2021 Norco

Fluid HT 2 29

I ended up putting down my 4th fastest time on the Fluid, just one second slower than my 2nd and 3rd place times, and two seconds slower than my fastest time, which was on the Trek Fuel EX..

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Norco’s new Fluid FS is meant for anybody and everybody. But don’t be fooled; this is no cookie-cutter, crowd-pleaser of a bike. The Fluid FS does a stellar job of playing different roles for different riders, and that’s exactly what makes it stand out among the company’s broad line of capable trail rigs. The Fluid FS’s pure fun factor feels equally ready to please a cross-country fanatic looking for a ride with little more oomph as it does a downhill racer wanting to cover more terrain—and that’s where the middle of the road magic lies in this surprisingly capable 130-millimeter bike. The Fluid FS now sports 29-inch wheels throughout its size range and is complemented by size-specific chainstays, ranging from 425 to 445 millimeters, making it easier to wave goodbye to the 27.5-inch option of the past. On a size large, I had plenty of room to move around the bike while climbing everything from fire roads to steep tech, and it never felt unwieldy while navigating around obstacles or trying to get the bike off the ground. The 480-millimeter reach left plenty of breathing room and, paired with a 65-degree headtube angle, the intended rider position is neutral and ready to tackle rough trails without risking a sluggish feeling on more mellow terrain. A long, dry summer of unpredictable conditions had me reaching for the Fluid FS more than I expected. It’s a bike that easy to get along with, and its balanced nature made quick work of scary-loose descents with confidence. Climbing on the Fluid FS is intuitive and doesn’t require any annoying weight shifts; just jump on and go. A 76.6-degree seat angle makes for a comfortable and natural climbing position, and the bike's balanced front and rear ends kept my front wheel glued to the ground on tight, steep switchbacks. At about 32 pounds, the Fluid FS powers uphill with an unexpected pep considering the extra weight of the alloy frame and a lack of any featherweight parts. The suspension design and shock pair nicely during extended pedaling efforts—I only reached for the shock lever to firm things up when I was commuting from trail to trail on Bellingham’s steep fire roads. While I didn’t do any true backcountry rides on the Fluid FS, it’s high up on my list of bikes that I would be happy to pedal all day long, especially if there are some worthy descents in store.

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The Fluid VLT rides way better than expected, but it does have some weak links for aggressive riders or those on super rough terrain. Click to read our review!

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