Review: 2022 Norco Sight C1 VLT - A Long Range eMTB

Jul 14, 2021
by Seb Stott  
Norco has just released three brand new ebikes: the Range VLT, Sight VLT and Fluid VLT, which have 170, 150 and 130mm of rear wheel travel, respectively. All three have 29" wheels and Shimano’s EP8 motor. What makes them all stand out is the battery, or batteries, which they share. There’s a choice of three sizes: 540, 720 or a huge 900Wh battery, the biggest you'll find inside any eMTB. These batteries are proprietary but Shimano-approved, and Norco says they have a higher energy-density than previous batteries thanks to larger 21700 cells. So the 720Wh battery is said to weigh the same as the 630Wh Shimano battery.

The Sight is the mid-travel option, which Norco says is aimed at all-mountain riding. It sits in between the Range, which is designed for self-uplifted bike park or big mountain riding, and the Fluid, which is for mellower trail riding. It combines 150mm of rear wheel travel with a 160mm fork.
Norco Sight VLT Details

• Three battery options including 900Wh
• Wheel size: 29" only
• Travel: 160mm front, 150mm rear
• 64-degree head angle
• 78-degree effective seat angle
• 462mm chainstay
• Weight: 25.6 kg (56.4lbs) (XL)
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL (tested)
• Price: $9,798 USD including 900Wh battery
norco.com


There are four Sight VLT models to choose from: two with alloy frames and two with carbon. The C1 model tested here is top of the range.




bigquotesThe Sight does really well on berm trails, jumps and flat turns, but is harder work on awkward rock sections where you want to get the front wheel up and over technical trail features. Seb Stott




photo
The motor is rotated upwards at the front, allowing the battery to slide out of the downtube using the green tool stashed underneath.

Motor and Frame Features

Although some ebikes have a higher total battery capacity when using an external range extender, Norco's 900WH battery option is the largest internal battery in the MTB industry. That should mean more laps without a range extender taking up the space of a water bottle.

Despite the claimed higher energy density, the 900Wh battery is still heavy, at 4.57 kg, which is why you might want a smaller battery for shorter rides. The 540Wh battery weighs 3190g and the 720Wh weighs 3880g according to Norco. The top-spec Sight C1 VLT has a carbon mainframe and seatstay, yet it still weighs 25.6 kg (56.4 lb) in XL with the 900Wh battery. This should go down to 24.2 kg (53.4 lb) with the smallest battery, which still isn’t exactly light.

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The chainstay is alloy, but the seatstay and mainframe are carbon.
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The rear shock eyelet is set at 45-degrees so the piggyback clears the water bottle underneath but doesn't stick sideways out of the frame.

This model costs $8,599 USD, but if you pay that the bike will climb terribly because, like all the best toys, the batteries are sold separately. They cost $749 for the 540Wh battery, $999 for the 720Wh, or $1,199 for the 900Wh battery. So including the 900Wh battery (which is what I have) it costs $9,798. If you want a second battery for shorter rides, you'll be crossing the $10,000 mark.

The Shimano EP8 motor is rotated anticlockwise (if viewed from the driveside) relative to most ebikes. This allows the battery to slide out of the bottom of the downtube for off-bike charging (it can also be charged on the bike), rather than through a door in the front of the downtube. This design improves the structural integrity and stiffness of the downtube, because it's an intact tube. There's a tool with three Allen keys stashed under the motor to help with battery removal. Word to the wise - don’t use the tool to tighten the pivot bolts as it will break.

Norco say they are able to better optimize the suspension kinematics with this motor layout, and there’s less chance of sumping-out the motor housing because it’s higher up. Most importantly, it has made room for two water bottles to be mounted in the large and XL frames. Smaller frames still have two sets of bosses, but there isn't space for a second water bottle. See the table below for more on this.

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Cables enter through ports next to the head tube...
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... and pass by the center of the main pivot, minimizing cable-stretch as the suspension compresses.




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Geometry & Sizing

Norco’s Ride Aligned geometry means effective seat angles get steeper in larger sizes, going from 77- to 78-degrees, so taller riders don’t end up too far back on steep climbs. But unlike some other bikes from Norco, the rear center stays the same at 462mm (it's hard to make the chainstay any shorter than this on a 29er eMTB) , as does the head angle, at 64-degrees.

I measured all the major geometry figures on my XL test bike and they matched up with the above geometry table very closely (that's not always the case). I measured the effective seat angle at my pedaling height at 78.1-degrees and the head angle at 63.8-degrees. The bottom bracket height measures 345mm (slightly lower than suggested in the table).



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Suspension Design

The new Sight VLT uses a horizontal shock layout, which helps make space for the two water bottles, but stuck with a Horst-link design. The leverage curve is said to be progressive throughout the stroke. The anti-squat values are a bit lower than on the pedal-powered Sight, sacrificing a little efficiency for suspension sensitivity under power.

I measured the Sight's vertical rear suspension travel at 146mm from full top-out to bottom-out. I used a shock pump to over-inflate the shock to make sure it fully tops out, then a strap wrench to fully compress it to make sure I'm getting the full 55mm of shock stroke, then I measure the vertical difference in axle height with the bike upside-down. It's common for bikes to measure a little short on travel when measured like this, often by a lot more, so I'm not picking on Norco here. Norco say the true travel should be 148mm. But from where the shock settles into its travel when properly equalized and with the bike in a stand, the travel measures around 141mm. That's because the Float X2 shock settles a couple of millimetres into its stroke due to the negative spring pressure - which is a good thing - but it means the Sight has a little less travel to play with than you might think.



Specifications
Release Date July 2021
Price $9798
Travel 150mm
Rear Shock Fox Factory FLOAT X2, Custom Tune, 210x55mm
Fork Fox Factory E-36, Grip 2, 160mm, 44mm Offset
Headset FSA No.55R-1 Sealed Bearing
Cassette SRAM Eagle XG 1275, 10-52T
Crankarms Shimano FC-M8150, 34T Eagle Ring, 165mm
Chainguide MRP Top Guide
Bottom Bracket Shimano STEPS EP8
Rear Derailleur SRAM XO1 Eagle
Chain SRAM GX Eagle
Shifter Pods SRAM GX Eagle Single Click
Handlebar Deity Skywire Carbon 35, 800mm, 25mm Rise
Stem Alloy, 40mm, 35mm clamp
Grips Deathgrip
Brakes SRAM Code RSC, 220/200mm Rotors, Metallic Pads
Hubs DT Swiss 350H, Boost, XD, 6 Bolt
Spokes DT Swiss Stainless
Rim DT Swiss E1700 Hybrid E-Rated, 29”
Tires Maxxis Assegai 2.5” 3C MaxxGrip/DDWT/Maxxis Dissector 2.4” WT 3C MaxxTerra/DD
Seat Ergon SM-10 E-Mountain Sport
Seatpost OneUp, 34.9mm, 120mm (S), 150mm (M), 170mm (L), 210mm (XL)



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Shimano's EP8 motor system proved trouble-free yet again.

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Norco specs a 220mm front rotor to boost the SRAM Code's braking power.






Test Bike Setup

Norco's setup guide is second to none and something other brands should aspire to. It takes into account height, weight and riding style and gives detailed setup recommendations for your specific model of bike. It covers not just suspension settings, but also tire pressures, bar height and frame size.

So does it work? The setup guide for my bike wasn't ready until the end of my test period, so I could compare the settings I arrived at through trial and error to the recommendations made by Norco. I put my settings and Norco's into the below spreadsheet to compare and contrast.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the recommendations were pretty close to what I like, and certainly a good starting point that should give a solid, balanced setup for most people. However, the main problem I have with the recommended settings is the fork is too soft - I'm bottoming out occasionally even with three volume spacers and 115 psi.


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Seb Stott
Location: Moumouthshire, UK
Age: 29
Height: 6'3" / 191cm
Inseam: 37" / 93cm
Weight: 187 lbs / 85 kg
Industry affiliations / sponsors: None
Instagram: Seb Stott On Bikes

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Who doesn't love a spreadsheet?

Even if I set my riding style in the setup guide to "professional" (which is a big fat lie), the recommended setting is still too easy to bottom out. The bars are too low for my height too - I'm running the bars at their max height (35mm of spacers) and I'd set them about 20mm higher if I could, as I'm still running a lot of saddle-bar drop. Of course, this could be remedied with a higher rise bar. I've also set the shock a little softer on air pressure and LSC to improve sensitivity, with a volume spacer and more HSC to prevent bottom-out, and I like the Grip2 fork almost fully open on low-speed rebound to flutter over the chatter, but those things are more personal preference.

Elsewhere there are a lot of similarities between Norco's settings and mine, so while it didn't exactly match my final setup, it's a fantastic starting point and still a very useful tool. In terms of actual riding enjoyment for typical customers, Norco's clear and comprehensive setup guide could be a huge benefit.


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Climbing

The Sight is one of the best climbing ebikes out there. The long-ish chainstays and steep seat angle make it a breeze to stop the front wheel from lifting on steep, technical climbs. That means you actually need to consciously sit back and upright in order to manage traction on the rear wheel. It's all very relaxed and dignified. The Ergon E-Mountain saddle feels like a helping hand, stopping you from sliding backwards especially in muddy conditions.

The 29" rear wheel definitely helps when tackling slow, bumpy sections too, and the Maxxis Dissector rear tire holds its own in all but the wettest conditions. But even with the low-speed compression fully open, it's not as supple as longer-travel ebikes on faster, rougher sections of climb, where you still need to remain seated for traction. The pedal-bike paradigm that shorter travel is better for climbing starts to fall apart with an ebike - you want supple suspension to help maintain a comfortable seated position while tackling rough sections at speed, even uphill. This is not to say the Sight's suspension is bad at all, just that longer travel ebikes make those rough, fast climbs even easier.

I also noticed the motor whine was a little quieter when climbing than other bikes with Shimano EP8. I'm not sure if that's down to the motor packaging, the software tune, or just manufacturing variance, but I certainly appreciated it.

Range

How far can you ride with a 900Wh battery? That's a bit like asking how long is a piece of string. Norco claim that under a fit rider using only Eco mode, the Sight VLT with a 900Wh battery could achieve 3,500m (11,483 ft) of climbing over 63km (39 miles). That's probably an upper limit, of course, so to find the lower bound, I went out to drain a full battery using only Boost mode (the most powerful) on a very muddy day, riding a mixture of singletrack and fire road climbs. I weigh 86 kg and the bike was covered in mud from the first descent. I managed 1,706m (5,600 ft) of climbing over 39.3Km (24.4 miles). On a regular bike I'd call that a big day out, but I managed it comfortably in an afternoon.


photo

Descending


The most notable feature of the Sight's design is the chainstay length. At 462mm, it's a bit longer than most ebikes these days. That means it's really balanced and composed in fast, flat or off-camber corners because it's easy to keep plenty of weight on the front contact patch. The fork is always loaded up and pushing the tire into the ground, generating consistent grip with a neutral or even slightly rearward riding position. The long back end results in more load on the fork, which partly explains why I needed to set it up pretty firm to hold it up and stop it bottoming out.

The downside of all this room in the rear is that the bike is a lump to manual and bunnyhop, even by ebike standards. I like a longer chainstay on a pedal bike, but combined with the heavy battery stretching in front of the bottom bracket, it makes lofting the front wheel really hard work. Sure, I can bunny-hop this bike and I can get it up to the balance point in a manual, but it's a lot more effort, takes more planning and I can't clear some obstacles which I could with a shorter rear-center. I consider myself pretty good at bunnyhops, and standing 190cm tall is a clear advantage here too, so for shorter or less experienced riders the long rear-center could be even more limiting when it comes to riding the bike dynamically.

photo

Also, on steep terrain with rocky steps or little drop-offs into corners, I don't always feel completely centered on the bike, as if my weight is too far over the front at times. This could be improved with a higher rise bar, but I think the chainstay is a little longer than ideal for steep terrain. There's always a flip-side, and in this case it's superb high-speed stability and cornering composure on flatter or less technical terrain.The Sight likes to go fast and does really well on bermed trails, jumps and flat turns, but is harder work on awkward rock sections where you want to get the front wheel up and over technical trail features.

The shock comes with no volume spacers installed, which I found resulted in the bike bottoming out a bit too easily and, at the same time, the suppleness over small bumps wasn't overly impressive by ebike standards. I tried easing off the low-speed compression to improve small-bump sensitivity and increasing high-speed compression to take the energy out of bigger hits, but what worked best was adding a volume spacer and reducing the pressure slightly. It's not the most plough-like, but it offers good suppleness without bottoming out too often when set up like this.

photo

Overall the front and rear suspension work well together, providing a good balance of sensitivity and support. The Fox 36 e-MTB fork has a beefier crown and thicker stanchion walls than the regular 36 (this results in a smaller piston area which means higher spring pressures); it never feels flexy or overwhelmed in big holes or square-edged impacts. However, I can't help feeling the bike would only perform better with a bit more travel, especially considering the real-world travel is a bit less than 150mm by my measurements.

The rigid mass of the ebike frame makes it far easier to use all the travel on big hits when compared to a pedal bike; as a result you have to run the suspension a bit stiffer, so brake dive and wallow are less of an issue and pedal bob doesn't really matter at all. Norco's Range VLT, which has 20mm more travel at either end, would be a better bet in my eyes because the extra travel has very little downside on an ebike. If anything, more rear travel makes it easier to manual too because the rear suspension squats into its travel as you manual which helps the bike to rock back. Try to manual with your shock locked out if you're not convinced. But it's the Sight's long chainstay length that's the main issue for me. Combined with the weight, it dulls the responsiveness in some situations, and in my opinion, dulls the fun a little too.



photo
Norco Sight VLT
03.06.21. Pinkbike BikePark Wales Rider Seb Stott. PIC Andy Lloyd www.andylloyd.photography andylloyder
Nukeproof Megawatt

How does it compare?

I recently reviewed the Nukeproof Megawatt and got the chance to ride both bikes on a lot of the same trails, sometimes on the same day. The Megawatt has 10mm more travel at the front (170mm) and 15mm more at the rear (165mm). It's also considerably cheaper, at $7,500, thanks in part to an aluminum frame and smaller 630Wh battery. Despite the lack of carbon and longer travel, the Nukeproof is a full kilogram lighter, although the Norco would weigh slightly less than the Nukeproof with the smallest 540Wh battery fitted.

As well as offering more range, the Norco has a slight edge on technical climbs due to its steeper seat angle and bigger rear wheel, which make it that bit easier and more comfortable to make your way up the steepest pitches. On the other hand, the Nukeproof's suppler suspension more than makes up for the smaller back wheel when pedaling over bumpy sections with a bit of speed.

When descending, there's no contest. The Megawatt has much suppler suspension, while still having room in the travel to avoid bottoming out unless really pushed. The rear suspension feels more progressive and lightly damped, which makes it feel at once livelier and more stuck to the ground. The big difference is the chainstay length - at 442mm the Nukeproof's are 20mm shorter, which makes it dramatically easier to hop and pick up the front to get up and over trail features. As far as I'm concerned, that makes it less effort and more rewarding on technical terrain.



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Ergon SM-10 E-Mountain Saddle
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Maxxis Dissector Tire

Technical Report


Ergon SM-10 E-Mountain Saddle: I like the upturned "spoiler" at the back of the saddle when tackling steep climbs as it holds you in place with less effort - especially with muddy shorts. It does get in the way and catch on my shorts a little more than I'd expect when descending, despite the 210mm-travel dropper post (which I was very glad to have). It's not a problem with the seat slammed that low, but I wouldn't fancy using it with a shorter travel seatpost.

Maxxis Dissector Tire: I was really impressed with the Dissector's ability to clear mud in wet conditions. It's billed as a fast rolling rear tire, but it held its own in terms of edging grip in the corners, never feeling tail-happy when paired with the Assegai up front. Sure, a bigger, stickier tire would be better for scrambling up technical climbs, but it rarely let the Sight down there either, and a faster-rolling rear tire is a good choice if you want to maximize range.




Pros

+ Especially comfortable and composed on steep climbs
+ Horizon-expanding range with the biggest battery fitted
+ Excellent cornering traction and high-speed stability
+ Exemplary online setup guide
+ TWO water bottle mounts in the bigger sizes

Cons

- Long chainstay and heavy battery make manuals and bunnyhops tough
- Suspension isn't the most sensitive or resistant to bottom-out




Pinkbike's Take
bigquotes The Sight VLT benefits from one of the best setup guides there is and the battery range and water bottle capacity open up the possibility for really epic rides. It handles fast and flowing terrain really well and flat corners in particular. The suspension takes a bit of tweaking and inevitably feels a little compromised compared to longer-travel ebikes, but it's the long chainstay that mutes the dynamism and responsiveness of the Sight, making it hard to hop and manual over obstacles. That makes it feel like more of a long-range cruiser than an agile play bike. Seb Stott


Author Info:
seb-stott avatar

Member since Dec 29, 2014
297 articles

117 Comments
  • 186 6
 Location: Moumouthshire, UK
Age: 29
Height: 6'3" / 191cm
Inseam: 37" / 93cm
Weight: 187 lbs / 85 kg
Industry affiliations / sponsors: Yoga Journal, Oxygen, The Box, Muscle Performance, BetterNutrition, Clean Eating, Paleo Magazine, Vegetarian Times, Outside, Outside TV, GAIA GPS, Backpacker, Ski, Climbing, Rock and Ice, Gym Climber, National Park Tips, Warren Entertainment, Peloton, Velo News, Beta, Triathlete, Women's Running, Podium Runner, Cairn, AthleteReg, BRAIN, Finisher Pix, Velo Press, Velo Swap, NASTAR, Idea ...

Big Grin
  • 142 19
 First they announce selling off PB and then a review on a e-bike designed to be ridden on trails that you used to actually have to sweat for.... looks like we got a "kick in the dick Wednesdays" presented by Outside+
  • 89 15
 just a suggestion....put the eBike content behind a hefty paywall and don't touch anything else. The bikes are already behind their own sales price paywall.
  • 14 3
 Yeah, the review say the bike shines on 'flatter or less technical terrain.' This is completely at odds with the point of an e-bike, which is to get up heinous climbs so you can smash gnarly descents. Seems like a pretty big fail...
  • 4 3
 They didn't paywall this article because its about ebikes that literally don't come with the needed battery.
  • 2 4
 @SATN-XC: and their own shame paywall
  • 7 2
 @SATN-XC: lmao imagine the worst case scenario, ebike articles remain free. Everything else gets the pay wall.
  • 2 13
flag DoubleCrownAddict (Jul 15, 2021 at 1:56) (Below Threshold)
 In the best case scenario, companies with offensive marketing, such as YT bikes, will be banned permanently. Similar to how Trump was banned from Facebook and Twitter.
  • 6 0
 @DoubleCrownAddict: have you considered seeing a therapist
  • 71 0
 "Shit shit shit, hit em with some new bikes"
  • 63 1
 Am I supposed to be able to read this whole article for free? I thought we were paying for these now.
  • 13 0
 Shhhhh they will fix the bugs if you are too loud.
  • 2 1
 Are e-bike news articles going to be more expensive?
  • 38 6
 If you think that riding e-bikes on your local trails is the real use case then you need to get out of your bubble and go find some big terrain to go ride. The US has something like 190 million acres of national forest. In the west many of the trails are long, steep and far away from anything. They are also multiuse. I've put my time in hiking up stupid terrain and will continue to do so trying to find gems of trails. But I have to admit, the idea of accessing some remote trails and getting to do an 6,000-8,000ft day as if it were half that, sounds like a pretty sick proposition to me.
  • 12 4
 I just did a 28 mile day with 6k vert on multi use moto trails. I was on my sentinel, my buddy (recovering from lung surgery) was on an bike. One of us had more fun and felt better at the end of the day.
  • 12 5
 Spot on. This is what I tell people all the time when they poo-poo ebikes. That and the fact that they can replace car shuttles
  • 10 12
 Yes. I could see having an ebike for big epic stuff. But no way am I going to spoil my local trails with a 50+ lb turd.
  • 1 4
 Great. Just save some extra dough for the not-included battery.
  • 7 6
 True exploration, like you speak of, is not the realm of eBikes. Past 40/50mi tops, your battery's dead. Not exactly the stuff of epic exploration. You still need to be good ol' fashioned fit to explore big distances unless you want to stash batteries in bushes along your route.
  • 13 0
 @crsimmons: I don't ride an E-bike but I probably weigh 50lbs more then the average mountain biker. No one has accused me of spoiling the trails yet but maybe my size is too intimidating
  • 3 2
 @hamncheez: for 8.99$ a month you can pay for unlimited access to a battery and charger with the new outside+ subscription!
  • 2 0
 @Olafmetal: haha I see how my comment reads that way. I meant spoiling the ride experience for myself. I want the lighter bike for the downhill, so I don't want to spoil the climbs by getting used to assisted climbing. I hope nobody is intimidated by bigger riders!
  • 1 0
 @rickybobby18: It would be interesting to see "pedal out" factored into the reviews. ie run the battery down to 0 at mile 30/40 of a ride, 5 to 7k of climbing in and review what it's like to have to pedal the bike back to the car.
  • 3 0
 @rickybobby18: “true exploration”??
Do you really think that Exploration is the same thing for everyone? Of course not. For instance, if one is handicapped somehow, his exploring may be limited, though still very much his personal exploration. I had Covid damage my 65 year old lungs somehow, so riding with my son and our buddies was about to give me a heart attack… so getting an awesome ebike gave me a renewed riding life, thankfully. I never even spent the $4500 on a damn car! But it’s by far the best thing I ever bought, and I go exploring every day pretty much. My comparatively short “explorations” get me to so many places around here. I probably know more cool rides than anyone in my county. It’s all relative. Don’t judge people. Enjoy the fact that people are loving riding, as I’m sure you do.
  • 33 1
 I know ebikes are heavy, but at just shy of 57 lbs, i feel like i'll need an electric assist just to lift this onto my bike rack
  • 8 0
 You're not wrong. My bike rack (yakima foldclick 3) has an optional ramp for e-bikes.
  • 10 5
 you have it wrong...the ebike is supposed to pull the car. I'm told that's how it works.
  • 2 3
 Agreed. They went the wrong way on weight.
  • 31 10
 Yay - now I can go on many more adventures without having to take off my super comfy puffy jacket. I do hope there is a socket somewhere that I can charge my phone so I can Instagram everything without having to carry a battery backup.
  • 6 0
 Spoken like a true OUTSIDE reader
  • 34 8
 Pinkbike is dead
  • 22 1
 When does the first paywall article come out?
  • 21 1
 E riders can afford it, no prob
  • 6 3
 @brajal: especially ones that have bikes with batteries sold separately!
  • 2 0
 Will you ask this below each article?
  • 1 0
 @Mac1987: I feared that lol
  • 16 0
 2021 bikes aren't even here, 2022 bikes are starting to arrive
  • 2 0
 I wonder if the 2021 bikes flooding the market and the 2022 bikes right behind it, maybe we will see a drop in prices for a bit?
  • 12 20
flag cirque4 (Jul 14, 2021 at 9:23) (Below Threshold)
 It's not a bicycle.
  • 4 1
 @Gatoqueso1: Hah. hah. Cute.
  • 13 2
 "Ergon SM-10 E-Mountain" saddle, WTF!?
I assume the "E-Mountain" saddle has a wider profile, much more plush padding, and is made of more expensive materials to cater to the e-bike crowds. Or is there any difference between...nope it's "designed specifically for eBikes" ergonbike.shop/products/ergon-sm-e-mountain-sport this marketing BS is so ridiculous
  • 6 1
 That Ergon saddle has a scoop on the back of it, that isn't included on their regular saddles. The thought is that helps hold you in place, in the steep seated climbs that some e-bike riders are doing. You can still use it on your regular bike, of course.....
  • 6 1
 "For longer periods of sitting.[something], [something]...characterize the E-MTB experience." Yup, sounds about right
  • 1 1
 @huckbuckit: snark aside, that makes sense but I think it would be a hindrance on the downs when you are trying to get your weight back and have to slide up and over the saddle hump. Steep climbs typically mean steep downs. ....typing this out...I'm now realizing the dropper would solve this .....NM, move along, nothing to see here
  • 5 1
 @SATN-XC: It's actually a pretty minor feature of the seat, but thoughtful on Ergon's part, and they're not charging extra money for it.... You want it out of the way? Hit the party switch and drop that thing!
  • 2 2
 @huckbuckit: a scoop to hold you in place! HAHAHAHA, I'm sorry, this is all just too much...
  • 12 0
 *Prices don't include battery.

Imagine buying one of these. Only to find out that batteries are sold out until 2025.
  • 9 3
 The presenters repeated criticism about Norco offering three different choices of travel because he as a rider doesn’t see the need for a shorter travel emtb is kinda bullshit. Not everybody shreds double black trails every chance they get and I would venture to say the for the majority of riders, having fun on Blue trail is as far as they’re ever going to push it.
  • 13 4
 Awesome looking bike. Nice job norco.
  • 14 6
 A 900w battery really is a step up from the usual 630/700. Well played norco.
  • 8 2
 Whaooooaaaa. Just hold on one minute!!!!!

Is that actually a Mountain Bike with the same size wheels?? Do my eyes deceive me? Well I never..... they do exist then!

#samesizewheelsaintdead
  • 8 1
 "The Sight is one of the best climbing ebikes out there." Great but was not really a problem here.
  • 3 0
 thought the same and by the way, for that price, i'd expect tire/rim logos aligned!! hahaha
  • 6 0
 Vital Mtb are selling drink bottles that look like batteries. Now that’s something I can get behind

Spewing I just bought some PB merch
  • 4 0
 The presenters repeated criticism of the need for short travel emtbs is kinda bullshit, I would venture to say that there are a great many riders that will never see anything gnarlier than blue trails and for me personally There’s nothing the Sight VLT couldn’t handle.
  • 10 3
 This is the free content we deserve.
  • 3 0
 I like the "vertical suspension measurement" @sebstott . I am assuming that claimed travel is actual the length of the rear-wheel arc vs. true vertical, which would make sense. Would be cool to include this as a "standard" in all reviews.
  • 2 0
 A good way to standardize this is to fix the BB to a point relative to the flat floor. Keep the front end on the floor and either remove the shock or remove the air in the shock and cycle the rear triangle to where the eye-to-eye length is equal to full compressed on the rear shock. Measure the distance from the floor to the tire at the closest position.

That would be "vertical" in the most repeatable way. My opinion is that vertical travel is what should matter as a point of standardization... mostly because fork movement is linear so it's an existent benchmark to compart to.

Forward or rearward movement of the axle might be more relevant to include from an on-trail perspective, but I don't have much confidence that this can be tested in a consistent agreed upon way. (CAD model would spit this out though...we're just making an assumption when we hear a MFG posted number)
  • 7 1
 E-bikes and corporate takeovers on the front page. Alas poor Pinkbike. I knew thee well.
  • 7 4
 I'll never talk down to anyone for riding one. Just follow the rules. I see entirely too many people ride those machines wherever they please. People can buy their way into the sport all they want. That being said, I'm stoked my 69 y/o father in law can come take laps with us. I am however a big proponent of maintaining some sort of barrier for entry to certain things. If you have an able body, you can pedal your lazy butt up that hill as far as see it. It builds character and respect for the sport. You can call me a curmudgeon, an elitist, a sour puss, what have you, but as far as I see it the hype is spreading too fast. We live in a world where every other day we have to take things to the "next level". Everyone has this urge to hop on the same bandwagon. Can we all just collectively slow the $%&! down already?
  • 3 0
 Emtbs are the work of the Devil designed to destroy your ego and inflated opinion of yourself ?????
Do you think Emtbs defeat the purpose of cycling ? What do you think? Is the uptake of Emtbs simply the Evolution of human thinking to accept the technology that allows us to enjoy life even more? Emtbs are not for racing just Fun Fun Fun. My experience of Racing is that it's a form of ego shuffling with more disappointment than joy.
I think Emtbs only enhance the mtb experience . It's not one or the other but having both an naturally aspirated and an Emtb that is the pleasure. Emtbs  multiply the benefits of one of mans greatest gravity cheating inventions the bicycle. They turn us into gleeful kids again and broaden our ability to explore terrain. Whether you like it or not all cycling is cheating gravity rolling resistance and air resistance .Purist run the trails barefoot or swim the English channel unassisted. They open up smiles , minds and access  to  Explore new Grounds because they are socially acceptable to the general public and landholders.
If Danny MacAskill rides both depending on the terrain why would you Not want to Explore new Grounds.? If your ego is looking for a trip I suggest you give a Emtb a proper long ,hard and fast up / down flow. I suppose it depends on the image and opinion you have of yourself at your stage of life. We all evolved from monkeys into monkeys with dropper posts and greasy screens. Don't die wondering. E=Mtb²
  • 5 3
 53lbs for with the lighter battery? I belong to a Norco group and there's a considerable QTY of complaints about their ebike MTB's.

I'll give them 10 more yrs to iron out the bugs, bring down the price and weight. There should be a price break for these early adoption beta-testers.
  • 3 1
 Pretty sure making people pay full price to be the guinea pigs for their products has been there method since day one...(refer to original monocoque frames) Hopefully their warranty Dept is still good.
  • 8 6
 "That makes it feel like more of a long-range cruiser than an agile play bike"... I think if someone bought a 60lbs e-bike hoping it would be an "agile play bike" they deserve all the disappointment filling cavities afforded them. But they look super cool in their new Pit Vipers and Rapha cycling kit on Insta so no biggie.
  • 5 0
 Has anyone ever actually seen an e-bike rider in Pit Vipers and Rapha cycling kit, or are you just making that up?
  • 2 5
 @huckbuckit: 100% drawing on stereotypes to form an imagined composite of a person buying a $10,000 60lbs bike with hopes it will be playful and agile. The point of the comment was that I don't believe said person exists as the notion is ludicrous. Were such a person to exist- I do think they would wear Pit Vipers and Rapha.
  • 1 0
 Looks bery nice and at last a choice of batterys. I am on a 504 bosch battery, as all my mates are so the next leap would be the 740... Not a bad weight and no range anxiety... Also i like the choice of travel, actually many trails dont need huge travel as bikes geo is so well sorted not... Also like the balace of feeling some of the trail and working lines more than just an absolute monster truck. Have 160 front and 140 rear at the mo and that is plenty even on pretty knarly stuff.
  • 5 0
 Those ebikes are great for the Outside.
  • 2 1
 Dear Fox- please stop speccing lighter compression tunes on ebike forks “because ebike riders spend more time sitting down.” They need higher spring rates to compensate for the extra weight, and therefore higher damping rates, not lower.
  • 3 2
 900 battery’s ,I think ebikes are pretending to be not a bike anymore,but getting closer to a dirt bike ,and that is a big mistake,that thing of more power motors is another stupid thing ,I think specialized is in the right direction,and I’m not a fan of the brand (to much money for the final product),but they want an EBIKE to feel like almost a normal bike ,cause motors with 100 or more Newton and 900 or more battery capacity is not a bike is just for those people with super egos ,that really don’t “ride”their bikes ,like a EBIKE should be ridden,like a normal one but with a little (or very much)more support,cause when you could ride an EBIKE in turbo mode for 100 or more km ,then it will be a sad day for mountain bike ,I think they are more then capable to give an amateur or a pro a real fun ride ,more then that is just stupid ,and I hope someone put a restriction on battery and motor power ,capacity,I love riding an EBIKE,but to have more ?,just buy a trials moto or a dirt one
  • 5 0
 Never fails to amaze me how many assholes comment on PB.
  • 1 0
 I tore my scrotum on the reservoir while riding a 50+ pound bike with no battery. (Saved a few bucks on accessories in the cart checkout)luckily big john and the twins got more scars than a great white shark, and i can flip 3 hamburgers on length with a mild stiffy.
  • 3 1
 Isn't the standard sight supposed to be an exceptionally great bike ? Why would you change it so drastically and still name it the "Sight" ?
  • 2 2
 And call something a Range when it doesn't have a high pivot? Come on, why can't they think of the comment gold that would result from a high pivot e-bike?
  • 2 1
 Sight and Range are the 2 options I would consider if they're Mullet with short chainstay like 430-450mm. Absolutely love the battery options and the long max dropper insertion I don't see the point in short travel emtb.
  • 1 0
 Remember when PinkBike turned their entire site upside-down for April Fools Day? Remember when everyone collectively mourned after the news of Stevie Smith's death.
Anyone else have good memories of our old friend PinkBike?
  • 1 1
 Too heavy, looks Meeeh!

Big travel, 21 kg's total weight, All the power not a shitty turned down motor, 600wh battery. (2 x batteries is the way to go)
Under $7000usd with all the fruit.

MAKE IT HAPPEN manufactures!!!
  • 5 4
 lol..remember all the hate for 27.5, 29er, carbon, full face enduro helmets, ....and the introduction of ebikes. funny how we get used to things.
  • 3 4
 I think Specialized is trying to set the new norm for what an Ebike should cost. They probably thought to themselves, “Why are we selling ebikes for the same price as non motorized bikes? We could justify making it double the cost.” Personally, I’m glad that ebikes have gotten more expensive in the past year. Hopefully it will keep the number of them on the trails somewhat in check and avoid the backlash from other trail users that RC has predicted
  • 7 0
 Are ebikes really much more expensive than in the past few years or are there just more ultra expensive models to choose from?

I see more e-bikes than ever, not less.....
  • 3 3
 @justanotherusername: A year ago, most ebikes were around $5k. Now they start at 8k
  • 4 0
 @Jibofo: That’s just plain bullshit.
  • 1 0
 @justanotherusername: lol ok you can look it up. A turbo levo costs way more now than it did a year or two ago.
  • 2 0
 So nice to see Seb Stott reviewing bikes here. The quality just bumped up significantly.
  • 2 0
 If they haven't called the long travel ebike with the big battery the "Long Range", then I wanna know why not.
  • 1 0
 900wh ewww, I wanted a 1KWH bike. I need long range so I can sit back and finish a 12pk while passing analog riders on steepest climbs.
  • 2 1
 38 km with 1334 meters of climbing. Nice 4 hour ride. No ebike needed. Plus I can enjoy the descent on a bike that weighs 20 lbs less.
  • 1 0
 shorter travel doesn't apply to the e-bike idea but getting a smaller battery when you could have a bigger one does ? Don't get it.....
  • 11 9
 Long range Douche Scooter
  • 8 6
 Get a E motorbike and be done with pedals! Eat more
  • 4 3
 Always funny to read comments of these eBike haters out there, but I forgive them because they simply don't know it better.
  • 1 0
 They do a full article on the Norco to tell you the Nukeproof is the better bike.
  • 2 0
 that little green tool stashed underneath looks ready to be smashed...
  • 8 6
 Isn't a ebike a motorized vehicle?
  • 7 5
 12 speed and ebikes is stupid!
  • 2 1
 At this rate the auto industry will soon follow suit and "offer" vehicles without motors.
  • 2 0
 900wh !! gives me wood ...
  • 4 4
 Pinkbike, if I pay you will you put this article behind a wall of some sort?
  • 3 3
 Hey there, the name’s Ebbe, expensive bike buyer extraordinaire…

I work on teeth. I don’t owe anything on my home.
  • 2 3
 poor people who buy a size small - with a chainstay ~1 1/2" longer than the reach. that'll handle GREAT. guess they abandon their balanced FC/RC philosophy for ebikes?
  • 2 2
 haha - thought experiment - the fc/rc ratio of the small would equate to a 500mm chainstay on a large. sweet!
  • 1 1
 So add another spacer? Lmao

36 on an E doesn’t make much sense IMO either
  • 3 4
 When will we see the Reviews on Budget friendly Camp stoves and Sleeping bags? #outside
  • 6 7
 At that price and weight, compare with the Honda CRF450RL, or two CRF300Ls.
  • 9 10
 eBikes are NOT bicycles ! a 2 wheels vehicle with a MOTOR is a MOTORCYCLE ! Period .
  • 16 19
 Mountain biking is dead
  • 6 7
 @m33pm33p I couldn't agree more. I got into riding MTB to specifically move away from motorsports.
  • 6 2
 LOL, it'll be enhanced!
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