It would be cool to see riders of your caliber and in your area's terrain put together a 130-120/120 travel bike test or downcountry test (Ranger, Trail 429, Spur, Top Fuel, Scalpel SE, etc.). Those style bikes fit a ton of riders' local trails and finding that balance of incredible pedaling with unexpected descending is what a lot of us are looking for. I realize there are similar tests out there but they have not been conducted by the wolves😉
The Fluid A2 is one of the best-valued trail bikes out there. We sell so many to people looking to get into the world of MTB without breaking the bank. The part spec is absolutely mint. Geo is still progressive and very capable in most terrain.
@@bimmerfan729 I think it will remain in the 130mm rear suspension range (no pun intended) and will be similar to the Druid which is 130/150. Norco seems to align with the same philosophy as Forbidden, I believe the Forbidden owner use to work at Norco.
Big Fluid fan here!! Thank you for the thoughtful review. I was lucky enough to snag a fluid A1 this past summer (love the green!). Absolutely love it and couldn't be happier! Keep it up
I have the previous gen of the Fluid AL and absolutely love it. Was my first proper mtb bike. I have since moved on to carbon frame but I still love my fluid and don't intend to ever part with it. It has so much good stuff that I didn't even know about at the time of purchase. I just thought it looked cool and was in my price range. I had no idea what UDH, Boost standards, threaded bottom brackets were at the time. lucky for me it had all of those standards even in the previous gen. Was easy and worth upgrading. Highly recommend to anyone.
Your reviews are always great. I love your unbias approach. I have the previous version Fluid FS that has since been modded to the hilt. Carbon wheels, barzo tires, a Lyrik fork, shorter cranks, bigger rotor up front, and, and and... turned the bike into a fun and playful machine. I do find the short wheelbase (size M) makes the bike a hand full on the downs, especially so on chunky stuff. On single track it is super maneuverable and easy to get around obstacles and tight switchbacks. It's fast in these conditions. Compared to my Alchemy Arktos 140, the Fluid is the choice for climbs and single track. The Arktos is for just about everything else. I'd love to hear your review of the Arktos.
I'd love to try this bike or preferably the Al version. However, Norco bikes are hard to find in my area and the shops carrying Norco have very limited stock and sizes. I did try a medium at a local shop and it was too small. There's a fairly big jump in reach for the large size that I'd have to try out for fit. I'm interested in the Izzo which I suspect would climb better but not be as confident going down rougher stuff. Keep up the great content. Really appreciate it!
I think the geometry of the Fluid, 77* STA, 65* HTA, is near perfect for all-around trail riding. However, I think a bike with more travel like the 150/160 Stumpy Evo, which has similar geo, would make more sense for most riders. Once you get past 120mm rear travel Downcountry-ish bikes, you might as well go for longer 150mm rear travel.
Most riders terrain does not necessitate 150mm of travel. There are diminishing returns on just going with more travel, and I would say a lot of riders are over biked. If you ride fast and you live somewhere steep and chunky, then you may want/ need something like a Stumpy EVO.
@@mooseindahouse336 A few years ago, I would have agreed with you. But current modern long travel bikes pedal and climb well and weigh little more than shorter travel bikes. My "on sale" $4700 Stumpy EV0 Expert weighs 31 pounds and climbs and pedals better than my previous 130mm rear travel bike. I ride all over the Southwestern US (Durango, Cortez, Moab, Sedona, Santa Fe) and I encounter very few smooth trails. With erosion, most of those trails have just gotten rougher over time. If your trails are fairly smooth, then you belong on a Downcountry bike.
@@MrSupermugen The Stumpy Evo has received stellar reviews from nearly everyone. (The regular Stumpy, nor so much.) The Evo's winning formula is that it takes you right up to edge of being an Enduro bike without being an Enduro bike. With the adjustable geo and a change of tires it can go from being a long travel Downcountry bike to being a short travel Enduro bike. It's really the bike that most people should ride if a Downcountry bike isn't enough. I hope Specialized keeps the Stumpy Evo true to it's current long travel Trailbike roots.
@@marksandoval5361 Yes it has, which is fair but its not suitable for heavy riders who ride fast - hence why the cascade link was available so quickly after release. They also messed up the Mullet link. the stumpy needs to be a little bigger and it will fix most of its issues. The Evo is a bike thats 'good everywhere' but thats also its downfall, give it the cascade link and more a touch bigger with mullet and itll be 'way better everywhere'
The G2 brakes came on my Tallboy. Not a fan, but a cleaning and lube of the pistons made a big difference. I had several pistons not even extending, therefore the lack of power.
Let me just say after reviewing this bike online and seeing everything that this bike has and is I have to make another decision about this bike and I totally agree with Drew that the value just isn’t there compared to the aluminum version and it’s not worth the price tag and again we’re almost at 100k let’s keep up the good work
I have a Sight A1, the Fluid's big brother. I don’t know if this applies to the Fluid, but i suspect it does: the A1 is lighter, cheaper, and better equipped than the C2.
"...Lets you know it's a 130..." My apologies, but I'm not experienced enough to catch on to exactly what you mean by this. It was mentioned at least a few times so I figure its a potential deal-breaker and something to be aware of. Also, how would you compare it to the polygon siskiu T8 that you reviewed? If it helps, I'm not yet jumping or doing big drops, almost 50, so I can't see myself progressing much In that department anyway. 😆 I much prefer tech/natural, playful trail riding over smooth, flow and super fast downhill. Thanks for your help.
Hey sorry for not being super clear and a bit of “inside jargon.” What we mean by that is some bikes are more forgiving or have a more “bottomless” suspension feel. You may hear people say it’s a 130mm bike that rides like more.. for example. Those bikes likely won’t pedal as well, or will be a bit more for DH-minded riders whereas this bike is 130mm and feels like it. It won’t trick you into thinking it’s a 140nm. For its intended application as a general all around fun mtb, trail bike, it does quite well. It just has a stiffer suspension platform than some plusher bikes. Hopefully that helps?
Well, that really depends on your terrain and riding style! Nic owned the last gen Optic and loved it, but he replaced it with the alloy Fluid we had earlier this year and he's not bummed about it. It is a more XC/trail focused rig while the Fluid can stretch its legs a bit more towards all mountain.
So is the Optic more geared toward jibbing or xc.? Would you rather have an optic or a fluid as a 2nd bike if you already have a larger travel bike? How does the fluid compare to the new smuggler?
Awesome bike! ... but calling horse shit on the weight difference vs aluminum. Nobody is feeling a 1lb difference, 5lb sure.....placebo in full effect!
Hey Chad, we've known Mike for a decade now, and had the pleasure of attending many press camps with him. I've always enjoyed our friendly competitions at camps, smack talking and bouncing ideas and industry thoughts around. We wish him the best and hope to run into him again one day! Until then, thank you for being a fan and we hope to keep you entertained and informed! Drew
It would be cool to see riders of your caliber and in your area's terrain put together a 130-120/120 travel bike test or downcountry test (Ranger, Trail 429, Spur, Top Fuel, Scalpel SE, etc.). Those style bikes fit a ton of riders' local trails and finding that balance of incredible pedaling with unexpected descending is what a lot of us are looking for. I realize there are similar tests out there but they have not been conducted by the wolves😉
We appreciate the suggestion and we'll try to get that rolling for 2024!
I wanted the fluid but I couldn't resist the price I got on the Norco Optic C2 2023 from my local dealer @ $3499.00
The Fluid A2 is one of the best-valued trail bikes out there. We sell so many to people looking to get into the world of MTB without breaking the bank. The part spec is absolutely mint. Geo is still progressive and very capable in most terrain.
I'm sure the Optic is going away after this year with the intro of this Fluid but it would be cool to see a comparison of these two bikes from Norco.
@@Wrex90 Really? Guessing it won't be a short travel bike anymore? Time will tell I suppose
@@bimmerfan729 I think it will remain in the 130mm rear suspension range (no pun intended) and will be similar to the Druid which is 130/150. Norco seems to align with the same philosophy as Forbidden, I believe the Forbidden owner use to work at Norco.
@@dimimtb Interesting, didnt know that about the owner. That bike could be real cool actually.
Big Fluid fan here!! Thank you for the thoughtful review. I was lucky enough to snag a fluid A1 this past summer (love the green!). Absolutely love it and couldn't be happier! Keep it up
Great to hear! It's definitely a rad bike and we're stoked to hear you enjoy it too.
I have the previous gen of the Fluid AL and absolutely love it. Was my first proper mtb bike. I have since moved on to carbon frame but I still love my fluid and don't intend to ever part with it. It has so much good stuff that I didn't even know about at the time of purchase. I just thought it looked cool and was in my price range. I had no idea what UDH, Boost standards, threaded bottom brackets were at the time. lucky for me it had all of those standards even in the previous gen. Was easy and worth upgrading. Highly recommend to anyone.
Awesome to hear and thank you for sharing!
Your reviews are always great. I love your unbias approach. I have the previous version Fluid FS that has since been modded to the hilt. Carbon wheels, barzo tires, a Lyrik fork, shorter cranks, bigger rotor up front, and, and and... turned the bike into a fun and playful machine. I do find the short wheelbase (size M) makes the bike a hand full on the downs, especially so on chunky stuff. On single track it is super maneuverable and easy to get around obstacles and tight switchbacks. It's fast in these conditions. Compared to my Alchemy Arktos 140, the Fluid is the choice for climbs and single track. The Arktos is for just about everything else. I'd love to hear your review of the Arktos.
Got an Arktos 150 myself and peepin this for a smaller bike
I'd love to try this bike or preferably the Al version. However, Norco bikes are hard to find in my area and the shops carrying Norco have very limited stock and sizes. I did try a medium at a local shop and it was too small. There's a fairly big jump in reach for the large size that I'd have to try out for fit. I'm interested in the Izzo which I suspect would climb better but not be as confident going down rougher stuff. Keep up the great content. Really appreciate it!
Still stoked on getting an A2 for my son at 2499 CANADIAN (on sale) after watching your last review. Thanks!
Enjoy it
Got an A2 for 2590 CAD back in October And used the 1000$ difference with the A1 to upgrade it to my liking. Killer build for that price!
Where did you get it for that price? I just ordered an A2 from Calgary cycles but they sold it to me for $3,500 and that’s still $800 off regular.
@@93Tillinfini local shop in mtl but it was a quick deal around Christmas and now it is back up.
@@fatbikedad384that’s a great deal! Must be stoked! I was stoked with $800 off lol
How did it compare to the YT izzo u guys reviewed few moons ago.😮
This is what I want to know
I think the geometry of the Fluid, 77* STA, 65* HTA, is near perfect for all-around trail riding. However, I think a bike with more travel like the 150/160 Stumpy Evo, which has similar geo, would make more sense for most riders. Once you get past 120mm rear travel Downcountry-ish bikes, you might as well go for longer 150mm rear travel.
I agree, however The stumpy evo needs an update, needs to be slightly larger across the board - its also far to linear.
Most riders terrain does not necessitate 150mm of travel. There are diminishing returns on just going with more travel, and I would say a lot of riders are over biked. If you ride fast and you live somewhere steep and chunky, then you may want/ need something like a Stumpy EVO.
@@mooseindahouse336 A few years ago, I would have agreed with you. But current modern long travel bikes pedal and climb well and weigh little more than shorter travel bikes. My "on sale" $4700 Stumpy EV0 Expert weighs 31 pounds and climbs and pedals better than my previous 130mm rear travel bike. I ride all over the Southwestern US (Durango, Cortez, Moab, Sedona, Santa Fe) and I encounter very few smooth trails. With erosion, most of those trails have just gotten rougher over time. If your trails are fairly smooth, then you belong on a Downcountry bike.
@@MrSupermugen The Stumpy Evo has received stellar reviews from nearly everyone. (The regular Stumpy, nor so much.) The Evo's winning formula is that it takes you right up to edge of being an Enduro bike without being an Enduro bike. With the adjustable geo and a change of tires it can go from being a long travel Downcountry bike to being a short travel Enduro bike. It's really the bike that most people should ride if a Downcountry bike isn't enough. I hope Specialized keeps the Stumpy Evo true to it's current long travel Trailbike roots.
@@marksandoval5361 Yes it has, which is fair but its not suitable for heavy riders who ride fast - hence why the cascade link was available so quickly after release.
They also messed up the Mullet link.
the stumpy needs to be a little bigger and it will fix most of its issues. The Evo is a bike thats 'good everywhere' but thats also its downfall, give it the cascade link and more a touch bigger with mullet and itll be 'way better everywhere'
The G2 brakes came on my Tallboy. Not a fan, but a cleaning and lube of the pistons made a big difference. I had several pistons not even extending, therefore the lack of power.
Let me just say after reviewing this bike online and seeing everything that this bike has and is I have to make another decision about this bike and I totally agree with Drew that the value just isn’t there compared to the aluminum version and it’s not worth the price tag and again we’re almost at 100k let’s keep up the good work
I would be interested in a comparison against the TR smuggler, they seem to share some similarities
I have a Sight A1, the Fluid's big brother. I don’t know if this applies to the Fluid, but i suspect it does: the A1 is lighter, cheaper, and better equipped than the C2.
what brakes would you say are best for someone out on advanced red and black trails?
"...Lets you know it's a 130..."
My apologies, but I'm not experienced enough to catch on to exactly what you mean by this.
It was mentioned at least a few times so I figure its a potential deal-breaker and something to be aware of.
Also, how would you compare it to the polygon siskiu T8 that you reviewed?
If it helps, I'm not yet jumping or doing big drops, almost 50, so I can't see myself progressing much In that department anyway. 😆
I much prefer tech/natural, playful trail riding over smooth, flow and super fast downhill.
Thanks for your help.
Hey sorry for not being super clear and a bit of “inside jargon.” What we mean by that is some bikes are more forgiving or have a more “bottomless” suspension feel.
You may hear people say it’s a 130mm bike that rides like more.. for example. Those bikes likely won’t pedal as well, or will be a bit more for DH-minded riders whereas this bike is 130mm and feels like it. It won’t trick you into thinking it’s a 140nm.
For its intended application as a general all around fun mtb, trail bike, it does quite well. It just has a stiffer suspension platform than some plusher bikes.
Hopefully that helps?
@@TheLoamWolf
Gotcha. Thanks for the 'for newbies' version. 😄.
Great reviews by the way. 👍
Alloy all day!💯 Perfer compliance and a much much more durable bike.
For now the Optic is in BIG sale in every bike shop.. so personally i wouldn’t buy the fluid carbon$..
Btw I really like the value segment!
Thanks for sharing.
This or optic..??
Well, that really depends on your terrain and riding style! Nic owned the last gen Optic and loved it, but he replaced it with the alloy Fluid we had earlier this year and he's not bummed about it. It is a more XC/trail focused rig while the Fluid can stretch its legs a bit more towards all mountain.
So is the Optic more geared toward jibbing or xc.? Would you rather have an optic or a fluid as a 2nd bike if you already have a larger travel bike? How does the fluid compare to the new smuggler?
Aluminum All Day Everyday 😊
Put 150mm Lyrik or Fox 36 up front, it will transform that bike.
I would do that.
Just did that. (Haven't ridden it yet though...)
Recently overforked my alu fluid with a fox 36 160mm travel and its been a pleasure to ride with
Awesome bike! ... but calling horse shit on the weight difference vs aluminum. Nobody is feeling a 1lb difference, 5lb sure.....placebo in full effect!
Agreed Carbon is the big scam in the bike industry. They convinced people that an expensive plastic is “better” then a metal!🤣
Who bottom out an optic ???? 😂😂🎉❤
My heart says carbon but my brain says aluminum 🤑
Haha, go with whatever makes you smile more!
Really appreciate your content. With Pinkbike losing Mike Levy I have lost all interest. You guys are much more entertaining and informative.
Hey Chad, we've known Mike for a decade now, and had the pleasure of attending many press camps with him. I've always enjoyed our friendly competitions at camps, smack talking and bouncing ideas and industry thoughts around. We wish him the best and hope to run into him again one day!
Until then, thank you for being a fan and we hope to keep you entertained and informed!
Drew