Norco Sight C1 29 on test – the almost perfect definition of a modern mountain bike

The Norco Sight C1 isn’t a full-on enduro bike according to the Canadian brand. Instead, it’s positioned between their trail bike, the Optic and the now somewhat outdated Range enduro bike. After a promising first ride review, we were excited to see how it would fare against the competition.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best enduro bike 2020

Almost every enduro bike on the market today is “long and slack”. However, few are as packed full of smart details as the Norco Sight C1, which combined 160 mm travel up front with 150 mm at the rear. The stock bike comes equipped with a 170 mm dropper post, made possible by the very short seat tube and the equally low top tube to offer the most possible freedom of movement. Apart from that, Norco have opted to vary the length of the rear end to suit the length of the front triangle across the range of available sizes to achieve optimal weight distribution for each frame size. Besides offering enough space for a water bottle, there are additional mounting points in the front triangle for a spare tube and tools. The components on the € 6,999 Sight C1 are equally trimmed for real-world performance. The RockShox suspension consisting of a Lyrik Ultimate fork and a Super Deluxe Ultimate shock perform just as well as the CODE RSC brakes and the DT Swiss M1700 wheelset. Although the aluminium cockpit won’t wow you quite as much, there is nothing to fault with the Deity handlebar and Norco stem. A setup guide on the Norco website gives you all the information you need to dial in the setup to suit your weight and riding style – nice!

Geometry and size of the Norco

Norco know that it takes more than long reach or a slack head angle to make a great bike. The Canadian brand are one of the few that haven’t spared the effort of adapting the length of the chain stays to suit the length of the front triangle on every frame size for a more balanced bike. On top of that, they’ve also kept the top tube low and the seat tube short and straight throughout. In combination with a long dropper post, this gives you as much freedom of movement as possible on the Sight and more fun and confidence on the trail.

The Norco Sight C1 29 on the trail

The moment you swing a leg over the Norco Sight, you’ll hear a voice in your head whispering “Ride it like you stole it”. The long front triangle combined with the low slung top tube gives you plenty of freedom to move around. This motivates you to stay loose on the bike and get it sideways as you hit turns, flicking it playfully through corners. Despite its length, the bike is well balanced and you’ll always have enough weight on the front wheel. On the descents, you feel well integrated between the wheels. With the Super Deluxe shock installed, the rear linkage is rather firm and direct, resulting in a poppy feel that gives you plenty of feedback from the trail. While this makes for very agile handling, a little more sensitivity would improve the traction on offer.

The Norco Sight C1 29 rewards an active riding style with tons of speed!

On fast, big hits the rear end also hardens noticeably, transmitting the impacts on to the rider. If you want to go fast and rough on the Sight C1, it’ll do so without flinching but you’ll simply have to hold on to the handlebar that much tighter. However, what is annoying is the loud rattling from the chain hitting the metal chainstay where the protector is way too short. Thanks to its steep seat tube angle and efficient suspension, the Norco will get you up the climbs without issue. The rider is positioned very centrally and upright on the bike, making easy work of climbs.

Steep seat tube angle meets efficient suspension – climbing couldn’t be more relaxed on the Sight.

How does the Norco Sight C1 compare?

Norco might not be labelling the Sight C1 an enduro bike, but it doesn’t have any problems keeping up with most of the bikes in the test field. The suspension feels very similar to that of the Trek Slash, but the longer geometry is more composed and makes it more capable on the climbs. In rougher terrain, it’s the lack of traction on the rear that has it falling behind bikes like the RAAW Madonna or the Specialized Enduro.

Tuning tip: properly fasten the cables | extend the chainstay protector

Conclusion

The Norco Sight C1 29 is one of the best bikes on the market for those who are out to have fun. It’ll win you over with its lively, agile handling, excellent climbing characteristics and huge freedom of movement. It is only when the trail becomes very rough that the firm tune of the rear suspension can’t keep up with the better bikes in the test field. There is also room for improvement in terms of the quality of the workmanship.

Tops

• very lively and fun handling
• excellent climbing characteristics
• a lot of freedom of movement on the descents

Flops

• rear-end struggles absorbing hard impacts
• rattling cables
• paint damage to the chainstay

You can find out more about the Norco Sight C1 29 at norco.com

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best enduro bike 2020

All bikes in test: Canyon Strive CFR 9.0 LTD | CUBE Stereo 170 SL 29 | Giant Reign Advanced 29 0 | Ibis Mojo HD5 | Norco Sight C1 29 | Nukeproof Mega 275C RS | Nukeproof Mega 290C Pro | Orbea Rallon M-LTD | Pole Stamina 180 LE | RAAW Madonna V2 FOX Factory Built | Rocky Mountain Slayer Carbon 90 29 | Santa Cruz Megatower CC X01 Reserve | SCOTT Ransom 900 Tuned | Specialized S-Works Enduro 2020 | Specialized Turbo Kenevo Expert | Trek Slash 9.9 X01 AXS | Yeti SB150 T2 | YT CAPRA 29 CF Pro Race