Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Norco restoration

Search
Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Norco restoration

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-20-26 | 06:15 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 4
From: Alberta

Bikes: Norco '71 & '73

Norco restoration

Just started restoring this Norco bike for my grandson. If anyone has some information for the year and model of this unit, that would be very helpful.
Thanks.

NorcoAddict is offline  
Reply
Old 02-21-26 | 11:19 AM
  #2  
boardwalk's Avatar
Gorilla W/butterfly wings
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 124
Likes: 147
I can't really help much, but can you post pictures of the head badge? I might be able to narrow things down if I saw that. If I had to guess, I'd say this is one of their eastern import bike's and it's from the early mid 70's to mid 80's. I'm more of an expert on the mid 90's Norco's when they really came into their own and made some really nice mtn bikes. But that'd be my guess. You could try the Asian bike serial number database on here and that might narrow things down.

Norco is no longer the same company as back then. Like most bicycle companies nowadays they have new corporate overlord's that didn't keep any of the paperwork from the past. So no luck asking them unfortunately.

That being said, it's a very usable bike that is probably built better than your run of the mill Schwinn from back then and should last a long time and provide tons of smiles with just a little bit of spit and elbow grease.

boardwalk is offline  
Reply
Old 02-22-26 | 03:28 PM
  #3  
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 4
From: Alberta

Bikes: Norco '71 & '73

Thanks for your response. Here's an image of the head badge.
NorcoAddict is offline  
Reply
Old 02-22-26 | 06:45 PM
  #4  
boardwalk's Avatar
Gorilla W/butterfly wings
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 124
Likes: 147
I can't verify a year 100%, but it looks like an old Norco Strawberry that someone changed the seat out on. Looks like they may have been trying to ride on the back of the Strawberry Shortcake cartoon that was popular during the 1980's. So it was probably produced during the time the show was on Saturday morning cartoons. That's my guess. Hope this helps.



Here's one on Craigslist with the same head badge and original saddle.

https://vancouver.craigslist.org/pml...916885698.html
boardwalk is offline  
Reply
Old 02-26-26 | 04:02 PM
  #5  
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 4
From: Alberta

Bikes: Norco '71 & '73

Thanks for your help.
NorcoAddict is offline  
Reply
Old 02-26-26 | 06:13 PM
  #6  
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 4
From: Alberta

Bikes: Norco '71 & '73

The wheels have been re-treaded and cleaned up. But, if someone could point me in the right direction for spokes (16" wheel) that would be great.


NorcoAddict is offline  
Reply
Old 03-03-26 | 02:39 PM
  #7  
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 4
From: Alberta

Bikes: Norco '71 & '73

I was able to save the fender brace. It required some pretty delicate welding with the Mig.
NorcoAddict is offline  
Reply
Old 03-08-26 | 07:22 AM
  #8  
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 4
From: Alberta

Bikes: Norco '71 & '73

After some heavy elbow grease with the steel wool, I decided to paint the fenders instead of re-chroming due to cost restraints. I went with a monotone gray primer just in case my grandson decides a different color is more to his liking.


NorcoAddict is offline  
Reply
Old 03-08-26 | 11:39 AM
  #9  
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 4
From: Alberta

Bikes: Norco '71 & '73

I got the wheels and fenders back on and I think it's coming along great!

NorcoAddict is offline  
Reply
Old 03-08-26 | 02:44 PM
  #10  
noglider's Avatar
aka Tom Reingold
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,115
Likes: 6,327
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

Bravo. It really does look good. I don't think you need new spokes.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog

“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author

Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
noglider is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.