Mountain Bike

Add This To Del.icio.us Tweet/ReTweet This Share on Facebook StumbleUpon This Add to Technorati Digg This

Norco DH

Author: Chris Armstrong | Created: 2010-09-16 08:54:52 | Location: Whistler, BC

Norco has a steep tradition in the freeride market. From the original VPS models from years past to the newer Shore line of bikes, Norco is deeply rooted in the North Shore style of riding. But they also make a DH specific line appropriately called the DH Race / Park. Falling in the lineup between the A-Line and the Atomik is the younger sibling to the Team DH, the DH. With a more affordable build kit, could the DH be the best value bike park ride?

Norco DH.

Coming in at just over 41 lbs, spec for the DH are well thought out and designed to keep quality up and price down. The DH is spec'd with a Rockshox Boxxer Race 203mm fork, Marzocchi Rocco Coil shock, Avid Elixr 5 brakes, Gravity Moto cranks, Sun wheels & Maxxis Ardent 2.4 tires. SRAM holds down the shifting duties with a X7 trigger, & derailleur. The cockpit is a mix of Funn bars & Stem, WTB Silverado saddle & a Norco housebrand seatpost.

Norco DH rear end.

Aesthetically I think this is one of the best looking bikes Norco has made. They have toned down the use of highlight colours on the bike and kept it simple with a white, black & anodized red scheme. The new hydro-formed tubes look cleaner while still being designed for style and use.

Geometry (as tested, M) for the DH was slack with a 64-degree head tube, almost 71-degree seat tube and a wheelbase of 1168mm. My initial impression of the DHs fit was that it was comfortable and very similar to my current ride. After adjusting the controls around to moto style, I was ready to get out and see what she could do.

Norco DH controls.

When I jumped off the lift and pinned it down the first run of the day, I noticed that the front end felt a bit twitchy. Almost like the angle was steeper than the advertised 64 degrees. After sliding the stanchions down slightly in the crowns and some minor adjustments to the compression on the Boxxer, it smoothed out the twitchiness and made the bike instantly more enjoyable.

The FSR suspension design works very well in a long travel configuration, eating up all the sutter bumps, holes & general roughness that the bike park becomes at the half way point of the season. Torsionally the bike feels quite rigid with no noticable flexing under load and it tracked very well.

Norco DH.

Specs:

FRAME	Norco 2010 DH frame
Fork	Rockshox Boxxer Race
Rear Shock	Marzocchi Roco Coil with piggy back
Headset	FSA Orbit E 1.5 R
Grips	Norco design MTB grip
Handlebars	Funn Fat Boy 15 mm rise butted
Stem	Funn RSX direct mount
Seatpost	Norco double bolt 2014
Saddle	WTB Silverado Comp
Front Brake	Avid Elixer 5 6" rotor
Rear Brake	Avid Elixer 5
Brake Levers	Avid Elixer 5
Shifter Front	N/A
Shifter Rear	SRAM x7 9 speed trigger
Front Derailleur	NA
Rear Derailleur	Sram X-7 med cage
CASSETTE	Sram PG-950 11-28T 9 sp
CHAIN	KMC Z-9000
CRANKSET	FSA Gravity Moto X Mega Exo 36T
BOTTOM BRACKET	with crank
CHAIN TENSIONER	E-13 LG 1 with Taco
PEDALS	Norco alloy flat with replaceable pins
FRONT HUB	20 mm alloy sealed bearing
REAR HUB	150 x 12 mm alloy sealed 9 sp
SPOKES	Stainless black
RIMS	Sun Equalizer 31
TIRES	Maxxis Ardent 26 x 2.4
TUBES

Changes I would make:

The fit of the DH was very comfortable, but if I had to make one improvement it would be wider bars, closer to the 800mm mark for increased stability.

Opinion:

With the DH coming in three sizes, priced very affordably, and performing up to the task, it might be the best value for the budget minded rider.

Plus:
Durable, affordable..

Minus:
Needs wider bars.

Rating: 4.5/5