A brand new model for 2017, the Torrent FS+ is our first ever 650B Plus full suspension bike. Designed from the ground up with aggressive all-mountain geometry, 130mm A.R.T. suspension and trail-taming 2.8" wide tires, the Torrent devours everything in its path. Conquer gnarly root sections, float over rock gardens and claw up steep, loose technical climbs with ease. Fun and aggressive with traction in spades, the Torrent FS takes all-mountain riding to a whole new level.
Torrent FS+ A7.1 - $4799CAD
Torrent FS+ A7.2 - $3399CAD
For full spec and details, visit norco.com. / @norcobicycles
I think it's quite nice, but then again I do think Stifflers moms a MILF
A little tidbit as well; not sure what your wife's skill level is, but we had a lady in her late 30's early 40's come to a demo day earlier this year that said when she comes up to roots or rocky sections on the trails, she tends to slow down so much or walk that she just didn't really find mountain biking that much fun, she mostly did it for the kids. First we sent her out on a $4000 Scott Genius and she was like ehh, it was alright, but she still kinda felt the same uneasiness about the trail. So we sent her out on a $2000 Scott Scale plus bike - and she came back just grinning. If your wife isn't a big ripper, she might love the extra tire; see if you can demo one somewhere back to back with a regular trail bike so she can decide that way. I wouldn't let the tire sidewall be a driver behind the purchase.
.....and NN are not tough enough for regular abrasive rock use, that's without considering the exposed sidewalls...I ran a 2.35" tubeless and it got shot to bits, I was lucky it never tore given the massive gaps between the centre blocks
Also, my comment seemed kinda contradictory now that I re-read it; I was talking about two different tires in the same sentence. We don't usually stock Schwalbes at our store, because while they make a great tread, they just don't seem to hold up well. Our racers use them, but that's about it, and they usually buy the pricey Snakeskin version. The plus tires are the ones I meant we "can't say we've seen a chronic sidewall problem," and seem to hold up just the same as any regular tire.
Also also, +1 on WTB durability (but on some rims...how tight are those beads).
In other words, Hey you kids, get off my lawn!
Wait a couple of years; you'll be happily riding your plus bike and loving life, but continuing to rail on *insert newest trend* because, well, that's what we mountain bikers apparently like to do.
The only warning I can give is about the rear hub. The warranty replacement sucked also. I went with a Hope and it's been perfect.
That's the main reason I went with a Spec Fuse 6Fattie hardtail over a Devinci Hendrix full suspension (the price diff to me would have only been about $500). The Hendrix has maxxis tires that were labeled 3.0s but because of the 35mm rim spec, the actual tire width came out about 2.8, and there wasn't really room for more in the frame. The Fuse had the better tire clearance and came stock with wider 50mm rims, so its specialized 3.0 labeled tires really were 3.0 width. I replaced the stock rubber for Vee Trax Fatty 3.25s the moment I got the bike home, setup tubeless with no effort at all on the WTB Scraper rims, and they barely leak any air at all (I lose like 1psi over 5 days). The Vee's have a 120TPI casing with Silica rubber compound, roll great, grip great, and inflated to a measured 3.16 inch width, at more than a quarter pound less weight than the stock specialized tires.
If ya want a fatbike.. Get a fatbike.. They are ok..
I tried one of these +bikes.. Honestly, nothing beets my
HANS DAMPF 2.35... All the traction ya need
Local Norco Rep, said that the new range, "is a refresh,but not game changing", so your guess.
here's how it works, get a standard wheel size trail bike, get wide rims, put 2.3-2.4 regular tires on it = win