Norco Optic Review: Short Travel Bike, Big Travel Design

[@brent_s]

Need a video on Dario’s shirt. That would SELL in the Pinkbike store

[@simonmajura]

Perfect pairing with this bike review since it’s really for those that love to be under biked.

[@dinahmight123]

Came to the comments to look for a t-shirt link

[@-tr0n]

I feel that the Optic's travel range appeals to me because I'm a lifelong aggressive hardtail rider and don't love the feeling of floating in travel, but having that squish available is great. Having the slack numbers, being a good climber with decent anti rise, and still not shying away from being pushed is a great combo. That said, I never managed to get my hands on one with the wonky supply over the last few years and I'm not sure high pivot really brings much to the table for the weight and complexity...

[@ptrades800]

@pinkbike I commented on the Sight vid too. Majority of reviewers comments are comparing how it feels to the bikes numbers on paper. Would be great if riders didnt see any geo numbers until AFTER the full riding and reviewing.

[@theadorebob2026]

Just bought a previous gen optic after some demo time and wow its like norco took all my minor gripes and built the holy grail trail ripping bike specifically for me, I see a mixed wheel frame of this gen 3 optic in my future. Love that norco arent afraid to make a weird bike like this that isn't for everyone but is for people like me who love bikes that really reward an active ride and getting silly on trail but also like to plow sometimes.

[@mw-le1ug]

The last generation optic is a sick bike. How would you compare the 2? Is the new model worth the upgrade?

[@JanGoh-jb5ge]

I've got a 2018 optic. I started life as an XC racer and then bought bigger bikes and raced them anyway. I've been out of that game for a long time, but I love these small-big bikes. I'm not trying to ride the north shore, I just want something that does almost everything pretty well. Sounds like it's for me.

[@Bierce88]

Industry is imploding, and they are still releasing 11k$+ bikes.

[@TeddyParker]

Surprisingly that's probably where they are making decent margins. When the industry implodes like this 2 things tend to sell, the lowest end bikes that are even worth riding and the very highest end for that tax bracket. The middle can struggle to sell as people on a budget struggle to justify 10% performance increases for 50-75% price increase, and people with unlimited budgets have no reason to downgrade. I'm ok with the 10k+ builds because they have nothing to do with me... What I hate is continuing to downgrade lower end models while either keeping the price the same or increasing it. Sick of the SRAM SX/NX pricing and Xfusion suspension and SRAM Level brakes and other stuff that is being found on 3k+ builds. That's the real crime.

[@harrisonedwards1583]

You know wealthy people still exist right? And the top end bikes function the same as high end sports cars do, to draw in people who will buy the budget version. Same way as BMW makes an M3 to sell a 318i.

[@danparker4401]

So don't buy them? Ha ha. People with bottomless cash will still pay that. Unsure what the expectation is here?

[@theshonen8899]

They're releasing $11k bikes because the industry is imploding. They need high margin, low volume bikes in order to cut down on staffing.

[@mountaincruiser817]

Sjeez, short, full XO, Full factory, full carbon and still 15 kg! The lover spec aluminum version must be like 17+kg! Thats DH territory.

[@RoyAlf]

Got the Optic C3 new just a few days ago. Were recommended by my bike shop as they know I like to try bikes that have quirks to them. Initial impressions, it’s a fun do it all bike. Haven’t found the quirks yet.

[@Lex-Rex]

How would this compare to the Forbidden Druid?

[@russellmontez3936]

This is a killer trail bike. Run the stroke at 55mm to bump travel to around 137mm in back. 160 Ohlins 36 in front. I have the RS Vivid. What a treat this "little" bike is. Climbs tech so well. Descends like a more confident 150 bike.

[@klugehf]

I love the look of this bike for riding in Vancouver Island where we have to pedal up technical terrain and still want to be able to rip the descents. I wouldn’t pick it as a race bike but I think it’d make my trails more fun than a longer travel bike.

[@oliverkrieger-fritsch4726]

Sweet funky third bike in the quiver. Xc rig, 2024 optic overforked to 150 with vivid in rear. 3rd bike Full blown enduro/freeride rig. Those are all the bikes I could ever want.

[@philfort7886]

does the overforked optic feel too mich different. I am eyeing the optic but i am in question if i put a 150 mm travel fork if this would be too much of a change for the bike ans the geo

[@AndreasRavnestad]

Watching ads has become so complicated :(

[@ekjorg9409]

Just got a 2023 on sale for quite a good price! Excited for its arrival. I will definitely want to demo a 2024 soon, as I’ve never ridden any high pivot. I sense it would be pretty alien at first.

[@jerryadams2539]

I have a 23 optic C2 i love it and it has not failed me yet on anything I throw at it. Excited to demo the 25’ soon

[@justgo4033]

this is the kind of bike i would buy , i ride a hardtail at the moment and for my local trails it perfectly fine but harsh when i go to the mountains or bike parks . Ive had big downhill bikes before and its just too much travel for what i ride , the bike just sits in my basement for the few times a year i hit the mountains . I’m defenetly looking at the fluid fs at the moment .

[@feedbackzaloop]

High pivot idler 4-bar. That's it, either they play combinatorics and check every possible type or it's meta irony that any type works.

[@dirkmohrmann8960]

Rumour has it the 2026 model is additionally getting a DW link. Negotiations with yeti to add an infinity slider are ongoing.

[@benjy288]

It seems high pivot is the new trend, I wonder how many years before they go back to a traditional layout? and as usual it got porky, the c1 weighing about a kg heavier than last years c2.

[@50whatnomadtravelnursemtb5]

I don't really think the highpivot is that big of a game changer, seems silly they added it to there lighter shorter travel trail bike....scratches head in disbelief, lol

[@benjy288]

@@50whatnomadtravelnursemtb5 I don't think it is either, I've never ridden one, but I've heard others talk about their disadvantages, I think manufacturers are mostly using them now as another way to try and sell more bikes.

[@davegoodwin8213]

and comes only with a fox 34 fork.... nah, the old model was better

[@christophercartwrightst.pi6602]

People who ride optics ride hard and and the high pivot keeps things tight with the chain. Reduces damage and wear. Also it affects the geometry of how the suspension to move. It allows the back to keep momentum and find more acceleration. The innovation is there. You just need to understand the engineering of it. They effectively wanted to make the optic faster. Even with a pound more you won’t feel it.

[@purotito88]

Who would buy this over a proper 140mm bike? Like Henry said, climbs like a DH bike and descends like a XC bike. 😂.

[@tywitt3351]

Yes. Don’t see the point of a 33lb 125 trail bike with a high pivot and idler. If I’m putting up with an idler and poor climbing it’s not going to be a 125 bike

[@viperrules24]

This would be a good second bike with your primary being a DH or long travel enduro bike

[@krneki111]

The most fun bike I have owned and ridden was a Banshee Phantom V3. You have to try it to understand it.

[@theadorebob2026]

its def one of those you dont get it until you get it kind of experiences. got the change to demo the previous gen optic on my home trails in the PNW and man its perfect. fast winching up coming off my 37 pound alloy enduro sled and poppy and fun on the way down with suspension that feels similar on trail to bikes with way more travel. i think dario is completely right, this bike isn't for everyone and if you think its for you then its definitely for you.

[@chrism5768]

33 pounds.. MY XL spire is 33.8

[@323johnnybravo]

My XL Megatower weighs the same lol 😮

[@NATURALBORNSHREDDER]

Exactly, sentinel with coil and cascade link 32.5

[@MrScart35]

My capra core 4 with coil and rear insert is 34.6/15,7kg lol

[@user-xq5rp9fm1p]

You could shed 3lbs off that build easily...

[@glenzigdan]

I got the alloy, it's so sick. I love it.

[@aaronblonden6774]

Owning an alloy frame build since april. Its for me! I thought i wanted it and i do want it. Loves tech climbs great fun in mullet and full 29r

[@CatDaddySteve]

It had rounder wheel, grippy grips, a chain, peddles, and a seat WOW it's a game changer

[@mobilewintercamp7515]

It seems like it’s a bike that best fits peddling through and going downhill in rough terrain for someone who isn’t bombing down and hitting the biggest jumps. I’m older and not taking chances but I like rough trail and I’m not a featherweight individual. It would be a combination that would be efficient, take tough obstacle hits, feel like it has more travel than it does but not a big jumper excess travel bike. A nice all around trail slammer

[@sg410_mtb]

I’m debating an optic right now to replace my forbidden dreadnought. Absolutely love it and have been riding one since 21. The optic seems like it would definitely cater better to my typical riding and have no problem with some solid weekend trips. Nice video! It seems like it would be between the optic and Druid at this point

[@user-xq5rp9fm1p]

Did you end up switching over to the Optic? Been debating for the last couple weeks between it and the Druid V1.

[@ironguitardac]

i don't care what anyone says, 11k for two triangles with wheels is just mind boggling

[@Anthony-ob2lb]

I predict we’ll have $20K bikes in the next 10 years

[@nathanprachnau2609]

I’d like to try one out. Sounds like a fun bike.

[@the510wagon]

"If you think it's for you, then it's for you..." 😆😆😆 I'd buy it for sure!

[@mellissanash7517]

This and the Reeb SST have me questioning my bike choices.

[@NATURALBORNSHREDDER]

Sentinel with coil, cascade link, 170 fork 32.5 pounds... Lighter long travel is what's needed

[@TheDavidjakeson]

If I were in the market for a new bike this year, this would probably be on my list.

[@MichaelRyanCaputo]

Where is the "Pink bicycle free press" published? Can I get a copy?

[@zsanterre]

6:58 its you, isn't it? You're some people.

[@antoinedoinell]

sweet, this means the older optics will go on sale

[@Gabesafish]

Aside from the merits of the bike itself, they missed hard on pricing. $4-9k? Did they sleep through the crash?

[@PawnSacrifice]

Great work, Dario! Love the madness of it, but you kept talking about how it compares to other similar travel bikes, but with the weight and characteristics, is the natural alternative not more the slightly longer travel bike? A similar weight / money bike where the travel offsets the idler benefits with no complications - something like the new Spectral, perhaps? Sounds like idler would drive me nuts - needs frame storage for the lube!

[@wd99999]

I’ll keep my 2023 👍🏼

[@nicks8026]

Oddly enough, Andy Squat is the name of my old riding buddy.

[@livefreeandshred9818]

Would love to see this compared against the Druid v2

[@abtcup]

With such a steep seat tube angle. Why is the saddle still slammed forward and pointing down?

[@adamevans6703]

Is that Kip?

[@tippy35075]

interesting to see the move back to a fox 34 from a 36

[@NextLevelRiding]

Very well presented and delivered review! Well done!

[@Guovssohas]

Noisy drivetrain is a big turnoff for me, it would probably start to annoy me very quickly. Otherwise it looks like a cool bike.

[@cliffordrichardc]

want see more this bike

[@schaeff6476]

I was looking at the Optic for my next short travel trail bike but that is too heavy for such little travel. I expect a bike with 125mm to be a rocket across more areas than a bike like the sight. If a top spec is over 15kg, how heavy for the everyman/woman models? rare for me but this time - Norco - nah.

[@flipper2gv]

Really no clue why they put the high pivot on a trail bike. Way to overcomplicate things. And the cheapest is 5600$??

[@PlumpyDelicioso]

Chain stays almost as high as my old pro flex.

[@thomasgasparini6412]

I just lack the brain capacity to understand the appeal of an idler on an optic...

[@wd99999]

Marketing

[@theadorebob2026]

better axle path for more speed

[@antoanangelov5672]

still cant understand how people can be interested in short travel bikes

[@themiddleagemasher8108]

Why, why why has everybody jumped into the high pivot realm? Seems like a marketing play to me from Trek to Norco to just about everybody else, including pivot. This seems to be a ridiculous way to just sell more bikes.

[@bullit4x]

Science my man. I’m stoked Norco is late to the game. They let all the other fu@k up and they learned from it and what not to do. This one is tits and I’m sold. I went with the sight however. The adjustability is sweet. Don’t hate playa. Just try one.

[@paulkahlke2291]

I've seen this exact comment on every bike innovation since my first KZbin video

[@vlbz]

Not every 'innovation' stays. High pivots won't. In the next few years a lot of bikes will move to it, then one manufacturer will move back. People will get reminded how nice bikes used to be, then everyone moves back. In the meantime a lot of bikes will be sold with the two switches.

[@NickMorgan256]

That’s what they said about 29in wheels, and loosing the front derailleur, and dropper posts, oh and mixed wheels, also disc brakes. I’m pretty sure bike companies are trying to build the best bikes they can and offer what the consumer wants.

[@SpencerBaum]

It's not a marketing play. If you actually look at the physics and kinematics it makes sence. While I agree it is a bit weird to put the design on a 125mm bike, it is not just a 'marketing play'

[@pixelc9560]

Big norco guy, not seeing the vision on this one.

[@schaeff6476]

Agreed. way too heavy for the amount of travel and purpose

[@_Vicarious]

Hmm, rear looks flexy.

[@adampetten1009]

rode many Norco bikes, but this will not be one of them.

[@a8f235]

Everytime the industry tries a new marketing gimmick, all I can think about is Stuart from MADtv going: *_- Look what I can do..._* 🙈

[@MrChadLedford]

Was the aluminum base model 5599 or am I losing it!!!!??? I never say much about bike prices but wtf. Even if thats Canadian it's steep.

[@mikegeddie2263]

That’s why I got a ripley AF. 2600. Prices are outrageous for the optic

[@MrChadLedford]

@@mikegeddie2263 Can't go wrong with the Ripley af. Great deal.

[@Bonky-wonky]

Sounds like a dog’s dinner. Heavy, draggy and not particularly playful, ie everything a trailbike shouldn’t be… you might as well buy an enduro rig at that weight.

[@benjy288]

Many mountain bike manufacturers have lost the plot in my opinion, they're basically turning everything into burly enduro bikes, just with shorter travel, back in the day a trail bike was made lighter because it was supposed to be a bike you could pedal all day on, but now many of them are heavier than enduro bikes from a few years ago, I used to own a 2017 trek slash 9.8, and that weighed 14kg with pedals, in today's world that would be lighter than many expensive trail bikes, I currently own a full alloy 2019 norco fluid fs1 that I've got down to 13.75kg with pedals, that's 1.4kg lighter than this carbon optic, and my fluid only has 5mm less travel in the rear and 10mm less in the front, why are modern bikes getting so heavy?

[@tombeck129]

Totally agree. And they pretend that pedalling and climbing is great on a 33-34 lbs bike.

[@scrutch666]

As a high pivot norco range owner … no thank you. What a stupid idea. I only taking it to bike parks because its such a drag to climb it. Anybody in Seattle area wants my large norco range ? Looks like new.

[@petrjurek6058]

Great T-shirt. Not so great trail bike.

[@kingflynxi9420]

Finally, a short travel bike that can take a beating. I've heard no end of short travel bikes snapping because there's simply not enough material on the frame.

[@Bonky-wonky]

How do you know after watching a first ride video….?

[@kingflynxi9420]

@@Bonky-wonky it's heavy

[@tylermoser6706]

Trance Adv. Pro 29?

[@UltrafineDeluxe]

Work on the vocal fry, maaaaaan.

[@mikegeddie2263]

Level brakes 🤣🤣🤣 🔥 🗑️

[@Videomorgue]

Poor guy was born without a personality.

[@CopperCityPatriot]

As with a majority of bike reviews on KZbin, Norco FS rigs, are seemingly for the loony riders that can justify spending thousands for a...bicycle. The frame of the Optic, probably cost a mere couple-hundred to produce out of...China. So whynot offer an optic, for us passionate, yet low-income riders? Cost-of-living(inflation) is astronomical, unless you're a liberal, that believes everything from a news reporter. How 'bout an Optic model, with simple-effective ten speed, Suntour suspension, and reliable inner tube wheelset.