Norco Fluid 7.1 review
Smooth, well balanced trail riding from British Columbia
GBP £1,400.00 RRP | AUD $3,099.00 | USD $2,325.00 Skip to view dealsPublished:
It’s always a good sign of a great value bike that you have to double check the price when you first see it. That’s certainly what happened with Norco’s Fox loaded full suspension bike, but thanks to a recent price drop, the Fluid 7.1 isn’t too good to be true.
Given that a Fox Float Performance fork with a QR15 thru-axle would be very impressive on a hardtail at this price, the fact it’s just half of the Fluid’s Fox damper team is outstanding.
The chassis certainly isn’t a cheap corner cutting exercise either. Extensive tube shaping keeps the Norco remarkably light for a double sprung bike at 13.65kg and the suspension system is the Canadian company’s well proven ART linkage design. That provides 120mm of smoothly trail tracking traction and rock and root impact minimising movement that’s matched very well to the fork up front.

Both have intermediate ‘Trail’ settings for a firmer, more feisty pedalling and cornering feel as well as full lockout, although we never felt the need for it. Fast rolling WTB Bee Line tyres and low weight flatter your fitness.
A 740mm bar and 70mm stem combine with a 68.5 degree head angle to keep steering as fresh and responsive as the overall ride and match the expectations of what you’ll throw a 120mm travel bike down.

Decent reach and relatively low bottom bracket means stability too, although you’ll need a grippier front tyre to make the most of that in typical UK conditions.
The 10-speed mix of SRAM and Shimano includes a stiff Hollowtech chainset, though, and you get top tube cable clips ready for the dropper post upgrade that’s the only thing obviously missing from a remarkably sorted all-rounder at a total bargain price.
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Product Specifications
Product
Name | Fluid 7.1 |
Brand | Norco |
Description | Geometry based on size Large |
Rear Derailleur | Shimano XT M-786 Shadow Plus 10 speed |
Standover Height (in) | 29.92 |
Seat Tube (in) | 18.5 |
Bottom Bracket Height (in) | 13.07 |
Stem | Alloy MTB |
Shifters | Shimano Deore M610 rapid fire 10 sp |
Seat Angle | 74.5 |
Saddle | WTB Volt Sport SE XC trail saddle |
Rims | Alex DP 21 dbl wall 650B I21 tubeless ready |
Rear Tyre | WTB Beeline 27.5x2.2 |
Rear Shock | Fox Performance Float 3 position lever |
Rear Hub | SRAM MTH 306 alloy disc w/ QR |
Headset Type | FSA #57B tapered internal |
Available Sizes | XS S M L XL |
Head Angle | 68.5 |
Handlebar | Norco 6061 alloy 1" rise bar 740mm |
Grips/Tape | Norco lock on grip |
Front Tyre | WTB Beeline 27.5x2.2 |
Front Hub | Alloy disc w/15 mm / sealed bearing |
Front Derailleur | Sram GX high clamp mount FD downpull |
Frame Material | Fluid alloy 27.5 frame with 120 mm travel |
Fork | Fox Performance 32 Float 27.5 3 pos. 120x15mm |
Cranks | Shimano Deore M615 38/24T 2x10 w/bb |
Chain | KMC X-10 |
Cassette | Shimano HG-50 11-36T 10 sp |
Brakes | Shimano M-396 hydraulic disc w/160mm rotor |
Wheelbase (in) | 45.2 |