The lower end models get a blend of carbon and aluminum, with the base model rocking a 140-millimeter suspension fork and 130-millimeters of rear wheel travel. In total, Norco will have four build options available, with the very top-of-the-line model rocking a full carbon frame, and 140-millimeters of suspension travel at the rear, and 150 millimeters up front. That being said, being lightweight is at its very essence, and Norco claims that the lightest build available weighs in at just 17.24 kilograms. Norco offers a variety of models for the bike, each with varying suspension travel making the bike a sort of jack-of-all-trades machine. However, instead of taking the form of a cross-country machine with short suspension travel, the Fluid VLT is an all-mountain bike with a full-suspension setup. But it seems like they may have also seen the chance to grab an alternate consumer with the top tier model of potentially shuttle monkey's, or endurbro's that would buy a cost effective ~30 - 32lb trail bike.In line with the very essence of the Bosch Performance Line SX, the Norco Fluid VLT is indeed a lightweight electric mountain bike. The grip damper and the performance series float X are good performers for 90% of conditions, 90% of riders and 90% of trail speeds/aggression levels. One could argue, that maybe the smarter choice for their target demo, would have been a performance series float x and a performance series 34. In this case, Norco was smart to charge the consumer an extra 100 bucks or so and get the grip 2 damper. but the 34 performance elite comes with the fit 4 damper. Ideally, they'd probably liked to have shipped the top tier model with Performance Elite spec products front/rear. In this case, I think norco was caught between a bit of a rock and a hard place. I think that build option is generally missing with many brands (santacruz for example) and that build kit is very well received when executed correctly (ibis af series, transition gx alloy). I personally really like the idea of being able to buy a more cost effective frame, paired with quality but cost effective brakes and drivetrain with top tier suspension. This is an area that many budget-aware suspension designs have overlooked in the past – and is a crucial detail that puts every new Fluid FS model way ahead of any other bike in this category. Anti-squat was defined in conjunction with this greater level of support from leverage curve progression to provide an efficient pedaling feel while ensuring consistent traction on technical climbs.Įxtensive time was also spent testing different shock tunes on all spec levels to define tunes well suited to the Fluid’s kinematics and meet Norco’s high ride quality standards. Increased leverage curve progression provides support to the rider without depending on very progressive air springs and large volume spacers, improving rebound characteristics and providing greater levels of control. While the new Fluid FS shares very similar dynamic pedaling and handling characteristics to the previous Fluid and Optic, the method for achieving these ride characteristics has been reevaluated. Suspension travel has increased by 10mm front and rear, 140mm and 130mm respectively, for greater capability and rider confidence. HOW HAS THE NEW FLUID FS’S SUSPENSION EVOLVED FROM THE PREVIOUS GENERATION? Where Fluid FS delivers a more thoughtful, holistic take on frame design, however, is by increasing chainstay length from one size to the next, as well as steepening the effective seat tube angle between sizes. Stack and Reach numbers increase, as do seat tube lengths and standover heights – similar to other brands. WHAT ASPECTS OF THE FLUID FS GEOMETRIES DIFFER FROM ONE SIZE TO THE NEXT? Again, Stan’s Flow D wheels keep things moving along but the tires do switch from Vittoria to Goodyear. Brakes are still Tektro but are the HD M535, still a 4-piston. The drivetrain is a blend of Shimano Deore (11-speed) and SunRace. $2,699 - At the entry point to the Fluid FS line is the A4. The A2 does retain the Stan’s Flow D wheels. The drivetrain switches teams and is SRAM’s SX Eagle while the brakes are Tektro HD745. $2,999 - Moving down the line, we get the Fluid FS 2 with a RockShox 35 Silver fork and X-Fusion 02 Pro rear shock. TRP Slate brakes make the Stan’s Flow D wheels stop. Shimano serves up the drivetrain with a mix of SLX and XT. $3,599 - The Fluid FS A2 has a FOX Float X Performance rear shock with a Marzocchi Z2 fork. For $4,449 riders will get FOX Factory suspension, Shimano XT drivetrain, TRP Trail EVO brakes, and Stan’s Flow S1 hoops wrapped in Vittoria tires. As it just so happened, that’s the model that landed in Vital’s lap, the A1. Though the nomenclature is a shuffle, Norco added a higher-end build kit to the new Fluid FS Line.
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