Gear Shots #53 - Norco, Geax, Dakine

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Dan Austin throws his leg over the '09 Norco Fluid LT2, Matthew Dennison hits the dirt with some Geax Booze Light tires and I pull on some size XXL Dakine gloves. Go ahead - check it out. You know you want to.

[Jdot]

Matthew Dennison, so hot right now.

[shirk]

Has the Fluid and Fluid LT not been reviewed to death on here by now.

Three seasons in a row with no major changes?

There are many offerings in this category that are not the same FSR or faux bar that design that would be good to read some reviews on.

[Snipy]

I really wanted to buy a LT2 this year. But the LT2 14,8kg and it's flashy colors put me off. The LT1 would have been perfect color and weight wise - but is just to pricey.
So I ordererd a Remedy 7 and speced it up a little bit (XTR, Remedy 9 bars and stuff).
Now I should have a 14kg bike with the (finally working 09) Lyric instead of the Marzocchi and a rear suspension that is more high tech than the LT.
Too bad because I really would have liked to stick to Norco as it is less of a mainstream brand here in Europe, but objectively the Remedy should have the edge over the LT, and the support is better here.
Anyway the wait for the new bike is painful!!! (3 weeks now...)

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Originally Posted by shirk

Has the Fluid and Fluid LT not been reviewed to death on here by now.

Three seasons in a row with no major changes?

"It has been updated a little from last year

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Originally Posted by shirk

There are many offerings in this category that are not the same FSR or faux bar that design that would be good to read some reviews on.

In all seriousness, what sort of bikes would people like to see reviewed on the site? Not everything is possible, but we can certainly try...

[Feral]

Originally Posted by stuart@nsmb.com

In all seriousness, what sort of bikes would people like to see reviewed on the site? Not everything is possible, but we can certainly try...

I know it would be tough, but it would be nice to hear about the brands that aren't all that common out here. Full on reviews probably aren't feasible, but it would be neat to hear about options offered in other parts of the country.

[Bryce]

Originally Posted by Feral

I know it would be tough, but it would be nice to hear about the brands that aren't all that common out here. Full on reviews probably aren't feasible, but it would be neat to hear about options offered in other parts of the country.

the only problem is that it ends up sounding like reguritated marketing copy if the reviewer hasn't actually tried the product

How about building a superlight DH bike and pounding the crap out of it just to see what holds up? Judging from the 'lightest 7"+ bike' thread, there is definitely some weenie interest.

[M.A.X]

Originally Posted by Snipy

I really wanted to buy a LT2 this year. But the LT2 14,8kg and it's flashy colors put me off. The LT1 would have been perfect color and weight wise - but is just to pricey.
So I ordererd a Remedy 7 and speced it up a little bit (XTR, Remedy 9 bars and stuff).
Now I should have a 14kg bike with the (finally working 09) Lyric instead of the Marzocchi and a rear suspension that is more high tech than the LT.

I agree that there are much better bikes in this category with a lower price range and better spec. Take the Giant Reign (6" AM) for example - amazing suspension performance, great spec, and very good price. I find the Giant handles much better too.

The colors on the new Norco bikes are just plain ugly as well - what ever happened to nice clean frame designs? I hate the over-the-top color-match pimping-up that Norco is trying to pull off. Just look at Santa Cruz, Giant, Trek - nice clean and fresh frame designs without the ugly looks.

[Dan Austin]

Originally Posted by Bryce

How about building a superlight DH bike and pounding the crap out of it just to see what holds up? Judging from the 'lightest 7"+ bike' thread, there is definitely some weenie interest.

The only thing wrong I see about that idea is that I am not sure anyone wants to be riding anything to see how long it takes to fail! One, two, three..crunch...it takes three drops to get the super light cranks to blow up. Not me thanks

[IFO]

Originally Posted by M.A.X

I agree that there are much better bikes in this category with a lower price range and better spec. Take the Giant Reign (6" AM) for example - amazing suspension performance, great spec, and very good price. I find the Giant handles much better too.

The colors on the new Norco bikes are just plain ugly as well - what ever happened to nice clean frame designs? I hate the over-the-top color-match pimping-up that Norco is trying to pull off. Just look at Santa Cruz, Giant, Trek - nice clean and fresh frame designs without the ugly looks.

you forgot to add what happened to Norco being among the top players for value???... they were never a Gucci brand..

but now they have prices every bit as high as a Gucci brand but with none of the sex appeal...

for example look at the retail price of a Norco Team DH... u could buy alot of seriously Gucci bikes with that dough and NOT have a Norco at the end of the day...

when i was looking at a 08 XC/trail bike, i figured Norco would be among my first/highest options for what i wanted to spend.. but that was short lived..cost vs. design/weight they simply didnt have the right bike..

i was really surprized..in the end Specialized again had the perfect bike for me, and a price point i simply couldnt pass up.. esp for a new sexy design, which is unusal cuz normaly a first year run new deisgn costs more form Specialized, but somehow they managed to make the 08 version of the StumpyFSR come in at a pricepoint that was easy to swallow..

course for 09 they come out with a all white bike..(Hahah the bastards)..

[edc]

geax make a real strong range of tyres for 09, i think its complete lines worth looking at if your in the market for some fresh treads.

[Snipy]

Originally Posted by M.A.X

I agree that there are much better bikes in this category with a lower price range and better spec. Take the Giant Reign (6" AM) for example - amazing suspension performance, great spec, and very good price. I find the Giant handles much better too.

Yep, too bad I didn't consider the Reign. The only downside of that bike is that there is no lyric/F 36 option. I find fork travel far more important than rear travel.
Though 140mm/5.5 probably are enough for trails. Yesterday I rode with a friend on his new canyon torque 6" enduro bike - and boy was he faster than my old 5". Too fast though, it's getting dangerous... We should stick to 4" bikes

So even though I already ordered the remedy I'd like to see a NSMB.com test of <3000

[M.A.X]

Originally Posted by Snipy

The only downside of that bike is that there is no lyric/F 36 option. I find fork travel far more important than rear travel. Though 140mm/5.5 probably are enough for trails.

Yeah, a 36 fork would definitely be a sweet upgrade and move the Reign towards the more aggressive bikes on the 'all mountain spectrum'. However, I find a well dialed Fox 32mm fork is pretty stiff and handles techy stuff very well - I've taken my Reign off decent drops and the fork felt perfect. Also a 36mm fork would add a lot of weight, so if you're smooth a 32 is still a great 'all around' option.

[quote]
So even though I already ordered the remedy I'd like to see a NSMB.com test of <3000

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Reign review here - http://www.nsmb.com/page/s/2456/revi...-giant-reign-0. I tried the bike with a TALAS 36, and it's a great option. The new ones comes with a 15mm thru axle.