The rotors and pads took a very long time to bed in, and even once they had the stopping power didn’t feel like what I’d hope for. Right out of the gate the bite point was vague and wandering. Speaking of XTR, I struggled a bit with the brakes. A Fox Transfer or Rockshox Reverb would have fit in more naturally with the XTR and rest of the components. It’s not a bad dropper post, but when you’re buying a top-tier bike, you expect top-tier components. The X Fusion Manic dropper post wasn’t my favorite. I have a few nits to pick with the build spec. What I’m saying is, six grand is a lot of money, but this bike is ready to roll out of the box. Not a bad price considering you get top-tier Rockshox suspension bits, a carbon front triangle, Shimano XTR drivetrain and brakes, Stans Flow rims laced to DT 350 hubs. The Optic shows that geometry is the king of all the game. It has its limits, but they’re tougher to find than most short-travel trail bikes. So what does all of this mean? Well, it means you can kind of ride it like a lighter weight, poppier (insert enduro bike of your choice)… kind of. Well, the XL Optic’s wheelbase is longer, has more reach and the head tube angle is every bit as slack as the Megatower - all while packing way less travel and weight. If you’re not familiar, it’s a 160mm travel enduro bike. Just to compare numbers, I own an XL Santa Cruz Megatower. Not necessarily so with the Optic - it’s really big. They took “longer, lower and slacker” and multiplied it by 10. The Norco Optic is really pushing the boundaries of geometry for a short travel bike. So where does the Optic fit into all of this? We’ve ridden and reviewed almost every bike on list. We’ve seen so many good offerings in the shop this year - bikes like the Santa Cruz Tallboy, Giant Trance 29, Ibis Ripley and the Revel Rascal. They’re fun, capable, lighter weight, better climbers and frankly a better fit for most folks on most trail rides. The 29” short-travel trail bike with rowdy geometry seems to be the model to release in 2019 as a bike manufacturer. Don’t believe me? Just watch Brynn Atkinson boost to the moon in the Optic launch video. Drooling yet? Even with only 125mm of rear travel, the redesigned 2020 Norco Optic parties with the big kids. The combination then follows Norco's Ride Aligned system that uses a combination of a bike setup guide along with geometry and suspension adjustments across the size range to help buyers pick the correct size for them while keeping the bike's ride ideal for their size.I’ve got a handful of numbers for you. That frame consists of a carbon front triangle with an alloy rear end bolted on. Even though it's the cheapest bike in the range, it gets the very same frame as you'll see on the £5,000 Optic C1. The C3 is the base level Optic that's priced at £3,100. Best MTB's that you can get shipped straight to your door.Best mountain bikes for under £3,000 - capable trail bikes that won't break the bank.T rail essentials - all the kit you need to take on a mountain bike ride.With descent tearing intentions and the promises of an uplift erasing ability up the hills, we're pretty excited about this one. The Optic is Norco's trail 29er that comes with a proper aggro geometry, especially when you consider the amount of travel that's on offer.
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