New Norco Sight and Optic gain high-pivot suspension and promise trail-taming confidence

Norco’s trail and enduro bikes available with carbon or aluminium frames

By Finlay Anderson

Published: Wednesday, 28 February 2024 at 14:00 PM

Norco has updated its popular Sight and Optic bikes, promising more confidence on the trail thanks to a revised frameset, featuring the brand’s VPS high-pivot suspension platform. 

Available in carbon and aluminium, the Sight and Optic mountain bikes can be run as full 29ers or with a mixed-wheel mullet setup with a smaller 27.5in rear wheel. 

Frame-only pricing starts at £3,999 / $5,149 for the carbon-frame Sight and £3,799 / $4,999 for the composite Optic. 

Norco VPS high-pivot suspension

Norco

The Sight and Optic feature Norco’s VPS (Virtual Pivot Suspension) high-pivot suspension platform. 

The high-pivot design increases the rearward axle path, meaning the rear wheel can move backwards out of the way of obstacles on the trail. 

Norco has tuned the anti-squat value of the bikes via an idler to avoid impacting other traits of the suspension kinematics. 

According to Norco, the VPS HP design has roughly 6-7mm of rearward growth from 0-30 per cent travel, then a further 5-6mm of growth, until it gets close to bottom-out, at which point the rear axle moves forward slightly. 

The Sight and Optic feature roughly 28 per cent progression through their suspension travel. 

29in or mullet?

Norco Sight trail mountain bike.
Norco

The Sight and Optic are available as 29ers or mulleted ‘MX’ builds. The rear wheel size can also be changed retrospectively, using Norco’s Missing Link kit. 

By swapping the link arm and lower shock mount, the Missing Link kit converts between 27.5in and 29in wheel sizes while maintaining the frame’s geometry and kinematics.

Frame details

Norco Sight trail mountain bike suspension linkage.
Norco

Small details of the carbon and aluminium frames include tube-in-tube internal cable routing, which is routed through the sides of the head tube, not the headset. There is a rear brake port on both sides of the head tube, to accommodate moto or US rear-brake routing.

Both models feature comprehensive frame protection, including seat and chainstay coverage, a down tube cover and a shuttle pad, which is bolted rather than glued on. 

As well as the usual bottle bosses, a second pair of bosses on the underside of the top tube acts as an accessory mount.

The bottom bracket is threaded for easy removal and servicing. 

Sizing

The new Sight and Optic are available in five frame sizes (S1-5) accommodating riders up to 196cm, according to Norco’s size chart. 

Sizing is based on reach rather than seat tube length, meaning riders can choose the frame size and geometry that best suits their body and riding preferences. 

Chainstay length and seat angles vary from size to size, ensuring consistent weight distribution. While the chainstay measurements look short on paper, you have to account for chainstay growth at sag, which will add a further 6-7mm. 

New Norco Sight

Norco Sight trail mountain bike.
Norco

The Sight is Norco’s all-mountain, enduro bike. It gets 160/150mm of travel (front/rear) and can run a 29in or 27.5in rear wheel. 

Norco Sight geometry

In S3, which sits in the middle of the size range and is recommended for riders 170-180cm in height, the Sight 29 has a generous 472.5mm reach and a short, 385mm seat tube. 

The head angle sits at 64 degrees and the effective seat tube angle at 78.5 degrees. The chainstay length is 428mm, which grows to roughly 435mm at sag due to the bike’s rearward axle path. 

The bottom bracket height sits at 353mm and the bike’s wheelbase is 1,247mm.

New Norco Optic

Norco Optic trail mountain bike.
Norco

The Optic is Norco’s trail bike. With 140/125mm of travel (front/rear), it too can roll on full 29in or mullet wheels. 

Employing the same VPS High Pivot design as the longer-travel Sight, the new Optic promises to be a capable and playful trail bike.

Norco Optic geometry

In S3 (recommended for riders between 170-180cm tall), the Optic 29 shares the same 472.5mm reach and short 385mm seat tube as the Sight. 

The head angle is one degree steeper at 65 degrees and the effective seat tube angle is slightly slacker at 77 degrees. The Optic’s chainstays are 429mm long and grow to roughly 436mm at sag due to the bike’s rearward axle path. 

The bottom bracket height sits at 346mm and the bike’s wheelbase is 1226mm.

Norco Sight and Norco Optic specs and pricing

Norco Optic trail mountain bike head tube.
Norco

Norco Sight overview

The full Norco Sight range is made up of four carbon and two aluminium builds, with each build available in 29er and mullet configurations. How many of these builds are available to buy will vary by region. 

A carbon frame-only kit is also available, costing £3,999/$5,149.

Norco Sight C SE (29/MX)

Norco Sight C1 (29/MX)

Norco Sight C2 (29/MX)

Norco Sight C3 (29/MX)

Norco Sight A1 (29/MX)

Norco Sight A2 (29/MX)

Norco Optic overview

The Norco Optic range is made up of three carbon and two aluminium builds. There’s only one stock mullet option, however all Optic models can be converted to run a 27.5in rear wheel with Norco’s Missing Link kit. 

A carbon frame-only kit is also available, costing £3,799 / $4,999.

Norco Optic C1

Norco Optic C2

Norco Optic C2 MX

Norco Optic C3

Norco Optic A1

Norco Optic A2