TESTED: Norco Fluid HT 2 trail hardtail

Words: Hayden Wright | Photos: Gerard Lagana

Norco’s Fluid HT range is their self proclaimed ‘ultimate singletrack adventure hardtail’. Building off their well known Fluid moniker, this hardtail variant promises to deliver a boundless riding experience at a competitive price point. Distributed nationally by Advance Traders, you can get your hands on a Norco Fluid HT 2 freedom machine in store at one of their chosen dealers around the country for $1699.

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Features

The Norco Fluid HT 2 is the more affordable of the two Fluid HT models which Norco offers. They both share the same specification for the vast majority, including the frame. Featuring internal cable routing, 5 size options across two wheel diametres, Boost spacing, and those beautiful welds which Norco are well known for, this frame is a fine piece of aluminium to say the least. On the front end, it is supported by a 120mm SR Suntour coil sprung fork which has rebound and preload adjustments. Drive is taken care of by a Deore 5100 series 11 speed Shimano drivetrain, which includes a wide range cassette and two piece crank. The HT 2 also comes with a dropper seat post, which has 130mm of drop across all sizes.

Geometry and Handling

Perusal of the specification sheets for the Fluid HT 2 brings with it geometry numbers which are expected for a mid travel trail hardtail. The head tube angle is right on the money at 66.5°, which strikes a nice balance between stability at speed without sacrificing too much low speed handling. While hardtail head tube angles do steepen quite a bit during aggressive riding, this wasn’t the case on the Norco – more on that later. Similarly, the seat tube angle on a hardtail will also steepen under sag. This puts the 74.5° STA on the Fluid right on the money for this application, delivering a fairly upright riding position when paired with a 500mm reach and 637mm stack height on the XL. As we can expect with a Norco, the rear end is short at 430mm. This does give the bike a very playful character, further reinforcing the overall ride quality this bike brings – fast and fun.

Ergonomics

The contact points on this bike, while all being components I am not familiar with, were impressive. A gold star has to go to the saddle. It is comfortable, has a smooth profile and suited my sit bones so well I may actually look at speccing these on my own personal trail hardtail. Similarly, I really liked the profile and compound of the WTB lock on grips. They had just the right amount of cushion for my hands, and no outer lock rings which is always nice. The Fluid comes with a 50mm stem and 750mm bar which to me are the perfect combination for a trail hardtail. I felt right at home, but some riders may prefer something a little wider. It would be good to see Norco specify something in the region of 800mm, allowing for a quick chop to really dial in the cockpit fit.

Components

This was my first experience with the 11 speed Shimano Deore 5100 drivetrain. It provided more than enough range and a reliable shift, which we have come to expect from all Shimano group sets of late. I was surprised to see a 175mm crank on the larger models, but honestly that was little more than a number in the back of my head once I took to the trails.

Similarly, the 2 piston Tektro brakes had good lever feel and enough braking power to keep me out of trouble during testing. The 180mm front rotor is also a nice touch, adding some additional stopping power and modulation. TransX’s 130mm dropper worked well, but did not have enough drop for my liking. When swapping between bikes I would find myself constantly hitting my rear against the seat while descending. It would have been good to see at least 150 mm of drop if not more, similar to what the Giant and Trek offer.

One could argue that on a hardtail, fork performance is at an absolute premium. As such, I was disappointed by the performance of the SR Suntour XCM32. The coil spring offers little in the way of rate adjustment, and the bushings are loose like a wizard's sleeve out of the box. The fork does do well at absorbing single hard hits, but any repeated chatter was being transmitted straight to my arms rather than being soaked up by the suspension. Similarly, I was surprised to see cup-and-cone hubs on a bike this capable. During testing they did require adjustment which had me questioning their long term durability.

Fun Factor on the Trail

Norco has fostered an eclectic mix of chassis stiffness, playful geometry and a brutish overall nature with the Fluid HT 2 that just screams “go faster” to me. I do think the (lack of) fork performance does add to this character, making me want to grit my teeth and go hell for leather knowing that my line choice may have little effect on chassis performance. In this instance, the bike's heavy overall weight is actually welcome. The burly wheels, heavy fork and stiff frame all add up to give a stable and predictable ride across any terrain when combined with the 2.4” Maxxis tyres. The consistent front end ride height makes the Norco feel slacker than it actually is, which also breeds confidence on steeper terrain if you’re brave enough to hold on.

On the way back up the trail the Fluid provided a comfortable riding position and sharp shifting. The Shimano drivetrain shifts well under load and still provides a full 51t granny gear even though it is an 11-speed group set. As mentioned earlier, the seat is a lovely thing to rest upon and I could happily spin away for hours on this bike, be it on a leisurely trail ride or marching my way back up for another spicy descent.

Our Take

Of the three more trail-oriented hardtails we have on test here, the Norco is definitely the one that would ride with a speaker blasting Metallica out loud, encouraging others to join it on its next wild adventure. This bike is tough, capable, and has handling that is a little rough around the edges. I think it would best suit an exuberant rider who is looking for their first foray into mountain biking, regardless of age. The bike's character is supported by a dependable drivetrain and brakes, and the frame quality is more than worthy of long-term use and upgrades. If you want something a little flashier, the Norco Fluid HT 1 sells for $1999, and gains an air spring Suntour fork, and Shimano 12-speed components.

Norco Fluid HT 2
RRP: $1699.00
Weight: 15.5kg (XL)
From: norco.com

Available Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL (Tested)
Wheel Size: 27.5” (XS-M), 29” (M-XL)
Frame Material: 6061 Aluminium
Fork: SR Suntour XCM32 LOR DS, 120mm Travel
Shifter: Shimano Deore SL-M5100 11sp
Derailleur: Shimano Deore RD-M5100 11sp
Crank: Shimano Deore FC-M5100-1, 30T, 170mm (XS,S), 175mm (M-XL)
Bottom bracket: Shimano Sealed Bearing BSA Threaded
Chain: KMC X11
Cassette: Shimano Deore CS-M5100, 11sp, 11-51T
Hubs: Alloy, 6 bolt, 32h, Boost
Spokes: Stainless, black
Rims: Alex DP30 TRS
Tyres: Maxxis Ardent 2.4” EXO
Brakes: Tektro HD-M275 Hydraulic , 180/160mm rotors
Stem: Alloy, 50mm, 31.8 Clamp
Handlebars: X6 Alloy, 750mm wide, 15mm rise
Seatpost: TransX YSP18 Dropper, 130mm drop
Saddle: Norco XC