BIKER'S EDGE

Norco Sight VLT Review – high pivots usually mean plush, not playful — this one breaks that rule. The 2025 Norco Sight VLT CX C2 has 150mm of high-pivot travel, a Bosch Performance Line CX drive unit, and handling that makes full-power eMTBs feel fun again. Over most of a season riding this bike, I’ve learned two main things: high-pivot suspension can be magic, and one component holds this thing back from being the undisputed top dog.

What You Should Know About the Norco Sight VLT CX

The 2025 Norco Sight VLT CX C2 is an all-mountain eMTB built around a 150mm rear / 160mm front travel platform, powered by the Bosch Performance Line CX drive system and an 800Wh PowerTube battery. Norco’s new VPS-HP suspension layout moves to a high-pivot configuration with an idler pulley, giving the rear wheel a rearward axle path designed to improve traction and control on rough terrain.

This version of the Sight uses Norco’s aluminum VPS-HP frame and is only available in a mixed-wheel setup (29” front, 27.5” rear). Geometry is size-specific, and Norco uses a numbered sizing system rather than traditional small-medium-large naming. I rode a Size 4 — roughly equivalent to a modern XL.

Norco Sight VLT : Ride Review

Drive Unit: +1

Bosch CX is still the benchmark.

We’re beating a dead horse here. The Bosch Performance Line CX motor remains the gold standard for full-power eMTB drive units. It’s powerful, predictable, and consistent no matter the terrain. Torque delivery is immediate yet controlled, making steep, loose climbs feel effortless. At 100 Nm now, it has all the oomph you’ll ever need, and it dishes it out with a smooth, natural feel that still tops the category.

800 Wh battery delivers—but limits flexibility.

The range on the Sight VLT CX is excellent. You can rack up big days without worrying about battery anxiety. The drawback is weight and balance. Norco only ships the Sight VLT with an 800 Wh pack, and there’s no smaller, lighter option from the factory. A 600 Wh battery would drop a noticeable amount of front-end mass and make the bike feel even livelier. Of course, you’d lose range.

Interface and integration are clean

The latest Bosch Smart System setup looks tidy, with compact handlebar controls and a clear, modern display. Worth noting: the Sight VLT runs a Gen 5 Bosch motor, but doesn’t have the integrated Kiox 400c screen yet.

Climbing Performance: +1

Calm and collected under pressure

The Norco Sight VLT geometry strikes a great balance for technical climbing. The steep 77.7° seat tube angle keeps your hips centered over the bottom bracket, while the long rear center helps maintain traction even on punchy, loose pitches. It’s one of those bikes you can just sit and spin on — no wandering front wheel, no need to muscle it around switchbacks. Just stay seated, get in a good gear, and don’t stop spinning those pedals.

Excellent traction and control

The Sight’s high-pivot eMTB suspension keeps the rear wheel glued to the ground. Even in loose or chunky terrain, the back wheel keeps digging into the dirt. The suspension stays active under pedaling forces, so the tire maintains traction instead of skipping around.

Downhill Capability: +2

Stable, confident, and ready for speed

For a 150 mm bike, the Sight VLT CX feels impressively stout when the trail gets rough. It rides with the stability and confidence of a much bigger bike — think 160–170 mm travel category. It rarely feels out of place and is always up to the task.

Rear suspension outpaces the fork

The high-pivot rear end tracks beautifully through all sizes of bumps — chatter, braking bumps, and deep compressions. It stays glued when you want traction, but still pops when you push against it. The limiting factor here isn’t the rear suspension — it’s the fork. The Lyrik just can’t quite match the rear’s ability. It’s noticeably outgunned. A 38 mm chassis fork would bring this bike’s downhill capability up a full notch. In fact, I ended up using the Sight as my test rig for the new Fox Podium — a match made in heaven. I couldn’t give the bike a +2 with the Lyrik, but it would get a +2 with the Podium, 38, or Zeb.

Controlled and confidence-inspiring overall

Even with the fork, the Sight feels predictable and calm in the rough. The geometry and weight distribution keep it planted, stable, and confident. The rear suspension supports the aggressive geometry and allows you to get after it.

Suspension Performance: +2

High-pivot design done right

Norco’s VPS-HP suspension platform delivers one of the most balanced and refined suspension feels I’ve tested on a full-power eMTB. The wheel’s rearward axle path helps it get out of the way of square-edge hits and chunky terrain, while the kinematics keep the platform firm enough without feeling harsh. I’d have to give it the unicorn-suspension award right now. No notes.

Composed through the chatter and the chaos

Small-bump compliance is what you’d hope for — zero harshness through roots and trail chatter — and when the hits get bigger, the rear end stays just as calm and composed. You can push hard into compressions, preload for jumps, and still have plenty of travel left when things get particularly rough. It never feels wallowy or vague, which is rare for a high-pivot eMTB.

The star of the show

If there’s one standout trait of the Sight’s suspension this is it. It’s planted and glued to the ground without feeling dull or cumbersome. It’s supportive when you want it, supple when you’re descending, and consistently predictable.

Handling: +2

Surprisingly agile for a full-power eMTB

If we’re being totally transparent here, I’m not sure if size 4 is a large or an extra-large. It looks quite a bit like an XL when it comes to reach and stack, but maybe has a slightly shorter wheelbase than most XLs in the category. A lot of my handling assessment might come down to that. Either way, I’m on the size that fits me best, and I don’t feel like it’s too short at all, given how well it performs at speed and in the rough. Now back to handling — the Norco Sight VLT is one of the best in the category. It’s easy to get it leaned over in the corners, and the MX rear end whips right through. Despite the 800 Wh battery and long wheelbase, it never feels sluggish or top-heavy. It’s quick, snappy, and playful.

Playful and stable

The suspension platform hits the nail on the head — poppy enough to get airborne and unweight easily without ever feeling squirrely or rough. I have a hard time believing this is a high pivot when it comes to getting airborne.

The Defining Moment

The moment that defined this bike for me was on a wide with steep, technical slabs. The Sight had the precision handling to line up each move and pick its way through without feeling twitchy or nervous. What stood out, though, was how composed it stayed once the terrain opened up — handling speed, compressions, and G-outs with the same calm, balanced demeanor. It felt very capable without ever feeling heavy-handed.

A lighter battery could be even better

If Norco offered a smaller 600 Wh option, handling could be even sharper. The current setup is surprisingly mild-mannered considering the weight, but ditching a few pounds from the downtube would make it feel livelier and even easier to get along with. Even so, the Sight VLT handles better than most bikes in its class, even those with smaller batteries — stable, precise, and far more agile than you’d expect for a high-pivot full-power eMTB.

Versatility: -1

Limited flexibility

The Sight VLT CX is clearly designed with a single mission in mind — aggressive trail and all-mountain riding. While it absolutely nails that task, Norco doesn’t leave much room for adjusting or tweaking. There’s no flip chip, no adjustable geometry, and no alternative wheel configurations. It’s a one-mode machine.

800Wh or bust

Lack of battery options limits range flexibility. The 800 Wh battery provides great range, but without the lighter 600 Wh option, riders don’t have as many choices as other Bosch CX eMTBs in the category. Not that I feel like the handling was bad, but knowing it could be even better leaves me wondering.

Intangibles: -1

Charger port cover is gross

The charging port door is damn near impossible to open unless your nickname in high school was Gorilla Fingers. It’s rather unpleasant when it comes time to charge the bike. The rest of the Sight VLT CX feels very refined, so this is a bit weird for me — almost like they phoned it in on the door.

The wrong fork

The fork spec limits what this bike can do. A 38 mm stanchion fork of any kind would have completed the package. Every other full-power 150 mm eMTB I’ve ridden this year has had a 38 mm chassis.

The Stop Ride

You thought we were going to brush this one under the rug? Nah. Earlier this year, Norco announced a stop-ride on the Sight VLT for a safety issue involving the rear brake mount. It took a bit of time, but we were told we could get back to riding after swapping out our seatstays with a new part Norco sent out. As far as I’m aware, all customer bikes have been accounted for, and a stay has been sent. If you own a new Sight and this is the first you’re hearing of this, reach out to your shop and get it taken care of.

Norco painted the safe stays a different color, so there’s no confusion about which ones are safe to ride and which ones aren’t. All replacement stays will be raw carbon with a matte or gloss finish. They won’t be color-matched to your bike like the unsafe one.

Norco Sight VLT: Comparisons

When it comes to full-power trail eMTBs, there’s no shortage of competition. To put the Norco Sight VLT CX in context, I compared it directly against two bikes that target the same rider but approach the problem differently: the Santa Cruz Vala and the Transition Regulator CX. Each one highlights where the Sight shines—and where it still leaves a little on the table.

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Who is the Norco Sight VLT for?

The big-mountain rider

If your rides lean steep, rough, and long, the Norco Sight VLT CX is exactly what you’re looking for. It thrives on high-speed descents, chunky terrain, and technical climbs that demand traction and control. The Bosch CX drive system and 800 Wh battery give it the range for full-day missions without feeling cumbersome.

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The set-it-and-send-it rider

This bike suits riders who want something that just works — no geo flip chips, no battery swaps, no constant tinkering. Dial in your cockpit once, and the Sight feels dialed every ride. It’s a straightforward, full-power all-mountain eMTB built for reliability and performance, not experimentation.

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Who it’s not for

If you prefer tweaking and fiddling or want to fine-tune geometry and battery options, maybe look elsewhere. The Sight VLT is not a modular trail toy.

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