Norco's 2005 Line offers bikes for the mini-ripper
Playing with the Big Boys: Norco's 2005 Line offers bikes for the mini-ripper
I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve agonized over a difficult line or stunt, only to have a rider come flying out of the trees and effortlessly nail it with only the briefest of brake checks. I’m sure we’ve all had a moment like this, but, have you taken a look lately at the size of the rider that has just totally schooled you? There’s a good chance they’re under 5’, and still have to be home before the street-lights come on.
The evidence is on the table. Young freeriders are riding faster, harder, and going bigger than ever before. But, the problem is, few bikes on the market have been designed to meet the needs of these young up-and-comers. Norco’s bike division put a lot of thought this past season into creating a bike specifically for small riders with huge skills.
And they didn’t come up with one….they created TWO new bikes for the 2005 season, a shore hardtail called the Kompressor, and a mini-VPS dubbed, the B-Line. Inspired by the young locals who are pushing their limits at the Whistler Bike Park, and on the world-renowned North Shore mountains, in North Vancouver, these bikes have been ergonomically designed for high-performance, durability, and safety.
Kompressor
Jr. Shore Hardtail aluminum frame
Dual 24” wheels, shorter top tube, and lower standover/BB height
Smaller grips, saddle, & pedals
Hayes Soul 6” Hydro brakes in the front and rear for improved stopping power
Marzocchi Dirt Jam 120mm fork
Truvativ Blaze cranks with bashguard
$889 US/ $1059 CND
“A great deal of thought has gone into the design of these bikes,” commented Dave Overgaard, Norco’s Bike Division Manager, “we recognize that there is an entire generation of kids who’s riding ability and demands exceed the bikes available to them. Both our ’05 Jr. bikes have size specific geometry & components, like dual 24” wheels, a smaller cockpit, lower BB height, and lower standover.”
VPS B-Line
Jr. Full-Suspension freeride bike with full aluminum frame
Dual 24” wheels, shorter top tube, and lower standover/BB height
Smaller grips, saddle, & pedals
Hayes Soul 6” Hydro brakes in the front and rear for improved stopping power
Marzocchi EXR-Pro coil 120mm fork
Fox Vanilla R rear shock
Truvativ Blaze dual cranks with bashguard
$1269 US/ $1650 CND
Not only are these bikes ideal for younger riders, they are also a good option for shorter adults who, up until now, have had difficulty fitting conventional freeride bikes. Norco is excited to add these two unique bikes to their innovative 2005 line-up. For more information about the Kompressor, or the VPS B-line, contact your local Norco dealer, or check them out online at: norco.com.
