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Norco Aurum Carbon 650b


Far from being late to the 650b party, Norco began development of their new mid-wheeled Aurum downhill bike back in 2012. Here’s the lowdown…

650b redesign
Development of the new Aurum started three years ago, long before 650b DH bikes became fashionable. The bike was groundup redesigned around the new wheel size, with the suspension geometry being revised to ensure the axle path wasn’t compromised.

Race-ready suspension
The leverage curve has been tweaked to provide more support in the mid-stroke to cope with the demands of World Cup racing. Allied with a fairly firm base tune on the shock, this translates into a noticeably supportive and e!cient feel.

Gravity Tune geometry
Feedback from test riders convinced Norco that the ideal rear centre length (distance from BB to rear axle) varies depending on the rider’s height and frame size. On the new Aurum, the front and rear centre lengths both increase with frame size, helping different sized riders achieve a similar weight balance.

Privateerfriendly details
External cable routing ensures faff-free fettling, frame bearings are designed to be hard wearing and easy to service, and a suite of frame protectors shields the carbon from harm.

Solid spec
The Aurum C1 is 7125$ with RockShox Boxxer WC fork, Cane Creek Double Barrel shock and SRAM X01 DH kit (or 10500$ if you want ENVE wheels). The C2 and C3 use the same frame but more affordable kit.

Price from 7125$ to 10500$


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