PB'S NORCO SIGHT C NX12 VLT

MONTH 12: PB’s Sight is proving unreliable but that hasn’t stopped him eyeing up its stablemate

- PAUL BURWELL

What attracted you to the Norco Sight C NX12 VLT?

Several things – Norco always gets its suspension and geometry dialled, and in this blood-red finish the bike looked amazing. I was also keen to try the Shimano STEPS motor, because I figured it would be more reliable than the Brose unit in my previous Fanatik longtermer.

Did you change anything straightaway?

Usually I have a list, like better tyres, 800mm bar and a comfy saddle, but the Norco was pretty dialled out of the box, although I did change the Shimano control switch. The bike came with the under-bar paddle design, which Shimano originally developed as an electronic gear shifter, and it didn’t work well with the dropper remote. Fitting the more compact E7000 control switch was a big improvement and it cost less than £50.

Did anything break or wear out?

I broke the Shimano control unit. I think water got in (didn’t we just have the wettest winter on record?) and it just gave up the ghost. In fact, the bike has been idle again because the replacement has also stopped working. Also, several dropped chains have taken a load of paint (and some carbon) off the frame around the bottom bracket. I’m on my sixth set of brake pads, second chain, cassette and chainring and the tyres have also been replaced. There’s a ton of play in the dropper post, and I can only describe spoke tension in the rear wheel as baggy.

Was the bike easy to set up?

On some bikes you go round in circles with the suspension set-up and positioning but I got the Norco dialled after just one ride. It doesn’t really have any weird quirks, so you can just jump on and start shredding pretty much straight away.