wtf are NORCO BICYCLES doing ???

In the following I verbally show my discontent for how the new versions of two already really awesome bikes have taken away from them more than I think they have added to them.

[@JustFrana]

ohhhhhh boy I should've waited a week on this

[@milspectoothpick4119]

Sounds like the grumps that cried over tubeless, 29'ers, 1x chain rings, and dropper posts. The high pivot and idlers isolate pedal forces from your suspension. This makes the rear damping feel more consistent and predictable. This is good for any amount of travel. Oh it also doesn't add more suspension linkages; just moves the pivot points.

[@a8f235]

Klakk-klakk-klakk-klakk-klakk-klakk-bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz-Klakk-klakk-klakk-klakk-klakk-bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

[@TryRebooting]

Really enjoyed this and your picture of all the ridiculous additions. Flip chips, high pivot, and frame storage don't really do much for me.

[@user-pz8tj3lm8r]

Yeah mate 100%, I was left shaking my head on the release of these bikes.

[@JustFrana]

Dude it fucken does my head in

[@hanslomo5431]

after riding an HP Range for over 2 years. I can 100% see how high pivot would be awesome on the Optic and Sight. I hope to never ride another bike without it.

[@notdavemtb]

Hey what's jumping the range like?

[@hanslomo5431]

It is awesome at jumping IMO, my fear when purchasing was some reviews said it was not so great at jumping. The Range helped me progress to clearing every hit on dirtmerchant pro line in whistler.@@notdavemtb

[@maxstefanski]

I fully agree, it's a little sad seeing these short travel bikes gain more travel and enduro-esque features when they were already perfect in their own little catagory.

[@virginiascurti5036]

Well there is a stronger push to A) Blur lines and B) produce more towards a all around bike. Industry is having trouble keeping this many lines of bikes for 5-6 styles of riding. Your are going to see three styles in the future, Downcountry XC bikes, Trail bikes pushing in the edge of Enduro and Downhill bikes that are Enduro capable as well.

[@RickRolling-tc7vb]

I like your style. You made some good points, and I agree that making them more complex is a bad thing. But I could listen to you swearing all day, you have a real gift man. So much is sanitised on the internet but you have an honesty about your delivery that I really appreiate.

[@JustFrana]

Thanks dude

[@JakeyDill]

Optic owner here, can confirm the bike shreds like a maniac

[@JustFrana]

Excellent

[@jamesjenkins8373]

So if you want to have the benefit of having the high pivot like not having pedal kickback through the suspension, you could get the o-chain for your cranks, or you could get the Tairin wheels silent shogun hub, either upgrade will get rid of the pedal kickback.

[@JustFrana]

I would opt for this on a ST bike before buying the new version of the same bike. and arguably the ochain will probably provide the same level of benefit as this frame will over 120mm of travel.

[@cjbikes01]

for those who don't see it coming... The fluid is going to turn into the optic (trail bike), and everything will bump up. The fluid will become the trail bike, the optic turns into all mtn, sight becomes enduro, range turns into big travel enduro/dh, shore stays freeride alongside the aurum dh bike.

[@Cpt-Pugwash14]

next year Norco will put a idler pully on their hard tails

[@virginiascurti5036]

You can be mad about this all you want but your going to see a blurring of styles until there are less styles period. Bike manufacturer's are struggling to keep a bike inventory that encompases 5-6 styles and 3 trim levels for each.

[@a8f235]

Trudeau got to have frame storage for his cuban passport... 🤔

[@iffy_too4289]

Sight would be like a Remedy that they actually got round to updating.

[@JustFrana]

I kinda also felt like that but taking the newest to newest i thought the fuel was the best match. I just used to trek arbitrarily

[@Ceriva09]

just because it has less travel doesnt mean you cant feel the diffrence .. just for example im riding a forbidden druid v2 which is a high pivot as well and it 100% rides as well as a more common horst link design, but still feels unique in its ridefeel. Just because its a high pivot now doesnt qualify complaining as long as you havnt ridden it for yourself. you can dislike it but saying it's a fail on norcos part has everybody to decide themselfs

[@stirfrybry1]

I was think the same. Did he ride them? I'm sure the Norco riders rode them during development. They don't change stuff without good reason. Riding seems to be progressing to me with every rider having the kind of talent that was rare 20 years ago. I think they are building bikes for riders that are going to push the limit

[@andthefunkybunch1466]

This was a solid rant

[@JustFrana]

Thanks lol 😂 still trying to find my niche in this place 10 years later but rants that i know a fair amount on seem to do well 👀

[@allisawful]

The Optic and the Fluid were almost identical in geo, the difference being carbon vs alloy. Now with the 2024 Fluid available in carbon the Optic would effectively be a duplicate in the line-up. At least it's something different, and if you don't like it, just buy the Fluid if you want to stay within the Norco brand.

[@felipebofarull7458]

The Norco Sight is a real enduro rig, it has been raced even in Red Bull Valparaiso Cerro Abajo last year, a real capable and fast bike

[@lelo3011]

I don’t agree with all your points. They still have the Fluid, which, up to this point, shared much of the same characteristics as the optic. The new optic is just a more experimental thing I guess. I ride a banshee phantom, also a burly DC/Trail bike with similar travel numbers. And all I can say is, that a short travel bike with kinematics that track really well on chatter (like banshees KS2 linkage) is really nice, as the shorter travel also means that you get into the progression quicker and can manipulate the bike easier. The phantom is also able to handle anything you can throw at it. That said I agree that such a bike should also pedal pretty well. Otherwise you could be better off with more travel. That’s the thing I don’t like about the High Pivot, with an Idler and which kind of disqualifies the optic for me. And there are linkage designs that travel well enough for a short travel bike and don’t use an idler. Now with the sight it’s a whole different story and use case. It’s pretty similar to a forbidden Druid. And that Senns to work pretty well. And for me, living in Europe, those would be ideal. I’m not the Bikepark guy and I don’t need all the travel. But grip and tracking is pretty important. A 150mm bike is still responsive enough but with a HP I could really see myself enjoying this. But that being said the points about added complexity are hard to disagree with. I wrench a lot though, so I wouldn’t really care I guess. It’s also a more valid criticism on the sight. As that bike was pretty unique with its geo and travel and was working pretty well. But as I said norco has two short travel bikes with a similar use case, so I don’t share your criticism their, as one could just get the Fluid. The worst thing about Norco for me, is their lacklustre supply to Europe. I can’t get the aluminium frame kit for any norco here in Germany.

[@matteoeven2624]

I agree, here in Europe Norco is hardly available and as complete bikes very expensive in comparison to other brands if you look at the components you get… I also dont see a problem with a high pivot platform on a lower travel bike as i always felt that high pivot feels like more travel than a normal one. Of course it is arguable if it really makes sense but i would really like to test ride these bikes first before i spread criticism. Ride on guys :)

[@crankshoptv8141]

Agreed, maybe they ride a little better over the roughest terrain, but almost everyone won't notice any difference other than a more expensive chain and service bills.

[@JustFrana]

exactly!

[@benjy288]

Probably just making changes to try and push bike sales, I'm perfectly happy with my 2019 120 rear 130 front norco fluid, its super fun and poppy, very capable too for such a short travel bike, I've ridden plenty of steep double blacks on it, I have no desire to buy anything else, in fact I don't like the direction most new bikes are going, they seem to be taking a 'how fast can this bike bomb down a hill approach' as opposed to 'how fun and playful is this bike to ride'

[@JustFrana]

Exactly, I don't fault brands for trying to appeal to the market but going over the top with 'fad'like trends is where it gets a bit much. Like this whole over complication of short travel bikes.

[@ti3685]

Anecdotal evidence incoming: I have been riding a 650b Sight for several years, switched to the non idler Optic, moved on to a non idler 29er Sight and now onto a home build 115mm high pivot bike with idler. That bike is the most fun bike I have ever ridden. So, at least in my experience, the opposite of what you claim is true. This makes me wonder if you have ever ridden a high pivot bike with an idler, or if you just make assumptions.

[@JustFrana]

Dude I make wild assumptions while making my coffee in the morning. I'm not assuming the bikes wouldn't be spectacular but I'm just saying they're probably not achieving what they claim for the trade off of more complication. I have ridden high pivot idler bikes but not extensively.

[@chrisburn7178]

The day will come when everybody will get bored of this extra complication and weight, and bikes like my 27.5", 130mm Transition Scout will be like gold dust. Bikes that were never meant to chase times, just to have stupid fun on the way down.

[@camerond9941]

ur a hater, i love my high pivot hardtail.

[@JustFrana]

Dude high pivot dual sus hardtails are my favourite 🤌

[@user-em9gx7mi6z]

..

[@mmilne17]

waaa waaa waaaa get over it

[@JustFrana]

...no