GREATER SPEED, BETTER RANGE

With its unique high-pivot design, the Norco Range could be the fastest enduro bike yet

Norco have overhauled their Range enduro rig, with the goal to build a bike to outpace them all. It’s now only available with 29in wheels, and its suspension travel has been upped to 170mm. The biggest change, though, is the move to a new Virtual High Pivot suspension layout. Like the High Single Pivot design of Norco’s Aurum DH bike, this maintains a rearward axle path throughout the full range of travel, for more efficient bump absorption. However, an additional lower link, which rotates around the bottom bracket and compresses the shock, allows Norco to control the anti-rise and is claimed to help the suspension remain more active under braking, giving increased grip and control. An idler pulley is used to help eliminate pedal kickback and tune anti-squat.

The Range is available in four sizes (S-XL), with every aspect of the geometry being unique for each one, based on Norco’s Ride Aligned system. These figures are contemporary, too, with the medium having a 450mm reach, 63.5-degree head angle and 76.75-degree seat tube angle.

There are three full builds plus a frameset. All come with a Fox DHX2 Factory coil shock. The C1 model has a Fox 38 Factory fork, SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain and SRAM Code RSC brakes, whereas the C2 gets a RockShox ZEB Ultimate fork, GX Eagle and Code R brakes. The C3 uses a RockShox ZEB Select R fork, Shimano SLX/Deore drivetrain and Shimano MT520 brakes. UK pricing was still to be confirmed as we went to press.