Norco Fluid FS 1
Canadian brand produces cost-conscious trail shredder
Canadian brand produces cost-conscious trail shredder
When Norco redesigned the Fluid FS platform for 2019, the Canadian company aimed to create a high-performance bike that was accessible to more riders. With upper-end mountain bikes easily breaking into the five-figure range, the focus on quality at a lower price point is welcome. The tubes of the Fluid FS allow for smartly planned internal cable routing that favours straight lines and clean entry/exit points instead of complex curves. All build options include a stealth-routed dropper post. This attention to detail helps the Fluid FS cut a clean profile that looks pricier than its book Norco Fluid FS 1 value, especially with the updated geometry of the 2019 bike. Size-specific frame design carries over from the brand’s higher-end trail options to the Fluid FS. Smaller sizes, XS–M, get 27.5" wheels, while 29" wheels are on M–XL frames. So the Fluid FS 1 has the looks, but how does it ride? On trail, i t lives up to i ts sharp esthetics. Its trail feel fits in with the emerging crop of high-end trail offerings with similar travel. The bike’s 120 mm of rear squish feels smooth, hugging the ground through corners and over rough terrain. Extra traction from 2.6" tires add to this feeling of control. Upfront, Rockshox’s Revelation RC provides 130 mm of travel; the frame’s slacker angles add to the bike’s descending chops. Turn Norco’s Fluid FS back uphill, and the bike, with its steep seat-tube angle, continues to shine. The Fluid FS suspension is active enough to hold traction up bumpy obstacles and roots without feeling like you’re pedalling through half the suspension to get up hills. With sram’s NX Eagle wide-range drivetrain, the bike will happily spin up most grades. It responds when you stand during a climb, while its grounded feeling helps when you’re trying to get over tricky trail features.
To get the bike down to its impressive price point, there has to be some compromise. Quality design and good component selection were Norco’s choices over expensive lightweight parts. The company has been strategic with where it adds grams, though, balancing the weight of sram NX Eagle with the benefit of its wide-range gearing. The downside of adding weight to the back end is the occasional heavy feeling when the Fluid FS comes across larger square-edge hits. Despite this quality, the bike otherwise feels light and manoeuvrable on the trail. The absence of any down-tube protection is one feature the Fluid FS is lacking, though. The aluminum frame isn’t as delicate as carbon-fibre options, but hearing rocks ting off a brand new paint job still isn’t a welcome sound. To save the paint, you can add aftermarket protection.
Norco’s Fluid FS is a bike that will satisfy very capable riders who might not be willing to shell out serious cash for a carbon option. The bike feels comfortable and confident on challenging terrain, and is a blast on fast, flowing trails. With a performance-minded design and sharp build kit, Norco shows cost doesn’t have to hold you back from riding a better bike.