- These days, it's pretty difficult to find a mountain bike
that won't suit your needs.
From lightweight trail bikes
the big enduro sleds, they're sitting out there
for everyone.
But sometimes it actually means
it can be pretty difficult to make a choice.
So on that note,
welcome to a new pink bike series,
The matchup.
Where we take a look at two different bikes
in the same manufacturer,
and put them head to head based
on the right characteristics, tack and geometry.
My name's Aiden Oliver with pink bike.
And first up is Norco Optic versus the Norco Sight
(upbeat)
Norco was first founded in 1964
by a guy called Burt Lewis.
Who originally set up shop
and it converted chicken coop and Burnaby BC.
The brand was originally called Northern cycles industry
but they quickly changed the name to Norco in 1968.
When the brand realized that the name,
wouldn't actually fit
on a dan tube or the head tube of a bike.
Norco became synonymous with the emerging freeride scene,
on Vancouver's North shore.
And the release legendary bikes.
Such as the A line, VPS 1,
and these were being hacked off stupidly high skinnies
by the cycling world's new cool kids.
Fast forward to 2020 and Norco steel manufacturer,
a huge range of mountain bikes for all disciplines.
From XE to downhill.
And these can still be hacked off skinnies
if that's your thing.
(upbeat music)
So here's the Norco sight.
First released back in 2012.
It was a 26 inch or mountain bike.
Shout out to 26 inch wheels RIP.
But since then, enduro racing is getting popularity.
Wheels have gotten bigger and the old mountain bike
has changed a lot.
Version 4.0 of the sight is Norcos new take
on your mountain bike.
It comes to, these are 29 or 27.5 inch wheels.
The fork has been bumped up to 160.
The rear travel has been bumped up to 150.
This Sight here has been built using Norcos'
build your ride program.
Essentially pick all your different components.
This one has rockshox link ultimate fork.
Rockshox super deluxe shock, Sram code, RSC brakes
and strands.
XO1 Eagle drive train.
The sight comes with a carbon front end,
carbon seats stays and aluminum chain stays.
And there are also full alloy options available as well.
Prices range from 2800 to 7100.
If you want the frame and shock, it will be 3049.
And this size large bill that comes in at 32 pounds.
(upbeat music)
the optic was first released back in 2016.
It's an XE bike
and remained largely unchanged for a number of years.
But for 2020, the optic only keeps his name.
As it had a complete redesign.
With geometry you will usually see,
on a bike with much longer travel
and the spectrum match.
It's actually pretty difficult to work out
what this bike even is,
but luckily Mike Levy isn't here.
So we don't have to call that dark country bike
With 125 millimeters of rear travel,
29 inch wheels and 140 millimeter fork.
The optic has Norcos take on short travel,
but big fun.
The bike focus is on attacking the trail hitting leaps,
And as generally shredding.
This optic model here is a CT spec
which comes with a Rockshox Pikes select plus fork
srams GX Eagle drive train
Shimano 4 piston brakes.
And interestingly, every single optic model, comes stocked
with the Rockshox, super deluxe ultimate DH shock,
which has a custom tune made for aggressive riding.
The optic comes with a carbon front end
and an aluminum rear triangle.
Prices range from 3749 to $9000
for the bowler access belt.
If you want just the frame and shock, it'll be $2500.
And this built here and a large comes in at 30 pounds.
Which is two pounds lighter than the sight.
Both the optic and the sight geometry stems
from Norco's ride aligned program.
And one this means in a nutshell,
is that each different size of bike.
Gets its own unique geometry.
With a rear end of the bike, growing as the front end does.
Norcos goal with this, was to always make sure
that the riders center of gravity is balanced
within the bike.
It might seem like a no brainer,
but it's actually going against the norm
for the majority of bikes.
So when we put these bikes side by side.
We start to see some crucial differences.
We're looking at head angles.
The sight has a 64, whereas the optic has a 65
on these size lodgers the sight
has a 440 millimeter chain stays,
Whereas the optic has 435 millimeter chain stays.
We're looking at the reach.
The sight is 485,
whereas the optic is 480.
This actually 24 millimeters is intended to give the sight.
A more planted field on the trail.
Whereas the optic is a touch shorter
and designed to be a little more lively.
So you've heard enough of me rattling off numbers.
These bikes have similar geometries
and similar components.
but what kind of writing actually suits them best?
Although the angles and the optic are similar to the sight
and are intended to let you ride the bike aggressively.
It does only have 125 millimeters of travel
and riders will have to keep that in mind.
Norco, haven't forgotten about the climbs.
As they give them the optic a steep seat tube angle,
and cut things relatively lightweight.
If you're the type of rider who does a lot of climbing
and rides some flow trails,
but you occasionally want
to hang out with enduro mates too.
You could be the type of rider Norco designed the optic for.
If you're the type of rider who writes rough technical
and steep trails, but also occasionally once the rides
more mellow trails and all mountain bike like the sight
is a great one to consider.
Norco label as sight is a true or mountain bike.
which is a category that's kind of been overtaken
by the enduro bikes,
but this is a perfect example
of why it's a category that should never die out.
So there you have it.
The Norco sight go head to head against the Norco optic.
Let us know in the comments,
which one was your favorite
and let us know which two bikes you want us
to put head to head next time.
(upbeat music)