After several years of absence, Norco has announced the return of the Team DH downhill bike. A full-bred race machine designed to take Norco’s team riders to the podium, the new Team DH was fine-tuned with input from racers Greg Minaar, Danny Hart and Gracey Hemstreet. After five years of development on the World Cup Circuit and many design revisions, the bike launches today with some clever features to show.
Most notably, the new Team DH debuts Norco’s new HVP6 six-link suspension linkage. This downhill-specific linkage features adjustable progressivity and adjustable anti-squat via two idler positions. To ensure a proper fit, the bike also includes reach-adjustable headset cups and size-specific rear ends. The Team DH was designed to remain stable and composed on the track, hold lines through rough terrain, and allow the rider to find speed wherever possible.
Norco Team DH – Construction Features:
The new Team DH is built around an aluminum front triangle and a carbon rear end. The aluminum front provides optimal stiffness and durability, while the carbon rear is tuned to find traction and offer a responsive ride while reducing unsprung mass. The bike features 200 mm of rear travel and runs MX wheels. Norco makes no mention of full 29” compatibility.
One significant feature of the Team DH is its new HVP6 Suspension linkage – A patented, High Virtual Pivot Six-link layout optimized for downhill racing. Norco says by adding linkage elements between the main suspension system and the shock, they can eliminate inherent compromises of four-bar linkages. The HVP6 linkage offers more tuning control over individual suspension characteristics and how they affect the bike’s braking behaviour, axle path, and leverage curve. The Team DH’s linkage is tuned to stay highly active to absorb repeated high-speed impacts, but remain supportive in corners and composed under hard braking.
Next up is the Team DH’s progression adjustment. Flip-chips at both rear shock eyelets offer two leverage rate curve settings (P+ and P-) to suit different riders, terrain, or track conditions. Both eyelets get flip-chips because the Team DH’s entire shock moves backwards or forwards on the frame to achieve the different rate curves. Norco says this alters the bike’s progression but maintains its initial sensitivity; this enables riders to play with the progression settings without requiring other adjustments to compensate between them. Bikes will ship in the P- position, and switching to the P+ setting increases progressivity by 2.5%.
To allow fine-tuning of anti-squat, Norco gave the Team DH an adjustable idler position, using a patent licensed from i-Track. This provides riders with control over drivetrain response and pedal feedback. Via interchangeable mounting plates and guides, the idler can be set at two positions (AS+ and AS-). Bikes ship in the AS+ setting, and moving to the AS- setting reduces anti-squat by 20%.
Before the rider even starts tuning, the Team DH’s rear shocks are already custom-tuned for each frame size to ensure the bike’s intended kinematics remain consistent for everyone.
As for key fitments, the Team DH features a UDH derailleur hanger, an 83mm threaded BSA bottom bracket, and runs a 148mm Boost rear axle. The frame fits 31.6mm seat posts and includes an ISCG-05 mount.
With race-day maintenance in mind, the Team DH features oversized bearings, low-hassle frame hardware (like top hat spacers), and external cable routing. Norco notes that no special tools are required to work on the Team DH, and service kits will be available so riders can keep their bikes race-ready throughout the season.
As a Norco-specific bonus, buyers can use their Ride Aligned website to help tune their bike’s settings – including the Team DH’s reach, progressivity, and idler position adjustments.
Geometry:
For additional fit tuning, the Team DH comes equipped with reach-adjustable headset cups that allow for neutral, +5, or -5mm positions. They also feature size-specific rear ends, with only the S1 and S2 sharing the same chainstay lengths. The rear end lengths were chosen based on testing with riders on all frame sizes, considering fit and real-world weight distribution measurements. The varying lengths ensure all riders stay centered between the wheels and enjoy consistent balance, grip, and handling. Up front, Norco slacks the head tubes by an additional half a degree on the largest three frame sizes. If you check out the build specs, you’ll notice Norco stocks lower-rise handlebars and shorter cranks on the two smallest frame sizes.
The five available frame sizes (S1 to S5) should fit riders from 5’ to 6’3”. Check out the chart above for all the specs.
Model Lineup:
There will be two complete models of the Team DH, plus a frame kit.
Team DH 2 Fox: $7,999
Check out Norco’s website for full build specs, but here’s a quick rundown of some key components: The Team DH 2 Fox model comes with a Fox 40 Performance Elite 200mm fork and a Factory DHX2 rear shock with a Sprindex spring. This bike gets a SRAM GX DH drivetrain, a Praxis Cadet DH9 crankset, and SRAM Maven base brakes. It rolls on RaceFace ARC HD rims with DT Swiss 370 hubs. The Team DH 2 Fox comes in satin silver/blue.
Team DH 2 RockShox: $7399
For fans of RockShox suspension, this model runs a Boxxer Select D2 200mm fork and a Vivid Coil Base rear shock with a Sprindex spring. It shares the same SRAM GX DH drivetrain and Maven base brakes as the Fox-equipped model, but runs a Praxis Cadet HD crank. The RaceFace/DT Swiss wheelset is the same on both compete models. This bike also comes in satin silver/blue.
Team DH Frame Kit: $4599
The Team DH frame kit includes a Fox Factory DHX2 rear shock with a Sprindex spring, a seat clamp, rear axle, and an MRP G5 SL chain guide. The frame kit is sold in a gloss black/blue colorway.
Norco covers the Team DH with their ‘No Other Way’ limited lifetime warranty. Check out their website for more info.
