Norco Storm 1 (2027)

The Norco Storm 1 is an aluminium hardtail mountain bike for fire roads, gravel trails and beginner to intermediate singletrack.

It has a 120mm SR Suntour fork with lockout on a 15mm thru-axle, Shimano CUES 1x10 gearing, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and an X-Fusion dropper seatpost.

The Small frame rolls on 27.5" wheels, and Medium to XXL on 29".

A stronger front end: 120mm, lockout and thru-axle

The Storm 1's SR Suntour XCM32 LO fork has 120mm of travel, 20mm more than the Storm 2, so it takes more of the hit from roots, rocks and braking bumps.

A lockout on the fork crown firms it up for smooth roads and long climbs, so less of your effort goes into bobbing the suspension. Unlock it again before the trail gets rough.

The front wheel is held by a 15mm thru-axle instead of a quick release.

A thru-axle clamps the wheel into the fork more securely and makes the front end stiffer, so the bike steers more precisely when you brake hard or turn on loose ground.

Room to upgrade the fork later

The frame has a tapered head tube, the standard on current mountain bike forks.

That keeps a fork upgrade open if your riding moves on.Entry-level hardtails with a straight 1-1/8" head tube have far fewer fork options.

The rear wheel still uses a 10 x 135mm quick release, so rear wheel upgrades are more limited than at the front.

Shimano CUES 1x10 gearing

One chainring at the front, ten gears at the back and a single shifter.

With no front derailleur, there's less to adjust and less to go wrong.

The 30-tooth chainring and 11-48 cassette give a low climbing gear where the back wheel turns slower than the pedals, so you can keep spinning up steep fire-road climbs.

Shimano designed CUES for durability, and the LinkGlide cassette is built to shift smoothly under load.

Dropper post as standard

A dropper post lets you lower the saddle with a lever on the handlebar while you ride, then raise it again for pedalling.

With the saddle out of the way, you can shift your weight back on descents and move the bike underneath you over rough ground.

Most bikes at this level have a fixed seatpost. The Storm 1's X-Fusion Manic has 100mm of drop on the Small and 125mm on Medium to XXL.

Hydraulic disc brakes

The Shimano MT200 hydraulic brakes use 160mm rotors front and rear.

Hydraulic brakes need less effort at the lever than cable discs and adjust themselves as the pads wear.

They come with resin pads, which are quiet and bite well but wear faster in wet, gritty conditions. The Shimano SM-RT26 rotors are rated for resin pads only, so stick with resin pads when you replace them.

Where to ride it

The Storm 1 suits fire roads, gravel trails and green and blue singletrack.

The extra travel and stiffer front end make it more composed than the Storm 2 when the trail gets rougher, but it's still not built for jumps, drops or steep technical descents.

For that kind of riding, a 130mm trail hardtail like the Norco Charger A2 is the better fit.

It ships with wire-bead 2.25" tyres and inner tubes. Lighter folding tyres with a grippier tread are the most noticeable first upgrade. Flat platform pedals are included.

Sizing: which frame size and wheel size

Norco's size guide for the Storm 1 recommends these frame sizes by rider height:

The Small has 27.5" wheels, which keeps the bike in proportion for shorter riders and lowers the standover height. Medium to XXL use 29" wheels, which roll over roots and rocks more easily and hold their speed.

The size ranges overlap by a centimetre or two.

If you're in between sizes, the smaller size usually feels more nimble and the larger size more stable, and the best way to choose is to ride both. Test rides are available at all three of our stores.

Norco Storm 1 or Storm 2?

The two bikes share the same brakes, dropper post, cockpit, cranks and wheel sizes. The differences are at the front of the bike and in the gearing:

Choose the Storm 1 for the extra travel, the lockout, the stiffer front end and the option to upgrade the fork later.

The Norco Storm 2 covers paths, fire roads and easier trails with simpler, quick-release hardware. Compare more options in our hardtail mountain bikes range.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Norco Storm 1 good for beginners?

Yes. It's built for riders new to mountain biking, with simple 1x10 gearing, hydraulic brakes and a dropper post. The 120mm fork and thru-axle front end also give it room to grow as your riding improves.

What's the difference between the Norco Storm 1 and Storm 2?

The Storm 1 has a 120mm fork with lockout, a 15mm thru-axle front wheel, a tapered head tube and Shimano CUES 1x10 gearing with an 11-48 cassette. The Storm 2 has a 100mm fork, quick-release axles, a straight head tube and CUES 1x9 with an 11-46 cassette. Brakes, dropper post and wheel sizes are the same.

Does the Norco Storm 1 have a fork lockout?

Yes. The SR Suntour XCM32 LO fork has a lockout, which firms the suspension up for smooth roads and climbing.

Does the Norco Storm 1 have a dropper post?

Yes. It has an X-Fusion Manic dropper with 100mm of travel on the Small and 125mm on Medium to XXL.

What size Norco Storm 1 do I need?

Norco recommends Small for riders 155 to 165cm, Medium for 164 to 174cm, Large for 173 to 183cm, XL for 181 to 191cm and XXL for 190 to 200cm.

What size wheels does the Norco Storm 1 have?

The Small has 27.5" wheels. Medium, Large, XL and XXL have 29" wheels. All sizes use 2.25" tyres.

Can I upgrade the fork on the Norco Storm 1?

Yes. The frame has a tapered head tube, which most current mountain bike forks use, so there are plenty of upgrade options.

Is the Norco Storm 1 tubeless ready?

No. It comes set up with inner tubes and wire-bead tyres, which aren't designed for tubeless use.

Can I use metallic brake pads?

No. The Shimano SM-RT26 rotors are rated for resin pads only. Using metallic pads will wear the rotors quickly.

Can I get the Norco Storm 1 delivered?

No. Norco bikes are available through Click & Collect or in store only. Click & Collect is free, and every bike includes a free first service within 6 months.