Reviewed: Norco Sight 1

Norco has stepped up their all-mountain game in the last few years, and the 2012 Sight 1 (MSRP ~$5600) is continuing that trend as a capable, 140mm travel smasher that still lets you pedal up. Victoria purchasing manager Scotty Martin got on one this year and has a few rides under his belt with it. Here’s what he had to say:

The Norco Sight 1 feels like it has endless travel, especially when your daily driver is a Santa Cruz Highball. I found myself getting further off the ground than I have in years. The bike is a dream to throw around, and corners aggressively. Spec-wise, there’s not a thing you’d need to upgrade. Full XT kit with an XTR rear derailleur, carbon bar, Reverb post, 24-38 trail crankset, et cetera. Mine weighs in at 27.5 lbs.

While most of the industry still compares 29ers to 26ers, we’ve been drinking the 29er Kool-aid for so long that the question I was asking myself is “how will the Sight match up to a 29er?” Predictably, it’s much more flickable and in the sharpest of corners it does come through more quickly. Norco’s ART variation on traditional FSR suspension is a major improvement on their old Fluid design, both in pedaling performance and when the trail points down; still, the bike’s 26″ wheels simply do not climb as well as a similar 29″ wheeled bike.

My riding habits include a healthy dose of XC, so the 2012 Norco Sight 1 couldn’t be my only bike. However, it’s a welcome addition to the stable, especially for the Chilcotins trip I’d love to do next year. For folks who tend more to the All Mountain side of the spectrum, this might just be their “One Bike.”