Norco Launches 3 New eMTBs - Batteries Sold Separately
Norco have unveiled their new eMTB lineup, with three models whose intended uses run the gamut from trail to big mountain riding - the 130mm Fluid, the 150mm Sight, and the 170mm Range. All of the bikes use Shimano's EP8 motor, and have three different battery options. In fact, Norco lists the prices of each model without the battery included; it's up to the purchaser to decide what sort of capacity they're looking for.
Seb Stott has been putting in the miles on the new Sight, and you can read the full review of that bike here. We're also going to have an eMTB category in our upcoming Field Test for the first time ever, and the Range VLT will be included in that group of long-travel machines - look for those videos towards the end of the summer.
Seb Stott has been putting in the miles on the new Sight, and you can read the full review of that bike here. We're also going to have an eMTB category in our upcoming Field Test for the first time ever, and the Range VLT will be included in that group of long-travel machines - look for those videos towards the end of the summer.
Norco VLT Lineup
• Wheel size: 29"
• 3 models with 130, 150, or 170mm rear travel
• Carbon or aluminum frame options for Sight and Range, alloy only for Fluid
• Shimano EP8 motor
• 3 battery options: 540, 720, or 900 Wh
• norco.com
• Wheel size: 29"
• 3 models with 130, 150, or 170mm rear travel
• Carbon or aluminum frame options for Sight and Range, alloy only for Fluid
• Shimano EP8 motor
• 3 battery options: 540, 720, or 900 Wh
• norco.com
The shock mount is offset to provide more room inside the front triangle.
Tipping the Shimano EP8 motor upwards created more ground clearance.
Frame Details
The new models all share a similar suspension layout, with the shock now mounted underneath the top tube, rather than the vertically oriented configuration that was used before. On the Sight and the Range the shock mount is offset, which provides more clearance for piggyback shocks. Don't worry, though, there's still plenty of room for a water bottle. In fact, the large frame sizes can hold two water bottles inside the front triangle. All of that liquid storage capacity was made possible by the orientation of the EP8's motor – it's been tipped upwards, which also created more ground clearance, and allowed Norco's designers to achieve their desired kinematic goals.
The Sight and the Range are available with either carbon or aluminum frames, while the Fluid is only available with an aluminum frame. All of the head tubes are what Norco is calling 'super tapered' – that means there's a 1.8” lower diameter and a 1.125” upper diameter, in order to allow them to accept forks with 1.8” steerer tubes. It's a trend that's becoming more common on e-bikes, where the forces that a fork is subjected to are substantially greater than what occurs on a non-motorized bike. In Norco's lineup it's the RockShox forks that have the 1.8” tapered steerer, while the Fox forks still use the more common 1.5” tapered steerer.
All the frames have an integrated speed sensor on the non-drive side chainstay, which works with a rotor-mounted magnet. Other details include short, straight seat tubes to allow for longer travel dropper posts, internal cable routing, and molded chainslap protection.
Battery Options
Running out of juice before the fun is over isn't ideal, which is why Norco developed their own line of Shimano-approved batteries that use 21700 cells. The new battery system has a greater energy density than the prior generation, which means higher energy amounts are possible at a lighter weight.
The batteries are available in 540, 720, and 900 Wh capacities, and are priced at $749, $999, and $1,199 respectively. Why wouldn't you purchase the biggest battery available? Well, other than price, there's also a weight penalty of 690 grams, or 1.5 pounds with each capacity increase. The claimed weights for each battery are as follows:
• 540 Wh: 3190g
• 720 Wh: 3880g
• 900 Wh: 4570 g
That means the 540 Wh battery weighs 3 pounds less than the 900 Wh battery. That 900 Wh battery happens to be the largest capacity battery currently on the market. All of the batteries can easily be slid out from the downtube for off-the-bike charging or for a quick mid-ride swap.
Fluid VLT A1
Fluid VLT
The Fluid is the trail oriented option out of this trio of e-bikes, with 130mm of rear travel and a 140mm fork. There are two models, the Fluid A1 and the Fluid A2. Both options have aluminum frames and Shimano Deore drivetrains, but the $4,799 A1 gets 12-speeds, Shimano MT420 brakes, and a RockShox Select R shock, while the $4,199 A2 has 10-speeds, Tektro brakes, and an X-Fusion 02 Pro R shock.
Remember, those prices are without a battery – adding the least expensive battery to the A2 results in a price of $4,948; that's the least expensive option in the entire VLT lineup.
Sight VLT C1
Sight VLT
The electric Sight's geometry numbers mirror those of its non-motorized sibling, with the exception of the chainstay length. Key geometry numbers include a 64-degree head angle, 485mm reach, and a 77.7-degree seat angle for a size large.
There's 150mm of rear travel, and a 160mm fork. Four models are available, two with carbon frames (except for the chainstays), and two with aluminum frames.
Sight VLT C1: $8,599 USD - Fox Factory 36, Factory Float X2, SRAM GX / X01 drivetrain, Code RSC brakes, DT Swiss E1700 wheel
Sight VLT C2: $6,499 USD - RockShox Lyrik Select, SuperDeluxe Select+, Shimano MT520 4-piston brakes, e13 LG1 DH rims, DT Swiss 370 hubs.
Sight VLT A1: $5,999 USD - Fox Rhythm 36, Performance Elite Float X2, Shimano SLX / Deore drivetrain, MT520 brakes, e13 LG1 DH rims, Shimano Deore hubs.
Sight VLT A2: $5,299 USD - RockShox 35 Gold, SuperDeluxe Select+, Shimano Deore drivetrain, MT420 brakes, Stan's Flow D rims, Shimano hubs.
*Prices don't include battery.
Range VLT
The Range is the burliest option, and its 170mm of coil-sprung rear travel combined with a 180mm fork make its enduro / big mountain intentions clear. The slack, 63-degree heat tube angle also illustrates the fact that steep descents are what the Range was built for. Who knows, maybe this will end up replacing a DH bike and a shuttle vehicle for some riders.
Range VLT C1: $8,399 USD - Fox Factory 38, Factory DHX2, Shimano XT 4-piston brakes. Shimano XTR 12-speed derailleur, XT shifter, SLX cassette and chain. DT Swiss E1700 wheels.
Range VLT C2: $6,499 USD - RockShox Zeb Select, SuperDeluxe Coil Select+, SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, Code brakes, e13 LG1 DH rims, DT Swiss 370 hubs.
Range VLT A1: $5,999 USD - Fox Performance 38, Performance Elite DHX2, Shimano Deore / SLX drivetrain, MT520 brakes, e13 LG1 DH rims, Shimano Deore hubs.
Range VLT A2: $5,299 USD - RockShox Zeb RC, SuperDeluxe Coil Select+, Shimano Deore drivetrain, MT420 brakes, Stan's Flow D rims, Shimano hubs.
*Prices don't include battery.
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Course, if they throw in PB access for free I could see subscribing to Outside again? Cool pictures.
Example: Adobe went subscription based. I've been a Premiere user for years. Even though I can get mine on discount for $5/month, I'm out. Full on DaVinci Resolve for me.
then their next article is 'hey look at the new bikes we're releasing that start at $3999 pre tax and you won't get it until next year, lol f*cking peasants'
just accept this an elitist sport and there will always be a certain clientele of people that are involved in the sport. anyone can have fun riding a donkey but when you take it to the polo club you're going to feel left out.
I also ride a crazy expensive e cargo bike, a carbon gravel bike, a high end but sensible for what it is AL FS trail bike, so I am the the elitist/elite.
"anyone can have fun riding a donkey but when you take it to the polo club you're going to feel left out."
They exist because there is still an MTB market cash cow that has enough fat on it/blood in it that if you've got some basic machining and supply chain capability and can buy an ad on pinkbike, you can make money of the elite.
Bottom line, if you want to drive more demand for your product with a fixed supply, you have to lower your price to reach more demand. At the end of the day people vote with their money over their morals. Nobody approves of Jeff Bezos but everyone still shops on Amazon because it's easier. So unless they drop prices they're just basically releasing a memo that says 'hey people that don't ride, please save money and ride. We won't help you start, but it'd be really cool if you did.'
TLDR; there is only so much market share you can get from marketing, the rest has to come from adaptive selling practices. Something the industry as a whole doesn't seem to understand, its easier to release a 5 min video or a statement saying you're being more inclusive than it is to take a hit on profits.
As far as the "morals" and "pandering"... you're aware that people of color, women, etc. actually exist, right? That plenty of them have enough money to buy a mountain bike at current prices? Why is it "pandering" to attempt to appeal to an audience that isn't the traditional MTB audience? Tons of people have the money for MTB but don't fall into the traditonal 19-45 white male demo.
People put a premium on price and convenience over morals, every day. That's why Amazon keeps making money from liberals and conservatives alike that supposedly despise Bezos and 'the elite'. It's easier and cheaper to buy shit from Amazon, and hence people compromise their morals for financial benefit. So knowing that, any campaign built on moral/virtue signaling premises isn't going to work as well as just making things more affordable and accessible.
And thank you for confirming people of color and women exist, I had long suspected but really needed your sophomoric confirmation. And again, sure these people have plenty of money to buy a bike, but just because you have money doesn't mean you're going to drop $5k on a bike for a new hobby. And from what I've seen, aside from a few brands, prices are not dropping.
TLDR; lowering the price of goods will absolutely bring in more riders, and I'd wager more than these ubiquitous social justice tinged ad campaigns. And it turns out black people are real! Thanks charlie!
Well yeah, no shit. But since bike companies can't just magically make materials and components cost less to make this possible, I don't see what your point is. They shouldn't try to appeal to new audience or markets because that strategy is probably less effective than a hypothetical strategy that they could never actually employ?
"I'm really just tired of people trying to pretend this isn't an elitist sport."
OK, but who is pretending that? Your initial comment was complaining about brands "trying to get more people from different ethnicities, genders, and backgrounds riding." How is that "pretending this isn't an elitist sport"?
"So ya, end of the day profits>people for the community and the industry."
Again, no shit. But I don't see how this is an argument against advertising targeted at audience other than the traditional MTB demographic. Even if it's insincere on the company's part, it still makes a difference if you can see yourself represented in a sport or not, particularly for kids. And it certainly makes a difference for the athletes getting paid to be in the ads, getting sponsored, etc.
"Expecting people to hurdle substantial financial barriers because now they feel 'represented' is just dumb imo."
OK great. No one is doing that.
Guessing from your handle you are not the youngest person on here. Myself, I have been here since year one and I was older than most then. Bikes have improved (with in the constructs of a pedal only bike) My first real bike was a 1992 RockyMountain Hammer. That bike was $850 with tax. Now $1000 +/- will get you a decent hardtail that rides better (geometry), shifts better (design, materials manufacturing), has a suspension fork (period) and has light years better brakes (they were called "cantis" b/c they "canti" actually stop anything). You don't need full suspension or to spend $3000 to "get in the door".
As to why people want to bike... Well I grew up on the prairies, in a (bankrupt 2x, four kids on a single income: no money) non-sporting household, and I fell in love with the mountains on a holiday at 5yrs (still remember it). It was a dream, a desire to be "in the mountains". Wanna know how many riding friends I had in my home town until I moved away? Sure I am whiter than a pot of overcooked Uncle Ben's long grain rice, but by "demographics" I should not have got into riding either. The "culture" where I grew up was "If it don't take gas, why ride it / drive it?"
I don't agree that making bikes cheaper is going to create a LOT more mountain bikers for a lot of reasons. Some barriers are demographic (read financial); some geographic (what would entice the child of an immigrant in Regina, SK to take up mountain biking). Some cultural / background, guessing your gay (not relevant) Iranian (more relevant) nephew probly did not come from a huge line of active outdoors people, so why the desire to mountain bike? Personal choice. People will spend money on other things they value, how many people drop $600+ on a new phone every 6mos to a year. Video game consoles ($350) and games ($40-100/ unit) anyone? $60 name brand t-shirt. Money on booze and weed ect... and then complain about a "decent" bike being over $850? There is a reason that $200 Huffy is the machine it is.
I do agree that some of these ad campaigns come across a bit "me too", and I question their selection of their ambassadors at times. They miss the mark like only a bunch of white bike geeks can. But it will be that Image, video, story that sparks someone's imagination, enough to get them interested enough to at least think. "Maybe this cell phone will do me for a couple of years, so I can get that bike."
'
I don't know what's worse. Pinkbike getting bought out by Outside Online or these f*cking shenanigans Norco is pulling.
I personally like the modularity but I think they missed some form of story with using a battery platform or making some type of promise around future interchangeability. If I can buy a battery now and use it on this bike and then use it on a future Norco then I’m buying into a system and I don’t have any problem with that. As a lot of E bikes continue to advance it doesn’t matter if it comes with a battery or not because the battery you need isn’t made anymore so you’re totally f*cked. I like that they’ve thought about that a little bit and it would be great to see E bike manufacturers buy into a battery platform much like the scooter industry has done so you just have to buy the bike and you can get the battery from anyone. But the industry is where it is right now
In the realm of electric things, the battery is both the fuel tank AND gas. So yea, I feel that Norco is shorting consumers by not including the smallest capacity battery as standard, then allowing consumers to pay more for upgrades. Hell, even my EGO lawnmower and string trimmer each come with a battery. Like, imagine buying one of these only to find out batteries are sold out until 2025.
I wouldn't be so annoyed with this if there was a battery standard across ALL eMTBs and you can just swap batteries between all brands. But there isn't. This is some shit I would expect from the likes of Specialized and Santa Cruz. I thought Norco was one of the good ones.
Why does no one make an aluminum ebike, with a dropper post, 63 or less head angle, and 200mm of suspension?
Closest I can think of is Specialized Turbo Kenevo, but that's 64 & 180mm.
Husqvarna Extreme Cross is 65 & 200mm
It should literally be illegal to sell a mountainbike for more than 5k.
i've been on a 2021 commencal meta power 29 signature (160mm/170mm, EP8 630wh) since november & read battery capacity to the 1 percent increment using a garmin. in the last third of the battery capacity, if you use anything but eco you'll drain the battery drastically fast--i've seen it drop from 20% to zero in a few minutes. in eco however it'll tick down gradually percent by percent similar to the first 2/3 of the battery capacity. i use EP8 assist multiplier 2/10 for max range e.g. 6000' climbing & 35+ miles of mostly climb/descend, & 3/10 when doing 5000' or less.
in terms of value & aesthetics i far prefer the commencal to these norcos. $7600 USD (up from $7200 USD since the first round of orders starting 8/31/2020) includes the 630wh battery, fox float x2 factory + fox 38 factory, XT drivetrain & 4-pot brakes & the same wheelset. the closest equivalent norco in terms of travel & spec would be the Range VLT C1 with 720wh battery at $9400 USD--it has a bigger & better battery, probably heavier with the coil shock & more drag with the maxx grip tires however.
check out the polished aluminum full ohlins metapower, it's a dream:
www.commencalusa.com/meta-power-29-ohlins-edition-2021-c2x31920253
FYI for everyone who uses the term "Mopeds" for an eMTB doesn't understand the tech.
eMTB's are pedal-assist, Mopeds are not-pedal-assist. eMTB don't go anywhere until you start pedaling and a Mo~ped will go with a twist of the throttle "Motor" or pedaling.
Does that mean it'll be long travel regular bikes and the Range VLT will be stacked against them or can we get a comparison of a bunch of long travel ebikes pretty please?
Also, I agree with @Seb Stott that there's not much point in a 130mm e-bike.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPZDEWBzneY