prairiepedaler

Revisiting this thread, I'd forgotten about this Norco

Smokinapankake

So I know it’s not a great picture but I’ll be looking at this one tomorrow and was hoping you guys could fill me in on some stuff: I believe it to be 1994-1995-1996 but would like to nail it down. Also can you give me some insight to componentry? I’m sure tires are not original but the blue hubs?








That’s all the pics seller posted; but asking price seems reasonable, especially if it’s a quality steel frame!

Miele Man

Scanned from 3" x 5" photos so are poor quality.

This is my friend's Norco Bush Pilot circa 1985 or so. Images take during a two weeks long cycling trip along logging/mining roads near Matachewan, Ontario, Canada. The bike and the racks performed well for many such tours.



Cheers

T-Mar

Yes, the poor non-drive side photo doesn't help but the the combination of Gripshift and cantilever brakes should put it 1994-1996, as you state. Components during this era were a mix that varied from year to year but you should should get some XT, at least the rear derailleur. The wheels appear to be aftermarket. The frame should be True Temper OS or Tange Prestige, again depending on the exact year, which we should be able to determine, if you purchase the bicycle.

VtwinVince

I had an early '90's Nitro, good quality frame.

Smokinapankake

Bike is home with me; photos forthcoming…

Smokinapankake

So here they are:




XT rear derailleur, STX special edition front, LX crank

Grungy!

Dave’s Bicycles 1711 W. Rose, College Place

Designed and Assembled in Canada

Marzocchi XC51 is flat

Serial number

Balance branded hubs front and rear, 8 speed so at least 1995

Neat cable routing; rear der and rear brake along top tube, front der along down tube, under BB shell

Threadless headset in 1-1/8”, Dia-Compe PC-8 Versa brake levers, SRT-500 grip shift in 8 speed. Pretty sure it’s a 1995…

No tubing decals to be found anywhere.

Smokinapankake

Full S/N from BB shell:



ORS4A T9309 3716

T-Mar

It's a 1994 model, though I don't know who the identity of the manufacturer. The tubeset was an unspecified, oversize, True Temper.

Smokinapankake

Thanks so much, T-Mar! Really appreciate what you do on this forum.
Any thoughts on the wheels? I think they are non original, but they are using Norco branded QR’s, very similar to other labeled aftermarket cheap QR’s of the era (Tranz-X, I’m looking at you!). Araya RM-395 Team XC rims laced up with double butted Wheelsmith spokes and blue anodized nipples. Prolly aftermarket…

Smokinapankake

Interesting detail on the non drive side seatstay:





Nice embossed dropouts

Thanks for looking!

T-Mar

OEM wheels specs were Deore XT hubs with Ritchey Rock rims.

Smokinapankake

Thank you T-Mar. I’m questioning whether or not the fork is original as well. Headset looks a little fishy as the top bearing cup is a Dia-Compe Aheadset, but the bottom bearing cup is Tange Japan. Any help?

T-Mar

The Marzocchi XC-51 fork is Norco spec but unfortunately the headset isn't mentioned.

prairiepedaler

Which Norc have we here? U-brake down below.

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-road-bike/wi...els/1616363024

T-Mar

The photograph is quite fuzzy but it looks like it may be a circa 1989 Norco Bigfoot.

Paul Waque 

A big Saquatch for sale near Toronto
Kijiji Ad
Mid '80's I guess. The handlebars look cut down.


Norco Sasquatch

prairiepedaler

$400. For that. The seller appears to be working in an industrial environment and probably in closed air shop which uses contact cement solvents.

T-Mar

It appears to the be the 1984 model. At least the stem and rear derailleur are not OEM.

prairiepedaler

Ah ok. I haven't gone to see it yet (not on a usually travelled route). He still has it up for $165. I'd offer him significantly less but I already know the answer. I'd rather just hold off until something else comes along. Those low-mount u-brakes aren't for me.

Everton FC

Late to the game here. Here's a genuine "4th line mucker"! 5 speeds. Looks like a late 80s, but components confirm 1993. Would love to see a '93 catalog to confirm! A freebie off Kijiji, here in Alberta. She will be my son's daily commuter to university, once we swap the steel rims for aluminum, replace the bar grips, and get some new tires. You really sit upright, on this one! Very cool ride, gears shift effortlessly, after sitting on the side of a shed, unused, for years. WD-40 is an amazing product!

T-Mar

This bicycle is older than 1993. The 1993 version was an actual ATB, with a triple crankset and cantilever brakes, while this one is configured like the earlier city bike version, with a double crankset, side-pull brakes and dual purpose tyres. Based on the graphics, I'd place it circa 1990 but that year's model had a six speed freewheel, so the presence of 5 sprockets may indicate slightly older than even that. While It's always possible that some of the components have been upgraded, the absence of cantilever studs on the frame indicates it is not 1993 and that the brakes are likely original equipment

The date codes, in conjunction with the frame's serial number, would help determine if the components in question have been replaced. Also, owners rarely replace parts with the exact same model, so photos of these components may also help.

Everton FC

Shimano Singapore componenets. Date code NF - 1989. I thought it was older than a '93. Thing is, nowhere online has a 1989 Norco Cherokee! Must have been very few of these produced in '89. I've changed the title of my post, and signature, accordingly!

T-Mar

A component date code of June 1989 raises the possibility of it actually being a 1990 model. Most manufacturers start building the new models around September and the component manufacturers even earlier than that. That 5 speed freewheel could be a replacement. The frame's serial number may increase our confidence level in a model year.

Everton FC

Might be a '90. Here's a '90 Bigfoot - same paint job.
https://www.mikesbikeswork.com/blog/...-norco-bigfoot

Serial # - 91106700, so should I assume it's a '91?