What was developed over the years in the World Cup among the world’s fastest riders is now officially rolling out of the pit lane. Norco is launching the Team DH. The new downhill bike was developed over five years in collaboration with the Norco adidas Race Division and was refined on test tracks in British Columbia as well as on World Cup courses around the globe. Greg Minnaar, Gracey Hemstreet, and Danny Hart were directly involved in the development. Development engineer Kirk McDowall gave the final approval after riding the course himself at the World Cup in Yongpyong in May 2026.

Six links for greater control

At the heart of the Team DH is the patented High Virtual Pivot Six Link rear suspension. Norco says the six-link design gives the company more freedom to independently tune the wheel lift curve, braking behavior, and suspension characteristics to meet the demands of downhill racing. The suspension offers 200 millimeters of travel at the front and rear.

Additionally, the progression can be adjusted. Two positions are available via chips on both shock mounts. In the more progressive setting, the progression increases by 2.5 percent, while the initial responsiveness at the start of the travel is maintained. The position of the pulley can also be adjusted. Two settings alter the anti-squat value, with the less aggressive position reducing it by 20 percent. This allows riders to fine-tune the degree of interaction between pedaling forces and the suspension.

Norco Combines Aluminum and Carbon

For the frame, Norco has deliberately chosen not to use carbon exclusively. The main frame is made of aluminum, while the rear triangle is made of carbon. With this approach, the manufacturer aims to combine the robustness and tuning options of the main frame with a lighter rear triangle. The rear triangle’s lower unsprung mass is designed to help the rear wheel better absorb rapid impacts.

The Team DH is available in five frame sizes. As the frame size increases, the length of the rear triangle also changes to keep the weight distribution as consistent as possible. In addition, the reach can be shortened or lengthened by five millimeters at a time using the headset cups. This provides three positions per frame size. The wheel combination remains the same for all sizes: a 29-inch wheel up front and a 27.5-inch wheel in the rear.

From the World Cup to the bike park

Despite its focus on racing, Norco has also considered everyday life in the workshop. Externally routed cables, simplified bearing hardware, and easily positionable spacers are designed to speed up service work. The in-house Ride-Aligned configurator also helps with tuning the suspension, cockpit, tire pressure, range, and other settings. The recommendations are based on insights gained from five years of World Cup development.

Two complete models and a frameset are available at launch. The Team DH 2 is available with either a Fox 40 Performance Elite and Factory DHX2 or a RockShox BoXXer Select and Vivid Coil. Both versions come with a SRAM GX DH 7-speed drivetrain and SRAM Maven brakes and, according to the manufacturer, weigh 19.0 kilograms in frame size three. The frameset, including the Fox Factory DHX2, weighs five kilograms.

The unveiling took place, fittingly, where the Team DH made its most significant developmental strides: on the race circuit. Norco launched the new downhill bike on September 25, 2026, at the Downhill World Cup in Whistler.

teamdh.norco.com