Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Canberra Australia Date Reviewed: October 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Stomlo
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Strengths:
Great feel, nice balance, great componentry
Weaknesses:
poor choice of pedals but easily changed.
Similar Products Used:
Kona bikes
Bike Setup:
Pretty original with Shimano XT pedals
Bottom Line:
A really good value bike with a great feel when riding. This was my first duel suspension bike after riding hardtails for years. I tried the Norco just as a comparison to another bike I was thinking of buying and decided to buy it instead. It rides just like a hardtail with the added bonus of inceased travel on the downhill. Climbs great, good balanced ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeremy Van
a Downhiller
from Vernon BC, Canada Date Reviewed: July 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Rock Star
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
Sun Country Cycle
Strengths:
This bike is well equipped stock, is fast, nimble, and durable. Is a stable ride despite being light with only 4 inches of travel.
Weaknesses:
Small block tires good for hardpack but little else, headset crapped out in first month.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Mountain Vertex, Norco Nitro, Specialized FSXC
Bike Setup:
Big ring replaced with rock ring, kevlar bead Kenda Nevegal's, Flat pedals.
Bottom Line:
Good bike for the money. Climbs well depsite not having a front fork lock-out. Fast bike on descents but I will have to see how it stands up to an abusive riding style over time.
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Submitted by
Brad Chisholm
a Racer
from Edmonton Date Reviewed: May 18, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2799.00
Purchased At:
Pedalhead
Strengths:
Everything. It's light It's fast handling, it accelerates like crazy. It has a high bottom bracket so you can pedal through single-track without a lot of worry.
Weaknesses:
Norco's four bar linkage suspension system runs pretty stiff so setting up the shock took a bit of time. With a FoxRP3, I run about 20lbs of air less than my body weight. E.I. I am 155lbs, so i have 135psi in the shock.
Bike Setup:
Full 2008 XT. Rock Shox Reba. FoxRP3. Mavic 317 rims with XT hubs. Ritchey WCS cockpit.
Bottom Line:
A great race machine and an awesome cross country trail bike. The full XT grouppo makes it well worth it. It rides like a dream.
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Submitted by
Shawn
a Racer
from Hillsboro, OR Date Reviewed: August 13, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1900.00
Purchased At:
Trailhead Cycles
Strengths:
Solid component group for the price Adjustable rear travel 4.5"/3.5" Not many of them on the trails where I live compared to Trek, Specialized, Kona, Santa Cruz, etc.
Weaknesses:
Saddle is a bit too roadie like
Bottom Line:
I have been cross country racing for a little over a year and wanted to move from my trusty Raleigh hardtail to a full squishy bike. I test rode a Santa Cruz Superlight and Blur XC, Giant Anthem, Specialized FSR, and Iron Horse Azure Comp at local shops. The Norco was the best price with the deal my local shop gave me on it, especially considering the component group. Most of the parts on the bike (SRAM X.7, Avid Juicy5, Ritchey Comp Bars, Stylo 3.3 Cranks) work just as well as their higher priced counter parts, but are just a tad heavier. I really liked the wide Ritchey bar setup which helps with balance and control. Hardcore oldschool XC guys with flatbars will be turned off by this, but I'm from a moto background. The bike has two rear travel positions: 3.8" and 4.5". I have left it at 4.5" and do not see any reason to use the shorter travel setting. With the Fox RP23 the bike bobs very little even with propedal turned off (I run about 20% sag). With Propedal on setting 3 the bike feals almost like a hardtail but still takes some of the edge off. On setting 1 you can barely feel it working. The saddle is a bit thin and kind of digs into your leg when you try to grip the sides while descending. I would prefer something like a WTB Rocket V, but I'm getting used to the WTB Shadow. It comes with a Kenda 8 block tire which is a great fast rolling hardpack tire, but if you ride in the mud you should consider getting a different tire as the Kenda packs up fast. I gave a value rating of 5 because of the deal my shop gave me, but if I paid full retail I would give a value rating of 3.
$
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