Norco?!?!?!?

[wheeler]

or a copy? confused.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/wheeler69/pbpic201839.jpg

[Nelson]

Norcos are cataloge frames made overseas, so anyone can buy them and re badge them. Saracen also makes a hardtail with a VPS Monocoque style front end but with a full seatpost and stays.

[Keefer]

It's a Saracen, as clearly illustrated by the big sticker.

[Nelson]

http://www.lescycles.com/dualslalom/image6.htm

[wheeler]

Harsh, what about all that designed in bc for bc riding crap? Or they jsut talking about the build?

[DangerousDean]

Originally posted by Airborne Ranger
Norcos are cataloge frames made overseas, so anyone can buy them and re badge them. Saracen also makes a hardtail with a VPS Monocoque style front end but with a full seatpost and stays.

im pretty sure VPS' arnt catalogue frames . It looks to me like thye just made a few changes that make it pass copywrite :)

[0_o]

The dropout pivot is in the wrong place.

[01shore_rida]

best quote ever on that page with the dual slalom bike "the tioga components work well and look the nuts" mbr magazine

[trail star]

those bikes are a UK brand, they are pretty cheaply built frames with bad components on them.. They are sold around the country in cheaper more "family orientated" bike shops and general hardware shops such as Halfords.

Although, in saying this. In this country not that many people can afford big expensive bikes, and i think that Saracen bring a lot of younger riders into our sport and then they will upgrade their bike.

Saracen also make some high end stuff as well, but i still wouldnt ride one because of the name :P

[corey@nsmb.com]

Originally posted by Airborne Ranger
Norcos are cataloge frames made overseas, so anyone can buy them and re badge them.

For a guy who works at a bike shop (Caps, right?) which even carries the Norco line, you sure don't seem to know much about them.

I'm glad you aren't selling bikes to me.

You spelled catalogue wrong ace. :cool:

[wheeler]

So some company can come and say hey i wanna sell freeride bikes, flip through a catologue and find the vps frames and say there we go lets sell these. And then be in direct competition?

[mudpuppy]

no, I am pretty sure they are not catalog frames....the sarecen is a copy. Catalog bikes don't use the Specialized patent.

[wheeler]

Well the onoly part that really looks the same is the monocoque downtube now that i look closer

[corey@nsmb.com]

Originally posted by wheeler
So some company can come and say hey i wanna sell freeride bikes, flip through a catologue and find the vps frames and say there we go lets sell these. And then be in direct competition?

No. Lots of "experts" on the forums throw that term around like you can just grab this book and purchase these mass-produced frames and slap your sticker on it. That isn't how it works.

The Saracen looks like it uses a similar monocoque downtube, and that's about it.

Lots of bikes use round, or RAD (an Easton brand, but describes the shape I'm talking about) tubes for their downtubes. Does that make them "catalogue" frames too? No.

[trail star]

these frames have been around for about 5yrs. They are not something new at all. I dont think they are a copy, just a look-a-like that may have been refined a little more towards norco recently.

[bighitter]

the rear end looks like a Risse Racing Modular Rear Suspension Design

http://www.risseracing.com/Products/Bikes/rear.html

[ThE NoRcO]

They're not Norco's!
You see alot of them in England, and in real life they look similar, yes, but nothing like Norco frames.

[Furious]

Originally posted by corey@nsmb.com
No. Lots of "experts" on the forums throw that term around like you can just grab this book and purchase these mass-produced frames and slap your sticker on it. That isn't how it works.

The Saracen looks like it uses a similar monocoque downtube, and that's about it.

Lots of bikes use round, or RAD (an Easton brand, but describes the shape I'm talking about) tubes for their downtubes. Does that make them "catalogue" frames too? No.

Here's the link:
http://www.eastonbike.com/TUBE_SETS/tubesets_7005.html

Take a look and you'll find that many parts on our beloved steeds were bought in bulk and built like a lego kit.

[Nelson]

The Old Norco Monoque was a Catalogue Design, as in if you wanted to Use that Monocoque, you could. Ive seen over 4 different bikes with that same Front Monoqoque, aswell as no name bikes overseas. There were a couple kids out in surrey last year that ordered a bunch of frames last year, what most of us would consider Azonic bikes, and just painted them, threw on some stickers, and random rear shocks and started selling them as their own company. It really isnt Rocket science, 5 Different companies can be made in the same factory.

Heres a GSR Hooligan:

http://www.cambriabike.com/SALE/frame/Images/gsr_hookigan_red.jpg

Anyways, I dont want to turn this into somesort of Argument, so Ill jsut leave it at that.

[Nelson]

Oh, just one last thing, the Barracuda XXFX Straight outta 1998:

http://www.republika.pl/zerter/pix/baraxxfx.jpg
http://members.fortunecity.com/jabamtb/barracuda.jpg

And heres a little Review:

The BARRACUDA XXFX is one nice DH bike. Coming standard with Hayes discs , Zzyzx 6 inch forks, Vuelta deep dish rims and enough AC Components to keep anyone happy and best of all a price tag under $5000 (Aud).

The Barracuda is no lightweight, it is definitely in the heavy end of full comp. bikes but other than that the bike is almost perfect. Its plush and responsive taking everything in its stride. More than once the Zzyzx saved my life from having a high speed incident , they are very forgiving .The only gripe I have is that after a few long runs my wrists were starting to hurt a bit due to the heavy front end.

The adjustable rear shock plate on the Barracuda was an excellent idea (so many bikes these days have them and will probably be standard pretty soon). You could change the suspension length from about 4 inches to 7 inches. The 7 inch option requires a new spring because doing a few DH’s with the standard spring pretty much killed it.

The Hayes on this bike seemed to make it complete you could ride at full speed and listen to the pads on the brakes whilst feathering the back end with one finger on the lever while doing 60+ in full confidence.

My only small gripe about the bike is how noisy it. The hollow T606 Aluminium frame seems to echo just about every rock or bump the bike goes over, and joined with the sound of friction from the AC chain device. But need I say that once you have got your full face helmut on and doing 30+ you don’t really notice anything other than the line you have to take.

This is one nice bike and probably one of the best value bikes of 1998.If you have got one your damn lucky and if you haven’t try to get a ride on one, one day.

[IFO]

just to add fuel to the fire i've seen a "catalog" version of the new 03-04 Norco team NS frt triangle aswell...

i forget what the company name was that was marketing it... while the rear end was differnt...
the frt end was identical right down to every gusset and bracket...

i believe Norco is getting their frt triangles outa a book...i wont be surprized when i see the 04 team DH frt tri. on some other companies bike...


:P

heres one pic, but this isnt the one im thinking of...

http://www.pinkbike.com/modules/photo/?op=view&image=266374

with the exception of the seat mast the frt triangle is a MATCH...:eek:

[Millstone]

whats the big deal?

[DangerousDean]

Originally posted by IFO
just to add fuel to the fire i've seen a "catalog" version of the new 03-04 Norco team NS frt triangle aswell...

i forget what the company name was that was marketing it... while the rear end was differnt...
the frt end was identical right down to every gusset and bracket...

i believe Norco is getting their frt triangles outa a book...i wont be surprized when i see the 04 team DH frt tri. on some other companies bike...


:P

heres one pic, but this isnt the one im thinking of...

http://www.pinkbike.com/modules/photo/?op=view&image=266374

with the exception of the seat mast the frt triangle is a MATCH...:eek:

It resembles a norco, but it sure isnt the same, you could also say it looks like a *gasp* BIGHIT!!


OMG! bighits are catalogue frames now!!! i seen one that kinda looks like it!!!! omg talk about junk :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Loopie]

Yes...you CAN pretty much just call up one of these companies and order a frame, either one that they offer or they work with you and you design something, or they'll quote you how much to build what you've presented them with.
It's just a matter of how deep your pockets are or what color your credit card is:)...as I'm sure there's a minimum order.

check the "what we offer">R&D, and also the Links pg:)
http://www.hibike.com.tw/index.htm

[wheeler]

My mind is blown. Here i expected some engineers down at norco diesigning these frames. But i guess they just pick the fram and decide what parts to put on it.

[IFO]

heres a better pic of the main triangle...

http://www.pinkbike.com/modules/photo/?op=view&image=268964

thats pretty dam similar if u ask me...

seems to me the main triangle is a "catalog part" with options added such as seatmast/cable guides/ and rear triangle design as spec'd by the bike company...

[ShoreIH]

its sort of like my frame and the brodie 9 ball. I still dont know the whole story behind the hole catalogue thing that went on with it. http://www.pinkbike.com/modules/photo/?op=view&image=145584

[Zu]

the saracen decal looks ph0t0sh0pped

[UrBaN hAxOr]

those are way uglier then any norco i have ever seen

[Think Fast Hippie]

Most companies (not all) do use catalogue tube sets. Its the refining that they put into them that makes them unique. Yes the VPS was a catalogue frame.... but as they say "you've come a long way baby"

[banjopete]

Originally posted by DangerousDean
i seen one that kinda looks like it!!!!

Please refrain from spreading this Surreyism. I seen ? W.T.F. ?
I have seen, or I saw would start that sentence past the first grade.

Thanks,

Your preschool english teacher.