TESTED: Norco Optic C2 2020

Words: Mike Blewitt                                                                             Photographer: Colin Levitch

It's been a busy few months for Norco Bicycles. They have unleashed the Range VLT eMTB monster truck, the all-new Sight all-mountain bike, including a kids' model, and the new Optic trail bike that is being reviewed here. And of course they released the new Revolver in both 100mm and 120mm models earlier this year, and anyone who pays attention to the World Cup XCO scene will have noticed that their Factory Team have been playing on a new hardtail all year long as well. For a company that isn't a behemoth in the bike game – they have been really busy.

The all-new Norco Optic shares many characteristics with the new Sight. It's longer, lower and use the Ride Aligned design principles to make sure any rider has the right fit on their bike. Given the Optic only comes in 29er options and only in the carbon frame – it will possibly have a narrower range of riders. But that's not to say the Optic has a narrow performance window.

The previous Norco Optic came in two wheel sizes with travel sitting at 110mm or 120mm depending on whether you were riding a 29” or 27.5” model. The bike was fun, way stiffer than their 100mm Revolver full-suspension bike at the time, and it was a remarkably versatile trail bike for those wanting something light and fast. With changing trails our expectations of what a trail bike can deliver are evolving – and bikes like the Optic show that designers are keeping up, and stepping ahead.
 
First Impressions
 
Longer, lower, slacker – that's all expected. But the genius is in the combination of geometry and suspension design. Norco outlined what they wanted the Optic to be as a progressive short travel trail bike, then figured out the kind of rear shock they needed to deliver the ride they wanted. It didn't exist, so they enlisted RockShox to build and tune custom DH shocks for them.

This means the bike is wholly reliant on the pedalling platform via the shock tune and the suspension design. If you're after a short travel trail bike to really firm up for long climbing slogs before epic descents back down… it's worth bearing this in mind. You might be more at home on the Revolver 120. Norco have matched the 125mm of suspension with 140mm travel suspension forks, with a RockShox Pike specced on each of the C1, C2 and C3 models.

Tester: Mike Blewitt 
Riding Experience: Too much time faffing on bikes to develop employable skills doing anything else.
Generally Rides: Norco Revolver FS and HT
Height: 178cm
Weight: 72kg
Bike Test Track: Iron Bark, Bunya

 
The long reach and 65 degree head angle is matched with a 42mm offset fork, balancing out the stability with agility at low speed. It's a much longer bike than before, but based on Norco's Ride Aligned concept you remain very centred on the bike thanks to the 76 degree seat angle, and rear centre length that is shorter on smaller sizes.

The build kit on the C2 on test is a mix of SRAM GX Eagle, Shimano MT520 4-pot brakes, alloy  35mm bar and stem, and some nice wheels using DT Swiss 350 hubs and Stans Flow S1 rims, wrapped in a great tyre combo from Schwalbe. There's no chainguide but there are full mountain options for one.

I got onto this bike before the Ride Aligned bike setup software was live. And I liked it. But it felt a little sluggish. Once the software was live I could enter my details and riding ability (now be honest) and the stock setup was really good, and delivered the ride I was expecting. This completely removed the set and check and re-set often involved in getting a setup dialled. Sure if it was my own bike I would have spent ages tuning to the nth degree – but I was having a blast so I didn't see the need.

On the trail
 
Norco have really pushed the Optic with the new edition. The previous Optic was loved by many, and often seen in a variety of guises. From all-day endurance bikes to short travel enduro bikes with longer travel forks and upgraded rear shocks. While the previous Optic had a very capable suspension design, some felt it may have been a little cautious with its geometry, and tyre clearance certainly needed to be increased to match modern expectations. So while I always though the last Optic was nice, it wasn’t for me. And when I bought a trail bike – I bought a Sight. The new Optic just about takes the place of the previous Sight, being potentially more capable and with all the features you’d seek in a modern trail bike.

When riding at home I tend to ride to the trails, which is fine on an XC bike but starts to get a bit old on a trail bike that doesn’t pedal well. With the settings dialled via the Ride Aligned software, the Optic pedals super well on rolling terrain. With a stock 30t chainring it also spins out a bit quickly, but that’s a parts spec that is specific to the rider, terrain and overall use.

Given a long reach (480mm on the large I tested) you’d expect a long feeling bike, but thanks to the steep seat angle and short 45mm stem you sit right in the middle of the bike. It’s easy to chip away up a climb, and the suspension is pretty stable, even when getting out of the saddle to get up and over features on singletrack climbs. However the Optic is still about investing on the ups and reaping rewards on the descents.

When it came to fast trails and descents the Optic did nothing but impressed me. There was no chance I was going to find the limit of the bike on the popular trails around south east Queensland, and the only limit I ever found was my nerve. As noted in my first look on AMBmag.com.au this isn’t a bike to sit on and pedal and coast on the downs. You just won’t be getting everything out of it. It will work fine, but it’s akin to buying a rally car for the school run.

Norco did their homework with the suspension and the planning for their Ride Aligned setup guides. I found the 125mm of travel really supple off the top of the stroke but there was plenty of platform through the mid-stroke which means pushing into corners felt stable and controlled, and gave you the perfect platform to push back out of and get on the gas. Repeated very fast hits did remind you it was a 125mm bike and not something bigger, but unless you have some serious rock gardens on steep terrain you will have to work hard to push beyond the limit of the Optic. To be blunt, I think the only place it might not be the bike you want is somewhere like Maydena. My Sight felt like an XC bike there but the updated handling and brakes on the Optic would alleviate that.

Final thoughts
 
Interestingly, like Brad did when testing the Sight I set some Strava personal records on the same sections. The Optic does charge pretty hard, and I was happy doing some small gaps and jumps that I usually err away from. It’s a super capable riding bike, and one that is pushing what a short travel trail bike can be.

There are things the Optic are not. With it’s move into more aggressive terrain, previous Optic riders might prefer the Revolver 120, with 120mm travel each end, long reach and a head angle at about 67 degrees. You also get full lock out front and rear if you’re after a short travel trail bike that can dabble in some events like Cape to Cape. The Optic C2 came in about 13.5kg without pedals, so again, it’s not really your fast and light trail bike, like it used to be. The Optic has evolved as trails and riding have, and it’s new home is a much better fit for where trail bikes are heading. The C2 spec works great but I’d prefer to see an updated star ratchet in the rear hub, and higher quality stainless rotors so you could put sintered pads in there if needed. For $1000 more, the C1 with a Pike Ultimate and XTR M9100 group set seems like the pick of the Optic lineup if your funds allow.  If Norco ever do a frame set there’s a very good chance the Optic will become an ideal base for a dream trail bike. As it is, all 3 models offer a killer ride with a software package that will get you 99% dialled on the trails at the first ride.

NORCO OPTIC C2

Brand                                                             Norco
Model                                                             OpticC2
RRP                                                                $5999
Weight                                                           13.5kg
From                                                              norco.com

Available Sizes                                              S, M, L, XL
Frame Material                                               Carbon main frame, alloy swing arms
Fork                                                                RockShox Pike Select+, 140mm
Shock                                                             RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH, 125mm

Shifter                                                            SRAM GX Eagle 12sp
Derailleur                                                       SRAM GX Eagle 12s
Crank                                                             SRAM X1 Eagle DUB carbon, 170mm, 30t
Bottom bracket                                              SRAM DUB Pressfit
Chain                                                             SRAM GX Eagle
Cassette                                                        SRAM XG-1275, 10-50t

Hubs                                                               DT Swiss 350 Classic, Boost, 32h
Spokes                                                           Sapim Sprint DB
Rims                                                               Stans Flow S1
Tyres                                                              F: Schwalbe Magic Mary Super G, Addix Soft 29×2.35”
R: Schwalbe Hans Dampf Snakeskin, Addix Soft, 29×2.35”

Brakes                                                           Shimano Mt520 4-pot, 180/180mm
Stem                                                              Norco alloy, 45mm reach, 35mm clamp
Handlebars                                                   Tranz X 6061, 780mm, 35mm clamp
Seatpost                                                        X-Fusion Manic, 170mm drop (on large)
Saddle                                                           Fizik Taiga