Review: E-MountainBike magazine - Norco Fluid VLT Bike

E-mountain has reviewed the Norco Fluid VLT

Norco really kept us on our toes! Although the new Fluid VLT light eMTB was unveiled last year, there weren’t any rideable specimens to get hold of until now. However, finally we got our hands on one of the first test bikes, and the concept is promising: Bosch SX motor, mullet wheel setup and 140/130 mm of travel. But is the Norco worth its eye watering € 12,999 price tag (and the long wait)?

Although Norco took some time to join the ebike game, when they did, they took on the competition with sporty-looking, high-performance bikes. This is partly due to the brand’s own history and philosophy. Norco is a very established core brand in the mountain biking segment, and is based in British Columbia, Canada – the mecca of mountain biking! The Canadian brand has a long tradition, and is deeply rooted in the local scene. Needless to say, their ebikes had to do justice to the brand’s heritage. The new Fluid VLT is Norco’s first light e-mountainbike and relies on a Bosch SX motor. By the way, all of the Canadian manufacturer’s ebikes bear the VLT suffix in their name, which stands for Volt. We tested the C1 130 flagship model, which combines a mullet wheel setup and 140/130 mm of travel, tipping the scales at just 18.1 kg. However, if you want to call Norco’s full carbon e-bruiser your new N+1, you’ll have to fork out a whopping € 12,999 for the privilege.

The Norco Fluid VLT in detail

The Fluid VLT relies on a Bosch SX motor and slim, simple frame. Unlike Norco’s analogue trail bruisers, the Optic and Sight, it forgoes complex suspension designs with eye-catching idler pulleys and other fancy features. The black carbon frame employs a sleek design language, ensuring a discreet, understated look. As the name suggests, the shapes flow between the analogue world and the electric dimension, with discreet branding underlining the overall classy look.

The spec of the Norco Fluid VLT C1 130

The Norco Fluid VLT C1 130 comes equipped with a Bosch Performance Line SX drive. As long as the 400 Wh battery lasts, the motor packs quite a punch, delivering 60 Nm of torque and 600 W peak power, which is the same peak power as a full-fat Bosch CX drive – pretty impressive figures for a lightweight motor. However, the motor also requires more physical effort from the rider, as it only delivers its maximum power at a very high pedalling cadence. The small Bluetooth remote on the handlebars and Bosch System Controller in the top tube perfectly suit the bike’s sporty orientation while underlining the tidy look, with just three cables on the handlebars. The wireless SRAM XX Eagle Transmission drivetrain relies on a direct-mount rear derailleur and ensures butter-smooth shifting, even under load, proving a perfect match for the Norco. The SRAM Level Ultimate Stealth brakes, on the other hand, are a little too weak for a bike in this category, delivering poor deceleration on the trail and requiring strong fingers – and the small 180 mm rotors don’t make your life any easier.

For the suspension of the Fluid VLT C1 130, Norco rely on RockShox, combining a Pike Ultimate fork and matching Deluxe Ultimate shock which generate 140/130 mm of travel, unlike the other Fluid VLT models, which combine 150/140 mm of travel. The fork offers countless adjustment options, while the inline shock offers only limited adjustability.

The OneUp Dropper V3 dropper post offers a whopping 210 mm of travel and can be inserted all the way into the frame from frame size 4 upwards, ensuring plenty of freedom of movement downhill – it’s really worth putting up with the additional cable in the cockpit. OneUp Components also supply the 800 mm handlebars, which have plenty of built-in compliance to ensure a high level of comfort. To keep the weight of the flagship model in check, Norco chose a Crankbrothers Synthesis Carbon Enduro wheelset, which allows for a total system weight of 18.1 kg in frame size 4. The wheels are paired with a rather rare Continental tire combo, with a 2.4” Kryptotal at the front and 2.4” Xynotal at the rear, both in Conti’s trail version, with the hard endurance rubber compound and thin trail casing. While this combination is perfectly suitable for the bike’s orientation and travel category, tires with softer rubber compound and more robust casing would ensure better trail performance, especially in wet conditions. The lightweight carbon components might help reduce weight, but they also push up the price to a hefty € 12,999.

The Norco Fluid VLT on the trail

At first glance, the Norco Fluid VLT looks extremely long. With its 1273 mm wheelbase, it would have been the 4th longest bike in the latest trail bike group test of our sister magazine ENDURO, which included 15 of the hottest trail bikes of the season. However, as soon as you swing your leg over the saddle and fully extend the 210 mm dropper post, the bike doesn’t feel as long as it looks. The steep seat tube places you comfortably close to the handlebars, ensuring a well-balanced, roomy pedalling position, which is both upright and relaxed, and comfortable enough for long days in the saddle. Talking of long rides, the frame features a bottle cage for big 750 ml bottles, as well as a tool mount under the top tube for a spare inner tube, CO2 canister and tire levers. While on steep, technical uphills, the Bosch Performance Line SX motor requires high pedalling cadences, it pushes hard for a light motor. It’s so powerful, in fact, that you’ll have to actively weight the front wheel to keep it tracking.

When gravity takes over, the Norco integrates you nicely between its wheels, with the weight evenly distributed between the front and rear. Together with the long wheelbase, this inspires huge amounts of confidence, encouraging you to open the taps and hit the roughest lines. But beware: here the short-travel suspension quickly reaches its limits and puts an end to the rowdy fun. This is a real shame, because you can clearly feel how the bike wants more! If you hang out on demanding trails, we recommend taking a closer look at the version with 150/140 mm of travel, which strikes a better balance between composure and reserves.

Who should take a closer look at the Norco Fluid VLT?

The Norco Fluid VLT C1 is a very decent trail eMTB. However, its confidence-inspiring character encourages you to hit trails which are gnarlier than the suspension can handle. As a result, it’s more suitable for experienced riders who are looking for a fast bike, and also have the skills to avoid more daunting features – whether by gapping them or shralping around them. The spec doesn’t quite do justice to the bike’s character and intended use, slowing down the otherwise super-fast Norco.

The Norco Fluid VLT C1 130 is a no-bullshit trail eMTB with a low system weight and good-natured handling. It encourages you to push harder than the suspension travel suggests, but it soon reaches its limits if you get carried away. With the expensive variant we tested, the eye-watering € 12,999 price only gets you a lighter bike, so if you want more bike, we recommend picking the Norco Fluid C1 140, which has more travel and a more downhill-orientated spec but also weighs a smidge more.