Emily and I got our hands on a couple Norco Sight VLT CX C2’s (that’s a mouthful) from Ride Bikes in Issaquah WA, which set us up for a LONG and rowdy day (30+ miles) at the Raging River trail system!!
First Impressions
Our first impressions were that Norco just makes some very solid, high end feeling bikes. There are some intangibles about the Norco build quality that make you feel like you’re on a nicer bike than most brands. I felt the same way when I rode and reviewed the Sight 2024 in Moab.
Next, the bike geo felt really intuitive right off the bat, with the one exception, that we both felt like we were too far over the bars, and that a higher rise bar would have done wonders for the Sight body position (on climbs and descents). A higher rise bar would have put our weight back onto the saddle and pedals more, which would make the weight disappear a bit, take some pressure off the hands, and feel a little more upright on steep descents.
The Weight
At 48 pounds we thought the Sight VLT CX would have felt lighter than it did. When compared to the Transition Regulator CX, it felt much heavier. I think the hefty feeling could have been due to the 800Wh battery that runs up higher in the downtube and slightly throws off the weight distribution of the bike.
I think having a 600Wh option for this bike would be dreamy! Add some higher rise bars, and this bike could be in the running for one of the best eMTB’s of 2025.
Battery Range
We spent our whole day in blue and purple modes, and ended the day with about 20% battery remaining (one red bar).
Body Weight: 195
Distance: 30 miles
Ascent: 6,531ft
Time riding: 5h 45m
We would definitely need to do some more testing to figure out the limits of this battery, but we never felt underpowered, and riding for almost 6 hours up some steep trails was plenty for a good day of riding.
Capability
This bike could handle anything that we threw at it! I hit some 5-6+ foot drops, and rode some quite steep and chunky double black PNW descents, and never felt undergunned.
Pulling this bike for last second jumps make you feel like your arms were going to get dislocated from the sockets, but if you had time to property load the suspension the bike jumped like any other heavy eMTB.
Final Thoughts on Norco Sight VLT CX
Even though having an eMTB that can be ridden for 6 hours is cool, we were TOAST after hefting those bikes down rowdy trails all day. And personally, I would much rather have a lighter, more maneuverable bike with the option to grab a range extender for the 6 hour rides. I don’t think the real issue is the weight of this bike, but that the weight is distributed too high in the downtube.
If you’re looking for an 800Wh eMTB that can charge down some of the rowdiest terrain, and is less than 50 pounds… I think you should consider this bike. It would be better with a 600Wh battery, but if you need the 800…. It’s a good option!
Other Thoughts
We liked the geo feeling of this bike so much that we are seeking out the Norco Fluid 140 to ride. It has the 400Wh/SX Bosch system, weighs 44 pounds, and you can get them for some smoking good deals right now!
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