2020 Norco

Optic C2

A 29″ carbon frame full suspension trail bike with high-end components.
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MSRP$4,699
FrameCarbon
SuspensionFull, 125 / 140mm
ForkRockShox Pike Select
ShockRockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH
Wheels29″ Aluminum
Drivetrain1 × 12
GroupsetGX Eagle, X1
BrakesHydraulic Disc
SeatpostDropper
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Insights
Ride Feel

Based on frame geometry and build specs.

Terrain
easyextreme
Handling
nimblestable
Optic C2
Other Trail bikes
Gearing

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

Lowest gear

(climbing)

26 mph

Optic C2

26 mph

Similar Bikes

Highest gear

(descending)

Sizing
SM

5'2" – 5'8"

MD

5'6" – 5'11"

LG

5'10" – 6'3"

XL

6'1" – 6'7"

🐐 Estimated

Rider Fit Notes

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Reviews
off.road.cc
2021 Norco Optic C3 review

Jun 2022

The Norco Optic C3 is an aggressively shaped short travel 29er that looks to be a solid all-rounder. Although its progressive geometry is right on the money, the bike’s overall capability and potential to inspire confidence are let down due to lackluster suspension.

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Jeff Kendall-Weed
I rode the Norco Optic!!!

Apr 2021

RIding the Norco Optic in Portland, Oregon's Rocky Point trails was a great way to compare it to the Ibis Ripley.

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Outdoor Gear Lab
Norco Optic C2 SRAM

Jan 2021 · Jeremy Benson

Redesigned for the 2020 model year, the Norco Optic joined a growing list of bikes in the aggressive short-travel category. Despite a modest 125mm of...

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Freehub
Bike Review | 2020 Norco Optic C2 29

Aug 2020 · Spencer Johnson

The 2020 Norco Optic sits squarely in my favorite category of bikes: Those mid-travel trail rigs that blur the lines between a traditional trail bike and an all-mountain brawler. Needless to say, my time on the new Norco Optic C2 felt like a summer fling that was all too short. My heart was broken when it went back in a box and left the Freehub office. With 140 millimeters of front suspension and 125 millimeters in the rear, the Optic has just enough travel to keep you hanging on to the handlebars through rough terrain, but not so much that you feel numb to the trail beneath you. The frame itself is stable and balanced, with an ample 480 millimeters of reach on my size large, making it one of the longest bikes I’ve ridden. What’s more, Norco adapts the length of the chainstay according to the frame size, which ensures that each rider will have a similar weight distribution across all frame sizes. This can’t be the cheapest way to manufacture a bike, but it pays healthy dividends on the trail. My size large had a 435-millimeter chainstay that added stability when my speeds increased through fast sections of singletrack. The components on our C2 version cater to aggressive riders, with a RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH rear shock allowing you to push the suspension hard, without fear of overheating or inconsistent damping. The RockShox Pike Select Plus fork delivers excellent traction in a lightweight chassis, while giving some welcome compliance through rough sections of trail. A SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain affords dependable shifting for hundreds if not thousands of hard, off-road miles. Furthermore, the stopping power of the Shimano BR-MT520 hydraulic brakes was sufficient for a 200-plus-pound rider like me, but the resin pads do raise some concerns for wet, Pacific Northwest rides—and the long, brake-burning descents that the Optic demands. But the stars of the spec show were the low-volume, 2.35 Schwalbe tires: With a Magic Mary tread up front, you have cornering grip in steady supply for almost any dirt conditions. Climbing on the Optic was a joy. The seat-tube angle of 76 degrees was a perfect choice for a trail bike that can be pedaled comfortably up low-angle cross-country trails and still keep the front wheel on the ground during some of our heinous, 18-percent-plus Pacific Northwest trail gradients. The Optic’s rear suspension remains relatively unaffected by pedaling forces and prevents most pedal-induced diving, both while pedaling in and out of the saddle. The long top tube stretched me out nicely over the bike and kept me in an efficient pedaling position that allowed me to put down some nice wattage.

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Mountain Bike Action
Mountain Bike Action Bike Test: Norco Optic C2 Trail Bike

Jun 2020 · McCoy

Party up front, business in back

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MBR
Norco Optic Carbon C2: first ride review - MBR

Jun 2020 · Mick Kirkman

With the new Norco Optic the Canadian company sets out to garner big grins from short travel. Will the Optic Carbon fit the bill?

Highs
  • Norco’s Ride Aligned design perfectly balances geometry and suspension

Lows
  • Not the lightest short-travel ripper, but at least it's robust

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BikeRadar
Norco Optic C3 review

Apr 2020 · Tom Marvin

On-trend geometry gives buckets of potential, but suspension upgrades are needed to truly benefit

Highs
  • The shape is long, low and slack, while the wheel and tyre combo is spot on

Lows
  • Over-damped shock leads to a skippy ride, while the fork doesn’t feel smooth either

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Loam Wolf
Review: Norco Optic C2 – The Best Trail Mountain Bike Yet

Apr 2020

The Norco Optic has thoroughly impressed all of our testers over the last several months of testing. Norco has done an incredible job creating a well-rounded and fun mountain bike that is ready to handle the rough stuff while still offering pedaling efficiency.

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Geometry
99 Spokes on YouTube99 Spokes on YouTube
Specs
Build
Frame

Carbon Front Triangle/Aluminum Rear, 125mm Travel

Fork

RockShox Pike Select Plus,140mm Travel

Travel140mm

Spring TypeAir

Shock

RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH

Travel125mm

Spring TypeAir

Bottom Bracket

SRAM BB DUB PressFit

Headset

FSA Internal

Stem

Norco 6061 Alloy 45mm reach, 35mm clamp

Handlebar

TranzX 6061 DB Alloy, 780mm

Saddle

Fizik Taiga

Seatpost

X-Fusion Manic, 31.6mm, dropper

TypeDropper

Grips

Ergon GA30, lock on

Groupset
Rear Derailleur

SRAM GX Eagle

Crank

SRAM X1 Eagle DUB Carbon, 30T

Shifters

SRAM GX Eagle

Cassette

SRAM XG1275 Eagle, 10-50T

Chain

SRAM GX Eagle

Brakes

Front: Shimano BR-MT520, Hydraulic, 180mm, Rear: Shimano BR-MT520, Hydraulic, 180mm

TypeHydraulic Disc

Wheels
Rims

Stans Flow S1 29"

Front Hub

DT Swiss 350, 15x110mm Boost

Rear Hub

DT Swiss 350, 12x148mm Boost

Tires

Front: Schwalbe Magic Mary Super TLE, 29" x 2.35", Addix Soft, Rear: Schwalbe Hans Dampf Snakeskin/TL 29" x 2.35", Addix Soft

Rider Notes
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Last updated September 22
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