Description:Marzocchi 55 R fork, with 160mm travel, rebound adjust, and air PL - Fox Van R Rear shock with factory tuned ProPedal and rebound adjust - KT hubs with Alex TD-24 rims and white powder coated spokes - FSA Alpha Drive cranks with bash guard and external bearings - Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic disc brakes with 7 and 8” rotors.
Submitted by
dc
a Weekend Warrior
from BC, Canada Date Reviewed: July 20, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Northern Hardware
Strengths:
Very strong and very smooth. Typical Norco value with decent parts for the money.
Weaknesses:
Hayes Sole brakes. Very weak and inconsistent performance during rides. Often felt like the brake pads were worn out when they had plenty material left.
Similar Products Used:
Norco Fluid 2 (2003), Norco Fluid 1 (2007).
Bike Setup:
Avid Juicy 7's (much better), DMR Headstock stem and V12 pedals, and ODI Ruffians.
Bottom Line:
This review is for the 2007 Six Three. Mine had a different parts spec than listed above with a Marz AM3 Fork and the barely passable Hayes Sole brakes. I highly recommend this bike for anyone who needs an all around bike but focuses on aggressive all mountain or light freeride. It can be driven uphill but in a slower manner than my Fluid 1, for instance. It's hefty at 35lbs, but it works well going down hill, over jumps and on flowy trails. The AM 3 fork is simplistic but seems to work well. As I mentioned above, I changed to the Avid Juicy 7's with an 8" rotor up front and a 7" in the back and I'm very happy with the change thus far. Overall, the bike is very forgiving to mistakes and bad lines and is well worth the money. I have owned several Norco's and will continue to.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Coquitlam Date Reviewed: April 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
anything on burnaby mountain or whistler
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1399.00
Purchased At:
cap's bikes langley
Strengths:
It's a very light bike maybe too light for downhill. Nice suspension. Good linkage system. I love the looks of the bike. It's one of the few bikes that has a top tube height thats low enough for shorter bikers.
Weaknesses:
I don't care for the brakes.(Hayes Sole Disc). They sometimes vibrate and the pads wear out quickly. I wore out a set during one day at Whistler.
Similar Products Used:
Norco Shore
Bike Setup:
Totally Stock: Hayes Sole, Van R, All mountain 3 forks
Bottom Line:
It'great looking bike and is very comfortable to ride. I feel more sure footed on the Norco shore than on the six maybe because of the weight diference or maybe the width of the tires, I'm not sure but for what I do(cruising down the blue runs at whistler), the six is fine. Still, the two things I will upgrade on this bike is the brakes(upgrade to avid Juicy 3 with 8" rotors) and eventually new Forks. The all mountain 3's are OK but are a little noisy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
andrew clark
a Weekend Warrior
from durham,united kingdom Date Reviewed: March 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
hamsterly forest
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
leisure lakes bikes
Strengths:
great fun super confident makes you want to go bigger faster higher super tough and great spec looks the biz.The spec for £999 is spot on you can ride all day with a bit effert up hills but blast down them.4ft is the biggest drop i've done but it was like dropping a curb the 6inch travel took it easy.
Weaknesses:
the paint chips with no effert and the black finnish on the crank arms has rubbed off.
Bike Setup:
standard
Bottom Line:
great bike for your first big hitter can't wait to try at glentress in the summer.the best bike i've rode,just need to start up grading some of the parts but its been fine as it is
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
brian
a Weekend Warrior
from canada Date Reviewed: July 4, 2007
Favorite Trail:
dont care
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
1559
Strengths:
sweet biek to jump and drop. its light adn easy to throw around the trails
Weaknesses:
the front suspenstion has to be changed to somehting more durable and easy to adjust . mien keeps bottoming out when i it a 2 foot drop. and i am only 135 pounds. oh and u shoudl consider putting thicker ube in the tires cause they pop easily. and why arent the brake lines under waranty. i popped a hole in my brake lines.
Bike Setup:
stock except for back rims and no back brakes any more.
Bottom Line:
thsi bike is nice u just need soem small upgrades on it or just dotn ride it hard.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Martin Duchesneau
a Weekend Warrior
from Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada Date Reviewed: June 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Anything with lots of air and hang time
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
Lapointe bicycle et sports
Strengths:
Very strong frame, amazing how this thing holds up anyhting thrown at it. Also, it's the same (more or less) geometry used by bigger frames from norco, gotta be good. The fork and rear shock really rock as far as All Mountain is concerned. This bike is definitely worth the money. The components are ok, keep in mind it's an entry level bike to the All mountain/Light freeride.
Weaknesses:
It is sad that the paint chips off so easily. Rocks flying from the wheels are likely to poke a hole in the paint. Pivot screws/bolts have a tendency to get loose. I have to check mine regularly to make sure the bike can be ridden safely. But hey that's really nothing much, a bike must be inspected thoroughly before each use. Besides, when I'll be TOO pissed off, I'll put locktite on them and it should be fixed
Similar Products Used:
Rocky Mountain Switch 2.0
Bike Setup:
Stock setup, would like to put a Marzo 66 or similar on it cause really that's all that's missing
Bottom Line:
I've shopped around for a year before deciding which bike would suit my needs best, and get the best bike for my money. I don't know about how other bikes feel, but this one is awesome. Probably other geometries/frame design work fine too, but if you put that aside and compare only the specs, this is THE best value for your money, at least in Canada...
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Submitted by
erik
a Downhiller
from thunder bay ontario canada Date Reviewed: April 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
the jump
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
fresh air
Strengths:
Great bike very strong frame but for DH and FR some parts need to be stronger. but all around great small Fr bike and XC
Weaknesses:
Rims,bars,stem,needs A chain guide, rims taco easy and the fork is super great when setup right
Similar Products Used:
dunno
Bike Setup:
rino light front rim
Bottom Line:
great bike u have to test ride itt then ulldie because they have put together a great bike
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jamie
a Weekend Warrior
from Belleville, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: March 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
the ones that point downhill
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
Doug's Bicycles
Strengths:
everything but the rims, they are a little weak, but I'm a pretty big guy (6', 197 lbs) and I mainly do shuttle runs and resorts. Everything else has held up great. Never bottomed on either end even with the Drop Off IV's, brakes are flawless, shifting is still good even though I have mashed the derailer a bit. Super solid frame, can pedal uphill as well as down. Scoper seat post is a great idea. The Kenda Nevegals are super sticky and grab onto just about anything, had a couple problems with the narrower Black Eye rims and pinch flats.
Weaknesses:
none that I can find
Similar Products Used:
Norco Atomik w/Jr. T's, '98 Specialized FSR Comp.
Bike Setup:
Anodized red Alex Supra D rims, Manitou Nixon Platinum, DHX 3.0 coil over shock
Bottom Line:
If you want a solid bike for a great price the Six series is the way to go. Built and spec'd strong enough to freeride but also light enough to trail ride. I have done an adventure race with it and it worked great, but there is almost no way a freerider can beat spandex in a race that goes up and down hill. End of story, best bike I've ever ridden, it fits my style of riding exactly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Troy Bacon
a Weekend Warrior
from Nanaimo Date Reviewed: August 30, 2006
Favorite Trail:
cbc
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
pacific rim cycles
Strengths:
It will take a beating! Trust me, from what I have done and where I have been, and the level I currently am at, this bike is THE bike to have.
Weaknesses:
I found the brake levers are a bit weak... and Kendra tires might be sticky, but I have been through 3 flats, and some of the punctures have been pretty weak (blackberry bushes? Come on!) Chain comes off regularly, drives me nuts!
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale (weak!) and Harro
Bike Setup:
Pretty much stock, but plans to improve brake levers and upgrade tires...maybe rear derailer.
Bottom Line:
For what I paid, and what it does for me, absolutely worth the money. Kona wanted $300.00 more for virtually a better chain, and a place to stick my water bottle. Huh?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dexter Robson
a Weekend Warrior
from Ganges,British Columbia,Canada Date Reviewed: July 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
chanel ridge
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Experience Cycling Duncan
Strengths:
the frame is great and beafy enough for freeride but you can get to the top first!!! its a great bike
Weaknesses:
the back shock is a bit small and bottoms out and i'm only 115 lbs so that might be a concern the front fork is a tad to cheap for me
Similar Products Used:
norco six 2, vps a-line
Bike Setup:
hayes sole discs, fox vanilla, marzocchi drop off 4, kenda nevegal tires
Bottom Line:
this is the best bike for the price and it weights nothing so buy it quickly or wait half a year and buy next years model so you have the newest bike for the longest possible i sort of missed out on that
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Phil
a Downhiller
from Belrose, New South Wales, Australia Date Reviewed: July 19, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Lizard Rock
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$800.00
Strengths:
Reaaly good frame. Love the componets
Weaknesses:
better forks. Stronger rims
Similar Products Used:
Norco, Shore
Bottom Line:
A pretty great all-round bike. Will handle almost any sort of trail. But over all just a great bike. The weight of the frame desirves a mention(its soooo light)
$
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
