Are the 2023 Norco Fluids the best affordable Alloy Full Sus Trail Bikes around?

Jenna Bews | Nov 09, 2022

Top-tier design and features over-deliver with the new 2023 Norco Fluid FS range. Already racking up some big accolades from top mountain bike reviewers. The refined alloy frames and modest price tags across the whole range up the ante on what riders expect from an affordable dual suspension trail bike.

"We said of the Fluid, "it might be too early to call, but Norco seems to have hit a home run with the Fluid FS." Three months and over 250 miles of trail riding later, we're calling it — the new 130mm-travel 29er Fluid FS is a home run."

NORCO FLUID A1 REVIEW - VITAL MTB

Looking at the details

For 2023 the Fluid FS has a brand new frame, the 6061 aluminum is so refined you'd think its carbon at first glance. There is also some serious precision engineering that has gone into the design. The generous standover height and long travel dropper posts create more room to move around, particularly helpful when tackling technical trails descents.

This year Norco have also included their Ride Aligned Design System, previously limited to their top-tier models, this industry leading technology is a huge standout for how dedicated Norco are to providing riders with the best riding experience possible, each size has a frame that is custom tuned to the needs of the rider of that height, with an expanded range of 5 frame sizes, catering to riders between 5’1” and 6’7”.

Design components like the head tube length, effective seat tube angle and chainstay length are fine tuned for every size while the 65 degree head angle hits the trail bike sweet spot for nimble handling at high speed so that riders can maximize their fun by popping off every trail feature they come across.

Norco are well known for their precision suspension kinematics, offering custom tuned forks and shocks across the whole Fluid range, the custom tuning is also seamlessly incorporated into their Ride Aligned Design System, allowing riders to head to the Norco website Ride Aligned page for the perfect tuned setup to be made in minutes for personalized performance from day one.

Gone is the option of a 27.5" model, all 2023 Norco Fluids roll on 29ers. There are several big advantages with this choice, offering faster rolling with less effort over open terrain, better traction and greater control when climbing and cornering. As well as the ability to roll over trail obstacles with less impact, smoothing out the trail and allowing for faster speeds.