Norco SightvsRocky Mountain Altitude

Comparing the selected builds, the Rocky Mountain Altitude Carbon 70, priced at $5,799, delivers a significantly higher-tier component package than the alloy Norco Sight A3 150 MX, for which price information is not provided. The Altitude C70 boasts a carbon frame, RockShox ZEB Select+ fork with 170mm travel, a Vivid Select+ rear shock, and a SRAM GX Eagle Transmission wireless drivetrain. Its braking is handled by powerful SRAM Maven Bronze 4-piston brakes. Crucially, the Altitude C70 comes with Race Face ARC 30 rims paired with Maxxis Assegai/Minion DHR II tires in EXO+/DD casings, and most notably, includes CushCore Trail inserts front and rear directly from the factory, a significant value add for aggressive riders. In contrast, the Norco Sight A3 150 MX features an aluminum frame with a RockShox Lyrik Base Rush RC 160mm fork and a Deluxe Select+ Air shock. The drivetrain is a Shimano Deore 12-speed system, and braking comes from Shimano Deore MT520 4-piston brakes. Wheels are Stan's Flow D rims, with a mixed-wheel setup (29" front, 27.5" rear), shod with Maxxis Assegai/Minion DHR II EXO+ tires but without factory-installed CushCore. While the Norco A3 represents a solid entry-level alloy build for its category, the Altitude C70's carbon frame, wireless shifting, burlier suspension, and included tire inserts position it clearly above the A3 in terms of stock performance and value for a higher price point. Looking across the broader range of builds, Rocky Mountain's commitment to delivering a "race-ready" bike is evident in its consistent specification of robust tires and CushCore inserts, even on some alloy models. Reviewers widely praise this as saving riders "several hundred dollars in re-fitting your bike to race-mode." While the Race Face AR 30 alloy rims (on builds like the C70) are occasionally noted as being "quite soft" or prone to flat-spotting by aggressive riders, the CushCore helps mitigate this. The DT Swiss 370 hubs found on some Altitude builds, however, are a common point of critique for their "painfully slow engagement," often targeted for an early upgrade. Norco's higher-end carbon Sight builds, like the C1, feature components more directly comparable to the Altitude C70, including Fox Factory suspension and SRAM GX AXS Transmission, showcasing similar value at that premium level. Both brands generally offer well-thought-out component packages that prioritize performance where it counts. However, a notable difference arises in dropper post travel; the Altitude C70 (and other builds) often comes with a 175mm post for a size large, which some taller reviewers find "a bit short." Norco, by comparison, specs up to 230mm posts on its larger Sight frames (S5), which provides much greater clearance and flexibility for a wider range of riders.