Norco’s road range gains several new disc brake variants – both the Valence and Tactic both get disc brake options for 2016, and the Search gets an alloy option.
The biggest news with their skinny tires is the all new Tactic. It’s a completely new frame for 2016, coming in at just 800g for the SLR top model with rim brakes (10% lighter than last year) and 1050g for the SL. Ten percent is a common theme on that model, too – it gets 10% more aero, 10% stiffer and seatstays that are 10% more compliant.
Here’s how they did it…
The downtube, seat tube and seat stays are all reshaped thru CFD via a third party that’s done aerodynamics projects for other bicycle brands (they wouldn’t say who). Then, with the layup, they were able to achieve the stiffer yet more compliant frame without giving up the race oriented handling.
Disc brake frame comes in at 910g and gets thru axles.
The 2016 rim brake Tactic switches to direct mount calipers, which are stiffer and stay in proper alignment when the bike gets knocked around. They’re also more powerful and they look better.
The Valence disc is more of their endurance road bike so they stuck with standard QR dropouts. They told us the thru axles made the bike a bit too stiff and harsh for all day riding.
It’ll fit up to a 32c tire now, thanks to more open stays, but overall compliance was kept similar to the original rim brake versions.
Alloy and carbon frame options across the entire spec line except the very lowest price point.
Flat mount brakes on the alloy bike, too.
It, along with a number of other alloy bikes in their line, use their flip-flop fender mounts. Keep them inward when not needed, flip them out when needed.
The Search gets a new alloy version (bottom) that replaces the steel model for 2016.
The carbon Threshold cyclocross race bike carries over unchanged save for its new Jester flip flop color scheme.
The bike’s painted in two colors, with sections of it mismatched side to side, all the way down to bar tape and cable housing color.
