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SOC15: Norco testing prototype Revolver full suspension 29er XC race bike

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Prototype Norco Revolver full suspension xc race mountain bike

For the pro men’s XC race at Sea Otter this year, Norco’s team riders will have the choice of the existing Revolver hardtail 29er or this prototype Revolver full suspension.

They were tight lipped on details other than to say this was the first time any of the athletes would be throwing a leg over it, and to discuss a bit of their development process for making new bikes.

To state the obvious, it’s a Horst Link design, likely getting 100mm of travel, with a shock layout that’s a departure from the upright positioning found on their longer travel Sight, Range or the new Aurum Carbon DH bike. Instead, a small but stout rocker link pushes the shock forward just under the top tube. Beyond that, they’d only say that they were doing things a bit differently with this bike…

Prototype Norco Revolver full suspension xc race mountain bike

Up front, two ports on either side make room for rear shifter, rear brake, rear shock remote lockout and likely either front derailleur or dropper post remote. From the looks of this one, there’s a dual hydraulic lockout switch activating both the RS-1 and a Monarch rear shock.

Prototype Norco Revolver full suspension xc race mountain bike

They sort of mumbled something about the shock being special, but outside appearances don’t suggest anything special…looks like a Monarch to us.

Prototype Norco Revolver full suspension xc race mountain bike

Prototype Norco Revolver full suspension xc race mountain bike

The downtube, bottom bracket and stays are all oversized. The Kenda tires simply said Norco Factory Team, so there’s probably something special going on with them despite a similar looking tread pattern.

Prototype Norco Revolver full suspension xc race mountain bike

Prototype Norco Revolver full suspension xc race mountain bike

The Revolver hardtail from which this one’s based. The bikes will be raced by Haley Smith, Peter Disera, Evan Guthrie and Evan McNeely.

For a prototype, this one’s looking awfully polished. And it’s full carbon, meaning they’ve opened molds. Their marketing rep said they have done plenty of testing with alloy mules to get the linkage positions dialed, suggesting these are more about getting the layup and small bits right. They said when they’re going to do something, they commit big (carbon molds are expensive), and they went through the same process with the new carbon Aurum, too. So, despite not specifying a release timeline, our hunch is it’s close.

Norco.com

 

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Ascar Larkinyar
Ascar Larkinyar
9 years ago

ummmm trek superfly, yeti , all other single pivot moto link bikes, complete copy too many years later, why bother…..yawn

davechopoptions
davechopoptions
9 years ago

It’s not a single pivot though….

phella
phella
9 years ago

Cool, but where is the carbon, short chainstay, B+/29″ Shinobi replacement?

criscoevrf
criscoevrf
9 years ago

Ascar…”complete copy too many years later, why bother…..yawn” and if Norco managed to improve this system? We have been making cake for years with eggs, flour and milk.

Do you not eat cake because it’s the same old base recepie? 😉

What about head angle, pivot placement and carbon layup.

Cheers

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

That hard tail looks sweet. I like that they also make their top end XC race hard tail in a 27.5.

JBikes
JBikes
9 years ago

eggs, flour and milf…
but do you evr (use) crisco…

scentofreason
scentofreason
9 years ago

Interesting to show the racebike with a single ring up front. Norco’s backyard is chock full of real mountains, I’d have thought they’d have at least made provisions for a front derailleur and a triple up front – you know, for those of us who ride our mountain bikes on mountains. (You can take my granny gear from me when you pry it from my cold dead hands).

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

Seriously, who uses a triple any more? It is hard to tell, but looks like there is a FD hanger.

Bog
Bog
9 years ago

It’s not hard to tell – there is a FD mount and cable guides.

Remy
Remy
9 years ago

Monarch air spring sleeve is different on this one- looks similar to a corset.

real person
real person
9 years ago

(deleted)

ryan
ryan
9 years ago

Damn, that’s sexy. It’s refreshing to see painted suspension linkage and not anodizing for a change. Looks so clean. Love it.

AFS
AFS
9 years ago

FSR? RS shock? Not for me! I pass.

gsmith
gsmith
9 years ago

Huh. Valor back, Race Gold front. I wonder why, is the race gold lighter than the valor?

Stevo
Stevo
9 years ago

Looks a bit Red S Epic-ish but am still interested… From the pics it looks like there a few little touches that lend to being a nice XC/marathon rig, but until the punters can throw a leg over we’ll never know…

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