Fluid HT+ 2.3
A 20″ aluminum frame mountain youth bike with modest components and hydraulic disc brakes.
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Manufacturer Price
$729Frame | Aluminum |
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Suspension | Hardtail, 60mm |
Fork | Suntour X1 |
Wheels | 20″ Aluminum |
Drivetrain | 1 × 8 |
Groupset | Altus |
Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
For This Bike
Dec 2022 · Mike Kazimer
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..
Great geometry and well-chosen components for a reasonable price
Solid, ready for anything ride feel
Norco's suspension setup guide is one of the best out there.
Could use a chainguide and a longer dropper post.
There are lighter & livelier options in this travel bracket
Nov 2022 · Spencer Astra
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.
Dec 2021 · Jason Ekman
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!
Rides way better than anticipated for spec
Very capable rear suspension
Quality frame with modern geo
Great Motor
Battery choice options
Bulletproof drivetrain
Dissector not a good front tire
Fork holds the bike back
Low-end old-school moto style brake levers
Jun 2020 · Mick Kirkman
Solid and confident once up to speed, but slow to get there and let down by its fork
Frame is a good shape, with (rear) suspension that’s stable while pedalling
1x SRAM Eagle drivetrain is quiet and secure, with a wide-range cassette to aid climbing
Feels heavy and is slow to get up to speed
Can be tough to manoeuvre when rolling with momentum
Suntour fork isn’t very smooth or effective over repeated hits
Sep 2019 · Guy Kesteven
Guy Kesteven hits the trails on the Norco Fluid FS1 to find out if a fresh fork, smoother shock tune and the latest Shimano drivetrain deliver on the potential it obviously had last year
Suspension issues are resolved
Spec far exceeds its pricepoint
Weight
Brakes are lacking
Jul 2019
Norco's 2019 Fluid FS1 29er is a solid all-around trail machine that offers great bang for your buck.
May 2019 · Hannah Dobson
Hannah checks out the 2019 Norco Fluid FS 1, a sub £2k full suspension bike. Available from Evans in the UK.
Frame | Norco Fluid HT+ 20", Aluminum, 9x135mm QR Dropouts BB Standard: BSA, 73mm, Threaded Color: Red |
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Fork | SR Suntour XCT JR 20, 60mm Travel, 9x110mm QR Travel: 60mm Spring Type: Coil |
Bottom Bracket | Sealed Cartridge BB, Threaded BSA 73mm |
Headset | FSA No. 10P w/15mm conical spacer - Black |
Stem | Norco Alloy 35mm - Black |
Handlebar | Norco Jr. Bar 600mm, 15mm rise - Black |
Saddle | Norco Jr. MTB Saddle 20" - Black |
Seatpost | Norco Alloy, 31.6mm Type: Rigid |
Pedals | VP Alloy Flat Jr. BMX |
Grips | Norco Jr. |
Rear Derailleur | Shimano Altus RD-M310, 8 Speed |
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Crank | 3-Piece, 152mm, Narrow/Wide Chainring 28T |
Shifters | Shimano Altus, RevoShift, 8 Speed |
Cassette | Shimano Altus CS-HG31, 11-34T, 8 Speed |
Chain | KMC Z7, 8 Speed |
Brakes | Front: Tektro HD-M286, Hydraulic Disc, 160mm Rotor, Rear: Tektro HD-M286, Hydraulic Disc, 160mm Rotor Type: Hydraulic Disc |
Brake Levers | Tektro HD-M286, Short Reach Levers |
Rims | Alloy 20" 36mm inner - Black |
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Front Hub | Alloy disc w/15mm boost 110mm |
Rear Hub | Alloy Disc Hub, 10x135mm |
Tires | Chaoyang MTB, 24x2.6" |
Last updated August 15
Not listed for 620 days