Norco are shaking up their collection by launching an all-new Sight that comes as a 27.5″ model or a 29er. We’ve taken a closer look at this sleek Canadian rig, so keep reading to see how the Norco Sight C 9.2 held up.
A staple in Norco’s line-up for years, they’ve diligently revised the Sight over time to keep this trail bike up-to-date. Having formally introduced the latest iteration, now rolling on 27.5″ or 29″ wheels, in our First Look article, it’s time to collect our thoughts on the Sight C 9.2 in reality.
The Norco Sight 29 in Detail
Built around a tidy new carbon frame with a four bar rear end, the first impression of this latest Norco Sight is dominated by the addition of the new vertically positioned, Trunnion-mounted RockShox Deluxe rear shock, although get up close and you’ll spot major changes to the frame too. The cables, largely internally routed, are secured with Norco’s GIZMO plugs, which essentially eliminate any rattling. While there’s space for a bottle cage mount, you’re limited to a fairly small bottle. All of the complete bikes come with a 1x drivetrain and a pared-down chainguide, plus there’s the option to mount a front mech too. The frame is protected by downtube and chainstay protectors, which subtly blend into the bike’s silhouette.
Norco Sight 29 Geometry
Balance was a focal point while rehashing the Sight, and both the 29er and the new 27.5″ sport fairly similar geometry, with identical spacing between the pedals, bars and saddle. Norco have opted to increase the length of the chainstays in alignment with the frame sizes in a bid to ensure optimal weight distribution for each framesize.
The Sight 29 comes with a fairly slack 67° head angle, and its 458 mm reach (size L) is now slightly longer than its predecessor. As Norco have kept the steerer tube so short, there’s a minimal 611 mm stack, which gives a lot of room to play with the build so the bike suits your style; tall riders might add some spacers or riser bars. If there were tick boxes to satisfy the new generation of potent 29er trail bikes, then the new Norco Sight would get a clean sweep.
The Sight 29 Geometry at a Glance
| Size | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 435 mm | 470 mm | 510 mm |
| Top tube | 601 mm | 632 mm | 662 mm |
| Head tube | 94 mm | 94 mm | 104 mm |
| Stem length | 50 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm |
| Head tube angle | 67° | 67° | 67° |
| Seat tube angle | 74,5° | 74,1° | 73,7° |
| Bottom bracket height | 337 mm | 337 mm | 337 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1159 mm | 1191 mm | 1222 mm |
| Reach | 432 mm | 458 mm | 480 mm |
| Stack | 611 mm | 611 mm | 620 mm |
| Chainstays | 430 mm | 435 mm | 440 mm |
Norco Sight C 9.2 Specification
The Norco Sight C 9.2 is the brand’s mid-range model, seeing its € 4.799 price tag falling somewhere in the middle of the top-of-the-range C 9.1 at € 6.499 and the entry-level C 9.3 at € 3.599 The Sight has also been dropped as a frame kit for € 2.699 The RockShox Deluxe RT3 rear shock is teamed with a PIKE RC up front with 140 mm of travel. The spec is on point for the bike’s trail biking purpose, and this componentry wouldn’t even be amiss on a race-tuned enduro whip.
The single-ring Shimano XT drivetrain offers a generous gear range with its 11-36T cassette and 30T front ring, giving a great low gear for climbing. Shimano take control of braking with their XT set-up and the wheels consist of XT hubs and Race Face AR rims with a 30 mm interior width. Up front there’s a Schwalbe Magic Mary for ground contact and a Nobby Nic with the Trailstar rubber compound at the back. The Sight C 9.2 also calls upon a wide cockpit from Race Face and a RockShox Reverb dropper with 150 mm of adjustment. It’s an all-round stable spec, but adds up to a noble 13.85 kg.
Fork: RockShox PIKE RC 140 mm
Rear shock: RockShox Deluxe RT3
Brakes: Shimano XT 180 mm/180 mm
Drivetrain: Shimano XT 11–46
Seatpost: RockShox Reverb Stealth 150 mm
Stem: Race Face Aeffect 50 mm
Bars: Race Face Atlas 800 mm
Wheelset: Shimano XT/Race Face AR 30
Tires: Schwalbe Magic Mary/Nobby Nic 2.35
Weight: 13.85 kg
Price: € 4.799
The Norco Sight C 9.2 on Test
As any decent trail loop tends to begin with a climb, it’s refreshing to see that the Sight can cut a mean figure from the outset. We left the rear shock in the ‘open’ mode for most of the testing, which rewarded us with ample traction on the technical climbs. The rear rode super efficiently, with each pedal stroke transformed into motion. Norco’s approach to geometry sees the Sight equipped with moderately long chainstays, a steep seat angle and long frame, giving a really central position to the rider so each tester felt really comfortable almost immediately. The overall weight is quite hefty, and was considered by the test riders as a bit of deterrent to pushing the pace on the flat and uphills – especially considering the wheels even break the 2 kg mark on their own.
The Sight 29 comes to the fore on descents, and those initial thoughts of having ‘just’ 130 mm in the rear and 140 mm travel in front are nullified virtually instantaneously, as this bike serves up masses of stability and smoothness. The low bottom bracket area is an asset to your control over the bike, but you’ve got to pay attention on burly trails so that nothing catches you out. Smoothly taking corners with speed, the Sight 29 is as playful and maneuverable as it is wild on the descents, which confirms its intentions as a trail bike rather than just a downhiller.
Set up at 30% sag, we found that the super responsive rear shock offered decent progression so that there was no likelihood of it bottoming out over every mid-sized bump. The Sight masterfully soaked up big hits and jumps, plus gave the rider a lot of feedback about the terrain. The RockShox PIKE worked superbly as expected, but was forced to up its game in order to rival the high performing rear end.
The bars are 800 mm wide, and just as suited to the bike’s all-mountain character as the grippy Schwalbe tires that run sublimely on those wide rims. The high-performance XT drivetrain is testament to Shimano’s skills and proof that they too can produce a decent 1x alternative. Unfortunately, the stock chainguide did little to prevent the chain from springing off. The RockShox Reverb’s 150 mm adjustment will appease tall riders, especially when the gradient hits higher double figures. The brakes courtesy of Shimano’s XT groupset are as powerful as ever, and it’s good to note that the early issues with the vague bite point have now been relegated to the history books. While the downhill-tuned spec leads to a heavier total weight, this could deter some riders but we reckon it’s something to be embraced: the fun factor is increased to such an extent by this smooth and stable ride that it’s worth overlooking those grams.
Our thoughts
Seeing as it nails the downhills, the Norco Sight C 9.2 is best described as a trail bike with enduro genes. With so much stability and smoothness seeping out of the Sight, some might put money on a loss of agility and playfulness – however, this bike is a master at disproving that theory. You aren’t likely to win any uphill sprints with the Sight 29 but if you’re looking for a versatile all-rounder then this is a trail bike that’s worth considering.
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Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl
