Norco 2011 part 2 - DH, Shore & Shinobi

[craw]

Originally Posted by Fanatyk Co

I don't have photos of the XL but there was lots of rider input during the development of the Shinobi from someone who is taller than you!

I'm sure it rides great. But the bigger sizes have a way of looking much goofier than the smaller sizes.

[LogJam]

Here is an XL in it's natural habitat

[LogJam]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulr...34624/sizes/l/

[craw]

FTFY

I still think I'm bigger.

[Oldfart]

Originally Posted by biggles604

So you take a 2.35 nevegal in 26 and 29, which have the same width, then claim that they have the same contact area, implying that the 29er has a longer patch, but narrower at a given PSI, and when I ask you why, you say it's because the 29er has a longer contact patch...

I think I know what you are implying, but I'm not sure how true it is.

It is physics. Simple physics. You take any tire with a specific psi, same weight placed on it, same casing construction, rim width etc and the only thing different is casing diameter, the contact patch area is the same for a 29er or 26er. take a 2.5 and 2.0 tire with again all parameters the same where the only difference is tire width, and the contact patch is the same area size. A 2.5 of course can be run with lower psi which is why one would run one in rocky terrain over a 2.0 which will need to be rock hard to not bottom out.

So when some one gets all teary eyed about how much better the traction is on a 29er because it has a larger contact patch, I look at that persons comment with scepticism. A 29er may have better traction but it is not due to a larger contact patch unless you can lower psi in a given tire size due to the extra diameter. I think the perceived better traction is due to the lower rolling resistance and the lower likelyhood of the tire loosing contact with the ground when it is rough. Full suspension bikes climb better on rough and loose surfaces because the tire remains in contact with the ground better. Quite simply, a tire has no traction when it's in the air.

[biggles604]

Originally Posted by Oldfart

It is physics. Simple physics. You take any tire with a specific psi, same weight placed on it, same casing construction, rim width etc and the only thing different is casing diameter, the contact patch area is the same for a 29er or 26er. take a 2.5 and 2.0 tire with again all parameters the same where the only difference is tire width, and the contact patch is the same area size. A 2.5 of course can be run with lower psi which is why one would run one in rocky terrain over a 2.0 which will need to be rock hard to not bottom out.

I understand what was trying to be said, but I'm not convinced it's totally true, and it also assumes that you would run the same pressures on the 29 (I don't know if you would or not).

[DrewM]

Originally Posted by biggles604

I understand what was trying to be said, but I'm not convinced it's totally true, and it also assumes that you would run the same pressures on the 29 (I don't know if you would or not).

Math aside. I own both a 26" and 29" wheeled singlespeed. Both are shod with 2.25 Schwalbe Racing Ralphs and I run 2-bar in both for air pressure.

Both bikes are geared approximately the same (32:20 for the 29'er / 32:19 for the 26").

The 29'er has significantly better traction in all conditions (loose climbing, descending, cornering).

It is WAY more notable comparing hardtail:hardtail compared to the 29'er dualies I have owned and ridden.

-D

[Oldfart]

Now that is a proper comparison Drew.

More important for me is fit of a 29er for a short guy like me. Will it mean a compromise? Will I have toe overlap? I look at the bike Burry Stander races and I see a fairly steep drop stem to get his bars a bit above saddle height with a flat bar. He's taller that I am too by a good 4 inches.

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/articl...-ht-29er-26230

[MikeO]

I'm waiting for the 32er craze to begin. I heard that shit will roll over anything.

[shirk]

Originally Posted by MikeO

I'm waiting for the 32er craze to begin. I heard that shit will roll over anything.

uh 36er is the next stage not 32.

[Kevin_m31]

Back to the new norcos.

Not sure that ART was a required name change... it seems like they just tweaked FSR.
When banshee tweaked the rear wheel travel and other things on the legend did they come up with a new name for their suspension? NO. Its a tweak, not a new concept.

Finally norco has a through seat post though... about 2 years too late or we would have had a norco shore/six in our garage.

The range looks coool, I dont even have the interest to get into that 142mm axle, seriously, how many people will just say... " so I cant use my current pimp wheelset with the new bike? ".

Thats all I have to say.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Originally Posted by craw

To say that the Shinobi isn't great on the Shore is a little misleading.

Any XC bike with 4" travel and pinner fork+tires is probably not going to be great on the shore. I certainly wouldn't want to ride a bike like that on Pipeline or worse. But on buffer more XC-oriented trails? For sure!

Craw - you're right about riding the Shinobi on more buff, XC-oriented trails but that's not what most people think of when you say "Shore".

It wouldn't be my first choice on trails like Seventh or CBC or most things on Cypress. Now, if you were talking Bridal Path, that would be another matter. I would still change the spec a bit, but that's just me...

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Originally Posted by craw

I'm sure it rides great. But the bigger sizes have a way of looking much goofier than the smaller sizes.

The bike I'm riding in the shot in the article is an XL. Didn't look particularly goofy.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Originally Posted by Fanatyk Co

The article incorrectly lists the spec of the DH.

Fixed the article. Thanks.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Originally Posted by cdn_rider

Hey dave i think its a price point thing more then anything.

This. Adding Hammerschmidt (and height-adjustable posts) bumps the price (and weight) of a bike by a few hundred dollars and a pound or more. Functionality take a back seat to those things.

When you're trying to keep prices and weight down, adding $$$ and lbs are bad in the eyes of consumers.