Norco sent us images and info on their 2011 lineup back in August, but Interbike gave us the chance to peek under the hood.
Starting with the carbon Jubei SL 29er, the whole lineup looks really good in person, and they’re spec’d really well, too. The Jubei SL’s frame is full high modulus carbon fiber with a tapered headtube, BB30 bottom bracket and post mount brakes. MSRP is just $3,175 with an SLX/XT component mix, Reba fork, Ritchey cockpit and Easton EA70 wheels.
More pics of it and the Range and Phaser after the break…
The spec note we have say it’s BB30, and the shell certainly looks that way, but on the complete bikes you’re getting a standard sized Shimano bottom bracket that’s likely using adapters to fit. The complete bike weighs in around 24lbs. (We were told 23.2lbs at the show, and their website claims 24.3lbs) UPDATE: Confirmed, it’s 24.3lbs for a Large bike.
Shift cables run inside the arc’d top tube, and the rear brake hose runs underneath. The frameset retails for $2,199 (making the complete bike an even better deal) and includes an FSA Orbit C-40 ACB headset, two carbon spacers, alloy top cap, alloy seat clamp and Ritchey Pro 2-bolt seatpost.
The bike gets Shimano’s new Dyna-Sys 10-speed drivetrain, which shifts really smoothly.
Direct (post) mount rear brakes help shed a few grams and keep it visually clean. The Jubei SL Carbon is available in M, L and XL sizes only.
The Range has probably been the most hyped bike in their 2011 collection. It’s an all-new 150mm 160mm travel bike with A.R.T. rear suspension, hydroformed tubes and tapered headtube.
A.R.T. Rear Suspension design takes the FSR concept and moves the bottom rear pivot lower and more forward. The result is a more rearward wheel path to help it better handle square edges bumps. It also increases chaingrowth, which Norco says improves pedaling efficiency by counteracting pedal bob.
The Range uses the Syntace 142×12 rear axle for better stiffness.
Note the cable guides along the top tube for a dropper seatpost. It doesn’t come with one, but Norco’s made it easier for you pull it off the bench when needed.
The top of the line SE model gets SRAM X0 shifters and derailleurs, XX brakes, Race Face SixC cranks and handlebar (with Atlas stem) and Ritchey carbon seatpost, Crank Brothers Iodine wheels, Prologo saddle and Fox Float 36 fork for $7,195.
The Phaser is their 100mm cross country race bike, the Phaser One is the top of the line model shown here.
It has a double- and triple butted, hydroformed MU9 aluminum, which has a high stiffness to weight ratio. The linkages use”Norglide Composite Bearings” rather than traditional bushings. These are about 10% of the weight of normal bearings, so it saves some serious grams across the frame. Claimed weight is 23.2 lbs for the Phaser One.
Despite the different placement of the shock, it also uses their A.R.T. suspension design. The Phaser also shares the post-mount rear brake setup.
MSRP is $3,575 with XT/XTR mix, SID WC RLT with matching paint. Also available are the Phaser Two ($2,665) and Phaser Three ($1,950).
URL: www.norco.com
