Page 80 - AMB Freelist

ON THE TRAIL
This is a virtual high pivot, and yes it does look very similar to the Norco Aurum HSP (High Single Pivot). The pivot point is not fixed which means Norco can have a rearward axle path without the chain tugging on your pedals - or pedal kickback - and still have lower levels of anti-rise, which is how the braking impacts the suspension. The anti-rise is still higher than most bikes at sag keeping the bike planted when braking rather than pitching the rider forward.
The result is exactly what you want, active suspen- sion on rough terrain, that settles the bike under brakes, and doesn’t get hooked up on square edge hits or give lots of pedal kickback making it smooth when riding flat pedals. How active the suspension is under braking is what puts the High Virtual Pivot ahead of the HSP design of the Aurum. The idler is still required to accommodate the chain growth as the rear wheel follows it’s rearward axle path, without rotating the cranks backwards (which is the pedal kickback you might feel on other bikes). Each frame size has had its pivot locations specifically designed to match the overall design kinematics, which is no small feat when the rear ends are different on each bike. Like all high pivot bikes, the suspension still stiffens under braking, but braking aggressively with precision plants the bike firmly onto the ground without pitching the rider forward, giving huge amounts of traction and confidence. This is a big benefit at higher speeds as it creates a very stable stance.
The fit of all “Ride Aligned” Norcos such as the new Range is always impressive. The bikes following Ride Aligned design principles put the rider centered on the bike, which leaves you in a really balanced position, regardless of your height and bike size. Norco have not only gone to great care to have size specific
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