Tag Archives: A.R.T.

From Prototype to Podium – Jill Kintner’s Slalom Secret

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An athlete in any sport depends on several things for success to even be a possibility. Fitness, skill and experience play major roles but without the right tools, success may well be a hopeless aspiration. When it comes to mountain biking, one such integral tool is the bicycle. Without the best possible design and latest technology – hopes of victory are useless and an otherwise top level athlete can be left behind by superior product.

When it came to Team Norco International’s Jill Kintner and her dual slalom bike the engineers at Norco Bicycles had to take a look at the drawing board and start from scratch. While a slalom specific frame is not in the current product lineup, taking key features from existing bikes and applying them to a custom design looked to be the ticket to the fastest bike on the track.

The idea was to take Norco’s technologies such as A.R.T. Suspension, hollowform linkarms, tapered headtube, post mount brakes and hydroforming processes then apply them to a new design making a totally unique racing machine.

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The specific needs of Jill Kintner in this project do not resemble that of a typical bike. This frame needed an extremely short rear end, unique leverage curve and low center of gravity. After crunching the numbers a design drawn up and YESS Products was brought in to help with the manufacturing.

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YESS was able to take the measurements, design and pieces then assemble them into a finished product. This process involved machining existing tubes, CNC Machining new parts and welding it all together into a completed frame.

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Following the manufacturing process the frames were powder coated then had decals applied before assembly.

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The custom slalom frame is one of the smallest productions ever done, a slim 5 frames were made in total. This allowed for Jill’s race bike plus a few sizing options and additional frames for testing purposes. The niche category of slalom this is not a bike that is highly demanded in the marketplace but the need is there nonetheless. Giving Jill a custom frame with key Norco technologies is necessary in order for her to meet her true potential.

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The 2012 Sea Otter Classic saw the bike unveiled for racing. Jill’s  Norco Frame was outfitted with gear from Fox, Shimano, Crankbrothers, Renthal, Maxxis, Fi’zi:k, e*thirteen, and Canecreek. This bike was ready to race!

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Through four rounds of racing Jill fought through the field of competition and took home a medal resembling the colour of her bike. Jill’s winning run left Melissa Buhl chasing behind for a second place finish.

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Jill has put so much into her season and she has the tools necessary for success. Congratulations Jill on a spectacular victory and a great start to the 2012 race season!

2012_04_SeaOtter_05-2989Have a watch through the design, production and racing of Jill’s custom bike.

NSMB.com Takes the Range 2 out for a Gallop

NSMB.com has come out with a review of the 2011 Norco Range 2. As a 6″ travel all Mountain bike the Range 2 comes in at around $3700 CAN and offers the same advantages in pedaling and suspension as it’s higher end brothers the Range 1 and Range SE. Thinking about a new Do-All Mountain Bike then check out this review.

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During the ride, Stuart and I were chatting about how bikes don’t seem to have big ‘wow’ type changes anymore. Not long after that, I thought to myself, “Wow, this bike really climbs well.”  That’s when I realized that refinements to things like suspension designs can still have a wow factor, it’s just a little more subtle than the huge sweeping changes like when hydroformed tubing first came out, or the first 7” single crown fork was introduced.

The Range persisted on more gentle but cobbly climbs without losing traction or giving me any feeling of being held back. As long as my legs could keep going, the bike complied like a loyal dog.  Getting up and out of the saddle on more technical climbs didn’t change how the Range acted at all; it just stuck to the ground and pressed on. I never felt that annoying tug of a bump trying to hold back the bike as the suspension compressed on the way up and over.

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Read The Full Review at NSMB.com

Get the 7mm upgrade – Why Syntace is here to stay

If you have been reading about new technologies being integrated into mountain bikes in recent months, you have likely heard about the Syntace X-12 or another 142mm axle system in some form or another. There seems to be a cloud of mystery surrounding this new product in what it is, how it works and why it is better than the alternatives.


The hubs pictured above illustrate the two most common styles of hubs on the market today. The far left is a traditional 135mm width with a 9mm axle. This is the style of hub that a standard quick release wheel uses and is used on Cross Country and some All mountain bikes. The middle option is still a 135mm width but uses a 12mm axle. This increased diameter allows for the use of a stiffer, stronger and more secure axle. This style of hub is used in All Mountain and some Freeride bikes. Once we arrive at the far right image, this is the new 142mm x 12mm hub. This hub is 7mm wider than the other two hubs while sharing the 12mm axle with the middle option.


This image is comparing the 135mm to the 142mm axle. The first thing you will notice is that the latter is wider by 3.5mm on each side. The freehub body and hub shells however will line up identically between the two options. In some cases, the only different between these two hub sizes is a set of end caps. As a result, depending out which hub you are using, it may just be a matter of purchasing an adapter kit to make your existing wheels work in a 142mm dropout.


This 3.5mm that has been added to each side of the axle does not actually affect the spacing of the cassette or brake rotor in the frame. Instead, hub caps are inset into the frame. This inset acts as a guide for installing the rear wheel while increasing the contact patch of the hub to the frame. While a traditional clamping style pinches the axle between the dropouts, this new system allows for a much stronger, stiffer and lighter clamping mechanism. It should also be mentioned that not all 142mm systems are created equal. While 142mm is stiffer than a standard 135mm axle, many of the real benefits come out of the Syntace X-12 conical clamping mechanism. This gets fairly technical so for full details on how Syntace improves axial and radial clamping, head over to syntace.com.

The second aspect of the Sytace system that offers great improvement over other styles is a the utilization of a new type of derailleur hanger. In this system the frame’s rear axle pinch-bolt serves a second purpose as the derailleur hanger fixing bolt.

The derailleur hanger fixing bolt mounts downward through the frame and into the derailleur hanger. In this design, an impact which would break a traditional hanger, will instead sheer the bolt leaving the hanger intact. This is accomplished by designing a breaking point in the bolt (between the threaded sections) which breaks at a calculated force which is less than that of your expensive derailleur.

To make a repair in such a circumstance one must simply remove the broken bolt using a 3mm allen key and replace the bolt with the spare that comes on every Syntace equipped Norco mountain bike. It is important to note that although this is the frame’s axle pinch bolt as well – upon breaking, the integrity of the rear wheel will not be affected in any way. The rear wheel will remain secure.


The result of Syntace is a stiffer, stronger, lighter and more reliable rear wheel and drivetrain. Utilizing the Syntace X-12 system offers a number of benefits with nearly no downfall. The fact that many traditional 135×12 hubs can be converted to 142mm means that expenditure is minimal but all the benefits of the system can be realized. When you are out shopping for your next bike, keep Syntace in mind; it is here to stay.

The Full Range of Norco in Mountain Bike Action

The April issue of Mountain Bike Action Magazine is on the shelves. This latest issue features the first ever review of the flagship Norco model, the 2011 Range SE. Additionally, this issue is the Freeride/DH buyers guide with mention of the Team DH, DH and Shore 3 models.

As a bonus, Norco Factory Team rider Sam Dueck has a spot in the mag talking about his past season and goals for 2011. Have a read through the article below for the full scoop or download the PDF Here. Or, even better yet – head over to your local newsstand and pick up a copy for yourself.

A quick review from a Norco Fanatik

Let me preface this review by saying it’s been quite some time since I’ve been so excited about a trail bike. Though my passion rests mainly with downhilling, I can still appreciate a great trail bike. In the past, my downhill bike was always the first choice when going for a ride. It really was a no-brainer. Unless downhilling was out of the question, then I would head out for a trail ride. With the Range 1 added to my fleet, this decision has become far more difficult. This bike has flipped a switch in me, and I often find that I am looking forward to my next trail ride. It is no longer a Plan B, it has quickly become my Plan A. What has caused this switch? I blame it solely on the bike. The Range 1 is truly the most fun trail bike I have ever ridden. Period. Several key factors are involved this bold statement, which I will describe in detail throughout this review. But let it be heard loud and clear, Norco has stepped up their game for 2011, and their Range series are not to be overlooked for the aggressive trails riders.

Read the full review at: fanatikbike.com

The Ins and Outs of a Norco Phaser

A quick look through the 2011 Phaser lineup. New for 2011, these three bikes are the XC Racing machine that you have been waiting for.

Phaser 1 - $3975 CAN

Phaser 2 -$2935 CAN

Phaser 3 $2145 - CAN

The 2011 Norco lineup is bigger than ever with several new models being thrown into the mix. One such bike is the Phaser. Coming in three different pricepoints, the Phaser is a 100mm travel XC race bike. Weight, stiffness, geometry and suspension have all been worked and reworked time and time again until the perfect combination was found. Whether you are new to racing or a seasoned veteran, this could be your next ride.

The big story for 2011 is the introduction of Advanced Ride Technology (A.R.T). Featured on the Range, Shinobi, Vixa and Phaser, the rearward pivot location of the FSR system has been moved downwards and forwards. This modification improves pedaling efficiency, braking effectiveness, and square edge bump compliance making for a faster, smoother ride. The improved design will help to conserve energy and keep traction on the climbs while offering a smoother and less fatiguing descent. A.R.T has achieved the best of  climbing and descending simultaneously.The Phaser also features post-mount brakes. As opposed to a traditional IS brake mount, post mount eliminates the need for an adapter when installing a disk brake. This modification is not only lighter than before but it also better aligns forces onto the frame and eliminates the possibility of resonant vibrations occurring under braking. The result is a lighter, stiffer and hassle free system.The rear shock on the Phaser utilizes a Mini Drop-Link design. This is Norco’s lightest ever linkage system. Keeping this link short and small makes for a super-light, super stiff suspension platform that remains active and stiff under any number of riding conditions. What you will notice right away is the stiffness and reactiveness of the bike – no power is wasted.Norglide Composite Bearings have replaced traditional ball bearings on the Phaser. These composite bearings are extremely precise, smooth and light. A mere fraction of the weight compared to a traditional bearing the Phaser is lighter, smoother and more durable thanks to its utilization of Norglide Composite Bearings.

The Phaser is using Norco’s MU-9 Custom Butted Alloy frame material. Optimized for the perfect strength to weight ratio. MU-9 is not only light though, it is also stiff and resilient making for the perfect XC race machine. With the Phaser 1 weighing in at just over 23lbs and costing a mere $3975 CAN, value, quality and style are all taken into account in a full package.

If you would like to learn more about the Phaser have a look at the full spec on norco.com. If you would like to learn more about the technology that goes into Norco Bikes, head on over to our Tech Page and have a look around.

The 2011 Norco Range – Versatility Vernacular

For 2011 there are some big changes to the Norco lineup. One of the most exciting bikes for next year is the 2011 Norco Range. With 160mm of travel, a tapered headtube, Syntace rear axle and derailleur hanger system, post mount brakes and the new Advanced Ride Technology (A.R.T.) suspension design, the Range is a ride anywhere, all mountain machine. A.R.T. is a new suspension design which  has been integrated into the 2011 Range as well as 3 additional models of Norco full suspension bikes. A.R.T. is an optimization of the patented FSR Suspension System.  The FSR patent describes a four-bar bicycle suspension system with the rear wheel mounted to the seatstay.  The rear pivot is located on the chainstay, both in front of and below the rear axle.  The all-new A.R.T. suspension design is classified as FSR, but moves this rear pivot further forward and lower compared to previous models.  This optimized positioning delivers a ride which is more efficient while pedaling and more reactive to hits while descending.  Increased levels of chain growth results in higher anti-squat characteristics which reduces suspension bob, making the bike pedal more efficiently.  Additionally a more rearward axle path allows the rear wheel move back at the same time as it moves up to get out of the way of large, square-edge bumps more effectively, resulting in smoother and faster descents over rough terrain.

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The real story about the Norco Range is in the ride. We can describe how it feels but without getting on and giving it a try, you will never really appreciate the versatility and adaptability of the bike. Recently, while the Range was still hidden under a blanket of secrecy, Norco’s Engineering Manager P.J. Hunton took on the challenge of racing DH, and XC on the same bike. The venue was the Sunshine Coaster and the bike was the Range.

Day 1 of P.J.’s racing was the XC, a 3-lap course totaling 24kms of steep climbs, fast descents and a whole lot of fun. Taking off in a hurry, PJ started out close to the front and spent the next two hours picking off the competition one by one. Taking on a field of XC racers on 23lb race bikes P.J. was riding his range at 28lbs and 160mm of travel. Steady climbing and fast descents brought P.J. a 4th place finish in the field.

The second day of racing entailed dropping the saddle and ripping the DH. This second part of the challenge also added a side-pot with a small group pitching in a 20 each. As a pedaling course, the Sunshine Coaster was a great track to test out the Range. Still, on one of the smallest bikes racing, P.J. would have is work cut out to keep up in the rough, all while dealing with the fatigue of yesterday’s XC. Out of the gate the strategy was to keep pedaling, brake late and stay on the bike. The top section was fast through a clear cut then moving into some tight corners before the forest. Once into the trees the flat pedaling section played to P.J.’s favour before a steeper rougher bit moving onto the finish. With a time of 3:08, six seconds off the lead left P.J. just off the podium in 4th place. The important part though was that the Range won the side-pot taking home the cash.

Both races came down to the wire and P.J. was up at the front in both disciplines. Riding the same bike for XC and DH takes guts, it takes lungs and it takes a true rider. As Norco’s Engineering Manager and an avid cyclist, P.J. has seen the design of the Range from start to finish and touched every detail along the way. Racing the Sunshine Coaster was a challenge put out to him, but it was also a personal test of what his brainchild is capable of. The idea of a bike to do-it-all has been a dream since the start of mountain biking and through A.R.T. suspension, sophisticated design and thoughtful spec the Range really is the bike for any trail.