This is the Norco Sight VLT TQ review, and it honestly surprised us.
After several days riding this lightweight eMTB through steep chunk, slippery roots, jumps, rock rolls, and classic Cumberland BC terrain… we came away thinking this might actually be one of the best lightweight eMTBs we’ve ridden so far.
The balance between:
- planted downhill confidence
- playful handling
- natural-feeling power
- and overall ride quality
is REALLY good. Full build info here.
And honestly… it’s even better than we expected.
Part of the reason this surprised us so much is because we REALLY didn’t like the previous Norco Sight VLT CX we reviewed (review of OLD CX bike here).
That bike felt:
- heavy
- front weighted
- awkward
- and honestly kind of dead underneath us
So when we heard Norco was releasing a lighter weight TQ-powered version of the Sight VLT, we were incredibly curious if this was finally the Norco eMTB we’d been waiting for.
Thankfully… it feels like they nailed it.
Watch Our Full Norco Sight VLT TQ Review
Why We Were Excited About the Norco Sight VLT TQ
At this point we’ve ridden quite a few lightweight eMTBs including:
- Transition Regulator SX
- Propain Sresh SL
- Yeti MTe
- Amflow PL Carbon Pro
…and one thing we keep coming back to is how much we enjoy the TQ motor system.
The TQ setup just feels NATURAL.
Unlike some higher powered eMTBs that can feel:
- loud
- clunky
- disconnected from the trail
- or almost too powerful
…the TQ motor still feels like YOU are riding the bike.
You just suddenly have stronger legs and way more energy.
That’s become really important to us as we’ve continued riding more lightweight eMTBs. We still want the bike to feel playful and connected to the trail — not like a mini dirt bike.
So pairing the TQ motor with the Norco Sight platform immediately had our attention.
Especially because the previous heavier 800Wh Norco platform felt SO front heavy and cumbersome to us.
Honestly, we were hoping this bike would fix that.
And thankfully… it really did.
It Feels Surprisingly Balanced
This was probably the biggest surprise during our review.
The old Norco felt like all the weight lived high up in the front of the bike.
The new Norco Sight VLT TQ feels dramatically more balanced.
Even though this bike still weighs around 45 pounds, it rides much lighter than that number suggests.
Throwing it around corners, pumping through rollers, getting it off the ground, changing direction quickly… none of it felt difficult.
And honestly, that’s pretty impressive for a lightweight enduro-focused eMTB.
Because while some lightweight eMTBs feel playful, they can also start to feel nervous or flexy once trails get rough.
The Norco doesn’t really do that.
It still maintains this calm, planted feeling underneath you when speeds pick up or trails get chunky.
This Lightweight eMTB Leans More Enduro Than Trail
One of the things we noticed really quickly during this Norco Sight VLT TQ review was that the bike feels more capable than a lot of lightweight eMTBs we’ve ridden lately.
The high pivot suspension platform gives the bike a very calm and planted feel in rough terrain.
Charging through chunk, slippery roots, rough braking bumps, and steeper sections… the bike felt really composed.
Emily especially noticed how confident the bike felt holding a line through rough terrain.
At the same time though, it still responds surprisingly well when you want to:
- pump terrain
- pop off trail features
- jump
- or move the bike around underneath you
That balance is HARD to get right.
Usually bikes lean:
- super playful but less composed
OR - incredibly planted but hard to move around
The Norco Sight VLT TQ somehow sits in a really interesting middle ground.
Comparing to Other Lightweight eMTBs
Because we’ve ridden so many lightweight eMTBs recently, it was impossible not to compare this bike against some of the others.
Norco Sight VLT TQ vs Transition Regulator SX
The Transition Regulator SX is still probably one of the most FUN eMTBs we’ve ridden.
That bike feels:
- incredibly playful
- more analog than any other eMTB
- easy to jump
- light underneath you
- and super energetic
The Norco definitely feels more planted and confidence inspiring than the Regulator SX.
The Transition still wins in pure playfulness.
But when trails get steeper, rougher, and faster… the Norco starts to feel more composed and confidence inspiring.
And that Bosch SX motor is so noisy, that it makes me lose my mind.
Honestly, the Norco feels a little more like a heavy enduro bike than a heavy trail bike.
Norco Sight VLT TQ vs Propain Sresh SL
The Propain Sresh SL felt super poppy and playful.
But the back end of that bike also felt noticeably flexier and less composed when really charging through rough terrain.
The Norco feels:
- stiffer
- more supportive
- calmer in chunk
- and more confidence inspiring overall
while still maintaining enough poppy behavior to stay fun.
Full Propain Sresh SL review here
Norco Sight VLT TQ vs Amflow PL Carbon Pro
The Amflow definitely wins on raw power and range.
No debate there that thing is a stallion going up hill.
But the Norco feels dramatically more natural underneath you.
And honestly… quite a bit more confidence inspiring once trails get rough.
The Amflow felt much more trail focused to us, while the Norco feels happier being pushed hard into rough terrain.
*We would love to ride the new Amflow PX Carbon Pro to compare to this Norco.
Full Amflow PL Carbon Pro review here
The Biggest Weakness of the Norco Sight VLT TQ
The brakes.
Without question.
The Shimano Deore brakes on the C2 build just don’t really match the quality of the rest of the bike.
They felt:
- grabby
- inconsistent
- lacking modulation
- and confidence reducing in steep terrain
Honestly, upgrading the brakes would be the VERY first thing we’d do if buying this bike.
Everything else about the bike feels premium.
The brakes just stand out in a bad way.
Who Is the This Norco For?
We think the Norco Sight VLT TQ makes the most sense for riders who:
- want a lightweight eMTB
- ride steep or technical terrain
- still want the bike to feel playful
- value downhill confidence
- and don’t necessarily want maximum motor power
This isn’t the bike for someone who simply wants:
- the biggest battery
- maximum power
- or shuttle-speed climbing
This bike is for riders who still care deeply about ride feel.
And honestly… that’s exactly why we liked it so much.
Final Thoughts on the Norco Sight VLT TQ
After riding the previous Norco Sight VLT CX, we honestly weren’t expecting this.
But the Norco Sight VLT TQ completely changed our opinion of Norco eMTBs.
The combination of:
- TQ motor feel
- balanced weight distribution
- planted suspension
- downhill confidence
- and playful enough handling
makes this one of the most impressive lightweight eMTBs we’ve ridden lately.
In fact… this might now be our favorite lightweight eMTB overall.
And honestly, we didn’t expect to say that.
A Quick Note on Motor/Batter Range
We didn’t do a range test with this bike and the TQ HPR 60 system. We’ve done that in the past on other TQ equipt bikes we’ve reviewed.
But, we are confident that we can get around 20 miles (32km) and 3k feet (915m) of vert on full boost (highest power mode), and I weigh 195 pounds with kit.
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