Built to hit a balance of power and efficiency, the Norco Sight VLT TQ takes all of the goodness of the full-fat, Bosch-equipped model, but whittles it down into a lighter, but equally capable package. The result is a bike that screams ‘all-mountain’, while certainly staking its place in Norco’s range against the likes of the Range VLT enduro e-MTB.
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With this new bike, Norco has slapped on the strapline of “be the pilot, not the passenger”, which nods towards a full-power e-mountain bike’s ability to gain momentum, hinting that this lighter-weight e-MTB is more about all-out control.
Bringing the Sight VLT TQ’s weight down to around 20kg, as you’ve probably guessed, it runs TQ’s latest HPR60 drive system. Knocking out 60Nm of torque, 350W of peak power and up to 200% support, it’s definitely a mid-power offering, but it’s paired with a 580Wh battery, which is pretty sizey given the bike’s lightweight intentions.
Moving onto the frame features, the Sight VLT TQ boasts guided internal cable routing for a clean look and simpler servicing, and there’s a host of frame protection. As standard, it runs a mullet wheel setup, so a 650b or 27.5” wheel at the rear, paired with a 29in hoop up front. There’s then 150mm of rear suspension travel, combined with 160mm at the front.
Speaking of suspension, this model uses Norco’s VPShp platform, which is found on all of the brand’s modern high-pivot mountain bikes. It’s been chosen to take advantage of a more rearward axle path, which should help the bike tame chunk. It’s not all about capability, however, as the idler’s position has been carefully chosen for increased response and efficiency under pedalling loads.
As for the geometry, it follows a similar theme to Norco’s more recent bikes. This size 3 frame (medium equivalent) benefits from a 472.5mm reach and a 64-degree head tube angle. Elsewhere, it gets size-specific as the seat tube angle ranges from 77 to 78 degrees from size 1 to size 5, and the chainstay stretches from 432mm to 444mm. The measurements on the size 3 frame I rode are 77.5 and 436mm, respectively, without sag.
Norco Sight VLT TQ C2 – Componentry
Although Norco is releasing three models, only the Sight VLT TQ C2 will be landing on UK shores. Priced at £7,699, the C2 build comes equipped with a new-gen Fox Performance Elite 36 fork and Grip X2 damper, paired with a Float X Performance shock.
This build utilises Shimano’s Deore XT Di2 drivetrain with Deore brakes, which slow a pair of Crankbrothers Synthesis Enduro wheels. They’re wrapped with Continental’s Kryptotal-F up front, with an Enduro casing and Soft rubber compound, whereas the Xynotal takes up rear wheel duties with the same specification.
Continuing the silver theme of the wheels and the bike in general is e*thirteen’s Helix Race Alloy crankset.
Norco Sight VLT TQ C2 – Ride impressions
Having ridden the regular Sight, there was one thing that I felt really held it back – its pedalling performance. While it was quite the machine on the descents, it wasn’t the friendliest of bikes to pedal uphill. However, as the Sight VLT TQ is equipped with perhaps one of the most natural-feeling motors on the market, its lightweight e-MTB cousin fixes that very issue.
Now, I could go on about how much I like the new TQ system. It provides a good level of power that’s far from overwhelming, while being super quiet and more of an extension to the rider, rather than a full throttle takeover. It’s also reasonably light, too, and I’m told that the Sight VLT in this build weighs around 20kg.
As I mentioned in my Range VLT first ride review, Norco has done a great job of making each bike feel remarkably similar to each other, while tailoring them to excel at the job they’re designed for. The Sight VLT is more of an all-mountain rig that I’m sure wouldn’t be shy of the odd enduro, but it has a real do-it-all feel about it, especially as pedalling efficiency has been taken out of the equation somewhat.
Swinging my leg over it for the first time, and the bike felt surprisingly small. In general, it’s not the largest of bikes, but the stack is fairly low. Pair that with a 170mm dropper post, compared to the 200mm+ droppers that have become common, and I felt like I had more weight over the front, and the saddle fairly far up between my legs. A longer dropper, and perhaps a bit more space on the fork steerer, wouldn’t go amiss here.
That said, the lower stack does make some sense. It shifts weight a little further over the front wheel, which helps to keep it well controlled and planted on the climbs. Given that there’s a rather short chainstay here, it certainly helps. Another thing I mentioned in my Range VLT first ride review is that its front end can feel a little light, but the low stack of the Sight VLT TQ keeps the front end in check. It’s more certain over flatter terrain and mighty responsive. Although it hardly feels out of its depth when pointed down something a little steeper.
Norco’s VPShp suspension platform is once again the star of the show. It’s supple yet supportive, which helps the bike punch well above its category weight. In fact, it feels as if it’s running more than 150mm of bounce, thanks to the rearward axle path, which helps pull the rear wheel up and over chunk. The result is a surprisingly smooth riding rig that straddles the line between confident and lively.
Similar to the rest of Norco’s high pivot bikes, the brand hasn’t gone mad with making them super long, which means that the Sight VLT TQ hits an excellent middle ground between stability and agility. Its shorter wheelbase makes initiating corners a doddle, especially with its relatively low weight, but when the suspension is compressed, its wheelbase stretches out a touch, and that helps the bike stay on line through all manners of trail chunk.
Despite its shorter stack, it’s still mighty confident through tech and steeper terrain. Then, that rearward axle path smooths out trail imperfections, making for an ultimately controlled and easy-going experience, while rewarding with liveliness and pep, owing to its lighter build.
Norco Sight VLT TQ C2 – Early verdict
The Norco Sight VLT TQ C2 really nails the all-mountain category. It’s an e-MTB that takes full advantage of the lighter-weight TQ system to achieve an incredibly well-rounded ride that’s calm on the climbs, yet planted and flickable on the descents. Although I would change a couple of things, namely the stack height and fit a longer travel dropper, the Sight VLT TQ has proven to offer a very natural, yet playful and confident ride, that’s akin to a regular mountain bike. That is, with the extra support of TQ’s remarkably unintrusive motor system.
