they must save alot of money by using 5 different frames for their entire line of mountain bikes.
Some of the frames get used for different models.
How you see this as a negative doesn't make sense. They (Norco) offer more models and selection than any other manufacturer, and provide a solid selection of bikes and builds to suit a wide range of budgets.
For consumers, this means they have more models to choose from at more price points than many of the competition.
I count a lot more than 5 frames…And that isn't even going into the XC range of bikes either.
If you really want to get picky, can you think of a competitor that offers more frame selection, and build selection? I can't think, off hand, of any other DH/FR manufacturer that offers that many different frames, in that many different build kits. Most manufacturers only have a handful of frame models, its common.
And you bet it saves money. And that saving is passed down to the consumers. I'm sure they could produce more frames if they wanted to, but the end result would be more frames doing the same thing that successful models already do. It would cost a lot more money and you'd be paying for it every time you buy one of their bikes.
You can also look at it another way too…they have changed their top model frames almost every year since 1998. How many other guys do this? They are constantly changing as a result of rider input and to grow with a rapidly changing sport.
It's way to easy to be negative and slip in a sarcastic one-liner. Take a few and think it over…
I'm not trying to defend anyone. But I will admit I have shitty patience for ill-informed sarcasm, and would do the same (and have done the same) for any other manu getting burned by someone who is off-base.