Review: Enduro MTB Magazine - Norco Optic Bike

Enduro MTB Magazine has reviewed the Norco Optic Bike. Here is what they had to say:

Does a high pivot rear suspension design work on a trail bike? The new 2024 Norco Optic should provide the answer. With its 125 mm of rear suspension and progressive spec, it promises not only to be a fast climber but also a rowdy trail ripper. The latest iteration of Norco’s trail bike relies on the Canadian manufacturer’s proprietary Ride Aligned system, a well-thought-out variable wheel size concept, and many other exciting features.

It takes courage to put high pivot rear suspension on a lightweight trail bike. Despite their increasing popularity, high pivot suspension designs are found almost exclusively on enduro and downhill bikes, as their advantages come particularly into play when riding downhill. Canadian bike manufacturer Norco knows a thing or two about this and has already released several high pivot bike models. Now they’ve done it with a trail bike. But how does it work?

Generating 140/125 mm of travel (f/r), the new 2024 Norco Optic was designed as a lightweight trail bike that takes you to the top of the mountain in no time, but still encourages you to get rowdy when shredding your way back down into the valley. Our C1 test bike in size S4 rolls on 29″ wheels and tips the scales at 14.1 kg. But that’s not all: the Optic has an (almost) identical twin – Norco are simultaneously launching the new 2024 Sight, which looks uncannily similar. Despite the visual similarities, the two bikes rely on an entirely different frame platform with unique geometry and kinematics.

To be more specific, the new 2024 Norco Optic relies on a High Pivot Horst Link suspension design, which you might be familiar with from the Canadian manufacturer’s freeride ripper, the Norco Shore, and further developed for the specific requirements of the Optic and Sight. If you want to know more about the characteristics of high pivot rear suspension concepts, you should read part two of our Underneath the Voodoo article. In a nutshell, high pivot idler systems position the main pivot much higher above the chainring, which allows the rear axle (and thus the wheel) to rotate up in an arc with a rearward axle path, meaning that when the wheel contacts an obstacle, it rotates upwards and backwards, instead of upwards and forwards like most low pivot suspension systems. However, as the axle moves backwards, the distance to the top of the chainring grows longer, which can cause unwanted pedal kickback. The best way to counteract this is to use a chain idler pulley at or near to the high pivot, which maintains an almost constant distance from the rear axle – this is also what gives high pivot bikes their distinctive look.

The new 2024 Norco Optic can be converted from a full 29er to a mullet bike using Norco’s ‘Missing Link Kit’, which comes standard with the Optic frameset and can be purchased separately with both the 29” and mullet complete bike. The kit includes both the upper and lower shock links, which need replacing when converting to a smaller 27.5” rear wheel to ensure consistent geometry and kinematics. While this is slightly more complex than the conventional flip-chip used by most manufacturers, it’s by far the better solution, as it allows you to more accurately compensate for the wheel size change, without interfering with other aspects of the geometry.

Another cool feature is the Ride Aligned setup guide on Norco’s website, which makes it easier to choose the right frame size and helps you with the initial setup, whether it’s the suspension, tires or saddle height. Here you can simply punch in a bunch of basic information like your body measurements, riding style and position, trail conditions and preferred suspension behaviour to get countless (and very accurate!) setup recommendations. You can do this with all Norco models, in all spec variants. We also had the chance to test a beta version of the new Ride Aligned system, which provides even more information and allows you to save your setups in Norco’s ‘Bike Garage’. The Canadian manufacturer is really setting the benchmark with their Ride Aligned system, providing a genuinely useful tool both for beginners and advanced riders.

The new 2024 Norco Optic in detail

For this first ride review, we tested the 2024 Norco Optic C1 spec variant, which comes in an elegant, understated black/grey paint finish with bronze accents. A delicate glitter effect in the paint adds a touch of class and ensures an extremely high-quality look. The chain idler is seamlessly integrated into the chainstay and protected by an additional chain guide – this is the most elegant, beautiful idler integration we’ve ever seen on a bike.

A generously sized seat and chainstay protector prevents paint chips and chain slap. In fact, the Optic would almost be silent on the trail if it weren’t for one thing: while the cables are partially clamped at the ports, at the transition between the main frame and swingarm, a long section of the rear brake line is routed externally, rattling loudly against the frame. Unfortunately, not even the protective film on our test bike seemed to help. Incidentally, we had the same problem with the new Norco Sight. On top of that, the cables rattle slightly against the handlebars, but this can easily be prevented with a couple of zip ties.

The spec of the 2024 Norco Optic

Our Norco Optic C1 test bike comes equipped with a 140 mm FOX 34 Factory fork, with striking orange lowers. It’s great to see that Norco use FOX’s top-tier GRIP2 damper, which is sadly a rare sight on shorter travel bikes, despite offering a wide range of adjustment options and delivering a tremendous performance on the trail. The fork is paired with a FOX Float X Factory air shock, which controls 125 mm of travel at the rear.

Shifting is taken care of by a new SRAM Eagle X0 Transmission drivetrain, which relies on a direct-mount rear derailleur that bolts directly to the frame, protected by an additional bash guard – this clearly shows what kind of trails the Optic was designed for! According to Norco, you’ll only have to replace the idler pulley when the entire drivetrain is worn out. Unfortunately, and this is a big UNFORTUNATELY, Norco rely on SRAM Level Silver four-piston brakes, which are designed specifically for XC bikes and don’t provide sufficient braking torque for a bike in this category – not even the big 200 mm front rotor seems to make up for it. The big front rotor is paired with a smaller 180 mm brake disc, which might be a suitable choice for a bike like the Optic when paired with the right brakes. That said, the Level Silver brakes feature tool-free lever reach adjustment, along with SRAM’s proprietary Swing Link technology, which is designed to minimise deadband and optimise modulation, thus reducing arm pump, though this feature is a little redundant with such under-powered callipers.

The geometry of the new 2024 Norco Optic

With the new Optic, Norco rely on a brand-new sizing concept, which includes 5 frame sizes, S1 to S5. If you’re unsure about which size to choose, you can use Norco’s Ride Aligned system to make sure you’re getting the right one. However, their recommendations are on the big side of the spectrum, with frame size S4 covering riders between 178 cm and 188 cm tall. However, the Optic in S4 already has a very generous 497.5 mm reach, which is far too long for our test crew, corresponding roughly to a size XL for most other manufacturers.

The 2024 Norco Optic on the trail

For this first ride review, we rode the 2024 Norco Optic C1 primarily with 29″ wheels, but of course we squeezed in a fair amount of laps with the smaller rear wheel for comparison’s sake.

As soon as you swing your leg over the saddle, you’ll notice the slightly stretched pedalling position, which is nevertheless very comfortable. It helps keep the front wheel planted on the climbs, allowing you to focus on the trail ahead without having to actively shift your weight forward in steeper sections. Surprisingly, the high-pivot rear suspension doesn’t really feel any different from more conventional designs and doesn’t bob unnecessarily, even when pedalling out of the saddle. During this test, we never reached for the FOX FLOAT X’s climb switch, not even in steep uphill sections.

Although the extremely long frame is also clearly noticeable when gravity takes over, the Optic is predictable and intuitive to ride, making you feel at ease from the very first pedal strokes. After playing around with the stack height a little, we managed to hit the sweet spot. Finally, the weight was evenly distributed between the front and rear, enabling direct, precise steering without requiring active weight shifts. The Optic shines above all on fast, flowing trails, where the firm suspension and stiff components – like the carbon wheels and handlebar – allow you to generate plenty of speed by pumping through rollers and popping off tree stumps to collect a bunch of well-deserved airmiles. At the same time, the suspension offers sufficient reserves, bailing you out with botched landings and bigger drops.

Who should take a closer look at the 2024 Norco Optic

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned trail bum, Norco’s unique Ride Aligned system is extremely useful, both for the initial setup and even before you buy your bike. The new 2024 Optic is a real banger and delivers a tremendous overall performance, especially on fast, flowing trails, where it generates shed loads of speed while at the same time slapping a massive grin on your face. Despite the initial scepticism, we were pleasantly surprised on the climbs, with its efficient suspension and sporty riding position. When gravity takes over, the 2024 Norco Optic punches well above its weight, albeit reaching its limits on rough trails, which is partly due to the undersized brakes.

Our conclusions about the 2024 Norco Optic

The elegant, high-quality look and practical Ride Aligned tool alone are reason enough to take a closer look at the new 2024 Norco Optic. On our first climb to the trailhead, the efficient suspension quickly dispelled our initial scepticism, although the undersized brakes and loud rattling noise cloud the overall impression a little. Riding downhill, the Optic shines especially on flowing, fast trails with its firm suspension and direct handling, but also punches well above its weight on technical descents.