Mike Hopkins Signs With Norco Bicycles for 2012
Rossland BC native Mike Hopkins has signed on with Norco Bicycles for 2012 as an independent rider. For the upcoming riding year, Mike will be aboard the Norco Aurum, Sight, Shinobi, Rampage and custom slopestyle frames as he accomplishes his season's goals.
Mike comes to the team with a strong list of accomplishments, boasting major video spots in Life Cycles, From the Inside Out, Red Bull Rampage and many other videos. Mike has also been recently featured in several print publications and websites internationally. His dedication and passion for the sport have made him one of the most recognizable athletes in mountain biking.
Looking forward at 2012, Mike has even grander plans than in years' past. This coming season he will be working on major video projects with Sherpa Cinema, Second Base Films and Absolute Zero. Mike is also planning to participate in the 2012 Deep Summer Photo Challenge and the Redbull Rampage. With his Norco bike Mike will work closely with Norco and his other sponsors: Monster Energy, The North Face and others on many of these key projects.
| I am excited to work with a company like Norco that has built its brand around bikes engineered for my style of riding. The opportunity to work with Norco's engineers on new design ideas and platforms is very exciting. Watching Gravity Tune come out of Norco in conjunction with the Dirt Norco Race Team illustrates Norco's dedication to its riders and product development. - Mike Hopkins |
| We couldn't be happier about adding a top-tier Big Mountain rider such as Mike Hopkins to our list of supported riders. The level of skill, professionalism and exposure that he brings with him will do great things for Norco and I know that we can offer Mike the opportunity to push his success and career even further. - Pete Stace-Smith - Norco Marketing Manager. |
Mike brings with him a list of personal sponsors including Monster Energy, The North Face, Marzocchi, Shimano, 661, Gravity and Smith Optics.
Scott, Knolly, Norco
Must be a new record i guess
I'll give you my girlfriend for a Aurum frame ?
I really wish Marzocchi would have a 20mm option in the 44 range! Im not entirely convinced on the 15mm stuff... A Vector Air would also be a sweet option for the rear end duties!..
Last thing I heard on the slopestyle project, is that it was essentially just a prototype. Allthough now seeing Hopkins on one too... I can only figure this might grow into a permanent offering. One thing though, back in 2010 and 2009 the 4x and Empire series didnt sell, they later(this past season) had to get rid of the bikes on closeouts. We were selling Empire 5 SE for around $1500 compared to their $3200 retail figure back in 2009. Keep your fingers crossed and annoy your local shop or rep... hah
Thanks for the info mate, Glad to get some straight forward INTELEGENT material from someone who's actually ridden the bikes.I'm just hoping that I get to throw a leg over some of these new Norco's in the next year c ause they're still rare as hen's teeth even in Oregon which is nearly as close as you can get to CA in the states aye. Sad for me being a Norco fan, but all the more reason to go see the fam in Canada and bring myself home a new present aye
Having ridden RS forks up until this year, and then FINALLY decided to make the move to a Marz 888 RC3 EVO V2 on the big bike, can't say I was sad when I mounted the 888 up to the bike... So freaking plushhhhhh!! I hear ya on the elka stuff, been riding Elka rear shocks for the past 4 seasons now, truly amazing stuff! Now only if they'd try making an Air version of the Stage 5!! hah I've been recently turned onto the X-Fusion bits from a close friend of mine, was definitely surprised when I took the Vector Air out of the box and mounted on the bike, feels really close to a coil shock but has this nice "support" in the mid-stroke. Really nice stuff overall.
I wish I could've found a Large size in the 4xxxx when it was cleaing out, cuz with the Marz 4x RC3, the front end duties felt dialed and the whole build, with Gravity light crankset and sram drivetrain, avid brakes all mount on rather light and strong SRingle Equaliser 21 wheelset. The bike had the best spec around, IMO that large size but with something like a KS Supernatural dropper post would've been a fun little trailbike setup. Come to think of it, we did sell quite a few Empire SE to smaller 5'5 and under folk looking for a bombproof trailbike setup... Our bread and butter this season at the shop TBH was the most more aggressive side of things, ALOTTTTTT of BMX and 5+ dual suspension bikes (incl. 4xxxx and Empires).
Get in touch with your local Norco dealer, they¨will be able to hook ya up!
www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/trail/sight
This is so awesome to see Mike with Norco! Glad Norcos picking up the great riders, and the Aurum is awesome! Glad to see Norco back in the game!
http://www.norco.com/archives/2011/?id=rampage-frameset