Norco has reintroduced their fleet of electric mountain bikes with a new Range VLT, Sight VLT, and Fluid VLT. Each bike can be purchased with one of three battery options; a 540Wh, 720Wh, and a 900Wh, depending on how much power the rider wants. The redesigned lineup features a Ride Aligned Design System, Shimano EP8 drive units, carbon and aluminum frame options. Batteries can also be removed from the frame.
“We’ve learned so much about what makes a great-riding electric mountain bike since starting this project. To keep innovating in the E-MTB space, we really wanted to offer riders something extra with these new bikes,” said Jim Jamieson, E-MTB Product Manager in a release.
Norco says that their third generation of the VLT series is inspired by battery adaptability, Shimano’s new EP8 motor because of the torque and efficiency, and repositioning the motor so they could rethink the suspension layout and kinematics.
With the new motor and battery options, Norco did some range testing to offer examples of how far their bikes can go. They rode a Sight VLT in eco mode over 2,100m/6,900ft of climbing for more than 38km/23miles before the battery was drained. There are a ton of different variables that factor into the range of an e-bike, but they can pack on some distance and elevation these days.
Range VLT – Big mountain/enduro e-biking
The Range VLT C1 has a carbon front triangle and seat stay, but an aluminum chainstay. The bike has 170mm of rear travel and comes with a 180mm fork from either RockShox or Fox.
The Range VLT doesn’t see the high-pivot like the newly introduced non-electric bike does, but it looks like it will be a powerhouse nonetheless.
The geo on the Range VLT starts with a 63° HTA, a 76.2° – 77.2° STA depending on the size, a 462mm chainstay across sizes, and a lengthy wheelbase.
Sight VLT – All mountain e-biking
The Sight VLT, like the Range will come in similar frame materials with either an all-aluminum frame or a frame featuring an aluminum chainstay and a carbon seat stay and front triangle. The Sight VLT has 150mm of rear travel with a 160mm fork, and opts for a similar 4-bar linkage design like the Range VLT.
Geometry starts with a 64° HTA, a 77-78° STA, a long wheelbase, and 462mm chainstays again. Standover on the Sight is nice and low, with 703/708mm on the medium, depending on the frame material.
Fluid VLT
The Fluid VLT is Norco’s battery-powered trail bike with 130mm of rear travel and a 140mm fork. Like the other models, the Fluid VLT has 29-inch wheels and a similar suspension layout, but the Fluid is only available in aluminum.
Geometry on the Fluid VLT starts with a 65° HTA, a 75.5-76.5° STA depending on the size, a 462mm long chainstay (we might be seeing a pattern here), and a lengthy wheelbase, with the smallest size at 1,188mm.
All bikes come in four sizes: S, M, L, and XL. Norco didn’t include any information on complete bike weights with the release.
All of the Norco VLT e-bikes are designed with functionality and practicality in mind. The batteries can be removed easily, says Norco, so they can be swapped with a spare, interchanged, or charged off of the bike. Norco has specced the bikes with “E-certified forks,” 4-piston brakes, and supportive tires.
Pricing and availability
Each of the models has two build kit options in each frame material, so they are all dubbed either A1/A2 or C1/C2, however the Fluid is aluminum only. A Fluid A2 starts at pretty reasonable price – for an e-bike – at $4,200, while the A1 adds $600. The most expensive model is the Sight VLT C1 at $8,600, which isn’t out of this world for an e-bike either.
Norco is selling spares of the 540Wh, 720Wh, and 900Wh batteries for $750, $1,000, and $1,200.
Norco says that the e-bikes will be available in Canada toward the end of July and throughout the rest of the world later in the year. For more information, see the Norco website.
