work getting to the top. If u want to buy it, change the pedals or you will have a broken seat. the bottom line is that its a great bike for that price. I got it for 1800 canadian and its the best bike i had so far. No other complaints except for the pedals, weak front break and its a bit heavy. but u need that to be strong, good job norco.
always brakes hayes hfx9 leak, the seat that it came with it bent 3 weeks after i got it, fork clamps bent with out even crashing in to any thing, back rim got a flat spot after 2 months of riding, gear casset snaped in half when pedaling up hill so i got it fixxed under warnty
Bike Setup: norco bmx seat,2002 z1 drop off,2002 hayes mag, double wide rim in the back,
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Submitted by
George George
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2003
Strengths: I have a 2004 Rampage and this thign is sick, totally awesome bike. Strengths is everything.
Weaknesses: The stem is a little short. But thats personal preference
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome with the extra welds on the rear triangle this bike even stiffer in the back. And with the new DJ2 with QR20 the fork is really stiff. Overall this is an awesome bike. I dont know how much the bike is in American dollars but so i just put 1500 i paid 1800 canadian. 4 chilis on value because hey no one wouldnt mind payin a little less. But Norco does put the best components on the bike for what your paying. You think Kona or specialized can match the components on there bikes for the same price as Norcos. If you want to go big on a stock hardtail get this bike 2004 Norco Rampage.
Strengths: Super Steady. Won't ever flex. Haven't ahd to replace any of the stock parts yet. Super nice Kenda Stik-e rubber. feels like a DH bike, confidence booster.
Weaknesses: Lose chain quite often. chain bashes up chain stay.
Bottom Line:
This bike has allowed me to do thing i never would have even thought of. The 24" rear wheel really shines on the steeps and chutes. It makes you feel like there is 5" of travel beneath you sometimes. Super steady. easy to lift once you get method. I had to almost relearn how to bunnyhop on it, but now I have that pretty much dialed. If you can find this bike, BUY IT!!! Also a super price for the parts
This bike kicks ass, I have rode it hard every day and had no problems. But I have gotten rid of my front derailleur and small gear for a truvativ chain guild because I did not need the small gear, and I got some grips form ODI with bar clamps because the norco grips wore out.
Bike Setup: stock except nokian gazza 3.0 inch in the rear
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Submitted by
rob
a Downhiller
from forked river, nj, usa
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2003
Strengths: Frame, Forks, Wheels
Weaknesses: Seat, Front Derailer
Bottom Line:
This bike is amazing for the price! The frame is solid, the Jr.T fork is great, the 24/26 Alex wheels will definetly take a beating, and the Hayes brakes work like they should. The 24/26 setup with the frame geometry feels just right and has definetly taken everything that I have thrown at it so far... from trails, jumping, street riding, to DH. My only complaint is that because of the narrow rear tire clearance the chain tends to get sucked between the frame and tire often, the cheap seat that comes with it, and the front derailer... but throw a chainguide on it and your good to go. Oh yeah... you will get a LOT of people checking out and wanting to ride your bike.
Purchased At: Genesis Bike Shop (www.genesisbicycles.com): Porterville, CA
Similar Products Used: SPECIALIZED FSR, NORCO SASQUATCH & NORCO A-LINE
Bike Setup: STOCK EXCEPT FOR AZONIC DW RISER BAR AND SHORTY STEM
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Submitted by
garett
a Downhiller
from P.G BC Canada
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2003
Strengths: Strong and stiff frame... excellent frame geometry,durable DH components..... Alex rims will take a hard beating, insane breaking capability.
Weaknesses: ive had my bike for around a month and ive been having some problems with the drive train...... weak selection of front derailer to come on bike.....on rear derailer in high gear the chain has tendancy to fall off jamming into the rims. if you plan on using this bike for any sort of trail riding you should be prepared to ride hard. quit on the heavy side
Bottom Line:
Ive done some searching and for the dollar i think it will be hard to find a bike that will match the over-all capabilities of this bike, i switched the Jr t because i am into alot of urban asult and dirt jumping so the qr20 is more suitable for my preferences. This bike has not let me down so far and can take pretty much the same abuse as a full out DH bike. its built for the North Shore,so its basicaly built for whatever you can throw at it. this bike can adapt to more than one riding style but if theres not much down hill involved it may be a struggle
Bike Setup: swapped triple clamp marzocchi jrT for single crown z1Qr20, chain tensioner will be next addition
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Submitted by
J Stew
a Downhiller
from Renton, WA USA
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2003
Strengths: Norco Shore-style frame is tough, no flex...what-so-ever. Jr. T 2's are a pretty great triple clamp for a hard tail--if you still wanna keep the wait reasonable for some jumpin. Components are decent, and the Hayes HFX-9 DH brakes are a great advancement compared to a 6-inch rotor or V-brakes. Alex-double wide DH rims with Kenda 2.6 Stick-E tires are tough and tacky--increbile gripping power on the skinnies. From the ground up--this bike seems to take a hit with precision if you're enough of an artist to know how to take the drops on a hardtail. :) 24/26 rim setup and the frame geometry make this bike a freekin beast on slight/major up hills, but a rocket on the downhills. It makes a great difference in your ability to head straight down stuff. It gives you a natural weight placement that puts you in control. Riding a 26/26 rimmed bike is a little scary, once you have tried this. (You feel like you might as well be sitting on the front handle bar.)You're definately large and in-charge when you're riding a rampage. Think of the added weight as strength training. (so i think that might be a strength.)
Weaknesses: Bent seat-post in a short 6 days, Alex 24" rims have a strange spoke configuration and came very loose in a day or two. Formula hub has creeked off and on. Engineering oversight allows chain to rub tire when in lower granny gears. The effect is that 2nd gear is easier than 1st. This will be fixed with replacement 2.5 tires rather than the stock 2.6. Setlaz Seat bent on my first accidental seated jump. Ruined it. Hayes HFX 9's are becoming a little unpredictable after only 7 days. Right lever is losing tension, which makes me wonder what's up. The chain catches on the rear derailleur, sometimes. Hopefully this is all just part of the break-in period and will be fully worked out as I have this bike re-tuned. I've done some work myself--and the brakes are nearly back to their normal selves.
Bottom Line:
An incredible deal for the unit that you get. The p3 was available also for a compable price--but the geometry of the Rampage is more designed for a mix of free-riding, and I guess that I haven't fully decided on one style--I still like to run a good mix of the jumps, the skinnies, the drops, and even the cross country when I feel like pushing this baby around. For this price, your choices are bottom of the line free-ride dually, or a mid-top of the line free-ride hard tail. This is definately priced to make you struggle with that choice.
I have now done a 7 foot drop on her--and for the first time in years, there was no flex, just a landing and a perfect response in the front suspension/steering ability. Again, it'll take a little more art in your riding--but she can definately take whatever your ballsy enough to throw at her. I say all of this stuff as a first time Norco owner--fully skeptical. Slowly, this bike is winning me over, though. You might give it a try.
I write this as I also know that Norco is completely out of these bikes in their factory/warehouses. All shops are out of Large and Medium size frames. Norco only does one manufacturing run and will not stock anymore of these bikes until next year. If you can get one--do so at any cost--I had to get up at 5 and make the drive to Canada to get that last one.
If you want a droppable, skinny-rideable bike--it's the one. If you want to be able to ride cross-country and to muscle up hill while knowing that the downhill is your bag of chips--it's the one. If you ride mostly trails with the occasional jump--it might be a little heavy to put up with for the occassional hit. Dowhillers looking for a challenge--take this up with you.
