Norco Storm 2 (2027)

The Norco Storm 2 is an aluminium hardtail mountain bike for riders getting into dirt: fire roads, gravel trails and beginner-friendly singletrack.

It has a 100mm SR Suntour coil fork, Shimano CUES 1x9 gearing and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. Unusually for an entry-level hardtail, it also comes with a dropper seatpost. The Small frame rolls on 27.5" wheels, and Medium to XXL on 29".

A 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. For new riders, that's where most of the confidence comes from.

Most bikes at this level have a fixed seatpost, and a dropper is one of the first upgrades riders add later. The Storm 2's X-Fusion Manic has 100mm of drop on the Small and 125mm on Medium to XXL.

Shimano CUES 1x9 gearing

There's one chainring at the front and nine gears at the back, worked by a single shifter.

With no front derailleur, there's less to adjust and less to go wrong, and you never have to think about which chainring you're in.

The 30-tooth chainring and 11-46 cassette give a lowest gear where the back wheel turns slower than the pedals, so you can keep spinning up steep fire-road climbs rather than grinding.

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

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, which matters on longer descents, and they 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.

Suspension and where to ride it

The SR Suntour XCT30 is a coil-spring fork with 100mm of travel. It smooths out roots, rocks and braking bumps, and needs little maintenance beyond keeping the stanchions clean. Unlike an air fork, it can't be tuned to your weight with a shock pump.

That makes the Storm 2 a good match for fire roads, gravel trails and green and easier blue singletrack. It isn't built for jumps, drops or steep technical descents. If that's where your riding is heading, a 130mm trail hardtail like the Norco Charger A2 is the better starting point.

The Storm 2 build

The Storm 2 uses quick-release axles front and rear, and the fork has a straight 1-1/8" steerer.

Quick-release wheels come off without tools, which makes it easy to fit the bike in a car.

The trade-off is that most current mountain bike forks and wheels use thru-axles and tapered steerers, so fork and wheel upgrades are limited on this frame.

Treat the Storm 2 as a bike to ride as it comes, and spend upgrade money where it makes the biggest difference:

• Tyres: it ships with wire-bead 2.25" tyres and inner tubes. Lighter folding tyres with a grippier tread are the most noticeable upgrade.
• Pedals: flat platform pedals are included. Wider pedals with pins give your shoes more grip on rough trails.
• Grips and saddle: the parts you touch. Change them if they don't suit you.

Sizing: which frame size and wheel size

Norco's size guide for the Storm 2 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 an overlap, the smaller size usually feels more nimble and the larger size more stable, and the best way to choose is to ride both..

Norco Storm 2 or Storm 1?

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:

The Norco Storm 1 has 20mm more fork travel, a lockout for smooth roads and climbs, a stiffer thru-axle front end and one extra gear with a slightly lower bottom gear.

Its tapered head tube also means more fork upgrade options later. The Storm 2 does the same job on paths, fire roads and easier trails with simpler, quick-release hardware.

For a lower price, the Norco Storm 3 has 8-speed gearing. Compare more options in our hardtail mountain bikes range.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Norco Storm 2 good for beginners?

Yes. It's built for riders new to mountain biking, with simple 1x9 gearing, hydraulic brakes, a 100mm suspension fork and a dropper post to build confidence on descents.

Does the Norco Storm 2 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 wheels does the Norco Storm 2 have?

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

What size Norco Storm 2 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'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.

Is the Norco Storm 2 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 upgrade the fork on the Norco Storm 2?

Options are limited. The frame takes a fork with a straight 1-1/8" steerer and a quick-release axle, and most current mountain bike forks use tapered steerers and thru-axles.

Does the Norco Storm 2 come with pedals?

Yes. Flat platform pedals are included.

Can I get the Norco Storm 2 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.