Here's Norco's 2017 enduro beast, the Range C 7.1 - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
Armed with the enduro standard; a 170mm Fox Factory 36 fork leads the way - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
Out back, a trunnion-mounted Fox Float X2 controls 160mm of travel - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
Proper enduro rubber is present with the Maxxis Minion 27.5 x 2.5WT front tire. WT stands for wide tread which works well with wide rims - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
Big knobs, comprised of Maxxis's winning 3C compound, look good - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
Race Face provides the 30mm wide (internal) alloy rims - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
Rear rubber is a 2.4WT Minion - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
DT Swiss' legendary 240 hubs provide the spin. The front is Boost 15x110mm - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
The 240 rear hub is a brilliant choice with its minimal sound and bombproof reliability - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
SRAM's X01 carbon cranks spin on a press fit BB92 - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
Eagle is on board in the form of an X01 12-speed transmission - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
SRAM Guide RSC disc brakes clamp on to 180mm rotors front and rear - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
Norco included a bell! This is the first mountain bike I've seen to include what I consider a necessary item - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
A 50mm Race Face Turbine R stem clamps a 35mm Race Face SixC 800mm-wide bar - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
There's room for a full-size water bottle inside the main triangle. So enduro - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
Cable routing is internal, as is the norm - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
An MRP AMG V2 chain guide pairs with a narrow/wide ring for chain management - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
It's bash and rock-ready with a lower slider and replaceable down tube protection - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
Long, low and slack, Norco's new Range C7.1 easily meets all the enduro requirements - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
Enduro bikes require a unique skill-set that just a few years ago would have seemed impossible. They need to be pedaled to the top, yet still be able to be flung down seriously hazardous terrain repeatedly.
Well, Norco's been paying attention and has updated its enduro-specific Range line of bikes accordingly.
Rear rubber is a 2.4WT Minion - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
Owen Pemberton, Norco's senior design engineer, said about the demands of enduro: "...in an enduro event they go through four or five downhill races over a weekend. This is a bike that's going to be ridden hard, and we wanted to make it as reliable and dependable as possible. So we took everything we learned from the Aurum, which is the strongest bike we’d ever made, and employed it on the new Range Carbon.”
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Norco Range C 7.1 frame features
SmoothCore carbon frame with ArmorLite resin
Updated geometry
ART rear suspension, 160mm
Gravity Tune
Trunnion-mount, metric Fox X2 rear shock
Enduro Max bearings throughout
Gizmo internal cable routing
Boost axle spacing front and rear
Norco Range C 7.1 specs
The 7.1 designation means this is the top model in the Range line up and the parts that hang off the carbon frame live up to it.
Armed with the enduro standard; a 170mm Fox Factory 36 fork leads the way - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
On the front is a bar-setting Fox Factory 36 with 170mm of travel.
The 27.5in rolling stock consists of legendary DT Swiss 240 hubs tied to Race Face 30mm wide Arc rims, which are wrapped in Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5WT up front and a DHRII 2.4WT out back.
DT Swiss' legendary 240 hubs provide the spin. The front is Boost 15x110mm - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
SRAM takes care of the stop and go with Guide RSC brakes clamping on 180mm rotors while X01 Eagle spins 12 speeds for the drivetrain. An MRP AMG V2 holds the chain in place and provides some bash resistance.
Race Face takes care of the handling with a 50mm Turbine stem, 800mm wide SixC carbon bars and Love Handle lock-on grips. A RockShox Reverb dropper post topped with an SDG saddle completes the package.
Norco included a bell! This is the first mountain bike I've seen to include what I consider a necessary item - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
Norco Range C 7.1 pricing and availability
There are three Range models available in both 27.5in and 29in wheel sizes.
Range C 7.1 (on test) / 9.1: £TBC / $7,399
Range C 7.2 / 9.2: £TBC / $5,799
Range C 7.3 / 9.3: £TBC / $4,199
Range C 7.1 / 9.1 framekit: £TBC / $2,899
Here's Norco's 2017 enduro beast, the Range C 7.1 - Russell Eich / Immediate Media
Russell Eich is BikeRadar's former technical writer. Before joining BikeRadar he worked as a cycling industry salesperson, bike mechanic, and professional guide.
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