| Model: |
Norco Bigfoot |
| Category: |
All Mountain Hardtail |
| Suspension: |
5 inches front; 0 inches rear |
| Ideal for: |
In the hands of a talented rider, the Bigfoot can go anywhere on Galbraith. It is everything that the category name implies, an "All Mountain Hardtail." |
| Over all performance: |
When you look at the Bigfoot, you can tell from the stout front triangle and diagonally welded chainstays in the rear that this bike can absorb punishment, but it isn't immediately apparent until you try it on the trail how NIMBLE it is, and how well it climbs for a 30-plus pound bike. |
| Front end: |
The Bigfoot comes stock with a pretty basic Mazochhi Dirt Jam Comp five inch travel fork. This coil MCU fork gets the job done, but has very little adjustment. The model we tested was very stiff, probably to deal with big hits, but lighter riders (or riders who aren't going to huck it) may want a lighter spring. |
| Rear end: |
The hard tail rear end on the Bigfoot offers a pleasant suprise for riders who haven't ridden a hard tail in a while (or ever). Hard tails rock! Seriously, this bike puts the power down with authority and as long as you're willing to let your legs do the rear shock absorbtion (ya gotta get out of the saddle a lot more in the rough), it will handle just about anything. And it won't need the constant servicing that the rear ends of full suspension bikes need. |
| Brakes: |
The Bigfoot comes stock with excellent Hayes HFX-9 hydraulic disc brakes and 8-inch rotars. |
| (The devil is in the) Details: |
Bike comapnies used to try to increase the saleability of their bikes by throwing an XT or XTR rear derailleur on bikes with less expensive components everywhere else. Well, now bike companies do the same thing by throwing hydraulic disc brakes with 8 inch rotars on their bikes. But everything is a trade-off at the price point (in this case, circa $800 US), and the trade-off on the Bigfoot is that the shifters are low end Shimano Deore and Alivio units. |
| Durability: |
Just about every hardtail is more durabable than just about every full suspension bike, and the Bigfoot is no exception. |
| Geometry and sizing: |
The Bigfoots's head tube angle is a XC sweet 70 degrees, it's bottom bracket a highish13 inches, and the top tube a shortish 21.5 inches, producing a bike that is quite quick for its weight, yet tall enough so that you don't hit your peddles on rocks and roots. Nice. |
| Weight: |
32 pounds as pictured. |
| Video: |
Check out this video of the Bigfoot in action on Shawn's Trail. |
| Reviewed: |
February 2005 |
