With the big battery, the Fluid VLT A1 lists for $6,100 and will go huge distances. However its says battery can only be removed by dealer, so similar to the Focus Jam. Removable batteries also allows Norco to fine tune the VLT's. The batteries come in three sizes, and can be purchased separately. The power mode is indicated by text, and more usefully, colour. Damn That fork really pops. Just got a second hand one and keen to get it going but theres a lot of trial and error and a good base would help. $150 firm $150 Negotiable I have a good sense of how to reel it in on my mountain bikes, but the extra mass of bikes like the Sight VLT changes that equation. The additional torque from the Shimano EP8 motor is welcome over the older E8000 drive unit when attempting to solve tech-climb puzzles. While the previous statement remains true, the Sight almost claimed me on a move (seen below) I'd only done a couple of times before. no issues since. 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. The Sight hits most of the right notes for me. Safety Your safety is a top priority so always wear a helmet when you ride your bike. The most economical model, the Norco Sight VLT A2 29 2020 has a starting price of 4699 USD. Heres how it panned out; No doubt about it, the Sight VLT absolutely crushed the competition with just shy of 2,500m of elevation gain. Just like its predecessor, the 2022 Norco Sight VLT features 29in wheels, a 160mm travel fork and 150mm of rear wheel travel. JavaScript is disabled. The Code brakes, with 220/200mm rotors slow things down effortlessly, the drivetrain, aside from a housing issue (see below), has been entirely up to the arduous task of dealing with all the riding I've done. Now I'm working on guiding the housing through the chainstay, which is proving tricky as well. I finally gave up, refusing to drop the motor to perform routine service. A big thumbs up to Norco for specing tough DoubleDown casings. So a nice element for me is knowing I can go for a ride, put in some miles and get a decent workout and do some downhill without being in the red zone and unable to move faster than a snail's pace. However, the latest iteration has moved to a trendy mullet wheel setup. Cheers. Yes folks, there is literally no mountain in this country that the Sight VLT couldnt climb up. The Shimano EP8 motor is quiet and powerful and uses less battery than the previous generation apparently. The World's largest electric mountain bike community. This meant Wil could also test out the Sight VLT, despite his 175cm height being better suited to a Medium. Video: Norco Introduces the Sight VLT eMTB - Pinkbike, E-Mountainbike article including geo and pricing, Norco introduces the Sight VLT, featuring a carbon frame and a 630 Wh battery | E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine, Norco Sight C GX 2019 Electric Mountain Bike | ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN BIKES | Evans Cycles. the 630watt battery is superior to my friends 500watt kenevo. Just because there's a single (or more) bicycle component on some unregulated motorcycles doesn't erase the fact that the pedal power aspect can be easily removed to facilitate it being operated as a motorcycle. And this brings us to our next point the fact that the Norco Sight VLT is 29er specific, with no option to fit a smaller 27.5in rear wheel. i had a similar near death experience on that rock roll on the marin (the distended downtube hooked the top edge of the rock resulting in a very not welcome forward pitch). And these can be nasty falls into rock gardens, onto fallen logs with knots sticking out, or off something high. Norco Sight VLT A2 29 Mountain E-Bike - 2020, X-Large, Mechanical Shifting $4,589.99 In Stock Specifications Frameset Frame Hydroformed Aluminum Fork FOX Rhythm FLOAT 36, 44mm Offset, E-Rated, 160mm Shock FOX FLOAT X2, Performance Elite Chassis, Custom Factory-Level Spec and Tune, 210x55mm Motor Shimano STEPS EP8, 85Nm max torque Battery The Spinlok plug is comprised of a thru-bolt and nut with an expanding rubber mid-section. Of course this ability explains one of the veiled reasons some people dislike eMTBs so vehemently. Norco has alloy Sight VLT models starting at $8,599 AUD, so it is hands-down a far more accessible e-MTB. The previous Norco Sight VLT already had a long rear centre measurement of 458mm, but the new bike goes even longer at 462mm. The Shimano manual has instructions for a removable battery. Norco offers a 540Wh battery ($749), a 720Wh battery ($999) and an industry-leading 900Wh battery ($1,199). Offering more than 66% range than the 540W battery ensures that you'll never experience range anxiety. As well as being more stable on the descents, the Norco Sight VLT is also a better climber than its predecessor. 900wh - 1700 CAD - 4570g/10lbs. I'm not saying there aren't legitimate criticisms of eMTBs and those who ride them. 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.". Has Norco hit its competitors for six in this very hot e-MTB segment? My only complaint about the entire spec. I put a mrp progressive on my vlt and it lessened bottom outs for me. drat, Sweet!! Replacing the battery can be even trickier. What's next? So would we recommend the 900Wh battery for every Sight VLT owner? This gives riders the choice of what battery (and weight) they want to run. It's not just that they can get up ridiculous obstacles and pitches; they can also string these together in short succession without time between to get sorted. I added some more pressure and even more high speed compression (the 36 seems to love lots of compression damping) and the bike began to feel great, sitting higher in the travel but still responding well to heavy bottoms and lower intensity hits. the 630watt battery is superior to my friends 500watt This seems to be another area where Norco has made great strides in the last few years. The components on the Sight VLT have been pretty much faultless. Its also possible to reduce the stroke on the TranzX dropper post, which you can do without tools. Though thanks to the perky EP8 motor and long rear end, its also more capable on steep and technical climbs too. How is the shock going comparing to the stock one? I think I know the answers to those already, but just thought I'd ask. The C2 has a more basic suspension package than the C1, with a shift away from the Fox 36 Factory GRIP2 fork and X2 shock. Its an easy bike to feel comfortable with across a broad range of trail types, and that makes it more appealing to a wider range of riders. Where is the speed sensor located? The platform is nicely balanced and the low slung weight seems to boost my confidence and ability off jumps and drops. - EP8 clacking noise. I think this was someone trying to disguise their animosity towards ebikes in general by suggesting they normally ride a Levo, which has similar power to the Norco by the way. This doesn't feel like a bike at all, and I don't like what the Norco represents.a rich person's plaything to "enter" a sport whom I doubt knows trail ettique, any aspect of the communal nature of trail riding, or how to descend at all. Swapping the battery isn't as easy as you'd expect. that issue was corrected with a shimano steps firmware correction. I get it, ABS is probably great for commuting. It's burly enough to handle any terrain on earth, but not unwieldy or brutish. Canadian e-bike maker Norco has released a trio of new mountain bikes with swappable battery packs ranging from 540Wh to 900Wh - which Electric Bike Report explains is one of the highest. Norco Sight VLT By Norco Bikes Designed and proven in the backwoods of BC, each of the 10 new VLT E-MTBs can be purchased with one of three battery options - 540Wh,720Wh and 900Wh - so riders can choose how much more they want of everything they love about mountain biking. Of course we cant talk about the state of the e-MTB market without mentioning the Specialized Levo. thank you! I'll dig into details and (hopefully) more nuanced impressions below, but overall I have really enjoyed riding this bike and I'm impressed by what Norco has accomplished in this sphere. REAR SHOCK Fox FLOAT X2, Performance Elite Chassis, Custom Factory-Level Spec &. Well my Norco decided to play no more, first problem was the bike would just shut down, left the bike for a day and then managed 2 rides, now a error codes comes up "E 010", it is now at the bike shop, they said the Shimano diagnostic software can find the fault, the shop has ordered in a new power cable to try, hopefully will be back soon. It's all you need to swap your battery. The BB drop also remains at 25mm. 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. The spec isnt dissimilar between the two bikes. That's good to hear Cam - that the ebike is helping to keep your riding alive with the people you like to be out with. Wed also love to see the option of a mullet setup for the Norco Sight VLT. NSMB Home Menu ToggleLog-inSearch Toggle Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube Subscribe Home Menu Close Gear Bikes Enduro Trail DH / Freeride Fat / Plus Hardtails Slopestyle / DJ / BMX Women's XC eMTB I now feel qualified to birth a calf or spay a heifer. Indeed for shorter-legged riders who are on the border between two sizes, the adjustable dropper post is a nifty feature. Love this bike. Given how hot the mullet trend is in the e-MTB world, this seems like a strange omission on Norcos behalf. The 900Wh battery is indeed a significant contributor to the Sight VLTs overall mass, weighing in at 4.57kg on its own. *I just had a promising strategy come to me in fact. The angle was too great and the length of the opening meant there was another abrupt corner to manoeuvre. If you want maximum range, then go for the 900Wh whopper. I don't recall being as spent in recent years as I have been trying to follow Wade and Dre's impossible climbing routes. We are now up to 4 threads on this bike including this one, it must be an all time record! 2023 Cube Stereo Hybrid emtb with ABS - who asked for that. Good review. 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. Does anyone know if the front and rear triangles are the same between the 2022 VLT bikes (Range, Sight, Fluid)? There is a bit of an eyebrow raise at the chainstay length however. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The Trek Rail is a logical competitor to the Norco Sight VLT, given its also built around 29in wheels and the same amount of travel. To my dismay the old housing detached from the new immediately because of the need to negotiate some unguided curves. One of my favourite elements of riding eMTBs is how it levels the playing field. Theres also no denying the outrageous traction, stability and control that this bike delivers, allowing you to monster-truck through technical terrain. It's easiest to remove the battery fixing bolt with the bike upside down, but the battery won't slide out in that orientation because the bolt remains nested in the indent where it threads in. These weren't mounted for all 1180 kms of this test, but I'd guess they have seen at least 650 of those. 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. Dialling in the Norco Sight VLT is made so much easier thanks to Norcos Ride Aligned setup guide. Have never run out of battery. 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 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. Take this with a grain of salt as I've seen Cam pedal a dead YT e-bike up the mountain at a good pace. Norco has introduced a new 29er version of the Sight VLT, but while it may look similar, this is a completely different e-MTB on the trail. 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. When it comes times to replace the cable outer for dropper and derailleur they are both getting the AXS treatment. Just seen 22.3kg for a size m - thats impressive with the bigger battery. 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. 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. Cornering is another big strength and the bike loves to be tipped over hard, even on uneven surfaces. The paint has stood up to a stupid amount of abuse, the bearings haven't made a peep, and the action remains smooth. 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. I rolled up my right sleeve but it wasn't long before my right forearm got stuck. Norco has come up with a system that allows you to run a 540, 720 or 900 watt-hour battery in the same frame. try the cane creek progressive spring. nice suspension set up upgrade. That said, I still found your comments a bit odd as some of your complaints about the Norco could be carried over to any type of ebike. Norco's VLT GEN 3 720W battery is the goldilocks battery choice for Norco VLT riders who want the best of worlds. 2022. Follow. 01. While we would have preferred to see a Star Ratchet freehub at this price point, the DT Swiss 370 hubs havent skipped a beat. There are some decent gaps there for mud and water to get into, and the main bolt for securing the battery is also in prime position for getting packed full of dirt. If you only plan on doing quick blasts, grab the 540, if you're hungry for watts, distance, and boost-level climbing, the 900 is for you. The Sight VLT is also the better technical climber, with a better seated position and a more grounded performance on uber-steep inclines. bike still rode but no level displayed. The Sight impressed me in the air initially and that impression has only grown. 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 . It's very close for me but one thing that tips the scale in the Norco's favour is the availability of the 900wh battery. 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. The 4-piston Shimano brakes are powerful and positive, with excellent heat management thanks to the 203mm rotors and metallic brake pads. I'm not sure why the cable for the power button can't go to the right side but I'm sure there is some engineering rationale. A shorter rear end and/or a mullet setup would also help to better differentiate the Sight VLT from the Range VLT. My plan is to get an old piece of housing in there, with some bending to get it to reach the proper exit, and then attach the replacement housing and thread it through. This things rips! Great report, Cam. You are using an out of date browser. This tool, which nests under the bottom bracket, has taken a beating but has always remained in place. But if you could have batteries available in different locations then we could travel and pick up a battery when we get there, same as you can rent them for standard shimano batteries at various locations. seems they will be available in europe from 4999 euros for base to 7499 euros for the top carbon model. I would have thought the carbon frame would lose quite a bit of weight compared to all the full alloy models. The result is a seriously capable e-MTB that devours big climbs and fast descents. I thought my set up was pretty good initially but over time I began to notice some harshness in the fork during repeated high intensity impacts. The longer chainstays keep it throughly planted as the gradient kicks up, and the steep seat angle puts you into a terrific pedalling position with no saddle-shuffling necessary. - The hefty weight There is about 800 gms in the motor and I'm guessing about 1600-1700 gms in the battery so circa 2.5kgs? It's not the end of the world, but it's the sort of operation that should be slick for quick and easy execution. - Clever adjustable dropper post, - Enormous chainstays limit agility The Sight VLT C1 offers 150mm of RockShox Deluxe Select + travel, and is equipped with an e-spec RockShox Lyric Select fork. Norco Sight VLT Details Three battery options including 900Wh Wheel size: 29" only Travel: 160mm front, 150mm rear 64-degree head angle 78-degree effective seat angle 462mm chainstay Weight: 25.6 kg Sizes: S, M, L, XL Price: $7,499; Weight: 53.6lbs; Website: Norco.com CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE ENDURO ROUNDUP VIDEO CHASSIS Frame: Carbon 27.5, 170mm Travel Fork: RockShox Lyrik Ultimate RC2, 180mm It shouldn't have to be done too often but it does indeed seem to be challenging. And don't even get me started on the incompatibility with the three 1.8" steerer lower bearings/ crown race parts (One from ACROS and two from FSA) that are available but within a framework of a total lack of publicly available information and clear part number labelling. The four-bar suspension design flips the shock up to sit underneath the top tube, an angled piggyback reservoir maintaining bottle clearance. Stepping down in travel to 160/150mm, the Norco Sight VLT will be the bread-and-butter eBike for a majority of enduro and aggressive all mountain riders. Monster-trucking down gnarly, wide-open descents, the Sight VLT is totally in its element. The latest Brose-manufactured motor is also stupendously smooth, intuitive, and quiet. That said, it doesnt offer the same kind of brainless, warp-speed stability as the Sight VLT, which operates like a Sherman tank in comparison. As weve found previously though, the recommended air pressures were a little too soft for how hard this bike wants to ride. 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. Not available in the UK according to the Norco website. Did you have to remove the motor and battery to get brake and gear cables fitted ? 2 rides in my stable are Norcolooks nice. Its still not as powerful as the Bosch equivalent, and you also get less overrun from the EP8 motor when you have to pause pedalling momentarily to avoid a crank strike. 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. drat R120 Moderator Subscriber Apr 13, 2018 7,814 9,141 Surrey Nov 7, 2018 #9 As for the tyres, we set those up with 25psi in the front and 27psi in the rear. I agree that its not a great looking bike in the least, I personally applaud the modular approach to battery options. Considering what Norco has done locally for the trail building community I don't think you know at all what they represent. battery for e-bies) Further notes. Yeap, we're up in your social medias too. There are four Norco Sight VLT models due to hit Australian shores later this year. The dumbing down of eMTBs will be inevitable- the gradually increasing amount of power will necessitate traction control systems. Compared to its predecessors, the new Sight VLT is a more capable bike on really rough and rowdy high-speed descents. Has anyone tried to lighten their Sight VLT? 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
