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2015 Norco Range Carbon - Worth Keeping and Upgrading?

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2015 Norco Range Carbon - Worth Keeping and Upgrading?

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flag MevinSchmevick
O+
Posted: Jul 12, 2022 at 10:23 Quote
Hey All,

Most of the equipment on my bike is original except for the seat and rear derailleur. You can see the specs here:
https://www.norco.com/bike-archives/2015/range-c-74/


Most but not all of it is a bit worn out and out of date, so I'm in the process of upgrading different parts.
- I've done a 180mm-203mm disc conversion which has helped a lot, and I'm about to upgrade the dropper post to a 180mm or 210mm

Upgrades to come:
- 1x11 drive train, 11-51T and 30T chainring
- Shock and fork
- Tubeless
- Bars (maybe)

My question to those in the know... Seeing as modern bike geometry is much more developed than what it was 7 years ago, would I be better off selling this and getting something newer with better geometry and upgraded components already in place?

I like the bike and know it well, I'm doing the dropper post because I've found the climbing geometry isn't bad if the seat is high enough.

I'm leaning toward keeping it and doing these upgrades one at a time, per pay cheque if you will. I also don't have thousands of $$ to throw down on something newer at the moment.

Just not sure if I'm shooting myself in the foot and going to waste money on upgrading an old defunct design, however once the component upgrades are all done, I would always swap them over to a bare frameset as the last upgrade.

Looking for opinions, much appreciated, and thanks in advance.
flag M0rd4c4i
Posted: Jul 12, 2022 at 16:36 Quote
One thing that I always think is that newer isn't necessarily better.

And my bike confirms that, a 2008 Marin Quake 7.3 that I'm retrofitting and turning into some kind of chimera.

And why you ask, because I like the bike and it works well with me. I can even ride it on ice without spiked tires...

But I read up on yours, seems a really nice enduro. And retrofitting it may well be a dammed good idea, as prices for something new and similar are not nice at all on the pocket.

And there's some good deals you can drop on for newer gen secondhand shocks and forks.

Bearings may need replacing on swingarm and a new headset with sealed bearings is always nice.

Even had put a new headset on mine as it was an old FSA one with caged bearings and had seriously seen better days, went with a HOPE pick & mix 1⅛" one due to the size and it's been a massive improvement. Plus knowing some about engineering, you can get better quality replacement sealed bearings from bearing manufacturers and suppliers at a better cost.

But I'm thinking as you've got a boost axle spec frame you should be able to go up to 1×12, but that would require a completely new rear hub.
flag benhg
Posted: Jul 12, 2022 at 16:50 Quote
ignore - I will learn to read !
flag somebody-else
O+ FL
Posted: Jul 12, 2022 at 19:29 Quote
Go and ride some demo bikes on trails that you know if you can. Some riders don’t like the newer bikes.

As to upgrades, fresh tires setup tubeless and a suspension refresh (if you can still get it serviced) will be huge to the on trail feel. 1x11 will be nice too, less noise and far fewer dropped chains.
flag NBainas
Posted: Jul 15, 2022 at 11:15 Quote
I just recently sold my 2015 Norco Range Carbon C7.3

I honestly would have kept riding it if was the correct size (small, I needed a medium) The geometry is pretty good, its not the best climber, but is definitely capable and is still great on the downhills.

I did upgrade it to a 1x 11 speed drivetrain, put in a debonair air spring in the Pike fork and upgraded the stock SLX brakes to some Code R's. Those upgrades along with a seat that was the right sit bone width and a better handlebar made it a fun bike compared to stock.
flag MevinSchmevick
O+
Posted: Jul 16, 2022 at 10:24 Quote
Great feedback thank you!

"I honestly would have kept riding it if was the correct size (small, I needed a medium) The geometry is pretty good, its not the best climber, but is definitely capable and is still great on the downhills."

Agreed, it's not the best climber, but at the right seat height, it's not the worst.

"the right sit bone width and a better handlebar " - What did you change out to?

At the end of the day, I can't justify dropping thousands on a newer (still used) bike, but I can spend a few hundred every couple of months getting this thing up to scratch so that is my plan.

Just want to make sure I'm not throwing money away on a frame design that's horribly flawed with terrible geometry compared to that of today, which it isn't sounding like I am.

Just did the 180mm one-up seat post, and compared to the old E-ten 100mm dropped it makes a world of difference. Now for the 1x11 drivetrain!
flag M0rd4c4i
Posted: Jul 19, 2022 at 10:59 Quote
So by the sounds of that it's a different saddle, possibly a new stem and whatever bars you'd like really.

If you have a set of forks with a long steerer you could raise the stem and bar height with spacers.

And an updated/updated rear shock will help with climbing as it'll help to reduce wallowing, but in the meantime getting a shock pump to it and altering the pressure will help some.
flag NBainas
Posted: Jul 20, 2022 at 8:38 Quote
I went with an Ergon Enduro Comp. Having put about 350km on it now, I wish I went with a seat a little more comfortable, but the M/L size fits my sit bones properly and is comfortable at least for 15km. its only after that time/distance that I could use some more comfort.

I also swapped from a Chromag BZA to a OneUp handlebar and that was a huge improvement for my wrists and arm pump. The Chromag bar was just too stiff unfortunately.
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