July 29, 2007 (Whistler, BC) – Whistler BC’s Crankworx 2007 was the launching pad for Norco’s 2008 product line, a line that has grown to 135 models with fourteen sub categories – seven of which are MTB and Dirt/Jump bikes.

Norco’s 2008 lines continue to expand into new categories to meet the ever expanding needs of a world market, a market Norco readily admits is difficult to please as All-Mountain in Canada is quite different than in Europe or the USA.

The new 2008 bikes include significant improvements in weight, ride performance, and graphics. Norco has managed to merge fashion and function, focusing on artistically and musically inspired aesthetics with light-weight engineering. All of Norco’s full suspensions continue to use the tried and true FSR technology licensed from Specialized.

Norco’s top-end big hit bikes consist of four models in the Downhill and Park series and are priced from $2,775 to $6,050. Key features on the four big hit bikes include 8-9″ of adjustable rear travel, triple clamp forks, single front rings with Chain guides, 150×12 rear hubs, deep cup headsets, coil rear shocks, and adjustable bb and head tube angle. Also for ’08 Norco has smoothed out and sculpted the link arms with large diameter cartridge bearings, for easy service, and added a durable anodized finish to the Team DH and the Park Edition bikes.

The 2008 Shore Series, which consists of three models, contains a little less beef than the big hit bikes but allows for those without a chair lift to ride to the top of the mountain. These 7″ travel bikes come with double chainrings, 1.5″ single crowns, coil rear shocks, 150×12 mm rear hubs, 8″ disc rotors, and a new lighter weight component package making use of magnesium pedals and hollow cranks. The most significant changes for the shore for 2008 are the lowering of the centre of gravity, the tightening up of the chainstay seat tube angle, and significantly reduced weight in the forged portions of the frame and the yolks.

Dropping down an inch of travel brings us to Norco’s Six Series with three models. The Sixes are geared towards the aggressive rider who wants one bike to handle freeride and hardcore all-mountain. Key features on the ’08 Six include dual chainrings, air forks and air rear shocks on the 1 and 2, 135x12mm rear ends, 1-1/8″ head tube, increased tire clearance over the 2007 model, 8″ front and 7″ rear disc rotors, and a freeride light, component package.

Norco’s Newest platform for 2008 is the Fluid LT line, consisting of three bikes, in five size options. The Fluid LT, aka “The Office Fluid”, spun out of the Six series of bikes, was more or less a result of Norco staff wanting 6″ travel back country bikes for epic adventure rides and aggressive all-mountain capabilities. The LT has a longer shock stroke, a taller bb, and a slacker head angle than the Fluid series of bikes. Key aspects of the Fluid LT include; Triple chain rings, 7″ disc rotors, DHX air rear piggyback shocks, and a full seat tube design with new hydraform downtube. (non-interrupted). The Fluid LT’s start at $2,175 and go up to $5,875 for the LT 1.

Norco’s Fluid line is still going strong, running four models with price points from $1,500 to $3,850. The Fluid is designed to be the perfect dual backcountry bike with a 4-bar, FSR 4.5″- 5.5″ adjustable suspension link, low stand over, a Hydraform down tube, 7″ front rotors and 6″ rear, and a 130mm travel light weight fox air shock.

Norco’s Cross Country line up for 2008 is led out by their Faze line of bikes. Faze 1, 2 and 3 are spec’d with price points at $5,550, $3,000, and $2,000 respectively. The Faze are full-on race machines with top of the line XC component packages from SRAM and Shimano. They offer the same FSR linkage as their big hit brothers but with 4″ of travel and more aggressive geometry. The Faze also feature Fox air rear shocks, adjustable between 3.5″ and 4.5″, and 6″ disc rotors on the front and rear. Five frame sizes are up for grabs in the 24lb range.

Norco’s Dirt and Street series is six bikes deep with price points from $900 up to $2,700. The highlights of the Dirt/Street Series for ’08 include; more colour matching on components, a focus on lighter frames and parts, emphasis on clean, simple, functional, and durable characteristics, and leading edge brand name components ( Johnson BMX cables, Compact drive gearing, Pivotal saddles.)

A pretty full line from the team at Norco and a line full of amazing attention to detail. Graphics on many of these bikes has been customized by Norco so that forks, saddles, and paint schemes match up to provide fashion coordination that most super models would drool over. But these rides are not just about graphics. We had a chance to run many of these bikes through Whistler’s world famous bike park and the infamous Valley trails and the bikes sucked it all up. The 2008 Norco line offers something for pretty much everyone and it’s offered in style.