Review: NSMB - Norco Range C1 VLT Bike

NSMB has reviewed the Norco Range VLT C1 Bike. Here is what they had to say:

After spending a good deal of time on the Norco Sight VLT, I was keen to try the new version. Alas, that was not to be. Norco decided to put most of their apples into the Range cart. There is only one Sight model; the C1 which retails for 14,000 CAD, while the Range has two carbon models (both with Al rear ends) and one all aluminum version ranging in price from 12K CAD to 9K CAD. Word on the street is that many more Ranges were produced making the 2024 Sight a rarity.

The 2022 Sight I rode for several years never felt too small. I over-forked it to 170mm with a Zeb and the 150 mm rear end always felt like enough, even on the most challenging trails. Or so I thought. The 2022 Sight (same as the 2023 Sight) was one of the most sorted dual suspension platforms I'd ridden, boosted or not. It had some pecadillos to be sure, but I loved riding it in virtually any terrain.

This made my enthusiasm for the Range a little muted. Not only did it have more travel with 180 up front and 170 in the rear, it was a high pivot platform with an idler pulley and a mullet set up rather than the dual 29s of the previous gen. Sight and Range. Obviously bikes of this ilk are incredibly capable going down, especially at speed. They are also known for a tendency to bog down in compressions due to the rearward axle path and to feel a little glued to the ground, even when you are looking to leave the earth for a time. It was possible, I thought to myself, that I may not get along with this bruiser at all.

I have been wrong many times in the 24 years I've been writing about bikes, but this was a particularly stunning example of my preconceptions missing the mark. On my first ride on the Range, it felt different of course but not in the ways I imagined. Instead of bogging down it carried speed incredibly well and, with help from the 27" rear wheel, it tucked into corners with remarkable agility. And rather than being disappointed with an overly planted feel, I marvelled at the way it smoothed out chunk and kept me in control while still being willing to get off the ground.

When I first began testing bikes I was a mess if the grips weren't perfect or the geo wasn't what I was used to. As it turns out, riding different bikes all the time makes you more adaptable. I can jump on most bikes now and, with a few minor tweaks, perform close to my meagre best in a short time. Despite this, I've never got on with a bike as quickly as I did with the new Range VLT. I don't use Strava but on my very first ride I'm almost certain I would have nailed some personal descending bests on sections of trail I've ridden countless times. I had a smile on my face that felt painted on like the Joker's. I find it undignified when reviewers gush, but it turns out I was smitten, at least at first.

What's Going on Here?

If you've been paying attention to Norco's design arc, you'll know the company has gone deep with their version of the oh-so-hot high pivot and idler design. Norco calls their interpretation of this platform the VPShp. This is one of the elements that makes this a blank slate redesign. Virtually every important design consideration has changed for 2024 as well.

Compared to Previous Platfrom

As I mentioned earlier, I was a big fan of how the previous bike rode. It had some issues, some related to the off-brand battery and cable connections. Rather than be restricted to Shimano's battery and connectors, Norco went on their own, which produced some connectivity issues for some riders, including me. Beyond that, the carbon seat stays weren't as robust as they could have been and the bearing seats in my VLT failed early on the non-drive side, and later on the drive side. Both of these issues have been addressed directly with a complete Bosch system and an all-aluminum rear end on all models, which is a bold and sensible solution. The rear end of the Range VLT is as stiff and precise under pressure as any bike I've ridden. This sort of accuracy is a bit jarring at first because of how directly the rear of the bike responds to inputs, but it didn't take long before I responded positively to this solid state feel.

Component Spec.

This is the top of the line Range but Norco didn't go as crazy as they could have. Some examples of restraint are Crankbrothers Synthesis aluminum wheels, which feel great and have done the job admirably, a GX T-type rear derailleur rather than XO or XX, and a Trans Rad+ 200mm seatpost for sizes 4 and 5. These all have performed as well as more expensive components in the same categories thus far.

Where it counts, Norco has thrown down, with top of the line suspension and braking components. Brakes are SRAM Code RSC with H2 rotors (220/200) which suit the character of the bike perfectly. Damping comes from a RockShox Vivid Select+ in the rear which I really like, and a 180mm Zeb Ultimate up front. Both ends surprised me with excellent levels of traction, composure and smoothness. The Vivid Select+ feels more like a coil than any air shock I've ridden, but with more support through the heart of the travel, and the Zeb 180 feels spectacular.

Aluminum Vs. Carbon

Looking back I wish I had stated my preference for either of the two lower models; the C2 and A1. I often wonder if Aluminum on eMTBs is little more than an affectation. In fact, I have begun to believe that a moderate decrease in weight does little for the performance of an eMTB. The suspension seems to work better on heavier bikes, at least for lighter riders, because there is more mass to overcome breakaway forces, and cornering seems to benefit as well, likely because much of that mass is slung low, and some below the front axle. Of course there's putting your bike on a rack or a tailgate, or on the wall, but otherwise I don't think there's much downside to riding a 56 lb bike over a 58 lb bike (24.4 to 26.3 kg). This makes the advantages aluminum has in terms of durability and cost even more attractive. Carbon bikes are strong and stiff, and light, they look nice and their structures are more easily crafted into complex shapes, but they aren't always the best solution for bikes, particularly considering how far aluminum manufacturing has come. Don't get me wrong though, I am enjoying the carbon front end and the fairly high-end components of the Range VLT C1 but there may be more value in the C2 and the A1, despite some component misses, like a SRAM NX drivetrain on the A1.

How's it Going?

So far I like the way this is going. Each time I saddle up the Range VLT I'm more keen than the last time as I figure out how far the bike can be pushed. I'm looking forward to some big mountain adventures this summer to truly plumb the depths of this very capable machine.