What exactly is a high-pivot design? The main pivot point of the rear triangle is positioned above the chainring. This causes the rear wheel to first move backwards and then upwards when the suspension compresses. This results in better response and rollover behavior. The disadvantage is that this results in pedal kickback because the rear wheel "pulls" on the chain. To prevent this, a cogwheel (idler) is placed on the main pivot point to counteract the chain pull.

Whether this system makes sense on a bike with only 125 millimetres of travel cannot really be answered after a few test rides. The Optic certainly has good handling characteristics, but there are more potent trail bikes that can manage without a high pivot.

The bike in action

The "Ride Aligned" guide from Norco helps you to quickly find the right suspension settings. The specifications fit perfectly for the rear, the suspension fork was set a little softer to achieve a SAG of 20 percent. The compact design means you sit very upright, almost enduro-style. The high weight inhibits propulsion, but on gravel or asphalt it helps to reach for the platform lever of the shock absorber. This stops the bobbing efficiently. Off paved roads, an open compression damping is the better choice for good climbing. The Optic scrambles up rough trails surprisingly efficiently despite its 15.4 kilogram weight. Even with a freshly lubricated chain, the Idler makes noise, but it's not really annoying. The cable rattling on descents is more annoying.

On flat terrain, the Norco is a little sluggish due to the long wheelbase. However, active steering impulses wake it up and it shows its playful side. Going downhill, the rear end offers a lot of grip and traction without giving up all of its travel. The progression of the rear shock is high and it takes a lot of bob to tease the last millimeters out of the suspension. The Optic likes speed, but not high speed at the limit, because 125 millimeters of rear suspension travel can't perform miracles. Despite the high pivot, the rear can't keep up with high frequencies and transmits the bumps to the rider as vibrations. Where the bike really shines is on tight, rough singletrails, which are mastered slowly and with balance rather than speed. Standing still, turning the bike and continuing in the fall line is a lot of fun on this Norco.

Conclusion

There is little sign of the advantages of the high-pivot system. It takes an active riding style to ride the Optic in the right way. Then it is playful and fun, especially on steep, rough and twisty trails. But it lacks the liveliness and light-footedness that other trail bikes offer.