Seatstay Issue Resolved
This feature has been a long time coming. Shortly after the launch of the Sight VLT CX, Norco issued a stop sale and stop ride notice. This was due to a brake mount manufacturing inconsistency that presented itself in a small number of frames. While there were only a handful of frames effected, Norco opted to replace 100% of seat stays to ensure there was no chance of riders having this issue with their bike. Now they have replaced the seat stays on bikes to be sold, and have replacements available for any existing customers who can go to their local Norco dealer.
We’re stoked to see this eMTB hit the market, and to share this feature with you about it.
UPDATED FRAME DESIGN
For the new Sight VLT CX, Norco’s primary goal was to instill confidence in the rider with geometry that offers solid balance between the wheels. Retained is the high virtual pivot suspension design, with 150mm out back and a rearward axle path to offer impressive bump-eating capabilities. Up front there’s a 160mm fork, and the wheels are the mixed 29” front and 27.5” wheel setup only.
Norco’s Sight VLT CX Gen 4 features a lighter frame, and when combined with the reduced weight of the Bosch eBike system, the overall agility of the new Sight VLT is elevated. With this size 3 weighing at 48lbs with a solid build and 800Wh battery, Norco has shaken any notion of overweight eBikes with this machine.
Norco’s new cable routing was designed to make for the easiest maintenance possible. You can simply push a cable into one end of the frame, and it’ll be fully guided to pop out of the other side. No need to drop the motor or battery, and minimal stress and time involved.
The “No other way” Limited Lifetime Warranty covers riders against defects in the frame for the usable life of the product, meaning that if there’s an issue years down the line, then you’ll get sorted.
VPSHP SUSPENSION WITH ITRACK
For the new Sight VLT CX, there’s still 150mm of VPSHP travel out back, with a 160mm fork. VPSHP or High Pivot Virtual Pivot Suspension, features a higher main pivot than is typically found on a Horst Link bike. This gives a more rearward axle path – growing by 9mm up to sag – to increase stability and retain momentum better on rough terrain.
Working with their NEST suspension lab, Norco also developed custom rear shock tunes to hit the sweet spot between traction, comfort and support when combined with the kinematic.
THE LATEST AND GREATEST FROM BOSCH
Bosch’s Gen 5 CX system powers the Sight VLT CX back up the hills with its 85Nm max torque…for now… and 600W peak power.
Fixed within the downtube of the Sight VLT is the 800Wh PowerTube battery, giving some solid range. This can be boosted by 250Wh with the PowerMore range extender for the biggest days in the saddle.
Bosch worked to reduce the drive unit noise both up and down the hill. They also increased the sensitivity, delivering power more responsively to increase control.
In the top tube, the LED Hub is found to display the battery life and mode selected. Up on the handlebar, the wireless Mini Remote lets the user control the power modes and use the Walk mode.
GEOMETRY FOR ALL MOUNTAINS
The Norco Sight VLT CX features highly size-specific geometry, with Norco going the extra mile to ensure that every rider gains the same confidence from the natural balance of the bike.
Effective seat tube angles steepen slightly through the size range. Also, the rear centre or chainstay length grows progressively to maintain weight distribution. And of course, the reach and stack height stretch through the sz2 to sz5 range.
NORCO’S RIDE ALIGNED ASSISTANT
Ride Aligned is Norco’s system that aims to give every rider the perfect fit and setup on their bike. Inputting height and weight, Ride Aligned will show you the recommended options for bike sizing, then offer a baseline setting for the suspension. Inputting parameters for suspension feel, Trail Grip and the type of Trail, you can tune this recommendation so that it should hit the sweet spot and let you hit the trails with confidence.
SPEC CHOICES FROM GOOD TO GREAT
Norco offers the Sight VLT CX in a choice of three builds from the $6,699 C3 to $9,999 C1 (tested). These are all based around the same carbon fiber frame, but their part specs tier accordingly.
Build kits have purposeful spec choices in places where it counts, from durable drivetrains to burly brakes. A RockShox lyrik fork and super deluxe shock is fitted to every bike, with different dampers and adjustability depending on the model. Even so, the C3 spec still hovers around the 50lbs mark with no components that cut notable corners in terms of strength.
THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS
As part of the production of this Dissected feature, we were able to log a solid few rides on Norco’s new Sight VLT CX on our local trails. While this is by no means a long-term review or an endorsement of the durability of the bike, it offered sufficient time to get a good baseline setup on the bike and feel out its character on the trails.
Using Norco’s Ride Aligned guide, we were given a solid baseline suspension setting to ease the process of getting the Sight VLT CX set up. We found the recommendation to be reasonable, but a little on the soft side in the fork. It would provide the average rider with a safe and comfortable initial setting from which to tweak and tune. However, we were left wishing for a little more support, so added some fork pressure and compression damping.
Aside from some suspension fettling, the Norco Sight VLT CX was an easy bike to hop onto and get going. The geometry on the sz3 was on the absolute smallest end of what our 5’11 to 6’2” crew finds comfortable. Sadly, sizing up to the sz4 was not considered suitable as it would be considerably longer than our comfortable zone.
On the trail, the initial stand out was how much weight Norco had dropped compared to the outgoing Sight VLT. As a result, this new eMTB was considerably more agile and enjoyable to ride on mellower terrain. It lost a touch of its ultra-planted nature, but still ranked as a solid performer when terrain got burlier and speeds climbed. It’s not going to offer the same capability as its longer-travel Range VLT cousin, but that’ll come as no surprise. With the RockShox Lyrik up front signaling it’s all-rounder intentions, the Sight VLT CX was a fun bike no matter the terrain.
How much does that VPSHP suspension platform help on the way downhill? As a less aggressive high pivot design than the likes of the Range, the Sight VLT CX’s handling is much less pointed as a result. The feeling of balance is undeniably improved compared to a more vertical axle path with the same chainstay, but we can’t say it makes a revolutionary difference.
That said, there aren’t any great downsides to the system either. Norco’s new eMTB is simply a solid all-round performer, and an excellent machine across a wide range of use cases.
We’re looking forward to keeping on testing the Norco Sight VLT CX as part of our upcoming 2025 eMTB Shootout. So, keep your eyes peeled to see how it stacks up against 11 of the hottest eMTBs on the market.
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