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Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from Dublin, Ireland
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Three Rock Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | John Henry | | Strengths: | Good frame - Norco reputation - takes lots of abuse | | Weaknesses: | Stock rims are weak. Stock tires are too skinny. Stock seat-post is not telescoping | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Liquid, RM Slayer | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for new rear rim (Mavic 519), Fox Vanilla 125 RLC fork, Mavic MOFO 2.35 tires, Shimano DX clipless pedals | | Bottom Line: | Great all-mountain bike. This is a 10 month update (I used to be Andrew from Nelson - have moved to Dublin since then). The rear rim never held its shape - I was constantly tightening the spokes on EVERY ride. Norco determined that they couldn't do anything under warrenty as I had waited too long. So, bought a new Mavic F-519? rim - its BULLETPROOF - have done several 6 step (around 4 foot)to flat concrete landings and no problems. Other than the weaknesses above, this is a superb all-mountain machine. It will take all the abuse you can throw at it up to about 3-4 foot drops. It climbs well and handles steeps with ease. However, as it has some free-ride capabilities and has shown me how much fun free-riding is, I will be buying a Norco 6 and a full face helmet next season! If you never intend to drop anything over 3 feet - buy this bike! It rocks! (especially the 2004 - way better spec). Four chilis because of the poor spec choices for this years model. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Downhiller
from Vancouver, BC Canada
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1750.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Doctor | | Strengths: | Light weight, Low standover, slack headtube angle | | Weaknesses: | Rims and tires | | Bike Setup: | Changed to a short stem, lost the big ring, beefed up the rims and tires. | | Bottom Line: | I love the fluid. Some say that it is not burly enough to be a freeride bike but I disagree. I use it stricktly for downhilling. It takes the abuse of the shore and asks for more. And it's light enough to pedal up the mountain a couple times in a day. My only complaint is that it was not designed to take a double crown fork. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from Nelson, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | John Henry | | Strengths: | Great spec for the price. Nice light frame, but not too wimpy. I researched the "all-mountain" field extensively (bikes that go uphill fast enough for fun rides and downhill stable enough for fun too - not like wimpy XC bikes or too heavy DH/FR bikes) and this was the best made in Canada deal going. | | Weaknesses: | Tire's and rims. The Kenda Kinetics that come with the bike - supposedly 2.1" tires are more like 1.95" tires. XC rims are a little on the light side, but as I have a habit of bending rims once a year anyeways, I will put Mavic X3.1's on as soon as the stock rims break. | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain Slayer, Trek Liquid | | Bike Setup: | Large size frame. Maxxis MOFO 2.35" tires. Fox Vanilla 125 RLC fork. Shimano M646 SPD's. Everything else is stock. | | Bottom Line: | So far, very happy with the bike. Good price and made in Canada is always a plus. I was looking for a well priced all-mountain bike so I could ride hard and not worry about a cracked frame. No, I am not a freerider and don't plan on dropping much over 4 feet - which is what this bike is designed for. Only problem is with the fork, but I am having the springs changed out which should solve the "over-bounciness" I am experiencing at the moment. In about two months I will post another review to update my experience. Overall rating is only 4 chilis until I get the forks sorted out. So far so good with John Henry's, but need to wait and see how they handle the fork-spring issue. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jake
a Downhiller
from vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Strengths: | LOW standover, Norco reputation. | | Weaknesses: | ITS not a 2002 Norco VPS FLUID. | | Bottom Line: | I wish Norco extended the 2002 type frame another year. The '02 FLuids were freeride frames for riders with shorter inseams. They were beefy , toss them in the air, 20 foot drop off bikes. The '03 Fluids are XC bikes - pure & simple. I was told by the Norco not to even attempt putting a dual crown fork on the '03 frame for it'll void their warranty. The air shock is a dead give away as well as the lighter frame. The '03 Fluids look no different that the Norco Fireball & Norco XC Team. Now there are 5 different models that do XC riding? The 2002 FLuids were the ONLY freeride bike in their lineup that did not incorporate the monocoque framing. Launch, A-line, Shore all monocoque frames which are excellent. Fluid was the only freerider that incorporated drawn tubing throughout which was special...a little heavier but unique. Norco please revisit the 2002! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephen Melnechuk
a Downhiller
from North Vancouver
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Oilcan | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | John Henry Bikes | | Strengths: | Lightweight, great forks, solid rearend. | | Weaknesses: | OEM Tires and Wheels | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Enduro, Rocky Slayer | | Bike Setup: | Nokian Gazzaloddi tires | | Bottom Line: | I have been riding for over 15 years and it was difficult for me to see Norco as the great company it is today. As it turns out I am happy I did.
The Fluid 1.0 is not only set up with an excellent frame and fork, it has good mix of other components.
I changed the tires from the XC tires that were on the bike. I am also worried that the XC rims will be done in the next few months, but so far have held up.
The lock out is nice on the front and rear so that when I am done, I just turn and ride back up. I have done a good deal of gap jumps and drops with no problem.
If Norco had of gone with the additional weight of tougher rims and bigger tires they would have nailed it.
This bike does everything an all mountain bike should.
Also the service I have received from John Henry's has been exceptional and would recommend them to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bill macguire
a Cross Country Rider
from vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | From a well represented canadian manufacturer | | Weaknesses: | anemic. Strictly for XC use or trail riding. | | Similar Products Used: | Norco VPS FLuid 2002 | | Bottom Line: | I am disappointed with the 03 Fluids. They are targeted for all mountain purpose but It does not compete with the class that its in. Giant AC models are beefier, Specialized Enduros are lighter,and Kona stinky's are stronger. The Fluids are lighter this year because the framing used thinner guage tubing and an air shock to fit the suspension. In losing weight (almost 6 lbs from 2002) the Fluids are now XC oriented bike. The 2002 Fluids were special because they were freeride bikes that were made for shorter guys (low standover = more control when droping and hucking). The main purpose for the Fluid frames was to accomodate riders with shorter inseams. Well, it was a marvelous debut in 2002, but the 2003 models dont stand up to the freeriding abuse the 02's were designed for. I called Norco and said they dont even recommend putting a dual crown fork on the 03 because they're not strong enough to withold the lateral shears. Being a bike manufactured from Canada you'd expect a decent freerider. Well the vote is out and the 2003 just doesn't cut it as a freeride bike. For close to $2500 the enduros and Giant VTs outride the Norcos. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
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