[[{“value”:”
When we first caught wind of a new DH bike from Norco coming to market, we assumed it would be the World Cup race bike the Canadian brand has been developing over the last few seasons. But this is far from that, this new DH rig looks refreshingly simple.
A downhill bike for the people, you might say. The Torrent DH is an interesting addition to the lineup, as very few brands produce more than one dedicated downhill platform. While most companies focus on a single World Cup race-focused machine that eventually filters down to consumers, the Torrent DH sits in a different space altogether within Norco’s range.
On paper, it promises a refreshingly straightforward design philosophy. An alloy frame, external cable routing, conventional suspension layout, robust frame protection and a sensible price tag. If Norco’s flagship race bike is a premium handcrafted Japanese chef’s knife, the Torrent DH is the Swiss Army knife. It looks versatile, practical and ready for just about anything gravity focused.
Related:
- https://flowmountainbike.com/post-all/mondraker-anark-alloy-freeride-bike/
- https://flowmountainbike.com/tests/2026-scott-gambler-review/
- https://flowmountainbike.com/features/flow-visits-norco-hq/
Norco Torrent DH overview
The Norco Torrent DH features 200mm of travel front and rear, MX wheel setup, an alloy-only frame and Norco’s VPS suspension platform.
VPS is Norco’s take on the proven Horst Link design. While the brand produces several high-pivot bikes, the Torrent DH deliberately avoids that approach, staying true to its focus on simplicity, low maintenance and durability.
As mentioned, the cables are run externally and the frame protection bolts on for easy replacement. There’s even an accessory mount for carrying tools and/or a tube. Not especially useful on a dedicated race bike, but a great addition for a bike park-focused setup.
Beyond being a hassle free bike, the Torrent DH is designed to do double duty. It aims to be a reliable bike park machine capable of smashing out laps, while also carrying geometry aggressive enough for the start gate when race day arrives.
Norco Torrent DH pricing & specs
The no-fuss approach extends to the pricing and build options. There is just one complete build available, the Torrent DH A1, priced at $5,999 AUD. It comes in either a blue or raw finish. SRAM and RockShox handle most of the heavy lifting here, with a Boxxer fork and Vivid Air shock combo paired to a SRAM GX DH drivetrain and Maven Base brakes.
For riders looking to transfer parts or create a custom build, a frameset option will also be available for $3,199 AUD. However, the frameset will be offered exclusively in the blue colourway.
Torrent DH Frameset
- Frame | Aluminum Park, 200mm Travel, UDH, Ride Aligned
- Shock | RockShox Vivid Air Base, 225x75mm Std eyelet
- Headset | FSA No. 55/57-1 ZS, Sealed Bearing, Straight 1-1/8”, (ZS 56/28.6 – ZS 56/30)
- Claimed Weight | TBC
- RRP | $3,199 AUD
Torrent DH A1
- Frame | Aluminum Park, 200mm Travel, UDH, Ride Aligned
- Fork | RockShox BoXXer Select D2, 200mm Travel, 52mm Offset
- Shock | RockShox Vivid Air Base, 225x75mm Std eyelet
- Rims | WTB ST Tough TCS 2.0 ,30 mm, 32H, 29″-27.5″ rims
- Hubs | Novatech Sealed Bearing, 20x110mm Boost, 6-Bolt front & Formula DHT-148 4SB, 12x148mm Boost, HG, 32h, 6-bolt rear
- Tyres | Maxxis Assegai, 3C MaxxGrip DH, 29×2.5″, Front & Maxxis Minion DHR II, 3C Maxx Grip DH, 27.5.5×2.4″ Rear
- Drivetrain | SRAM GX DH with SRAM CS PG-720 DH, 11-25T, 7 spd cassette
- Brakes | SRAM Maven Base w/ SRAM G2 200mm rotors
- Bar | RaceFace Chester, 780mm – 20mm Rise (S1,S2), 800mm – 35mm Rise (S3,S4,S5)
- Stem | Race Face Chester Direct Mount, 50mm
- Seatpost | Norco Alloy, 31.6mm, rigid
- Claimed Weight | 17.9kg
- RRP | $5,999 AUD
Norco Torrent DH sizing & geometry
The Torrent DH comes in a fairly wide size range, with five options, which is great to see. It feels like bike parks are full of groms absolutely ripping these days, so the smallest size, accommodating riders around 5ft, will likely be popular with that crowd.
The geometry is size-specific, with each frame featuring unique rear centre lengths ranging from as short as 430mm up to 450mm on the S5.
At 179cm, I found myself between an S3 and an S4. I went back and forth quite a bit when looking at the geo sheet, as I liked the 460mm reach on the S3 but preferred the longer 440mm chainstay found on the S4. In the end, I went with the S4, as I lean more towards a racer than a freerider. I’ll report back soon to see whether that was the right choice.
Complete geo chart below.
What’s next? Time to test
Situated here in BC, Canada, I have some great testing grounds to choose from, including a variety of bike parks as well as excellent local DH tracks. I’ll be hitting a bit of both to see how this stacks up as both a freeride rig and a downhill race bike.
Let me know in the comments on Flow’s socials if there’s anything in particular you’d like me to report back on.
The post First Look | Norco Torrent DH brings old-school simplicity to modern downhill appeared first on Flow Mountain Bike.
“}]]
[[{“value”:”When we first caught wind of a new DH bike from Norco coming to market, we assumed it would be the World Cup race bike the Canadian brand has been developing over the last few seasons. But this is far from that, this new DH rig looks refreshingly simple. A downhill bike for the people,
The post First Look | Norco Torrent DH brings old-school simplicity to modern downhill appeared first on Flow Mountain Bike.”}]] Read More Flow Mountain Bike
#flowmtb #mtb