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Submitted by
Bob McBob
a Racer
from Woods
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | rock wood park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | darlings | | Strengths: | fast, smooth suspension, controllable | | Weaknesses: | the chain sucks..i broke it and my friend broke the same one | | Similar Products Used: | oryx t line 250 | | Bike Setup: | i dont know | | Bottom Line: | thwe bottom line is that u have to buy a new chain.. but it gets u where u want to go...ive won a few races with it except for the one i broke my chain...:) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad Schaafsma
a Cross Country Rider
from Chatham, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Black Bridge | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Smith's Cycle & More | | Strengths: | Frame is super strong
Components are name brand and not as cheap as they could be
colour is sweet (my mom who knows nothing about bikes said "I don't know anything about it but i like the colour"
| | Weaknesses: | the semi-slick tires are ok for road burns and dry trails but once it gets wet look out.
| | Similar Products Used: | 99-00 Specialized hardrock comp fs (my friends bike)
| | Bike Setup: | stock except for Easton monkey lite CT2 riser bar, Easton ct2 seat post, Easton ea 50 stem, and wellgo clipless pedals. (coming soon Italia magnesium railed seat and maybe a mavic cross ride wheelset, definetly a new set of tires. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks it's a Norco (go Canada) its cheap and you can't get a better bike for the money unless you buy used. If you want a new bike but cash flow is low go out and get a Charger. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Meeks
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | crandell to townsite via singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Ascent cycle in Lethbridge | | Strengths: | Everything, good frame, components, forks. For the price this is the best bike going. | | Weaknesses: | Stock seat. I hated it. Swapped it out and it is that much better. Found the brakes to be adequate but not as responsive as I'd like. They also made lots of noise while riding. However, this is a very minor thing. | | Similar Products Used: | Bianchi osprey | | Bike Setup: | Stock with the exception of one tire and I upgraded seats, and put on a XT rear and LX front derailluers, and a cateye. | | Bottom Line: | Very dependable, responsive, quick bike. I don't think you will find a better bike for the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$520.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Solutions | | Strengths: | -great value ($800 Canadian at the end of season)
-fairly light
-great component group (LX/Deore)
-name brand stuff
-beautiful shock (Marzocchi EXR air)
-Canadian bike | | Weaknesses: | -stock semi-slick tires | | Similar Products Used: | Infinity Quantum | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for the tires, swapped them with some Bells | | Bottom Line: | I agonized over buying this bike. So I checked every bike around this price range and the Charger beat bikes worth a couple hundred bucks more. Invest that money in a bigger trophy case. I was put through a race the day after it was bought and everything worked perfectly.
I was worried about buying a cross-country specialist because i like to do jumps and some urban invasion. I was extremly pleased to find all i had to do was drop the seat and it handled like a dream when things got grarly. However, the geometry is for cross-country so bunny hops and manuals are a little tricky to pull off.
Norco put together a great ride in the Charger, and it looks like it will be racing for years to come. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Bracegirdle
a Weekend Warrior
from Aberdeen
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere on the Pentlands | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$930.00 | | Purchased At: | Alpine Bikes (Aberdeen) | | Strengths: | Value for money.
Good shocks (The adjusters are under screw off caps, you inflate them with a pump to desired pressure).
Light enough for me.
The rims, cranks and cassette are all good brands.
No problems with most things so far. | | Weaknesses: | Maybe it's just me but I've been through three chains now, the last one's been fine for over a month now though. The shop replaced both free of charge.
Tyres have crap tread and snakebite horrably.
The bolts for the bottle cage are loose even when fully tightened. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialised rockhopper range - More expencive.
Trek 4900 - Shocks not as good. | | Bike Setup: | Added new tyres - Do this if you buy the bike. I got them after but try and get the shop to fit them before you buy like the guy in Edinburgh.(mythos IRC on the front and a specialised armadillo on the back)
Aztec cartridge breaks - Soon got through the stock deore ones.
toe clips. | | Bottom Line: | Best bike I've ever had. Not that that's saying much. So, it's got allround good components at a good price. The reason given for this was that they are established in canada but only just breaking into the UK market. The shocks are the best you'll get among anything in the price range too. Get rid of the tyres, but that's about it. I went for this over the other bikes because as far as I could tell, this was the best I could do without going mail order or internet. Alpine Bikes have helpful, knowledgable staff too. Oh, and I liked the colour. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jordan
a Cross Country Rider
from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Wapiti River Valley | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Western Cycle | | Strengths: | - Great looks
- Solid components
- Excellent value
- Powerful and responsive frame | | Weaknesses: | - Stock tires are extremely weak | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Caldera, Kona Cinder Cone, Rocky Mountain Hammer Race | | Bike Setup: | Stock Canadian setup. Replaced tires with Michelin Wildgrippers and replaced Norco grips with Race Face Good and Evil grips. | | Bottom Line: | What a sweet bike! This bike is really responsive in turns and accelerates like nobody's business. Shifting from middle chainring to upper chainring is a bit sketchy but for the ammount of times I use the upper chainring this is no big deal and could probably be fixed with a tune up. The fork is great, I have to keep it very low pressure ~30 psi since I'm a flyweight at 130 lbs but it performs like a dream. The frame is sturdy and could handle 3 foot drops easily. The only thumbs down is on the stock tires. I replaced them with Wildgrippers and noticed a HUGE difference in handling and climbing traction. Do buy this bike if:
- You ride XC
- You want a solid bike that will last you a good 3-5 years until your riding progresses
- You want to get the best components for your buck
- You want a 5 year warranty on the aluminum frame | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
octoberson
a Weekend Warrior
from Edinburgh, Scotland
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Glen Tress Black | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Alpine Bikes, Edinburgh | | Strengths: | Light enough, good specs on the components (lots of bang for the bucks). A frisky and a good looking bike. | | Weaknesses: | Not sure yet as so far nothing has gone wrong. I did change the tyres for Panracers before I left the shop and I'm a bit dubious about the lack of a pressure altering valve on the Marzocchi shocks. | | Similar Products Used: | A few Giant bikes, a Sasquatch from Norco's North Shore range. | | Bike Setup: | As on the Norco site, apart from the tyre change noted above, for 2002 Charger. Marzocchi shocks come as standard in the UK. | | Bottom Line: | Like the label says I go out just once or twice a week and the trails I ride at Glen Tress (in the Scottish Borders) are a mix of hard climbing (in my estimation) and fast, fun downhill single track with opportunities for taking the air if you like. So basically nothing too OTT. The Charger is more than enough bike for me and the tracks I ride right now. It was very competitively priced when compared to Giant, Specialised, Marin etc competitors with much better shocks and other components. I also liked Alpine Bikes attitude - they seemed like good people who knew what they were about. If I could have afforded it I might have gone for a Klien Adept but I'm happy with my purchase. If you are looking for a light, strong well speced hardtail for regular but not too demanding trails this is a good option. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil Flowers
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne Victoria Australia
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | baldey ball braker | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Links Cycles | | Strengths: | It is a great value for money bike. I got the shop to put on Hayes discs brakes and coming from old canterlever brakes these have some serious stopping power. How these bikes performs is equal to my old 10 to 12 year old trimble but with a great stiff ride. | | Weaknesses: | I am not sure of the long term quality of the axiom products on the bike and the orginal tyres should not even be ridden out of the shop. | | Similar Products Used: | My first mtb was a GT Tequester Cromo frame. Then a Trimble with Manitou 2 and original XTR group set. | | Bike Setup: | Judy C forks are the standard in OZ, deoure group set LX rear derailer and hayes disc brakes. | | Bottom Line: | For the AU$1300 I paid a great value for money bike. The frame is very responsive and a confident feel. How it performs in the long run only time will tell. Stay tuned | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ryan baldwin
a Weekend Warrior
from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | I can barely remember my wife's name, much less a trails'... | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$869.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Doctor | | Strengths: | good value, smooth feel, makes me feel special. | | Weaknesses: | poor shifting from middle to high gear on the front shifter... but it could be due to the bike still breaking in and I've yet to tune it.... | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale F500 | | Bike Setup: | Look at Michael Janzen | | Bottom Line: | great value. I wasn't biking for a long, looooong time till I hit the Akameina Trail out to Wall Lake in Waterton, AB... now I can't get enough. This bike just feels great, and, as previously stated, is a great bang for the buck. Wanna nice bike that's not gonna blow your wallet, pick up a charger... I still had enough left over for all my toys. This bike has left me 1 happy little camper. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Janzen
a Cross Country Rider
from Saskatoon, Sask, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Ravine Trail, Shekina | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$553.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Doctor | | Strengths: | Excellent Bang for the Buck; well outfitted drivetrain; excellent fork package; cool looks. | | Weaknesses: | A little on the heavy side; cheap tires. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Cinder Cone | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi EXR fork; Deore drivetrain; Axiom post, headset, stem and bars | | Bottom Line: | Excellent package for the price; competes well against higher priced bikes, especially if sold in Canada; Replace tires and your ready for whatever the trail can throw at you; Great XC bike and you still have enough money for a new bike rack. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Trevor
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Kuringai Cyscles | | Strengths: | Price, componentry, paint job (electric blue/black) | | Weaknesses: | Fork needs time to wear in, shift from middle to outer chainring not smooth, saddle is VERY hard. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona NuNu | | Bike Setup: | Australian specs: Judy C, Deore/Deore LX, Shimano Cranks | | Bottom Line: | Exellent bike for the price which holds up well against other bottom of the range 27-speed bikes. With a few upgrades over time it will be great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Maple Ridge, BC, Can
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Maple Ridge Cycle | | Strengths: | Cool looking, Decent stock parts, awsome frame, light, sturdy. | | Weaknesses: | Didn't like the tires, replaced them with IRC Mythos. Deor parts. There OK, but a little heavy for cross country. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Caldera. | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi EXR(2001 Z5)Truvativ crank. Deor brakes, shifters and hubs. Mavic rims, and IRC Mythos XC red wall tires. | | Bottom Line: | Wicked bike for the price. Light enough so that it rides like a bullet, and sturdy enough to take some punishment. If your looking for a solid all round bike that won't empty your pockets, this is the bike to get. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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