No new name, but new technology: Norco Bicycles has redesigned and now presented two of its models: The trail bike called Optic and the all-mountain bike Sight. Around 5 years have now passed since the first generation of the Optic, so a comprehensive makeover is just in time. The Sight - on the market since 2012 - also comes in a new, revised version, for which no trail, no shore should be a problem. Let's see what the two newcomers from Port Coquitlam, Vancouver have to offer.
Norco Optic: new trail bike edition with playful precision
Despite the short suspension travel of "only" 140 mm/125 mm, the Norco Optic is a trail bike that is made for flowing single trails or crisp climbs. Despite the name, the trail bike can of course do more than just look good: The new Virtual Pivot Suspension/High Pivot (VPSHP) suspension layout with an additional sprocket on the chainstay ("idler" as it is called) allows for greater rear axle travel and reduced pedal kickback. According to Norco, the suspension performance on technical terrain has also been improved and the chassis has been tuned for efficiency and good responsiveness. The playful characteristics of the Norco Optic should therefore also be retained in the new generation. The new variable seatpost with up to 240 mm travel creates space under the bum.
Norco Sight All Mountain Bike: Action and control
Always have everything in view and stay in control everywhere - whether you're riding down a muddy track or on an enduro stage and spending a whole day in the vastness of the hinterland. That's the aim of the Norco Sight. But what's new? With increased rearward axle travel, a rocker link and the VPSHP suspension layout, this new design should give the Sight a new level of confidence and performance, whether uphill or downhill. In addition, the 160 mm/150 mm travel makes the Norco Sight a manoeuvrable off-road package. And the Long Travel dropper post with up to 240 mm travel.
Norco Optic & Sight: Frame and geometry
The Norco Optic is available in carbon and aluminium versions. The different carbon and aluminium versions have different equipment lines. Both bikes are available in 5 frame sizes for mountain bikers up to 1.96 metres tall.
The angle of the rear triangle and the seat tube vary depending on the frame size in order to achieve an even distribution of the rider's weight. Short seat tubes are designed to ensure that the saddle can be lowered on technical descents and does not get in the way.
In terms of wheel size, you can choose between 29-inch and mullet (27.5 at the rear and 29-inch at the front) for some models, while the top models have 29-inch wheels at the front and rear. You can also choose to buy just the Norco Optic and Sight frameset.
Technical data, prices and availability
Norco Optic C1 - The top model
- Frame material: Carbon
- Frame: Optic Carbon, VPSHP, 125mm travel, UDH compatible
- Fork: Fox Factory 34 Float Grip 2
- Front/rear suspension travel: 140 mm/125 mm
- Seat post: One Up, 34.9 mm
- Brakes: Sram Level Stealth Silver, 4-piston, sintered brake pads
- Circuit: Sram X0 AXS Eagle T-Type
- Chain: Sram XO Eagle T-Type
- Cassette: Sram Eagle T-Type 1295, 10-52T
- Spokes: Sapim Race Butted Stainless
- Rims: We Are One Union Carbon
- Front tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5", 3C, MaxxTerra / EXO / TR
- Rear tyre: Maxxis Dissector 2.4" WT, 3C, MaxxTerra / EXO / TR
- Category: Trail bike
- Wheel size: 29 inch
- Weight: 14.7 kg
- Price: 11,499 US $ (euro prices not yet available; converted approx. 10,600 euros)
In addition to the top model C1, there are two other models of the Norco Optic, the C2 with 29" wheels and the C2 MX, i.e. 29"/27.5" mullet for US$ 6,999, as well as the frame kit in aluminium (US$ 2,099) and carbon (US$ 3,849). The carbon and aluminium frame kit comes with the Rockshox Vivid Select+ Air shock.
Norco Sight C1 - The top model
- Frame material: Carbon
- Frame: Sight Carbon, VPSHP, 125mm travel, UDH compatible
- Fork: Fox Factory Float 36, HSC / LSC / LSR, GRIP2, 160mm
- Front/rear suspension travel: 160 mm/150 mm
- Seat post: One Up, 34.9 mm
- Brakes: Sram Code Silver Stealth, 4-piston, sintered brake pads
- Circuit: Sram GX Eagle AXS T-Type
- Chain: Sram XO Eagle T-Type
- Cassette: Sram Eagle T-Type 1275 10-52
- Spokes: Sapim Race Butted Stainless
- Rims: Stan's Flow S2, Black 32H, 29"/29"
- Front tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5", 3C, MaxxTerra / EXO+ / T
- Rear tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.4" WT, 3C, MaxxTerra / EXO+ / TR
- Category: All Mountain
- Wheel size: 29 inch
- Weight: 15.1 kg
- Price: 12,999 US $ (euro prices not yet available; converted approx. 11,990 euros)
In addition to the top model C1, the Norco Sight is also available in the C2 MX (5,999 US $) and the C3 MX (4,999 US $), each as a mullet version with 29" wheels at the front and 27" at the rear. The A1 MX aluminium version costs US $ 5,699, while the A2 MX version is available from US $ 3,999. The frameset also comes with the Rockshox Vivid Select+ air shock in both carbon and aluminium versions. The carbon frameset costs US $ 3,999, the aluminium version US $ 2,399.
Maik Schröder
Editor
