Jotegir profile

Sadly sarcasm doesn't always translate well in a text format.

I think they did it to further differentiate the bike from the Altitude. Giving you the option of a front lockout/climb switch to push the bike's intentions as a pedal monster. Lots of folks on previous generation instincts do not need a bike anywhere as capable and confidence inspiring as the new ride has become and Rocky is trying to show that it might still be used for that. 

Whether that's a good idea or not is up to you (I'm sure I can guess how you feel about it!).

My favourite part of the new Altitude and Instinct is how by sharing front and rear triangles it allows the designers to cut down on design time and seriously reduces SKUs and manufacturing time and effort. The genius of Rocky allowed them to use half as many carbon molds (a major expense in carbon bike manufacturing) and then pass the savings directly to you, the consumer.

Sadly the prices were far more accessible and frankly downright exciting when we saw the price list when the models were announced internally. Due to various COVID related delays, that was a long time ago. Small companies like Norco and Rocky have been bent over the barrel with the delays and back end price increases. Their fixed contracts are for shorter terms and smaller quantities. They can't bully suppliers with buying power dickswing like Trek and Specialized (who also had somewhat drastic price increases on some models). 

I hope in a few years things will calm down and Norco can go back to offering fantastic bikes for incredible value. They clearly had their supply chain logistics and internal efficiencies hammered down to make that happen, but forces outside their control seem to have thrown that away. There was a short window when consumers got to enjoy the price structure of old Norco (often dubbed the "Canadian Giant") with serious top-of-the-line contender performance brought by their more recent internal bike revolution.

Oh yeah. It's kind of crazy.

Respect to Rocky Mountain for designing and manufacturing their drive unit in Canada, having people around who know how to fix them, and making a genuine effort to teach techs how to work on their almost completely break-down-able platform. Perfect? No. Very good? Yes. 

Shame on Bosch for making their motor unit a sealed unit. It breaks? Hope you still have warranty. In to the landfill, suckers!

We need right to repair legislation. Emtb consumers need to be ready to pay ebike certified techs who can actually fix this stuff.

Norco bike tax. My new non-ebike Range is over 40 pounds and my Optic with absurdly light parts (for a trail bike) is 31 lbs. The bike I swapped the parts off of except the saddle, frame, seat collar, and shock was 26 lbs.

Well, they have walk mode in them for a reason, I guess. So long as its not the hike-a-bike that involves the bike going on your shoulders.

I wouldn't be surprised if the 60 pound estimate isn't far off for the 900 watt version.

This comment is going to apply to all three of Norco's new Ebikes released today but I may as well leave it here:

I find it a bit odd they've chosen to add yet another suspension platform (or if you want to be technical, layout I suppose, as many of them are the same "platform") to their lineup after so many years of their homogenous horst link platform where nearly everything was pretty samey.

Now they still have the classic ART horst link, this horizontal horst link, the slightly different horizonal one found on their fluid kids bikes, the high single pivot, and the upside down high virtual pivot on the new range. Oh! And the high pivot, right way up horst link found on the shore, if you wanna count that one. I know you guys doubled your engineering staff a couple years ago, but dang!

I also think it's odd they're going to sell this as the E-Range alongside the regular, now substantially different looking HVP Range, especially considering Norco has such a long history of long travel freeride-ish bikes they could pull names from. I guess they figure nobody has fond memories of their Truaxes hey?

I think long term a bike like this is going to end up in my stable/quiver/garage. I ride a ton of bike park and the season is pretty short in the interior away from Whistler. Now cry as you might about increased wear on the trails, but it probably doesn't make a huge difference to my group of friends - we spend a lot of time and gas money shuttling trails in the spring and fall when the parks close (we all pedal plenty too, we're just... core riders, we'll say?). The idea that if we all eventually pick these up in the 900w variety, we can get our shuttle laps in without burning that much gas, plus the added ability to commute and kick around town? Seems like a major plus at some time. If only I had more friends who were thinking about these. I'm pretty sure the main thing stopping me myself is hubris.

My goodness though, I think I'll wait a bit and hope prices trickle down some. I know COVID trend has only pushed stuff the other way, but when I'm looking at the quality of gear I'd come to expect on my regular bikes and then combine that with the big battery and proper engineering and stuff on the e-bike? Ouch.

THESE BIKES ARE BANNED ON MY TRAILS IN CENTRAL OREGON AND THEREFORE THEY SHOUDLN'T BE FEATURED IN ARTICLES ON YOUR WEBSITE NAMED AFTER SOMEWHERE ELSE IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY.

A "friend" of the owner (not really a personal friend but more of a name dropper every time "oh I talked to Steve before I came down and he said XXXX...") is on our shitlist for telling me that if we got his bike done next day before his race he'd bring us beer. He picks the bike up at open the next morning, won't make eye contact with me (I'm helping another customer at the time, sales that day) and leaves. No beer. 

You're still on the shitlist, wherever you are, guy.

I got 2 pairs of TREES shorts last season - neither lasted the whole season. Quite low quality stuff.