At Crankworx, Norco had several new fat bikes and kids models on display, but the company is not resting on their laurels. After introducing a mountain bike inspired cyclocross bike earlier this year, and recently updating their endurance road model, they’ve now turned their attention to an all new adventure bike.
With a long stable wheelbase, clearance for up to 40c tires, and disc brakes, the new Search is capable of going wherever.
Like the Threshold, the Search benefits from Norco’s expertise in mountain bikes. The front end sports a 15mm thru axle for added stiffness, while the rear utilizes the now common 142×12 standard. The carbon frames also benefit from internal routing and curved ARC seat stays, which are designed to help dampen vibrations from road.
The model pictured above is the top of the line XR, which retails for $3,700, and comes stock with a full Ultegra build and hydro stoppers.
At $3,150, the Search Ultegra utilizes the same carbon frame and full Ultegra kit as it’s pricier counterpart, but replaces the Easton EA70 wheels with a more affordable wheel set (for the nerds out there, that means generic hubs laced to Alex rims with Sapim spokes.)
For just over two grand ($2,110), the Search 105 is Norco’s entry level carbon offering. It features Shimano’s impressive 105 kit, Hayes CX mechanical brakes (which Tyler reviewed here), and an assortment of other budget friendly kit.
The Search Carbon will be available in six different sizes.
If you haven’t heard – steel is real, and Norco will also be offering the Search in the hardy material. At $1,525, the S1 complete shares a similar build kit with the entry level carbon model (including a carbon fork), but retails for roughly five hundred less.
The S2 model manages to keep the 105 drivetrain at only $1,215 MSRP, but ditches the carbon front end for a matching steel unit. That price also puts it solidly in Surly Cross Check territory. Decisions, decisions…
At $885, the Search S3 is the most affordable version of the new bike. At under a thousand dollars, the build is finished off with Norco branded components, and a Shimano Sora drivetrain.
There are subtle geometry differences between the carbon and steel versions of the frame, which include: head tube length, fork length, wheelbase, front/rear center, etc.. So make sure to compare the two geometry charts closely before buying.
Visit Norco to learn more.
