Marshe13

I have a Norco Nitro that I cannot identify the model year... I bought it at a garage sale for $20 and now I want to convert it to a ssingle speed but I want to learn more about the bike before I get into it.

Let me know if you recognize it: see attached picture "nitro.jpg"

peak28

personally id spend maybe 150 on it a nd make it a around town cruiser, put some new tires on it and get maybe a new front fork like a judy from rock shox, i would convert it to somthing to take on xc or any type of harsh trail riding, it just seems to me that the back end is weak, only from the picture i get this feeling, but for 20$ you cant beat that.

peak28

I would"nt convert it to somthing to take on harsh trails

Marshe13

Do you know anything about this model? It rides pretty good but needs a new BB and the cassette is shot. I'm thinking of putting an A2Z singles speed kit on the back hub, removing the der's and trimming it down. It's really lite and stronger than it looks - it's a steel frame. Shocks are RS Indy. LX hubs on Sun rims.

I'm really hoping to find out the year so I can download a manual.

cyclingshane73

That looks like it could be a good SS project to put together. The frames tubes are skinny because its steel not aluminum. Nothing wrong with that. Norco makes a pretty decent bike all round. Do you know how the old the frame is? I wouldn't go crazy and sink a ton of money into it.

If you wanted to go super hardcore, find a rigid fork for suspension bikes and slap it on there instead of getting a squish fork. I'm not too familiar with the A2Z SS kit. Have you considered using the ENO hub by White Industries. I know of one guy personally who rides one and loves it. That all depends on how much you're willing to sink into the frame.

One of the fun things about building up an SS is trying to do it on the cheap in a way. But like anything else you can get really silly with the cost.

The LT

what are the rear dropouts? horizontal or vertical? if they are vertical you have three choices to ensure proper chain tension:

1. go with a specific gear ratio that will work with the chain stay length
more info here-->https://fixin.eehouse.org/

2. use a white industries eno hub-expensive but well worth it from what I've heard

3. use a chain tensioner(surly singleator is what I have used-works well) or you can rig the current deraileur to function as a tensioner

wethepeople

Are those hydro rim brakes?

TwinCam

My, my I believe they are! Hydro Maguras, I think.

That bike sis so hot. I can't believe you got that for 20 bucks. I'd fix taht bb and cassette and ride it as is.

And I'd do it on some "harsh trails".

scrublover

you're joking, right? a steel frame norco nitro? it can take some fairly decent abuse. sure, it's no hucking freeride machine, but if the rider is capable, that bike can handle quite a lot.

gosh! it only has an old fork, and no rear shock! it can't stand up to any abuse!

Flak

I wonder if all the people that think only burly oversized tube bikes can take a beating are new to the sport in the last few years? Or do they just forget that a quality steel frame is tough as nails?

wethepeople

Ya, I've beat the hell out of old Nishiki mountian bikes. They just dont die.

I still dont see why people think that because it's old it isnt capable of getting beaten.

Edit: For $20 it's a steal, the brake pads are worth that if those are Magura's. And you need a new chain.

F1_Fan

LOL. it's a Norco... it'll take a serious pounding without issue.

The OP should ride it like he stole it because for $20 he *did* steal it!!

wethepeople

A Norco will only take serious pounding if it's a old Norco .

TwinCam

I blame it on Mountain Bike Action and the like.

Constantly they say taht if you are doing any real off road riding you're going to need an fs. And every year you need more travel. This month's (or was it last month?) was a "buyers guide". One beg re-iteration of all the bike ads you flip past to begin with. They repeat over and over that hardtail cross country bikes are oh so fragile and wont survive anything but smooth hardpack. Then they beat you over the head 6 or seven times saying that what you ("99% of riders") really need is a "trailbike" with five or six inches of front and rear travel. Anything less will beat you up and mountain biking will be miserable and no fun.

It's total, utter, garbage.

Flak

Well im going to be buying an XC rig, and although im not going to be jumping it much, ill be abusing it as best i can.

We'll see if it stands up to it, or if somewhere along the line, hardtail frames became nothing but junk.