Originally Posted by
uncleyimmy
Thanks T-Mar. An '88 is still pretty shocking....I just got it for almost nothing, seems to have all original mechanicals, and really rides nice.
I thought I read on your original post serial code criteria that Norco only made these bikes in Canada up to 1987.....?
(There is a sticker on the chain stay "Designed by NORCO")
And I mistakenly thought the term for the weird under-the-frame positioned rear brakes was "U-brakes"..what is the term for this set-up?
If you look back and check the original post you'll see a asterisk behind the date range. The asterisk refers you to a disclaimer at the bottom of the section, stating "
Serial number format may extend beyond the stated end date but there are no reported examples, to date." Basically, it's an evolving document, that I'm periodically amending as more data is collected.
The brakes mounted under the chain stays are generically referred to a 'chain stay mounted brakes'. There are two styles that were typically used used in this location. One is the Roller-Cam and the other is the U-brake. Both are variations on the traditional centre-pull brake but were designed specifically for off-road use. The latter was introduced just around the time that chain stay mounting was being popular but the Roller-Cam precedes it and was not specifically designed for chain stay mounting, though it worked well in that application. There are several cases where manufacturers used both in a traditional seat stay location and even on the front fork.