mindbogger

Right now I am deciding whether I should purchase this bike. Ive been watching many trial movies lately and its inspired me to go out and give this type of riding a try. Ive decided on the Norco Evolve which is a beginners bike.

The question I am asking is whether it can handle a fork with 105-120 mm of travel. I wanna see becasue if I don't really get into trials, I don't wanna sell the bike and lose money. I would rather stick a long travel fork on and use it for street.

Ive added a pic and geometry of the bike. Any help would be apprecitaed.

Thomas

S: Seat tube
TTT: Theoretical top tube length
TT: Top tube length centre to centre
FC: Front centre
WB: Wheelbase
HA: Head tube angle
SA: Seat tube angle
RC: Rear centre
BB: BB height
HT: Head tube length
FF: Fork Length
RWT: Rear Wheel Travel

mindbogger

Pic of bike

Jay_2004

It is possible to run any fork i guess....but i htink the frame was specifically designed around the rigid. I was also interested in trials, but when I thought of it, I think Id have more fun riding tech. urban.

Maelstrom 

I believe it can handle a 4 inch suspension fork. I know Ryan rides a modified version of that bike with a 3 in fork.

lordofthebike

ryan leech frame is not a modified evolve. its the moment! he create that frame im self qith the help of the norco factory! why do you think that before this frame was named "Leech"

Maelstrom 

I don't know. I don't remember a frame called the leech. My mistake.

Yeah the bikes are entirely different in the geometry. Write norco and ask them. Can't believe the price on that frame. Nice and cheap.

d_D

A longer fork will raise the front end, slacken the head angle and lift the BB.
Work out if the geometry will be like with a longer fork and see if you still like it.
I wouldn't go a fork with more than 100mm to keep the bb height resonable but thats really just personal prefference.

mindbogger

Well, Ive just found out that some guy is running a DJ 1 with no problems. Hes said it didn't ride like a trial bike but more of a street bike.

The modified fork he was using was the mx series lowered to 3 inches. I think hes using a Sherman jumper now wiht the 20 mm axel.

mindbogger

odds are you won't be sitting most of the time.

B1105

Yea the evolve can have a suspension fork, but I think at most 100mm? I've been doing trials for about a half a year, and can say that anything more than 80mm will hinder your learning. The evolve is a good street/trials bike, but for learning, it will take quite a bit longer.

I would recomend something like a Zebdi, it had shorter stays which make rear wheel moves a lot easier,and its a little more trialsy.

B1105

Are you actually looking to do trials or more street/trials moves (manuals, 180s...)? Sometimes people confuse the two, but if your looking to do pure trials, I would say go for something a little more trials specific, because even if you don't like trials, there is definitley a market for used trials stuff. I'm sure the evolve is a nice bike, but if you happen to get hooked on UCI style trials, you will soon want a nicer bike, ie-longer wheelbase, shorter stays, more standover clearance etc...

Byron

mindbogger

This is only gonna be a beginners bikes for me. If I actally get a hang of things ill opt for the Planet X Zebdi. I have a 63mm Z2 atom bomb which i will stick on there for trials but if I can't get into the groove, I am gonna turn it into a street bike and stick on my MX comp.

mindbogger

First I am gonna try some pure trials. If that doesn't work out, most liekly ill be riding street with this frame. However, if i do get hooked on pure trials, most likely ill be looking into getting a new frame

Px GHOST!!

B1105

Thats a good idea. If you do happen to get into pure trials in the next month or two, shoot me an email or PM. I'm going over to the Mod world and will have to unload my Zebdi to afford my other bikes. Its a Mk3 and pretty tricked out. (Echo bars/stem, King/Dx32 rear wheel, FSA bb).


Byron