Nobl

Norco Fluid Grinch Edition 24

6876 of 17487
(15 people)
grizzatom
3/20/2019 2:28pm
s1600 Norco Fluid FB
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s1600 Norco Fluid FB
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Bike of the Day
Norco
RockShox
Marzocchi
SRAM
ENVE Composites
Parts
Brand
Model
Additional info

Parts

Frame
Norco
Fluid FS2 29 Size XL
120mm travel frame, soon to be 130mm
Frame: Norco Fluid FS2 29 Size XL. Misc: 120mm travel frame, soon to be 130mm
Rear Shock
Rock Shox
Deluxe
Rides great, but I'll likely long stroke this lil pony.
Rear Shock: Rock Shox Deluxe. Misc: Rides great, but I'll likely long stroke this lil pony.
Fork
Marzocchi
Bomber Z1
145mm travel custom air shaft. This fork is unreal.
Fork: Marzocchi Bomber Z1. Misc: 145mm travel custom air shaft. This fork is unreal.
Handlebar
Shimano
Pro Tharsis Carbon 31.8
800mm x 4deg x 9deg x 20mm rise
Handlebar: Shimano Pro Tharsis Carbon 31.8. Misc: 800mm x 4deg x 9deg x 20mm rise
Stem
Other
Looks goooood....
Custom 31.8 x 35mm length
Stem: Other Looks goooood..... Misc: Custom 31.8 x 35mm length
Grips
Deity
Knuckleduster
Grips: Deity Knuckleduster
Brakes
SRAM
Level T 200mm, 180mm
Underrated... with good pads and big rotors, who needs pricey brakes?
Brakes: SRAM Level T 200mm, 180mm. Misc: Underrated... with good pads and big rotors, who needs pricey brakes?
Shifters
SRAM
GX Eagle
Shifters: SRAM GX Eagle
Rear Derailleur
SRAM
Eagle GX
Rear Derailleur: SRAM Eagle GX
Cranks
SRAM
NX Eagle Dub
Cranks: SRAM NX Eagle Dub
Chainrings / Sprocket
SRAM
Eagle GX 30T
Chainrings / Sprocket: SRAM Eagle GX 30T
Bottom Bracket
SRAM
DUB Threaded
Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB Threaded
Chain
SRAM
GX Eagle
Chain: SRAM GX Eagle
Cassette / Rear Cog
SRAM
GX Eagle
Cassette / Rear Cog: SRAM GX Eagle
Pedals
DMR
V12 Magnesium
Light, cheap, and nothing has more grip.
Pedals: DMR V12 Magnesium. Misc: Light, cheap, and nothing has more grip.
Front Rim
ENVE
M730
Point and shred.
Front Rim: ENVE M730. Misc: Point and shred.
Rear Rim
ENVE
M730
No flat tires... ever.
Rear Rim: ENVE M730. Misc: No flat tires... ever.
Front Tire
Kenda
Hellkat Pro 2.4 ATC
Front Tire: Kenda Hellkat Pro 2.4 ATC
Rear Tire
Maxxis
Minion SS 2.3
Rear Tire: Maxxis Minion SS 2.3
Seatpost
Race Face
31.6mm x 150mm
Seatpost: Race Face 31.6mm x 150mm
General Info

General Info

Model Year
2019
Model Year:
2019
Riding Type
Trail / All-Mountain
Riding Type:
Trail / All-Mountain
Weight
31 lb 7 oz (14260 g)
Weight: 31 lb 7 oz (14260 g)
Additional Info

Had some leftover carbon parts from last year but needed to have fun on a budget this year. This bike is a little rocket. Geo is aggressive and the frame is burly enough to take it. I'm not a small man and this thing can handle as much as any of my past carbon bikes. So far, having a blast on this bike.

Additional Info:

Had some leftover carbon parts from last year but needed to have fun on a budget this year. This bike is a little rocket. Geo is aggressive and the frame is burly enough to take it. I'm not a small man and this thing can handle as much as any of my past carbon bikes. So far, having a blast on this bike.
grizzatom
3/20/2019 2:28pm
6876 of 17487
24 comments

View replies to: Norco Fluid Grinch Edition

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mikeynets
4 years ago
I know I'm late to the party, but just wanted to say your bike looks sick. I'm looking at getting either a Fluid or Optic to replace my loved but beat down 2015 27.5 carbon Sight. I've read that most people long shocking their Fluids are doing it on the 27.5. Did you ever do it on this bike? What was needed to make the conversion? And if you did it, how'd it ride? Also, any comparison thoughts on Optic vs Fluid? Seems like with a few adjustments, the Fluid can be set up to be almost the same as the Optic.
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11dhillons
5 years ago
Any more info on a longer stroke rear shock? I’d love a little more travel out the back but don’t wanna risk it bottoming out on the frame.
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grizzatom
4 years ago
I ran the bike with no volume spacers in the shock. The linkage already has plenty of progression built into it, so you don't need them. Remove your air can and take out the volume spacers. You may want to run one, but I ran zero. That way, you can run the bike at 30% sag and still use all your travel as intended. Here is a tutorial video on how to do it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhm2A5XPslU
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grizzatom
4 years ago
Wow, sorry so late to respond as well. If it still helps, the Fluid 29 is amazing long-stroked. I bought a Mid/Mid tune Monarch Plus in 7.5" x 2.0" (190 x 51mm) length and it basically bolted on without a problem. I really don't think there is an appreciable difference between the Fluid with a good 140mm fork/long shock stroke, and an Optic. The seat tube angle and rear center are slightly different, but not by much. The Fluid is such a great, affordable bike that can absolutely shred!
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mikeynets
4 years ago
Thanks for the update! I've had good luck with carbon frames and components so far, but I'm more of an aluminum kinda guy at heart. And the value of this bike — and ability to upgrade — is really speaking to me.
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grizzatom
4 years ago
I'm a bike whore riding a carbon Sight now, but I agree with you completely. Carbon is fun and great for lots of things, and I've had many carbon bikes. However, if I can find an affordable alloy frame that fits the bill and I can build it the way I want, I don't hesitate to do it. In the end, it just means I can save some of that extra cash for more bikes and fun trips for my kids. That's a win!
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Reece2903
4 years ago
I have the same model of norco and same colour as yours. And I want to do the same thing to the shock as you did, I'm thinking about going to the marzzochi Coil which has a size of 190x50mm would it work? And I also want to increase the travel on my rockshox sektor fork from. 130mm to 150mm
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grizzatom
4 years ago
I'm not aware of a Marzocchi shock in the 190mm x 50mm metric sizing, but they do offer a 7.5" x 2.0" imperial option, which is basically the same. If you can get either of those sizes, the shock will fit perfectly. As far as the fork goes, I think 150mm is the most I'd ever run on this frame. If you go too long, your Reach, BB height, and Seat Tube Angle start to suffer. You should be okay at 150mm, maybe just run a bit more sag in the front to keep things in line. Best of luck, these bikes are awesome.
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Reece2903
4 years ago
Thanks for the info. And yes this fluid FS 2 is awesome, I was looking at the fox dpx2 but chain reaction cycles only have the gold coloured one in stock which is around £615
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grizzatom
4 years ago
One thing to note about a coil shock is that the spring does take up more space around the shock eyelets. I don't own this bike any more, but I don't believe a coil will clear the rocker link, that's why the stock shock is turned upside down. I would recommend an air shock only on this rig.
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Reece2903
4 years ago
I forgot to ask you, the stock shock that comes on the fluid FS 2 I have it at 30% sag and I find it too stiff so when I let pressure out I bottom out is there any way I can fix this?
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grizzatom
5 years ago
I've taken all the measurements and cycled the suspension thoroughly. I also modeled the kinematics and found no adverse effects. There is clearance for a 7.5 x 2.0 (190mm x 51mm) shock with no tire/bridge interference. The seatstay bridge comes to about 5mm from the seat tube with the long stroke. I'm sure Norco doesn't encourage this, and I can't say it won't affect your warranty but I'll be running the long shock for just a touch over 130mm in the rear. I rarely leave anything stock on my bikes and I've ended up with some fun rigs!

Also, you can fit a piggyback shock on at least the L and XL frames.
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11dhillons
5 years ago
Well damn, if that isn’t exactly what I wanted to hear! I think a longer stroke shock and some more travel is exactly what I want out of this bike, the piggyback fitting is great.

Screw the warranty! Thanks
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sspomer
5 years ago
crazy and cool. interested to see how it goes. IMO 5mm isn't a lot to work with though. if you bottom out hard enough, i'd think there's enough flex in the all the pieces together that you could go metal on metal. is that a concern at all?
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grizzatom
5 years ago
The metal on metal contact is pretty unlikely. Upon bottoming out the shock and even before that, most of the frame pieces start to strain laterally/torsionally more than toward the seatpost (which is why most bikes that use yokes on their shocks tend to thrash shock seals by increasing the leverage on the shock body and then side-loading them while everything is flexing. Pole finally figured it out, but that's another story!!).

Something would likely have to break to get that kind of deformation, which can always happen. I should clarify that I do not speak for Norco in any way and I'm doing all of this at my own risk. I do feel that the risk is calculated however, and if anyone is going to try this it might as well be me! Based off my setups on other frames, I have worked with much tighter clearances than 5mm on top out, bottom out, and laterally with no bad experiences...yet!

The main reason to add a bit of stroke for me personally is to get this bike to sit a bit lower at the pedals. I'm coming off a longer travel bike with a rock-scraping BB height. I don't miss the travel but I do want a similar body position at sag. I feel like the rear suspension on the Fluid bottoms out a little high. When pushed hard into corners or steeps I want to get my center of gravity as low as I can for max control. With the long stroke I bottom out lower relative to the ground and I have more room to play around with my dynamic (at-sag) BB height. This bike is very well designed and is a blast to ride in its stock form, this is all just my $.02.
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sspomer
5 years ago
cool and i like the thinking behind everything. i just ask about the contact b/c of this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYE0xkkcRkw - at 2:35, minnaar hucks it to flat and his tire hits the seat tube. when he saw it, he was pretty stunned. they checked the bike squished w/o the shock and the tire didn't hit the seat tube. the plastic/carbon may have more/different flex than aluminum or it could have been some deformation in the tire too, but that's the only reason i asked...having seen this in person. the stresses on our bikes may be way grosser than we think haha. keep us posted when you get it all dialed. (norco sent me a large frame to build up...freaking stoked to try it since i was on the medium in the test and i'm basically between sizes).
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grizzatom
5 years ago
Damn, that's an insane huck to flat! I agree that the forces these bikes see are wild at times and I won't argue with your experience. Even the best simulation software out there can't account for all the force scenarios we throw at these things.
I will update once I put more miles on this thing. Hope I don't find any glaring flaws with this whole hair-brained idea. Thanks for your input and get that Size L built up!
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grizzatom
5 years ago
Thanks! I have to admit that your review of this bike is what inspired me to give it a go. I definitely don't regret it.

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