Norco Range C9.2
Norco may not be the biggest brand on the trails, but the Canadian company sure know a thing or two about building a mountain bike. From the XC focused Revolver, to the trail killer Sight Carbon, the fast trail bike in the Optic and of course the all-new Aurum HSP downhill weapon. The Range had a huge overhaul about two years ago, bringing what many refer to as the Whistler XC bike right to the fore for enduro and all-mountain bikes. Like most of Norco’s mountain bike line up, the Range is available in both 27.5” and 29” wheel sizes, with geometry finely tuned so you’re getting a very similar riding experience no mater the wheel size, but without losing the inherent characteristics of a given wheel size.
The Norco Range C9.2 sits in the middle of the three carbon models available, and at $5999 is great value considering the build quality and range of parts that tick all the boxes you would want for a hard-hitting big wheeler.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The Range 29er is definitely a big bike, it’s the first thing you notice, big suspension, big wheels and big tyres. It’s this initial impression that speaks volumes about what the bike was built for and the 35mm bar and stem combo reinforces it with an extremely solid feeling front end. Descending is almost it’s prime focus. It is without a doubt that this might be as close to a Downhill bike you can get without that weird feeling you get when you rock up to a trail ride on a World Cup sled. The first thing I noticed geometry wise was the top tube reach felt shorter than most medium sized trail bikes I had ridden, yet longer in the wheel base. It’s not surprising though as the reach would have been brought in ever so slightly and the wheelbase would have been extended with the longer travel fork that Norco is speccing for 2019. All the 2019 Range models saw a 10mm increase in the length of fork travel, with the 29er version going from 160mm to 170mm. Paired with the 150mm rear travel, that is MASSIVE. This bike is an EWS destroyer and bike park slayer. Now Norco have not completely forgot about your poor climbing legs, but this bike isn’t going to set your climbing KOMs on fire, especially sitting
at 14.6kg with some pedals fitted. However the 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle group set will get you there… eventually. Sit and spin, sit and spin.
ON THE TRAIL
Norco has used the FSR design on the Range since its inception. Even on the many bikes that came before and all contributed to what the Range is now used the famous design. It works and its popularity is obvious. However adjustment with the kinematics can be made and each manufacturer has a slightly different take to make it their own.
The latest design of the Norco Range has taken trail feel and descending ability to the next level and it’s enormously evident on the trail. The plush 170mm front and 150mm of rear travel follows the undulations of the trail tremendously well at even the most significant amount of speed. Big hits were never a problem and were in fact welcome, just to ride off with a smirk wondering what it was going to take to make me feel uncomfortable with bike between my legs.
As it turns out my jumping days are slowly feeling numbered, so it’s not unexpected that this was where I noticed my first real issue. The rear wheel seemed to get in the way particularly for steep shoots and jumps. I do have quite short legs but it was the first time it had been a bit of a problem for me. In fairness I have been riding smaller wheels more often lately and I do feel it’s something you get used to and adjust your riding style to avoid it. The 2019 Range 29er has probably the longest wheelbase on any trail bike Norco has made to date. Whilst it’s not an ideal scenario for short leg, long torso riders It does make it amazingly stable for holding speed in a straight line and if you still think it might be a massive issue for you there is always the 27.5” wheeled Norco Range you could take a look at.
The cockpit on the Range C9.2 was particularly confidence inspiring, the RaceFace 35mm clamp stem and bars always has a super stiff feel and control is through the roof with the 800mm bar. The bike just simply goes
where you put it, for the most part. However the biggest concern I have with this larger clamp is arm pump. Myabe I’m not shuttling enough anymore so not doing repeated runs at full tilt. But the bars just feel so stiff and every run leaves me feeling beat up. Luckily 31.8mm bars are still very popular.
SRAM’s GX Eagle does not quite have the top end bling, but it’s also not the cheapest 12-speed offering. It is a solid group set which will get the climbing duties for the beast that is the Range 29er done and dusted. The largest 50T ring on the cassette will get you up 9 out of 10 fire roads nick named “The Wall”. But the bouncey kinematics I enjoyed so immensely on the way down did me less favours on the way up. Most of this however can be overcome with technique and a can-do attitude. The Fox DPX2’s climb switch is pretty effective and easy to reach on the right hand side. But – the Range is not about climbing prowess, just survival.
Bombproof wheels and stoppers are a must with a bike of this calibre. There is nothing worse than buying a bike only to find out the wheels and brakes aren’t up to task. The ever-popular DT Swiss 370 hubs are laced to e13 30mm rims. This is spot on the money for rim width and paired with tubeless 2.5/2.4” Maxxis Minions we had endless traction and tyre security. Does anyone still use tubes these days?
The beefed up SRAM Code R 4-pot brakes offer endless amounts of consistent braking power and modulation for better stopping and faster riding.
Needless to say the Norco Range C9.2 left us grinning ear to ear on the trail. A trail bike that tears even the best descents apart always will.
OUR TAKE
The new Norco Range had been on my wish list for a while, I had ridden some longish travel 29ers, but nothing as big as the new Range. It was a new design for 2017/2018 and aimed squarely at the ever-growing Enduro market and for 2019 they added an even longer travel fork. This also effected the geometry ever so slightly, from 65.5 degrees to 65 degrees for the head angle, 8mm shorter in the reach and 4mm longer to an already lengthy wheelbase.
These aren’t massive changes but they do nudge the 2019 Norco Range closer to the Enduro race end of the spectrum. The long wheelbase was the most notable adjustment for me to get used to. It was however extremely obvious that this bike could descend at a rapid pace with ease. Big holes and rocks were a breeze and the planted feel with the Fox Performance level suspension had me left wondering if Kashima Gold really does look better anyway. Whilst climbing is never my favourite part of mountain biking I didn’t really want to do all that much of it on this bike, it wasn’t unbearable. You just felt like you wanted to get it done, so you could get back to letting the Norco Range loose on the next gnarly descent.
The race pedigree of the 29er Range is paramount in what Norco’s designers have tried to achieve, and it’s definitely not a bike I’d be throwing the usual test bike terms of “quiver killer” and “do everything” for. The Range is made solely to ride super-fast techy descents as “Bryn Atkinson fast” as possible and still be respectable enough to get you back to the top to do it again.