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When we moved back to the Westcountry my wife and I agreed that when we'd bought our house i could get a new bike (woooooooo).
I'd been out of biking for several years as i lived in a particularly uninspiring flat area and wasn't really feeling the love. However, moving back to the edge of Dartmoor (shhhh, its terrible) reinvigorated my want to start riding again. So i started looking for a new bike. Man have things changed since i last bought a bike! Its so hard to decide on things now. Wheel size, geometry, spec...
In the end i decided i wanted a trail bike with not too much travel, modern-ish geometry that isn't ridiculously long, ability to fit a bottle in the triangle if i want to, 12x drivetrain and a dropper post (or routing for one).
The Norco appeared on STW before Christmas and i was taken! The spec, the geo and the price looked great, so without riding one i pre-ordered. Have had it out a few times now round North Dartmoor and Haldon.
Its great. Love the feel of the longer geo, but then my hardtail is a 26" which is too small a frame for me really. I'm riding a large Fluid and it feels spot on for me at 6'1" with 32" inside leg.
Climbs relatively well for the weight - don't notice it. And being stretched out more than previous bikes and on the right size frame it feels like i'm making better use of my meagre legs! Downhill its fun, manoeuvrable and fast enough to keep up with (and sometimes overtake) my mates.
Spec - couldn't be happier for now. I'm a perennial bike tinkerer. The spec on the Norco is fine, not blingy, but not rubbish either. So i'll more than happily wear things out before replacing with an upgrade. The only thing I have done is fit a Fabric saddle so my ar5e only has to get used to one shape between this and my CX bike.
I haven't checked if its set up tubeless or not, just been enjoying being out in the woods and on the moor. But if not then i'll be doing a conversion this weekend.
I was waiting for the review after seeing it appear on here as "potentially the best bike below £2k" (or whatever Hannah said), but its not appeared yet so thought i'd share my limited thoughts for what they're worth.
Anyway, here's a photo. Love it so far. Anyone else got one?
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Sweet looking bike and great spec at that price.
Looks great! 🙂
Mini review on pink bike is quite complimentary.
https://m.pinkbike.com/news/field-test-three-affordable-trail-bikes.html
Does look good that, thanks for posting.
Nice looking bike.
We have a Norco Fluid in the house. It's heavy, but a really nice handling bike, better than the Giant and more Aggro than the Radon.
Cheers folks. Obviously I can't take any credit for the looks. Although it is great that its not got anything spec-wise to grumble about, and its less than £1900 🙂
I bought one in October. Traded in a 96 Kona and got £150 pounds off list price. I originally bought the Kona Hahanna to remember what got me excited about mountain bikes originally. Very happy to get rid of it!
The Norco came with massive inner tubes. I changed to tubeless maxxis minion dhf on rear, high roller front. Love the wide rims.
Changed brakes for Zee with 200 rotor front. Kept the 160 rear with xt brake.
Changed grips.
Very stable, great in slop. Climbs very well for a big heavy bike. Weighs 15.5 kg. This is XL. I am 6.1. weigh 110kg.Mid forties.
In general a game changer for me, someone always on a budget but interested in modern geometry and wider rims and wanting a big cassette for climbs.
Previously had a Trek remedy 2011 medium- something to learn on but actually too short and did not climb very well.
The frame seems well painted.
Not sure why it is so heavy.
Running rebound fully open. Used manufacturers recommended pressure in shock and fork. Replaced dropper cable as galvanized and had gotten frayed.
Picked one up at Evans, didnt feel too heavy to me. Geo and spec is v.v. similar to the new Trance 29er 2, just a heap of money less.
Anyway, I've a crappy tradein, just waiting for my clubcard and C2W vouchers and I'll be having one too.
Already considering a bit longer fork and a charger2 upgrade after I've tried it for a few months stock.
I’ve not noticed the weight to be honest. It rides well and I don’t noticed it when I’m riding - that’s about as good as I can say really - it doesn’t stand out as holding me back and didn’t cost as much as a full carbon SC to boot 🙂
Running slightly higher pressures in both fork and shock than the Norco guide as I found I was bottoming out a bit too frequently on every ride, only 5psi more though and all good.
@slowmover yet to do the tubeless upgrade, but got all the bits. Are the new tyres markedly better than the stock ones?
Fork damper q. Norco spec says Charger 2. On the store demo bike there was nothing on the fork and the staff said it was motion control.
RS specs say both are available.
Its a £200 upgrade that I'd rather avoid, anyone know whats in there? (And the offset, it should be noted on the fork leg sticker)
Ta.
The Maxxis tyres I use seems to have some cut resistance and they deal well with my muddy local conditions.The stock tyres have small block threads on them and the casing seems thin. I made the decision to change to my preferred tyres without actually riding the ones the bike came with so couldn't say. I just wanted maximum traction and used what worked before.
Again, Norco worldwide spec says Forekaster EXO. Hope Evans hasn't downgrade tyres and damper for these UK models to bring the price point down.
Norco spec sheet on the "UK Region" site states Maxxis Forecaster tyres and Rev RC w/ Charger 2 damper in the fork.
Evans state Rev RC (no mention of Charger but that doesn't mean it isn't a Charger Damper) and WTB tyres.
Might be worth dropping them both an email and seeing what they say.
If they OP wants to post a pic of the Damper adjuster on the top of the driveside leg, it'll probably fairly clear which damper it is.
Well I emailed Evans and got a real fast reply confirming spec is as Norco lists. So, Charger 2 damper in the Rev and Forekaster 2.6 3c Exo tyres.
Makes it even more of a bargain and cant wait to get hold of mine 🙂
The heavy weight 15,5kg read in Some test that wheels came into 5.96kg, seems awful heafty even IF it is incl tires, tubes, casette and discs. Would be interesting to know the weight of the frame and rearshock? Have any of you guys weighted the wheels?
Ill be weighing bits of mine when it arrives. Rims and hubs will be ok, prob heavy spokes, fat inner tubes, cassette is a 600g+ monster though.
Ill be going tubeless straight away and swapping the bars out (OE 35mm will be stiff as). Like I said, it didnt feel or ride at all heavy when I saw one at Evans ... but I was fresh from riding a heavy fs ebike that morning!
Not weighed mine at all, not felt the need. It doesn't 'deal's heavy when riding. However I'm going to do my tubeless conversion soon, so will try and remember to weigh the wheels then.
Thanks for reply, seems a little bit like the alloy transition smuggler nx hefty but rides ”light”
The only point of reference I’ve had is steel hardtails, this is no harder work to get along/up/down a trail than any steel hardtail I’ve had.
As a slight aside. I tried to get a workscomponents angle adjust headset installed. When communicating with workscomponents they stated that the frame is able to take such a headset. I took it to a bike shop local to work and they advised that the lower bearing is integrated. So no slackset can be fitted. When looking at the Norco website it states 'angular contact bearings'.
No, looks like it wont be suitable. Half a degree per 10mm longer air shaft?
Anyone know if the freehub is steel or ali by the way?
Looks very nice that. I'm looking at getting rid of my old commuter and my hard tail for a circa £1000 full sus and the Fluid 4 looks like it would fit the bill nicely.
I'm even willing to look past the suntour forks and tektro brakes.
My past experience with gooutdoors hikes haven't filled me with confidence
FS1 diet research
Hub 425g
Cassette 615g
Mech 340g
Ouch. I'll be upgrading to GX.
So that means a new driver for the hub. £50.
Worse, a new hub. Unless the D462 internals will fit.
Ill be getting a new wheelset and sell the OE on.
Im now interested to see how the geometry compares to that new Hope machine:-O
Did a tubeless conversion on the front tonight. Ran out of time to do both. But when stripped down, no rim tape, tube or tyre the front weighed a whopping 1.2kg on a poorly balanced set up on some basic kitchen scales. Read into that what you will.
I’m contemplating a set of Hunt Trail Wides
Thats what I'm having Tom.
I wasnt guesstimating that heavy a front, perhaps 2300 for the pair? Coukd be nearer 2500 with that heavy rear hub.
I'll likely do the same with the OE wheels Mr The Third 🙂
Thing is they don't feel that heavy in use, but on the scales you can see where to save weight.
Bent the derailleur hanger in the snow on the weekend. Still waiting for Evans cycles to send me spare which I requested when I bought the bike. In the meantime I have bought type 337 derailleur hanger from SJS cycles. £35. Had a look around, could not get it cheaper.
Sheeet! Suppose it didnt match up with anything on ebay?
Ordered my FS1 today, a fresh shipment is arriving Friday apparently.
These look great value!
What BBs are these running? Is it pressfit or threaded?
Threaded. 73mm BSA 🙂
Oh, an even better proposition!
Yep, none press fit was one of my criteria for buying it 🙂
Just looking at these in more detail.
So they can be had for £1600 once I've dragged an old bike out the canal..
It looks like a robust build to me. The only thing I would change is wheels.
Wondering how much abuse these can handle? I assume they'd be fine at trail centers and a few uplifts a year? Possibly on the short side of travel, but my T129 felt like more than 120mm. I have my eye on a Whyte S150 for similar money.
Thats what I'll be using mine for anyway. I chose this instead of longer travel after riding a mate's Strive and being very underwhelmed on my local non vertical riding. I cant afford to have something only suitable for rare big trips, it has to be an all rounder.
1700 after a skip find tradein, less a bunch of Clubcard vouchers and the rest on C2W makes it virtually free <manmaths>
(Except for the Hunt wheels ive already got for it)
I’ve done some rocky stuff on Dartmoor, and some trail centre bits and bobs. It handles it well. It bottomed out but I didn’t know about it. Genuinely feels like more travel than it has, and I didn’t want for more. It’s solid, but fun. You don’t NEED to change anything, but if you did then I’d start with wheels definitely.
Replaced the derailleur hanger tonight. Everything was loose, including the axle, cones and hanger itself. SJS cycles was a good option for the hanger btw.
Good to know, thanks 🙂
Picked mine up from Evans yesterday. It wasnt built so I took it in its box to buildup myself. Came with spare hanger in the accessories/build box, along with 2 more fork tokens to go with the 3 pre-installed.
With 1x11 XT (Sunrace 11-42) and a pair of Hunt Trail Wide tubeless I am at 31lbs. Here's where the weight is std...
Tubes. 297g each!
Cassette. 616g
Chain ring. 32t steel is 133g, 28t ali is 47g.
Bars, grips and stem 563g
Front wheel, rimtape 1056g
Rear wheel, rimtape 1342g
I added some weight though. Moved the 180 rotor out back and put a 200 on the front.
Feels good, looking forward to riding it.
There's some weighty bits in there then!
A 2.4 kg wheelset & 616g cassette- that suprises me.
How does the cable routing look? Well thought out or some bits that could rub?
What's your plans for the bits you've taken off? PM me if you decide to sell.
Cable routing is good, avoids headtube etc. The dropper is Brand x with the newer better lever. Front brake rubs so ill try and let a drop of fluid out if that caliper. Ill drop you a pm.
Despite Norco and Evans saying this Revelation has the Charger option instead of the cheaper Motion Control, The blue compression lever on the fork crown does not say Charger on it sadly. So I'll have a look inside at some point.
Fork also drops 10mm at rest (nobody on bike) so I'll have a read up on that too.
Cable routing is well thought out.
Thanks for the weights, confirms that a new set of wheels will be my next upgrade when the £ allows.
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nice!
At Haldon if you haven't already it's worth exploring off-piste (or even looking on Strava) as there is quite a bit of official-unofficial stuff which I'm sure you've spotted doing the normal blue/red stuff.
I'm a Quantocks & Mendips local, but actually heading there this weekend if my mates not ill (otherwise i'll solo quantocks)
Yeah, the off piste stuff at Haldon is great. Still learning my way round it, though.
I grew up in Taunton, so know the Quantocks well, you’ll have a good ride whichever you go to 🙂
I'm from Taunton too, still work here but moved 20 mins up the m5 to BoS.
I'm Tralforks admin for the Quantocks and accidentally run the Quantock Trail Riders Group if you find that on fb. Less familiar with the mendips, but know my way around once up at the main trailheads. as a drive to ride type not found the ideal parking spot yet.
Haldon wise.. off piste favourites are
'traily mc trailface' which is near where the two blues start and goes a few routes through.. one just got closed after, but there are some steep trails that start up the hill with lots of off camber stuff.
Found the 'old red' which cross the normal red kind of 1/4 way in. really nice trali that you have to go down the road to find the entrance. (or climb back up just before the steppy bit that leads down to the black)
Some trails that start near the end of the kiddens (the longer blue) and cut down across the climb back up.. from up near some kind of lookout. Theres one there we've not found yet.
I think I know those ones. There’s the bits near the lookout too, which drop down towards Kennford.
The old red is called “Rat Run”.
Finally got to ride mine and get it a bit muddy. Love it! Climbs really well then great fun descending. Perfect conditions for the Forekasters in the drying slop.
hmm maybe i've got old red wrong.. went again and this week strava named that segment as "barking dog".. found a jump my mates had spotted that runs parallel to the well worn route through and played on that for a while. (i found it a good yearror so ago by walking back up, and we finally investigated properly on new years day where they noticed the jump)
quite funny. i'm stood just 100 ft inside barking dog about to have a run at the jump i move off to the side when saw riders coming off in the of road.
bloke and mate come riding in : everything ok?
me : yeah thanks we're just playing on the jump
bloke : theres no jump here!
me : yeah it's just down there where my mate is! off the left
so yeah, just into barking dog you can peel a left for 100ft and theres a nice little jump that brings you back on the trail as usual.
Nice! Thanks for the tip, I’ll look out for that.
Glad you like it @Richardthethird
I concur with that review. They copied me taking 4lbs of wheel weight off.
(Luckily we get the narrower Forekaster 2.6 tyres which fit nicely and are quite light)
I accidentally put a 140mm airshaft in the fork. It needed a lowers service anyway so why the hell not.
(my fork was sucking down 15mm from new and the foam rings were dry)
Off to Wales next month, can't wait!
Yeah, that review sounds spot on.
I'm waiting for another pay day or two to justify the new wheels.
Mulling over whether to go for Hunt Trail Wides or some Hope Po 4s on some DT XM481s...
Works really well with a 140mm fork upfront!
Finally finished my tubeless conversion for both wheels (fat fingers making the valve hole too big and running out of tape prolonged it).
It certainly makes a difference. Feels like it spins up a bit more easily.
Rode it from my front door up to the highest parts of Dartmoor today. Around 400 metres of climbing alll in. It coped well, once it got rolling, despite its weight, I found it climbed really well. Descending is always fun on it. There was quite a rocky bit of trail which I hit at a reasonable speed today. It certainly doesn’t like ploughing through rocks, but it’s great fun to try and flick through and around them instead.
Added some Hope grips which were a birthday present. Bit softer than the Norco ones. Only other planned change is an oval chainring.
Had mine since October 2018. Getting a clunking noise from drive train. Any suggestions?
I think it might be a year for a new bike. This looks like an option. How is the bottom bracket height. Could you run narrower tyres if needed and still not be pedal strike central
On XL the BB height is not too low. Narrower tires should not make a difference. I think the crank arms are 170mm anyway. I don't get pedal strikes that often.
I'm very tempted to buy one of these, mainly just for the frame as I have a pile of good quality bits I could stick on it.
I've read a review though saying the bb is higher. Than stated and that the head angle is 1.5 degrees steeper than stated. Can anyone confirm either way?
Sorry, i've not bothered to measure anything on it, i've just ridden it - i've not felt the need to check anything as it just rides well. I wouldn't be concerned about BB height or head angle. I used to get pedal strikes on my 2013 Specialized enduro all the time, not so many on this. So either i've learnt not to create them, or the bike is a bit taller, whatever it is i've not felt the need to question a few mm to work it out. Just enjoy and don't worry about the numbers.
Agree that the Norco fluid is an updated design that addresses issues from earlier generation fs bikes. For me it is noticeably more confidence inspiring compared to bikes from three years ago. Despite this is pedals better and does not have as many pedal strikes. On the other hand the bike is longer and heavier although this may be the ebike rated drivetrain. Either way it is a great package for the money. If you were to spend another grand on top of the selling price you will get similarly capable bikes with lighter groupsets.
Took my Fluid to Bike Park Wales on Friday (that was wet!). It’s ability outweighed my skill. I have to confess to being a bit nervy on the brakes in the wet, despite having loads of fun. Got loads of hand and arm pump, but that’s just me. I may invest in a set of Revgrips to see how they go. The bike coped with blue and red trails easily. It felt like just enough travel, and cruised through rocky sections well, whilst being flickable and easily changing direction on trails like Roller Disco.