I'm 5' 10", 215lbs with gear and tend to plow and currently have a Ripmo AF with a 550lbs spring on a Jade X that's perfect. This sort of considerate feedback keeps the wind in my sails! RockShox 35 Gold Fork. Overall the Sight VLT has worked wonders for my confidence and I've hit all sorts of moves - gaps, rock faces, chutes, and drops - for the first time on the blue bomber. Ive owned a diamond before and loved that but never one of their shocks. Battery life is amazing. . in the beginning when switching on the battery the battery level indicator on the control screen would not show battery level. A proviso is that the door can be tricky to open with gloves or with cold fingers because the ledge designed to give you some leverage is both narrow and sharp on my dainty digits. I've been better about that kind of strength in recent years so I'm rarely afflicted, unless I have yet to adjust to the weight of an e-bike. Removable batteries also allows Norco to fine tune the VLT's. The batteries come in three sizes, and can be purchased separately. No, we wouldnt. I get it, ABS is probably great for commuting. Down to 18.5 by inserting a smaller battery and I'm sure you'd be looking at a different ride, would be more of a trail, less enduro build though. The Sight hits most of the right notes for me. has anyone swapped out brake hoses or shifter cables on there VLT? It holds its line assuredly through off-camber corners, and even when plummeting down the most brutal rock-filled gullies, we never felt like we were being pushed off-course. The straight and uninterrupted seat tube means theres a decent amount of insertion for the dropper post, and it uses the new-school 34.9mm diameter to increase strength and stiffness. Norco's online documentation is excellent. Be sure to follow Flow Mountain Bike online and on our social media channels for all the latest bike news, reviews, videos, travel features and more!Website - https://flowmountainbike.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/flowmountainbike/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/flow_mtb There are 540Wh, 720Wh and 900Wh options, with the latter being the single biggest battery on the market (and also one of the heaviest); Why three options? Looking back I should have been more clear though and said "What does seem clear though is that you don't like certain types of ebikes and have some biased views of the people who ride them.". Sexiest AM/enduro bike thread. There are no internal guides and there are two exit holes, one for SRAM and one for Shimano, although the Shimano one is blocked. It's not particularly high, but it's very exposed and blind and frankly, it scares me. I think I know the answers to those already, but just thought I'd ask. Its not impossible, it just requires a more active riding style compared to the lighter and more agile e-MTBs weve tested. However, the plastic shrouds surrounding the motor are flimsy and seem unfinished. Half Popeye. This failed more than once but eventually enough of the housing was inside and I could push the housing and pull the hose in tiny increments until both emerged from the port. The rear Maxxis Dissector isn't one I'd choose, and in situations where high grip was needed, it wasn't up to the task. Along with the robust frame and slack head angle, the Sight VLT is as sure-footed as they come. A more advanced element of eMTB riding, that I've been slowly getting better at, is tackling technical climbs that I'd never consider under my own power. Norco went a unique route here and is selling batteries separately. Possibly a good candidate for AXS. After about 15 tries I got the end into the opening of the port but no further. Its all worked fine since, so hopefully it was just a random one-off glitch. At that moment it felt like one of the biggest accomplishments of my life. If you're somewhere in the middle there's a 720 as well. The most economical model, the Norco Sight VLT A2 29 2020 has a starting price of 4699 USD. These revelations have amplified my e-riding pleasure further and this often influences my chosen route. Made from reliable 21700 lithium-ion cells, you can be certain that typical battery degradation will be consistent and slow. It combines 150mm of rear wheel travel with a 160mm fork. Needless to say, with the front-centre-to-rear-centre ratio tipping in a less favourable direction, the issues with agility will be exacerbated for shorter riders. . I prefer the spec on the Norco in terms of suspension and brakes, while the finish and details on the Rocky frame are superior. Just in case, I attempted to attach the new housing to the old so that removing the damaged housing would guide the replacement into place. On the plus side, youll be able to save some cash on that now-unnecessary gym membership. I was wondering what everyone would think of a crowd sourced battery programme. And sadly there will always be a couple of bad actors out there using the same toys as us, but making bad choices about their use. Ultimately the Norco Range VLT C1 is a good bike with an intended user and terrain, if it's in your wheelhouse, you will enjoy what it offers. Thankfully there were no witnesses because I'm sure this was a comical sight. Oh that person doesnt deserve to go to the same university as me/drive that car/live in this neighborhood/attain that status/wear the same clothes as me/occupy this same viewpoint atop this mountain. It flutters over chunder comfortably, and there is excellent composure under heavy braking. Check out our Trek Rail review for more. I've been on a vlt 1 for almost a year now. Indeed for shorter-legged riders who are on the border between two sizes, the adjustable dropper post is a nifty feature. What does seem pretty clear though is that you don't like ebikes and have some pretty biased views of them and the people who ride them. While wed like to see a steeper seat angle on the Rail, the Bosch motor offers more grunt and a usable amount of overrun on technical climbs. It's all you need to swap your battery. like riding a Specialized Turbo Levo. There is about 800 gms in the motor and I'm guessing about 1600-1700 gms in the battery so circa 2.5kgs? The Sight VLT C1 offers 150mm of RockShox Deluxe Select + travel, and is equipped with an e-spec RockShox Lyric Select fork. Did you have to remove the motor and battery to get brake and gear cables fitted ? These are purchased separately from the bike and Norco would be happy to sell you more than one. The bike shop has been great to deal with and are talking to Norco and Shimano here in Australia. The one exception is the low BB. Follow. Im beyond stoked to ride it. However, its worth pointing out that the rear centre length is identical on all four frame sizes. Don't post your bike. Get the latest industry news direct to your inbox. Unfortunately I always forget until I get slapped to the ground several times. Watching some of the local experts at this, namely Wade Simmons and Olympian Andreas Hestler, is inspiring. This new iteration is not an inherently poppy or playful bike, and the long chainstays mean that shorter riders are likely to find the overall length a handful, especially since its so heavy. Does new bike (suspension) require servicing? It seems a little tricky, but at least you'll be blind. You are the first. Simply input your height, weight, skill level and riding position, and out spits the recommended air pressures and damper settings. Photo - Cam McRae. The Shimano manual has instructions for a removable battery. I can put out an outrigger when I'm having difficulty and balance myself quite easily even in precarious situations. Tell me again why external routing is bad? No XL and bringing the battery inside easily is a major plus for me in winter. I managed to sort the cable routing finally. Introducing the new Focus Jam2 and Sam2 your perfect match? Trevor solved his issue with the Bluetooth connection to his phone (quite easily), but I never bothered. the 630watt battery is superior to my friends 500watt kenevo. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Three proprietary battery options available (sold separately), Select your ideal capacity from 540Wh ($749), 720Wh ($999), 900Wh ($1199), Proprietary batteries featuring 21700 lithium ion cells, Batteries remove and install in seconds with a single onboard tool, Removable batteries for off-bike charging, bringing a spare, or selecting the Overall though the frame details seem to be solid. I have yet to ride the Norco but I plan to test one out. I've been dealing with a weird and as-yet-undiagnosed health issue for some time that unpredictably impacts my cardio performance. The Sight VLT has the Rail beat on battery capacity however, and we prefer the Shimano display and mode controller compared to the Bosch equivalent. And depending on the length of your rides, you also dont need to remember to charge it before every single trip out, which may appeal to some riders. Youll notice its heft anytime you have to lift it over a fallen log on the trail, or a gate, or into a workstand, or the back of your car. The platform is nicely balanced and the low slung weight seems to boost my confidence and ability off jumps and drops. One of my favourite elements of riding eMTBs is how it levels the playing field. - The hefty weight
relates to the overly stiff Deity Skywire 35mm carbon bar. The Spinlok plug is comprised of a thru-bolt and nut with an expanding rubber mid-section. I've been on a vlt 1 for almost a year now. No complaints here at all. You can get a piggy back for the Rocky but that's not as clean and integrated as the Sight. While the weight does contribute to the Sight VLTs planted performance on high-speed descents, all of that stability of course doesnt come for free. I'm not ranting about any particular brand :D, https://si.shimano.com/api/publish/storage/pdf/en/dm/EP800/DM-EP800-03_ENG.pdf. Because the chainstays are so long, its basically impossible to loop out, even when charging uphill in full Boost mode. The manual for the bike has instructions for a Bosch motor instead of the Shimano. 11% battery is quite a lot of vert. that issue was corrected with a shimano steps firmware correction. I began to imagine walking into emergency with my entire arm stuck inside a bicycle. It was nice to ride some Shimano brakes without rattly finned pads, though any ambiance was interrupted by the EP8 clacking noise. This was made worse for a time when I lost one of the bolts that keep the motor cover in place, but replacing the bolt has improved it some. Eventually I managed to put some pressure on the hose and advance the housing inside with my thumb and forefinger, a couple of millimetres at a time. You can really feel more power coming on when you increase your effort, while the Norco feels more linear. It can be coaxed into leaving the ground, and once airborne it does follow a nice, steady trajectory. The center of gravity feels foreign - coming from someone whom typically does emtb rides on a Levo. Theres also a generous 40mm worth of spacers to help dial in the bar height, and we set the stem smack-bang in the middle of that range. It likely wouldn't have lasted more than a shift or two but Deniz had the idea to tightly wrap the affected area with a zip tie and then cover that repair with tape. ", "I've been riding one of these in the same spec with the 900 battery. FORK Fox Rhythm FLOAT 36, 160mm Travel, 44mm Offset, E-Rated 03. Working blind, I tried to manipulate the housing into the internal opening of the exit port. Those who have both the genetics and the time in their legs to be first tier climbers with excellent stamina don't like to see others do what they can do, and while I sympathize with these feelings, I'm also aware that tying your self image to your ability to gain elevation on your own power, and letting that cloud your judgement, isn't a positive life strategy. Just reach all the way in there, up to the head tube, and guide the housing from one side of the battery compartment to the other and then through the exit tunnel. I have done it a number of times with the regular bike, I'd love to do it with the Norco. The additional torque from the Shimano EP8 motor is welcome over the older E8000 drive unit when attempting to solve tech-climb puzzles. I've been riding one of these in the same spec with the 900 battery. Just wondering if anyone thinks I should ask the bike shop about swapping that spring out? Equipped with the 900Wh battery, the Sight VLT has outperformed every other e-MTB weve tested in terms of its range potential. Be sure to follow Flow Mountain Bike online and on our social media channels for all the latest bike news, reviews, videos, travel features and more!Website - https://flowmountainbike.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/flowmountainbikeInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/flow_mtb At the beginning of one of the rides when these photos were taken, I noticed my rear derailleur housing was down to the wire where it crosses over to enter the swing arm, possibly because it had slipped out a cable guide. If weight and cost are more of a concern, pick the 540Wh battery. I externalized the derailleur and dropper cables and secured with zip ties. Has anyone had issues with the 630wh battery being a frame specific non shimano branded battery, any warranty issues? 2023 Norco Sight VLT C2 Only 371km Never stacked 720Wh battery Shimano STEPS EP8 motor $10,699 brand new Medium Carbon frame wrapped in edge techs $500 full protection kit Rockshox Lyric Select 160mm front fork Rockshox Super Deluxe Select 150mm rear shock Sram GX Eagle derailleur Sram SX shifter Shimano BR MT520 4 Piston front brake Once I make the adjustment and remember to look for more stable islands of safety to stop and plant a foot, I'm generally okay, but I need to be vigilant. However its says battery can only be removed by dealer, so similar to the Focus Jam. If so, is it common that it does? Cheers. It's possible that Norco has novel solutions to these routing issues but I like to operate as a consumer rather than a journalist in these situations to provide a more accurate portrayal of what it's like to own the bike in question. Climbing on an eMTB isn't quite half the fun, but it can still be a blast. Its more expensive and its also heavier, putting more weight higher up and closer to the head tube, which does affect handling something well get onto in a moment. gotta love those "holy shit i didn't die" moments. THE-GUNT wrote: Post pics and conversation tips on your 2022 Norco VLT eMTB'S. Down here in aus, expected delivery is Now July 2022 for the sight VLT C1 . Heres how the weight stacks up against some of the other e-MTBs weve tested over the past year or so; Given its substantial bulk and raked-out geometry, itll come as no surprise that the Norco Sight VLT offers a ridiculous amount of stability. 00. . Does anyone know if the front and rear triangles are the same between the 2022 VLT bikes (Range, Sight, Fluid)? try the cane creek progressive spring. That got us to 20% seated sag for the fork, and 30% for the shock. Trail I've been stoked on lately - Boogieman, Preferred Reach - 485-500mm (longer with 27.5 wheels than 29), Tags: Just in case you don't know (and often bike factory employees seemingly don't..), the drive side drive unit bolts need tightening first ;) Re-installing the DU easily depends on frame design and cable management. Of course I'm working my heart and lungs on an eMTB but the impact of my issue isn't generally bad if I can keep my heartrate lower, which is rarely possible climbing under my own power around here if I want to stay with the group. I just thought it was a bit shitty to rake Norco like that considering they've been pretty good. These discoveries were a little disappointing, but having never attempted to string cables and lines through any other eMTBs, I can't say that Norco is better or worse than the others. Cornering is another big strength and the bike loves to be tipped over hard, even on uneven surfaces. Although I think 600 may be too much. Dropping your battery is a little easier than replacing it. First the bike has foreign balance, then its too heavy, too powerful, then its ugly, then it belies your assessment of what Norco is, then its destructive, dangerous, etc etc. I'm not saying there aren't legitimate criticisms of eMTBs and those who ride them. When I saddle up an eMTB, particularly a burly one like this, there is an adjustment I have to make to prevent mayhem. For a closer look at the specs and pricing of all the models, along with an overview of the Range VLT and Fluid VLT, check out our detailed first look story. I now feel qualified to birth a calf or spay a heifer. Knowing that removing the motor isn't such a huge operation is a relief. Thanks to each of you for the kind words. It's not for everyone, and certainly not for me all the time, but it's a blast and a great alternative for this 56-year-old bastard. The Norco Sight VLT C1 2022 is a Full suspension Enduro Mountain Bike with a carbon frame. If someone needs to work harder they can drop down a mode and if someone is struggling they can stay in boost, and everyone gets their workout. Theres notably more big-hit support, and while we found the stock setup to work beautifully, you do have options to tune the volume of both the positive and negative air chambers if needed. The handling is outsandingly good, and along with the 6-way adjustable geometry and MasterMind TCU display, its easily the most refined e-MTB weve tested. However, the latest iteration has moved to a trendy mullet wheel setup. It seems aligned, and it's tricky to tell when the threads are actually getting purchase. Rivaling the Levo for integration. - Kosciusko-beating range from the 900Wh battery I just picked up a 2022 Range C2 in large. Aside from going out and deliberately trying to ride the battery flat, we generally found our body and brain wearing out long before the battery died. Theyve been very tight lipped. Norco Sight VLT A2 29 2021 is the most economical model, with a starting price of 4699 USD. The display is fine overall but the battery level indicator is a miss. Batteries can be purchased separately, so you can always upsize at a later date if you decide you want more range. Gen 3 VLT E-MTB Features: Three proprietary battery options available (sold separately) Select your ideal capacity from 540Wh ($749), 720Wh ($999), 900Wh ($1199) Proprietary batteries featuring 21700 lithium ion cells; Batteries remove and install in seconds . The geometry, suspension kinematics, component choices, and most of the fit and finish are very well sorted for the kind of riding I do normally, and yet easily adaptable to more mellow terrain. - Plastic motor shroud is flimsy and seems unfinished
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