Norco's diverse range of full-suspension machines will be joined by the new 140mm-travel Sight aluminum trail bike for 2012. Hydroforming is used heavily throughout, particularly in the elaborately shaped seat tube with its round-to-rectangular profile and integrated upper link pivot.
The asymmetrical chainstays and S-bend seatstays have svelte built-in pivot ends free of separated welded-on clevises to save weight. Since there's no round section on the lower part of the seat tube, Norco attach the front derailleur directly to the swingarm.
Helping to keep the ends of the bike in check are a tapered head tube and Syntace's X-12 142x12mm through-axle rear end, complete with its stout derailleur hanger design and well thought out breakaway alloy bolt. Norco even see fit to include a threaded storage spot for a spare bolt in the down tube in case of emergency, and the rear brake mounts directly to post mount tabs.
Suspension duties are handled by a true four-bar rear end with cartridge bearing pivots and a Fox Racing Shox RP23 rear shock with a high-volume air can for a more linear stroke. The upper link is noteworthy for its clean one-pieced forged design. The Sight will be available from January 2012.
Claimed frame weight for the Sight is 2.3kg (5.07lb) without the Fox Racing Shox RP23 rear shock.
Threshold
Norco's new Threshold 'cross frame
Norco also showed off their first carbon fiber 'cross racer called Threshold. Once again, stiffness is a key priority here with monstrously oversized tube proportions – especially in the roughly 50mm-tall chainstays – a tapered head tube, and a matching tapered all-carbon fork with a giant crown for sharp handling and shudder-free braking.
Additional features include a proper BB30 bottom bracket, internal rear brake routing and a big stainless steel plate on the driveside chain stay to protect against chain suck. Norco have cleverly set up the Threshold for either geared or singlespeed drivetrains. In addition to fully swappable vertical or horizontal rear dropouts, designers have made the down tube housing stops and front derailleur braze-on tab removable for a cleaner appearance.
Lest you think the Threshold is for racers only, there are even subtly hidden fender mounts front and rear with tiny eyelets incorporated into the fork tips, a drilled-through crown (which can also be used for a front brake hanger if desired), and rivnuts pressed into the back of the chainstay yoke and backside of the seatstay wishbone. If you're so inclined, you can even run a belt drive. The Threshold will be available from August – just in time to get dirty for this year's cyclo-cross season.
Claimed frame weight is 1.3kg (2.87lb).