Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2005
Strengths: solid frame...will not die
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
Actually, my older but cheaper(and richer) brother now rides this bike. I've owned several much higher end bikes since this one, but few have served me as well as my old Tango. I had the pleasure of riding my old bike a short time ago. It still impressed me with its excellent geometry and ride quality. I now wish I had kept it. It will likely be still going long after my other high end bikes are scrap metal(carbon)...I made the mistake of replacing it with a Cannondale Raven and then Jekyll. I'm now back to a hard tail Rocky Vertex, and very happy...suspiciously very much like my old Tango. I guess Canadians build better bikes eh:)
Bike Setup: Judys, LX vee brakes and levers, Crowbar bars, Rhyno lite wheelset, XT ders
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Nicolas
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2004
Strengths: a very strong frame, have tested it thoroughly. nice amount of weight, with the right susspension it will stick. Good grip shift shifters.
Weaknesses: components and bits that came with the bike were weak. I snapped the handlebars off a jump, snapped the pedals off a jump, snapped crank. cheap gears. cheap brakes.
Bottom Line:
A good solid bike when customised with new shocks and breaks. I can ride over absolutely anything if I keep my balance right. and i'm not a large guy.
I have crashed off road and on road HARD hundreds of times and the bike keeps comming back for more. I have been mistreating it since the day I got it, for about 7 years. It is a solid stable agile bike. would be good for dual slalom possibly, for cross country I suggest adjusting the rear shock quickly before a hill climb; for downhill.. dont fall over the front, it will smack you and it's heavy.
Bike Setup: I put a trippleClamp Rock Shocks Judy XLC, and audi grips, and new v-brakes. the biggest downhill tires that would fit in the frame.
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Value Rating:
Submitted by
Kyle
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary,AB Canada
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2002
Strengths: XT/LX Components, fantastic bomb-proof frame, Great on Single Track and long fast descents. Damn light for a steel bike. Worth a look if you can find a used one.
Weaknesses: A little whippy for heavier riders. A little light on the front-end on steep climbs (geometry altered slightly with fork). Sun CR-18 torqued after a couple of weeks.
Bottom Line:
Bought the bike new in '97. What can I say, it's been the best investment I've made in a long time. I've put thousands of km's on the bike and it has gone through many incarnations. Latest setup has the bike feeling more like a free-ride rig than a xc bomber but is still very capable on single-track and in the mountains. Addition of the front fork was a must to do any serious xc riding. The original cantilevers were a little weak and the Rims were too light for what I like to ride, however I am 220+ lbs, so things always need to be adjusted. Bottom Line Norco=Solid Company Tango=One helluva bike. Too bad they disco'd the line. I would've like to have seen a high-end hardtail instead of the Rigid for '96 and F/S for '97
Submitted by
Mark Verbeek
a Cross Country Rider
from Bracebridge ON Canada
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2000
Strengths: Like all of the other reviews say : VALUE, VALUE, VALUE This is an excellent bike, and would be a great deal at $200 more than the $800 CDN I paid for it 4 years ago!
Weaknesses: The Norco name. If it matters to you, the name Norco carries no status. If you want all of the local bike geeks to be impressed, buy a GT, Gary Fisher or a Kona. If you want a great ride, buy a Norco - a Norco Tango!
Bottom Line:
With a few upgrades this bike will kick some major GT, Gary Fisher, and Kona ASS!
I've had a Tango for three years and it's a great riding bike. When I first got it nothing else for the price could match it's parts and performance. I've upgraded it with Rockshox, nicer wheels, shorty stem, and riser bars to handle the root infested trails around the area and it's held up great. It's handling is predictable in singletrack and bombing drops, but does lose some finesse if you put a fork with more than two inches of travel on it, due it's older design and geometry. Canadians do know how to build good bikes for the northwest.
I just got a leftover '97 Tango. This is my 4th full suspension bike. The Tango is great in the Bang for the buck department. With upgraded pedals, riser bars, and V-brakes, my Tango cost $700 Cdn ($475US) The back suspension works well-maybe a little overdamped, but okay. The forks (Quadra) stink. I did a homemade long travel mod (email danparis99@hotmail.com for info) to them. Now, with 2.5 travel up front, it's way better than stock. Still, I'd like to upgrade to better forks when I can afford it. It handles pretty good-I do lots of BMX type stuff, and love the quick turning. It doesn't climb so great though-too short a wheelbase and/or swingarm I think. Very little biopacing, decent components-overall an incredible value! Highly recommended!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim Harris
a weekend warrior
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 11, 1998
Bottom Line:
I've been riding more and more in recent years and I'd outgrown my Norco Mountaineer SL, which was very department store-like and extremely heavy. I was searching around for a reasonably-priced bike that could take whatever I dished out. That bike was a '96 Norco Tango. For a mere $600 (Canadian) I got a bike with components (XT rear derailleur, GripShift 600, etc.) often found only on much more expensive bikes. I'd originally wanted a better-known brand, like Rocky Mountain or Gary Fisher, but in the end I stuck with Norco because it was better for my riding and my wallet. I highly recommend the Tango. It's a shame Norco discontinued it.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe Murphy
a cross-country rider
from Niagara Falls Canada
Date Reviewed: June 14, 1998
Bottom Line:
WoW!!! I like this new FS design. You see, I have the old school Norco Tango ,the hardtail design. I must say, I love Norco. I bought my baby back in 96, and she has performed flawlessly for the last 2 years. I was a great deal, for $700, cause it had all xt and lx stuff. I popped on a Q21r fork last year and that really set this baby in motion. However, I just sold it last week. June 10, or whatever. My new bike is an absolutely gorgeous Voodoo Bantu. Anyone who is going to considder getting a new bike, take a look at Voodoo's. They are very reasonable.I'm not dissing Norco, because I think they make great bikes. Anyways, if you get the Tango, enjoy it, because it's one hell of a bike!!!
I found that you got a lot of bike for you buck.I have up graded to full lx and I want to get marzohy bomber z-2. I have also but on lx V-brakes.I have to say that this is one of the best bi9kes that I have every riden. I love this bike.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy Reimer
a racer
from Wasilla, Alaska
Date Reviewed: January 21, 1998
Bottom Line:
This is an awesome bike. I got my Tango in mid April of last year. Whaen I got it I immediately upgraded to a Marzocchi Bommer Z3 fork, a XT rear derailer, Sun Rims, grip shift 600 and much more. So far I have been very happy with the way it rides.
i love this bike. it is a very well built bike outa canada.it is not too expensive, and i would say that it rides better than my lts1 it was very hard for me to find this bike in america, however i found a dealer in WA, and now i am very happy.the lts1 is was sold s that i could buy this new pretty ass bike.
Heh, how come all these reviewees are from Canada? How about some donuts and Molsen, heh? Take off you hosers!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob Wong
a cross-country rider
from CANADA
Date Reviewed: June 23, 1997
Bottom Line:
Canada hit home with the best bike in the world. Canada is number one, yet again.This is the most bike for your money!!! I LOVE IT> I LOVE CANADA
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Metzger
a racer
from Victoria, B.C.
Date Reviewed: March 8, 1997
Bottom Line:
I wanted a Norco Tango for about a year but quickley found out that the best choice for me was a Norco Java. The stiff frame and XT/LX grouppo made the Java a very well made cross-country weapon. I know the bike doesn't make the rider but I soon learned that it has a certain amount of truth in that saying. With the amount of races I did and the amount of times I came top five(not to meantion I came 2nd in the B.C. cup finals the first time I ever rode the Java) I would say the Java was a good choice for me but for the older people in cycling (the Tango has a more forgiving frame than my Java) and the weekend warriors the Tango would be a good selection for the simple reason that the balance between price and quality is almost unmatched by any other Norco. And with that I give the Tango a very respectable 4 stars for an entry level racer and excellent weekend warrior but I would have to say the Norco Java wins hands down (5 stars) for the best bike for a teenage racer like me.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kyle Mason
a cross-country rider
from Terrace, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: February 13, 1997
Bottom Line:
I love my Tango! It's an awesome bike! I had a Kona Fire Mountain at the start of last year, but it got stolen so I bought a Norco Tango. The Tango is way better! I paid the same price, but got a much better bike. My Tango was a super bike when I first bought it, but now, with Rock Shox Indy XC's, Dia-comp Aheadset, Control Tech stem, Tek-tro brakes, and Shimano 535 clipless pedals, IT RULES! I spent $800, Canadian, on it (after trading the Tioga Pyscho tires for some kevlar Panaracer magic's, and paying a little extra). It came with an XT/LX drivetrain, Bontrager Winnenman rims, DT swiss spokes, Grip Shift 600's, Sugino Impel 300 crank, Tange cro-mo frame, 6061 aluminum handlebar, and a Vetta TT tri shock saddle. Not only is the Norco Tango an excellent deal, its also a top-riding bike.
