Norco Youth Bikes 2017- First Look

Aug 31, 2016 at 11:55
by Norco Bicycles  

Norco Fluid FS 24
Norco Fluid FS 24"

To young people, a bike is more than just a bike. It's a two-wheeled passport to freedom and adventure. That's why the Norco youth line includes everything from 10-inch run bikes to full-suspension mountain bikes, and everything in between. New for 2017, we've added youth versions of our Fluid hardtail Plus bike, Valence endurance road bike, and VFR fitness bike.


The Real Deal

There are no hand-me-downs here. Our youth line features lightweight aluminum frames, custom geometry and kid-specific components to get kids riding early and riding often. Increased stand-over clearance and short chainstays help smaller kids fit bikes with larger wheels making it easier for them to roll over bumpy terrain, while short stems and wide bars add stability. The extra leg room also means that kids as young as 16 months can fit on our smallest run bike to get a head start on their riding skills.

Kid-tested and parent-approved, Norco Youth bikes are perfect for encouraging your little rippers to hone their skills and build their confidence so they’ll love riding just as much as you do.



Norco Fluid FS 24" - $1699 USD

Norco Fluid FS 24
Fluid FS 24": Aluminum frame, RockShox shock and fork, 24-inch wheels, ten speed, 100mm wheel-travel, and it now has a grom-ready dropper post.
Geometry and full specs



Norco Fluid FS 20" - $1499 USD
Norco Fluid FS 20
Fluid FS 20": Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, 10-speed, aluminum frame, 95mm wheel travel, 20-inch wheels, RockShox shock, RST fork, low-stand-over design.
Geometry and full specs



Norco Fluid HT+ 20" - $519 USD
Norco Fluid HT Youth 20
Plus sized aluminum hardtail for kids. The Fluid HT+ 20" comes with extra-wide 2.6" tires, 20" wheels, 8-speed drivetrain, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, and a 60mm-travel Suntour fork and downsized pedals, saddle and grips.
Geometry and full specs



Norco Fluid HT+ 24" - $599 USD
Norco Fluid HT Youth 24
Big brother to the Fluid HT+ 20, the 24-inch-wheel version has an aluminum hardtail frame, 2.6" Plus tires, an 80mm-travel Suntour fork, and also sports an 8-speed drivetrain.
Geometry and full specs



Valence Youth Road Bike - $569 USD
Norco Valence Youth
"Training" already in your kid's vocabulary? Norco now makes a youth road bike for budding road riders who are ready for the real deal. Choose between 24" or 650b wheels.
Geometry and full specs



Norco VFR 24" - $369 USD
Norco VFR Youth 24
Last but not least, the VFR 24" - perfect for dashing around the suburbs, on the search for ice-cream and swimming pools.
Geometry and full specs


View the full line-up at Norco.

Author Info:
norcobicycles avatar

Member since Feb 11, 2000
125 articles

42 Comments
  • 38 2
 Who'd a thought thirty years ago we'd all be sitting here looking at a Norco youth line of lightweight aluminum frames, custom geometry and kid-specific components?
In them days, we'd have been glad to have a supermarket BSO. A rigid supermarket BSO. Made of iron. With 90deg head angle, death brakes, and plastic tyres.
But you know, we were happy in those days, though we were poor.
Aye. BECAUSE we were poor. My old Dad used to say to me, "Money doesn't buy you happiness."
He was right. I was happier then and I had NOTHIN'. We used to live in this tiiiny old house, with greaaaaat big holes in the roof....
  • 25 0
 House? You were lucky to have a HOUSE! We used to live in one
room, all hundred and twenty-six of us, no furniture. Half the
floor was missing; we were all huddled together in one corner for
fear of FALLING!
  • 18 0
 @fercho25: lived in a cave me, was raised by a feral cat
  • 18 0
 @fercho25: Falling? you were lucky to be able to avoid FALLING! we fell every weekend, all 37 of us onto our bellies like the pied pipers RATS. And there were RATS many of them and we were rats very often or at least indistinguishable from them, with our filthy HOOVES.
  • 3 0
 @fercho25: 20 miles each way in the snow. uphill. damn kids, get off my lawn
  • 3 4
 I wasnt poor. still had a shitty steel Huffy though
  • 2 1
 We just stared into the sun cause it was fun until our eyes burst into flames because we didn't know any better....and we LIKED IT!. Just a bunch uh iidots running around with our heads on fire.

"Grumpy Old Man" - SNL ...paraphrased
  • 12 0
 @browner Luxury. We used to have to get out of the lake at three o'clock in the morning, clean the lake, eat a handful of hot gravel, go to work at the mill every day for tuppence a month, come home, and Dad would beat us around the head and neck with a broken bottle, if we were LUCKY!
  • 10 0
 We lived in a rolled up newspaper in the middle of the road. Had to get up half an hour before we went to bed and lick the road clean with our tongue.............................
  • 5 0
 grew up in a van down by the river!
  • 21 0
 Ok PB users, all your "short" 120mm & 150mm dropper posts could be used by the kids shredding these rigs. They'll probably be faster then you
  • 12 0
 wait a second... whos complaining that a 150mm droppers too short?? did a whole bunch of NBA players just start riding mtn bikes?
  • 8 1
 "Than" not "then". I'll get my coat.
  • 5 0
 I'll probably be losing races to snails on meth somewhere already, so kids surpassing me is a universal upgrade really.
  • 1 0
 @whitebullit: look at the comments on all of the recent top posts of new dropper posts. A good number of people demanding more than 150. Saying they would have bought the post but it's only 150 lol its comical.
  • 17 0
 Am I missing the weights? I know manufactures don't like posting them, but it's super important when kids don't weight much. Weight was one of the biggest factors for me when purchasing my last kids bike, and will continue to be a factor going forward.
  • 7 0
 Mid Fat Kids Bikes? Increased traction, control and comfort! Count me in with #teamdadbod making these the go to options for my kid! Nice work Norco.
  • 5 0
 Mid fat is a really great option for kids learning to ride off-road. My daughter has done great on her 20" Specialized RipRock. I would have bought this Norco from my LBS if it had existed earlier this year.
  • 3 0
 Kids bikes are so hard. They should be way lighter than a grown ups bike, but usually end up weighing more. Majority of parents either can't or won't drop thousands of dollars on a kids bike. Unfortunately though they aren't cheaper to make than a grown ups bike. A kids full suspension bike still has all the same parts as a full size bike. Norco doesn't list a weight for that 20" full suspension, but looking at the parts list I'd bet it's about 30 pounds, twice what a kids bike should be at that size. There just isn't a big enough market for custom lightweight kids components and tires. So you have 30 to 75 pound kids running components and tires meant to hold up to 200 pound guys thrashing them. That Norco looks sweet, but the weight is tough and that fork is not very good. My son rides a Lil Shredder Prodigy. Amazing frame, but total weight of bike is still kind of high due to components and tires all weighing too much. Too bad the realities of the marketplace are such that a dialed in, lightweight, kids full suspension bike at an even remotely reasonable price isn't going to happen. It's good to see more and more options out there though and frugal parents will find some good deals soon on secondhand kids bikes.
  • 6 0
 $599 USD on a mtb bike... it is time to go back to 24 wheels.
  • 3 0
 #24forlife but seriously, I'm 5'3", I don't think it would be much of a stretch.
  • 2 1
 More 24" tire options please... Snypers are ok but give us something a little wider/chunkier than 2.0 that's not a heavy as hell DH tire... the 20" version comes in a 2.2 folding why doesn't the 24"? Lots of cool kid bikes coming on the market but there are still very limited options for 24" tires... try to even find the Kendas that come stock on the Transition Ripcord.
  • 1 0
 Dmr moto digger
  • 2 0
 vitalmtb.com Eurobike coverage, maxis tires, 24" minions.
  • 1 0
 They should follow the lead of other companies like Rocky Mountain and add the possibility of upgrading to 26" wheels on the 24" versions. Otherwise the price point is too high. Why buy a bike that will last a couple years when you can buy one that will last double that if not more... I'm sold on the Reaper.
  • 4 0
 Adjustability between wheel sizes sounds better than it really is. After you shell out for a new fork wheelset and tires the savings inst usually there. Considering that the resale on these types of kids bikes is relatively high, you are often better off selling the old ride and buying another.
  • 1 0
 Anybody know anything about Flow Kids Bikes? They look brand new and I haven't been able to find any reviews of them yet. Their website makes it sound like you can change from a 16" wheels to a 20" wheels so that they can grow with your kid. The build kits look good and the price seems reasonable for what they are offering. Give a shout if you know anything.
www.flowkidsbikes.com
  • 1 0
 New company out of Truckee. Took Lil Shredder's adjustable wheel size idea and off shored the frame production to overseas (Lil Shredder frames are handmade in the USA by Ventana). Looks like a good value and they got some components made for them. Website made it seem like only one size of crank length, no way same size works for 16" and 20" wheels, so you'd need to get smaller cranks for 16".
  • 1 0
 @LittleDominic: Cool, thanks for the info and your thoughts about the crank. The Lil Shredder's do look great, but the price tag on them is high for my budget, even the Flow bike is pushing it for me. The changeable wheel size is certainly helpful in that area (as long as it works with the rest of the bike). As you said in your earlier post, it is great to see more quality kids bikes coming onto the market. I still have a bit of time as my boy is still 2, so maybe more options will open up and maybe some prices will drop. I'll keep my fingers crossed but won't hold my breath.
  • 1 0
 Youth road bike...was not expecting to see that. Pretty dope bikes for the young ones. If only these were available when I was younger it wouldn't have taken me so long to discover mtb.
  • 1 0
 My bike cost that much and it doesn't even have a dropper like theirs does. Wish I had one when I was that young.
  • 2 0
 That just decided my daughters next birthday present!
  • 3 1
 Harambe would've loved that fluid hardtail...
  • 1 0
 Now if they could just add a 26" version... large frame...carbon...
  • 3 1
 Norco gets it!
  • 1 0
 20 plus size rules.
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