At first glance, the new downhill flagship "Team DH" from Norco is instantly recognizable as a leader bike. The polished aluminum of the completely redesigned frame clearly signals that this bike is no wallflower. Consistently blue parts and decals make the bike look as if it has been cast from a single mold. The inner values of the "Team DH" match its outer appearance. This starts with the frame: A lowered top tube is intended to provide more freedom of movement and lower the bike's center of gravity, as does the shock, which Norco now mounts practically horizontally in the lower frame triangle. This also makes the frame more stable, which is supported by the forged 1.5" head tube with integrated bearings. The sensitive true four-link rear suspension (recognizable by the Horst link in front of the thru-axle dropout) with 199 to 227 millimetres of travel brings a lot of composure to the chassis even on the roughest slopes. In terms of equipment, Norco leaves nothing to be desired - the mix of new and tried-and-tested parts from Sram, Shimano, Fox and DT-Swiss suits the intended use and at the same time helps to keep the weight of the bike low. According to Norco, the bike should only weigh 17 kilos. With a retail price of just under eight thousand francs, the "Team DH" is also at the forefront of the competition for the best price-performance ratio for a competition-ready downhill bike.

The latest technology at a low price
The "A-Line Park Edition" is based on an almost identical frame. The only difference is the interchangeable dropouts, which Norco dispensed with on the "Team DH" for weight reasons. With proven suspension elements from Marzocchi and Fox as well as a completely new Saint groupset, the fiery red park bike with the color-matching chain guide from E-13 hardly has to hide behind its big brother in terms of function. The only noticeable differences to the top model are the weight and price. For CHF 5,699, you get an enormous amount of bike with the latest suspension technology.

Beginner with top suspension
Norco offers the cheapest ticket to the downhill circus with the "Atomik" for Fr. 3,899. However, the term "entry-level model" does not quite fit for the cheapest bike in Norco's next year's DH/park line, as the bike is based on the identical frame that was reserved for the top-of-the-range model in 2008. The high-quality frame therefore offers an ideal starting point for upgrading with high-end parts at a later date, when the tight budget allows it. Until then, the equipment mix of Sram/Avid/Rockshox and Fox already provides a lot of riding fun.

www.norco.com
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