Test: Norco itself describes the VLT C2 as an "e-bike monster" and a look at the equipment explains why: A chassis with 170mm or 180mm and steel spring dampers meets real downhill tires, very robust wheels and a very slim carbon frame. The latter even houses a 630Wh battery for the Shimano motor - unfortunately the energy storage cannot be expanded. However, Norco also offers an optional external battery for the down tube, with which the total capacity of the Norco Range VLT C2 can be increased to an impressive 960Wh.
Norco Range VLT C2: The Facts
Suspension travel: 180 mm / 170 mm
wheel size: 27,5 inch
Drive: Shimano E8000
Display / control unit: Shimano E8000
Battery capacity (test bike): 630Wh
Frame material: carbon / aluminium
Weight complete bike (size M without pedals): 24,11kg
Maximum weight allowed: 138kg
Price: € 6.999
A separate test video is currently being produced for each E-MTB test 2020 and will be added here in the coming days and weeks
| frame | Carbon 27.5 |
| suspension fork | Fox 36 Performance Elite |
| Drive | Shimano E8000 |
| Rechargeable battery | Norco 630Wh |
| Suspension shocks | Fox Float DHX2 Performance Elite |
| Wheels | DT Swiss H370 / e*13 LG1 DH |
| Tire VR | Maxxis Assegai Exo+ 2,5" |
| Tire HR | Maxxis Assegai DoubleDown 2,5" |
| derailleur | Sram NX Eagle |
| Gear levers | Sram NX Eagle |
| Crank | Shimano FC-E8000 |
| Front derailleur | Without |
| Brake | Sram Code R |
| Brake discs | Sram Centerline 200/200mm |
| Seat post | Tranz-X YSP-39JL 170mm (L) |
| Saddle | Ergon SM-10 e-mountain sport |
| Stem | Norco 40mm |
| Links | Norco 6061 alloy 800mm |
The technical data of the Norco Range VLT C2 promise pure downhill fun: high-quality chassis with a lot of spring travel and steel spring dampers, a progressive geometry and consistently stable components that can also put up with one or the other driving error. In practice, the carbon E-MTB from the Canadian manufacturer is able to keep this promise. Provided you know how to deal with it.
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Downhill dream for active drivers
With the Range VLT, you can tell with every meter of depth that Norco can look back on many years of experience in the gravity disciplines. It starts with the potent chassis, which really blossoms when you're riding hard and invites you to take your finger off the brakes and trust that the bike will "take care of it". No less important for this great trust is the geometry, which in the blind test could also come from a downhiller or freeride bike. The steering angle is extremely slack, the reach is very long, and the chainstays are quite short. On the trail, that means the Norco requires plenty of movement on the bike to reach its potential. A downhill dream for experienced skiers - but beginners could quickly become frustrated.
Geometry Norco Range VLT C2
| M | L | XL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| seat tube (in mm) | 405 | 445 | 485 |
| Top tube horizontal (in mm) | 585 | 614 | 642 |
| head tube (in mm) | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| chainstay (in mm) | 440 | 440 | 440 |
| Wheelbase (in mm) | 1229 | 1263 | 1298 |
| Steering angle (in °) | 63.5 | 63.5 | 63.5 |
| Seat angle (in °) | 77.3 | 77.7 | 78 |
| Reach (mm) | 450 | 480 | 510 |
| Stacks (in mm) | 602 | 610 | 619 |
The built-in components, which can take a beating, also inspire confidence. The Maxxis Assegai downhill tires should be mentioned in particular, which is even equipped with the heavy but puncture-proof DoubleDown carcass at the rear. Grip, self-damping, puncture protection - all at a correspondingly very high level. The wide 800mm handlebars and the dropper post with a generous 170mm stroke also fit the concept very well. Only the Sram Code R brakes are not quite at the level of the other components - they offer sufficient power, but eventually reach their limits on longer descents.
Low background noise thanks to the battery concept
The de facto non-existent background noise also contributes to the great driving experience downhill. While many other E-MTBs, including high-quality ones, tend to rattle off-road, with the Norco you only notice the greedy absorption of bumps by the suspension fork and the full rolling of the powerful tyres. This is also made possible by the fact that the North Americans have decided to permanently install the large 630Wh battery in the carbon down tube. So you could do without a lid, which in most cases is the origin of the rattling orgy. Disadvantage: The battery can only be charged directly in the bike.
In view of the extreme geometry and the enormous urge to go downhill, we honestly didn't expect great climbing qualities from the Norco Range VLT. But we were surprised! Even if the Shimano E8000 motor is not one of the most powerful mid-motors and even if the seating position is not perfect for technical climbs, the 24 kg E-MTB does its job really well. We identified the very steep seat tube angle of 77° as an important factor. Despite the rather short chainstays and the long main frame, you rarely get the feeling of sitting over the rear wheel. Of course, in tricky passages you have to struggle with the slack steering angle and the resulting wobbly steering behavior.
The big Velomotion E-MTB test 2020: test fields, individual tests and background information
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Our test conclusion
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Our test candidates in the High-End category: BH AtomX Carbon Lynx 6 Pro-S | Bull's Sonic EVO EN 2 | Cannondale Moterra Neo 1 | Focus Jam² 9.9 Drifter | Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro | Greyp G6.2 | Haibike XDURO Nduro 10.0 | Husqvarna Mountain Cross 8 | KTM Macina Prowler Prestige | M1 Spitzing Evo Bobby Root | Norco Range VLT C2 | Nox Hybrid Enduro 7.1 | Orange Surge RS | Orbea Wild FS M10 | Santa Cruz Heckler CC X01 RSV | Scott Genius eRide 700 Tuned | Simplon Rapcon Pmax | Specialized Turbo Levo Expert Carbon | Storck e:drenalin GTS 500 | TrekRail 9.9 | YT Decoy Pro Race | YT Decoy Pro 29
You can also find this at the kiosk Velomotion E-MTB test yearbook 2020. There you will find all 57 individual tests of the bikes, exciting stories and advice on everything to do with e-mountain bikes on over 160 pages.
Here you can also order the E-MTB yearbook 2020 directly from us.
