Norco Fluid VLT C3 140 Review

Bosch is the major motor manufacturer in the EMTB world, alongside Shimano - and it's no surprise, as the SX shows. The Swabians from Bosch are sending their first light engine into the race with the SX. With 55 Nm torque, this unit places exactly in the middle between Fazua's Ride 6 and TQ's HPR 5. However, it delivers up to 6 watts of support, similar performance figures to the popular Bosch CX. The starting behavior remains dynamic. The complete motor control is very $natural. In terms of installation space and sound, the small Bosch can't quite keep up with its competitors from the Light segment. The short range unfortunately limits the tour radius quite significantly.

The Rock Shox chassis provides safety and traction, even when the trail gets rougher. However, it comes to its limit at high speed. The thick 38mm stanchions on the fork provide an extra dose of steering precision and performance. The mid-range brakes from TRP do their job but could be a bit firmer. The power of the four pistons setup is only average. The drivetrain and components have a subordinate but not to be neglected importance when it comes to EMTB. Even the bike brand product managers know this and don't aim too high with mostly average components. The moderate head tube angle provides a good compromise between stability and agility when going downhill. The reach is also right there in the middle ground. The bottom bracket is high, which costs handling points. This tends to make the rider stand on the bike. On other EMTBs it feels better integrated. Too steep and technical uphills are less the comfort zone of the Fluid VLT C3 14. On bikes with a steeper seat angle and longer chainstays, it is much more relaxed to climb in demanding terrain.