For 2017 Norco's Range Carbon features a new frame redesigned around both 27.5 and 29in wheels, with updated modern enduro geometry and improved suspension kinematics.
Taking knowledge from the previous generation Range, Norco's engineers applied their evolved geometry philosophy to redesign the frame and introduce a 29er with the same fit and nearly identical handling characteristics as the Killer B (27.5-inch) version.
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The 29er Range C will feature 160mm travel forks and 150mm of travel in back, while the 27.5-inch Range C gets down with 170mm travel forks and 160mm of action on the rear wheel.
Norco Range C specs
- 29-inch wheels: 160mm front travel, 150mm rear travel
- 27.5-inch wheels: 170mm front travel, 160mm rear travel
- ART rear suspension
- Gravity Tune geometry
- Trunnion mounted, metric rear shocks
- Boost hubs front and rear
- 29-inch sizing: Medium - X-Large
- 27.5-inch sizing: X-Small - X-Large
Norco Range C features
The result is geometry that is longer, lower, and slacker, with a new ART rear suspension system that Norco claims improves performance with slightly more progression. The rear wheel tracks in a slightly less rearward axle path and results in less chain growth.
Norco's Gravity Tune is still employed with rear centers gaining length to match longer front centers throughout the size range. This allows every rider, regardless of height, to have their weight centered on the bike and a consistent ride across all frame sizes.
The new frame design is said to be stronger than ever, borrowing elements such as the head tube design and rear derailleur hanger from the Norco's downhill race bike, the Aurum.
“We looked at the way Enduro bikes are being used - yes, they’re pedaled to the top, but essentially 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,” said Owen Pemberton, Norco's senior design engineer.
To achieve a similar fit and handling of the Range Killer B with 29in wheels, the 29er is designed around the same rear center lengths, with a longer front center, steeper head tube angle, shorter stem, and 10mm less travel front and rear to offset the characteristics of the larger wheels.
When stem length is incorporated into stack and reach (a measurement Norco engineers call Reach Plus and Stack Plus), the fit between the two platforms is identical.
According to Norco, the Range Carbon 29er is available in the widest possible size range without compromising geometry, fit, and handling.
Norco Range C models
Range C 9.1
The 150mm travel 29er Range C 9.1 has a Fox 36 RC2 160 fork, Float X2 shock, SRAM X01 Eagle, Guide RSC brakes, Race Face Arc 30 rims with DT Swiss 240 Boost hubs wrapped in Maxxis Minion DHRII 2.4 WT and DHF 2.5 WT tires.
Range C 7.1
The 160mm 27.5-inch Range C 7.1 has a Fox 36 RC2 170 fork, Float X2 shock, SRAM X01 Eagle, Guide RSC brakes, Race Face Arc 30 rims with DT Swiss 240 Boost hubs wrapped in Maxxis Minion DHRII 2.4 WT and DHF 2.5 WT tires.
Range C 9.2
The 29er Range C 9.2 has a RockShox Lyrik RC Solo Air 160 fork, Super Deluxe RC3 shock, SRAM X01 Eagle, Guide RS brakes, Race Face AR 30 rims with SRAM Boost hubs wrapped in Maxxis Minion DHRII 2.4 WT and DHF 2.5 WT tires.
Range C 7.2
The 27.5 Range C 7.2 has a RockShox Lyrik RC Solo Air 170 fork, Super Deluxe RC3 shock, SRAM X01 Eagle, Guide RS brakes, Race Face AR 30 rims with SRAM Boost hubs wrapped in Maxxis Minion DHRII 2.4 WT and DHF 2.5 WT tires.
Range C 9.3
The 29er Range C 9.3 has a RockShox Yari RC 160 fork, Super Deluxe RC3 shock, SRAM NX 11-speed, Shimano SLX brakes, WTB STP I29 rims with Novatec Boost hubs wrapped in Maxxis Minion DHRII 2.4 WT and DHF 2.5 WT tires.
Range C 7.3
The 27.5-inch Range C 7.3 has a RockShox Yari RC 170 fork, Super Deluxe RC3 shock, SRAM NX 11-speed, Shimano SLX brakes, WTB STP I29 rims with Novatec Boost hubs wrapped in Maxxis Minion DHRII 2.4 WT and DHF 2.5 WT tires.
Norco Range C pricing
- Range C. 7.1/9.1: $7,399
- Range C 7.2/9.2: $5,799
- Range C 7.3/9.3: $4,199
- Range C 7.1/9.1 framekit: $2,899
(UK and Australian pricing TBC)