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2011 Norco Product Launch!

Posted: Jul 15 2010 in Events

There is already a lot of great coverage cruising around from Norco's 2011 product launch (NSMB, Pinkbike, MTBR, etc), so rather then try and reinvent the wheel we figured on sharing the bikes and features that really spoke to us.

The DB crew was fortunate enough to get a close up view of the new bikes and to meet a lot of new friends, locally and from the mother ship, out on the trail.

We will also be following up with a more detailed, multi-ride, review of the new Norco Range, series of bikes in the next few weeks.

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Speaking personally for the moment (as everyone had a personal favourit and I am the one writing this), Norco's bike of the year for 2011 is definitely the new Storm. Yeah, yeah, it isn't a game changer like the Shinobi (29'er All Mountain bike) or the, super-capable, Range series but it is a $760 trail ready hardtail with a lightweight aluminum frame, hydraulic disc brakes, Shimano's Alivio drivetrain and an oil damped Rockshox fork.

Easily the sweetest rig I have come across under 1k and definitely a tool-of-choice for the beginer rider in sizes right down to 12.5" for your tween ripper (or the vertically challenged amongst us).

2011 Norco Storm: really nice $760 entry level Mountain Bike / Photo: Drew@NV

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The bikes getting the most attention from minute-one were the new 2011 Range (replacing the Fluid LT series) and the fully redesigned Vixa.

Both bikes, based on very similar framesets, are featuring Syntace's very sleek (x-12) thru-axle system for increased stiffness, a new axle-path that improves climbing performance and keeps the suspension more active under hard braking, and slacker headangles (66.5 degree) for improved downhill performance.

I was, speaking personally again, most impressed with the new one piece alloy rocker link (which in addition to looking WAY better then previous efforts should be much stiffer) and very cleanly applied tapered headtube. The one piece postmount disc tab/gusset is also a very thought-out piece.

The clean new graphics were definitely a hit as well.

The backend of the Range: Slick disc mount, new Syntance thru-axle, quality hardware, clean graphics / Photo: Drew@NV

2011 Range: One-piece Rocker Link. YUM! / Photo: Drew@NV

Can't get enough of the new Rocker Link. Here it is in Vixa dress. Those are indeed finger holes on the bottom of the linkage for your next hike-a-bike adventure / Photo: Drew@NV

New headtube. Vixa looks WAY better in person then my crappy photos / Photo: Drew@NV

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The new Shinobi 29'er is also very cool and definitely the bike I was most excited to throw a leg over. It uses a 140mm Reba up front with 120mm of rear travel. Geometry feels dialed. Rear end is SUPER STIFF thanks to the new linkage and the Syntance X-12 rear axle system. The chainstay lenght was also very reasonable for a 2-9'er dualie.

The 29'er Reba and I have never gotten along in the past; however, their 2011 offering feels very smooth. The 10-speed shifting from Shimano was flawless and the wider 11-36t gear range out back helps get the big wheels up the steep-and-tech.

Worst. Photo. Ever. Cool bike though: The new Shinobi / Photo: Drew@NV

Shinobi being put through the paces by our friends at Bay Cycle / Photo: Drew@NV

Shinobi being put through the paces by our friend Morgan at Bikeland / Photo: Drew@NV

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Norco also has a new 4" Travel XC bike in their stable this year called the Fazer. We were more interested to see the Faze bumped up to 120mm of travel (and the Fluid bumped to 140mm and slackened a degree at the headtube angle) but our new friends from Ontario were definitely stoked.

If you are in the market for a new singletrack slayer or affordable race rig this may be your ticket as well.

If you recognize this shop jersey fire me an e-mail: the new Fazer / Photo: Drew@NV

Our friends at Bikeland rip the new Fazer / Photo: Drew@NV

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Thanks to Norco for the chance to explore their new rigs. We were very stoked for the chance to share our backyard with riders from across the country.