2013 Norco Aurum 1 First Look

Norco Aurum 1
Norco Aurum 1

In End 2012 Norco Aurum 1 discharged a totally new DH bike known as the Aurum. entirely new, nearly radical in thought compared to what that they had discharged within the past. i prefer to decision it the beginning of the PJ years. (Lead engineer). This new model has terribly, little or no in common with any previous DH bike that they need discharged. The Norco engineering team was onerous at work processing, tweaking and creating changes with the goal of creating the simplest DH bike doable.

A quick look round the bike and you’ll feel it cutaneous sensation to inform you it’s story. Hydroformed tubes, integrated fork bumpers , A.R.T suspension (more thereon in a very bit) and also the 157mm wide behind. once the initial see you begin to note the smaller things, just like the custom indexed hardware, thus you simply would like one allen key to induce the shock off. The integrated seat post bolt within the seat tube. The rear derailleur bolt that’s designed to fail, it snapping rather than the derailleur. And just in case you are doing ought to replace that bolt, there happens to be a spare bolt within the frame by all-time low bracket. however whereas she is dieing for you to note all the main points and sweetness, her tone does not appears like the objectionable person ahead of your within the raise line bragging regarding however sensible they’re, it’s much, rather more refined than that. a lot of like your older, cooler cousin-german, World Health Organization was quiet, assured and will back it all up if would like be.

The Aurum (And Norco) continues to license the FSR suspension from specialised, however they need tweaked it into the A.R.T. Platform. (http://www.norco.com/bikes/tech/mountain/advanced-ride-technology/) it’s a revised and reworked version of the quality FSR style that they need been victimization for years.
The basis of A.R.T. Are: tweaks to the shaft path, creating it a trifle a lot of rearward giving larger square-edge bump compliance, accrued braking performance beneath load and a progressive leverage quantitative relation that makes the shock stiffer any into the travel, giving a fuller feel to the suspension.

The angles of the Aurum area unit swish and horny and have current DH geometry: sixty three.5º head tube, 61.4º seat tube with a distance locomote between 1152 – 1206mm betting on the scale. compatible for banging out quick laps within the bike park, whereas still having the ability to form tight turns fun.
The Aurum comes in 3 specification levels to suit most budgets.


The Aurum LE is largely a tournament bike in a very box which is mirrored within the $7450 cdn tag. Our check model was the Aurum one (in bright yellow, however swish looking), one step under the LE however at a savings of just about $2000, (as tested $5350).
Spec on the Aurum one may be a Rockshox Boxxer R2C2 (200mm) up front and a Rockshox Vivid coil R2C within the rear. Sun Ringlé Jumping ectozoon hubs with DT Comp butted spokes laced to Sun Ringlé Inferno rims created up the wheels. Shifting was motivated by a SRAM x9 ten speed shifter connected to a X0 DH short cage rear derailleur. A Truvativ Decendant 36T crank spun the chain around and around with some facilitate from the Black steeple low professional flat pedals.
Up front within the cockpit it’s associate Easton affair with 760mm disturbance bars, disturbance direct mount stem, Norco lock on grips and Avid Elixr nine brakes.

As tested the bike is claimed to weight in at thirty eight.2 lbs, that is awe-inspiring for a motorcycle that may last over daily within the park before needing some serious love within the bike stand obtaining repairs done.
So the pure mathematics is nice, the elements area unit high notch for the worth level and it’s light-weight. however is that it? What makes it the simplest DH bike that I even have ridden?
Simple ansewr. It very is that the total of all the components that creates this bike awe-inspiring. The Aurum was bullet proof, day in and trip within the park. The wheels were trailing straight and swish because the day I designed it, the refined A.R.T suspension very may be a nice tweak to the evidenced FSR style. Meaning, that the changes are literally noticeable and not simply a bunch of selling that was thrown out into the wind. (For reference we have a tendency to had a specialised standing within the garage this geographic region {and we have a tendency to|and that we} rode each back to back many times to visualize if we may tell the distinction between the 2 styles and that we may.)


The Aurum may be a nice DH bike that we have a tendency to had a lot of fun on this summer. From the highest of Garbonzo to Crabapple it handled everything we have a tendency to rode confidently and strength.
We had such a lot fun in truth, that i do not mind putt my cash wherever my mouth is.
Hey Norco, place Pine Tree State down for an outsized, i am happy to shop for one for myself next year.

Opinion  : I did not have a foul day on the Aurum, it created riding the bike park fun once more this summer.
Pros         : nice platform that’s tournament worthy. specification for all value levels.
Cons         : None.
Website   : http://www.norco.com/

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