NORCO VLT EMTB REVIEW

THE NEW RANGE, SIGHT, FLUID

Words by Drew Rohde | Photos by Dusten Ryen
Video by Brian Niles/Treeline Cinematics

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Norco’s new VLT eBike line has just launched and it could be the start of something new in how brands and consumers look at selling eMTBs and multiple battery sizes. Due to the changes Norco made, we thought it was time to dive deep and provide an updated Norco VLT eMTB review to go over the changes and additions to this bike family. The completely redesigned Norco Sight VLT and Range VLT are now supported by little sibling, the Fluid VLT, which completes Norco’s eMTB family giving an option for everybody.

Like their non-E siblings, the new Norco Range VLT will be for aggressive big mountain riders looking for airtime, and a bike with 180/170mm of travel. 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. The new Norco Fluid VLT is a 140/130mm trail bike that surprised us more than the rest in our short time aboard these three machines. Designed to be more of a conservative, trail eMTB for newer eBike riders looking to get into the sport without having to get such a burly bike, the current builds are not super fancy, yet this bike rode well above our expectations.

As with all of our Dissected Features, this is not intended to be a long term review or endorsement of a product but is instead a chance for our viewers and readers to get a deep dive look into some of the newest tech and products in the mountain bike space. We thank Norco for the opportunity to create this feature and for working with us and participating in exclusive interviews and video access. Our impressions of the bike are 100% our own and we will be working on a long-term review over the next few months.

DESIGN BRIEF

When Norco’s eMTB team set out to redesign their VLT line, several points were vital to the next generation. The Sight VLT is already on its third generation even though it has only been out a few years, a testament to the speed at which technology and consumer demands change. This does demonstrate the ability of Norco to react to these growing demands and their dedication to keep up with the industry. Knowing that riders are no longer impressed to just have a mountain bike with pedal assist, the challenge became how to make a great riding bike with features and technology that will lead the category.

In short, Norco wanted to focus on a removable, future-proof battery; optimization for Shimano’s new EP8 drive unit; three unique platforms with the same fundamental principles; and the focus, fit and finish Norco customers have grown to expect from their Ride Aligned concept.

Battery & Motor – “One of the things we got a lot of flack about was the lack of a removable battery,” Norco’s eMTB project manager Jim Jamieson told us. “We redesigned the VLT line up specifically so the new battery could be slid in and out of the bottom of the downtube quickly for off-bike charging and battery swaps,” he continued. Norco is using proprietary, Shimano-approved batteries with 21700 cells, which are claimed to pack an impressive power density. To make the battery removable without compromising downtube integrity, Norco rotated the front of the Shimano EP8 motor up. This greatly increases ground clearance, which is huge!

As far as we know, Norco is the first brand selling their eBikes without a battery, instead letting consumers choose the amount of capacity (weight) they want. It is a neat concept and we are excited to see more brands do this rather than just offer a one-size-fits-all battery offering.

Suspension – When it came time to start testing bikes with this new shock position, Norco engineers and riders tested different link arm options, which alter starting leverage rates and overall progression. This allowed them to achieve the optimal ride feel for each category of bike. Each model has its own rates and kinematics as a result and mean the Fluid will ride best for its 130mm of travel whereas the Range will behave differently throughout its 170mm curve. Norco also reduced the anti-squat compared to their non-E siblings and predecessors, helping the new VLT bikes find extra traction in climbs up loose terrain.

Each bike also gets a custom-tuned shock for a light initial feel with a consistent increase in damper progression through the travel. Two standout features for our testers thus far have been the increased sensitivity and suppleness off the top, paired with some good support in the mid-stroke.

Like all of Norco’s dual-suspension bikes, their Ride Aligned setup guide was very useful in getting us on trail quickly and greatly reduced setup time and guess work.

Fit & Finish – Another area Norco wanted to set these bikes apart is the details. Cable routing is internal with guide tubes to keep service and swaps simple. The Rosenberger ROPD self-locating magnetic charger plug is waterproof to IP67 standards and sits flush with the bottom of the battery and motor case. The undercarriage is very tidy and all the bits line up very nicely. There are no large gaps or edges to catch, which is important with such vital parts hanging in high-debris areas.

Also new is the speed sensor integration into the rear dropout, with the magnet being attached to the brake rotor. It looks neat and is tucked out of the way. Swapping the battery size takes about ten minutes as you will need to also swap the cradle, or parts of the battery that attach inside the frame. Simply removing it for charging or if you have another prepped battery is much quicker, only taking about two or three minutes. We did have some issues with one of the included Hex wrenches not wanting to slide back into its home as the rubberized grip treatment deformed. The others seemed to work fine but it could be an issue for those looking to rely solely on this tool for battery removal time after time.

Norco stepped it up when it comes to water bottle storage. All bikes will accommodate bottle cages with large and XL bikes being able to store two bottles on board, something we are sure many riders will enjoy. Although, we are not so sure why you’d need two water bottles, since everyone knows you don’t even get any exercise on cheater bikes…wink wink.