Norco’s prototype downhill bike looks to be edging closer to production, with Danny Hart’s Lenzerheide DH World Cup race bike sporting a new rear end.
Previously, the bike featured an adjustable rear dropout to experiment with chainstay length, but it now appears this won’t make it to the production model.
We got hands-on with Hart’s bike in the pits to see the British rider's setup and spot any other changes to the frame.
More from Lenzerheide
Prototype Norco DH
Norco has been developing its downhill bike on the UCI World Cup circuit for the past couple of years, with the Canadian brand missing a race bike from its line-up.
Hart has been using this bike throughout the year, but this is the first time we’ve seen it with what looks like a production rear end.
This suggests the designers have settled on at least one chainstay and wheelbase length in its size range.
It’s not uncommon for teams to test new rear triangles at the UCI World Cup, with Troy Brosnan testing a prototype rear end on his Canyon Sender at Lenzerheide.
Shorter chainstays usually make a bike feel more playful and easier to turn, while longer chainstays provide a more stable ride, especially at high speeds.
The bike features a high-pivot suspension design, something Norco has adopted throughout its enduro and trail bikes.
This design is used by many frame manufacturers in order to combat pedal kickback.
Controlling the linkage is a Fox DHX2 coil rear shock, with Hart looking to have the bike in the ‘P1’ setting on the flip chip located by the mount.
We’re unsure what this flip chip does, although there’s a possibility it changes the progression of the suspension or enables the bike to be run with either a 29in or 27.5in rear wheel.
Hart is using Shimano’s Saint drivetrain and brakes, a groupset that is nearly 13 years old and expected to be updated in the near future.
Some riders who choose this setup opt to run an XTR lever with Saint calipers, but Hart has gone full Saint.
At the front of the bike, a Fox Factory 40 fork provides 203mm of travel to keep Hart supported on big hits.
We've seen some prototypes from Lenzerheide of an upcoming Fox 40 with the generative architecture crown we've seen on the recently released Fox 36.
The British rider uses Crankbrothers Synthesis rims laced to Chris King hubs and booted in Maxxis Minion DHR II rubber at both ends.
While Maxxis labels its downhill tyres DHF and DHR II (Downhill Front and Downhill Rear), we've seen riders opting to use the rear tyre on the front and rear a lot this season.
