Norco

Bigfoot VLT 2023

Discontinued✎Full Power · Cross-CountryLegacy · 0.4/10iFreshness 0.4/10
How current the bike is — newer chassis, motor and battery score higher. 10 = brand-new, 0 = legacy.

Fat-tyred hardtail built to float over snow and soft sand

Motor

Shimano EP8 (DU-EP800) · 85Nm · 500W↗

Battery

Shimano 540Wh in-tube

Travel F/R

100mm / —

Wheels

27.5F / 27.5R✎

Frame

Aluminium✎

Weight

—

Price

From $4,999

View the Norco Bigfoot VLT on Norco’s site

Norco Bigfoot VLT 2023

The 2023 Norco Bigfoot VLT was the Canadian brand's electric fat-bike hardtail, built around a butted X6 aluminium frame and Shimano's EP8 drive unit. Norco fitted a removable in-tube battery and let riders pick their range at the configurator, with 540Wh, 720Wh and 900Wh options sold separately from the bike. It came in two builds: the VLT 1 with a Manitou Mastodon Pro EXT 100mm suspension fork and an XT/SLX 12-speed mix, and the cheaper VLT 2 with a rigid 6061 aluminium fork and a Deore drivetrain.This is a genuine off-road machine rather than a beach cruiser. Both builds roll on 27.5 x 4.5in Vee Snow Avalanche studdable tyres on Sun Ringle Mulefut SL rims, with powerful SRAM four-piston brakes (DB8 on the 1, Code R on the 2) and a 203mm front rotor. Reasonably modern hardtail numbers back that up: a 68 degree head angle and 1254mm wheelbase in XL on the VLT 1, dropper posts across the range, and Norco's stated aim of modern MTB handling through treacherous, cold-weather terrain.As a fat eMTB it is firmly an adventure and winter-traction tool rather than a trail-shredder, with the tall fat-bike bottom bracket and limited 100mm of front travel setting expectations. Native bike-only pricing was USD 5,999 for the VLT 1 and USD 4,999 for the VLT 2, with the chosen battery on top, so value is fair for a name-brand fat e-bike.The Bigfoot VLT was discontinued after 2023, so it is now a closeout or used-market proposition.

EMTB Forums verdict

The 2023 Norco Bigfoot VLT was the Canadian brand's electric fat-bike hardtail, built around a butted X6 aluminium frame and Shimano's EP8 drive unit. Norco fitted a removable in-tube battery and let riders pick their range at the configurator, with 540Wh, 720Wh and 900Wh options sold separately from the bike. It came in two builds: the VLT 1 with a Manitou Mastodon Pro EXT 100mm suspension fork and an XT/SLX 12-speed mix, and the cheaper VLT 2 with a rigid 6061 aluminium fork and a Deore drivetrain.

This is a genuine off-road machine rather than a beach cruiser. Both builds roll on 27.5 x 4.5in Vee Snow Avalanche studdable tyres on Sun Ringle Mulefut SL rims, with powerful SRAM four-piston brakes (DB8 on the 1, Code R on the 2) and a 203mm front rotor. Reasonably modern hardtail numbers back that up: a 68 degree head angle and 1254mm wheelbase in XL on the VLT 1, dropper posts across the range, and Norco's stated aim of modern MTB handling through treacherous, cold-weather terrain.

As a fat eMTB it is firmly an adventure and winter-traction tool rather than a trail-shredder, with the tall fat-bike bottom bracket and limited 100mm of front travel setting expectations. Native bike-only pricing was USD 5,999 for the VLT 1 and USD 4,999 for the VLT 2, with the chosen battery on top, so value is fair for a name-brand fat e-bike.

The Bigfoot VLT was discontinued after 2023, so it is now a closeout or used-market proposition.

Geometry read

What the numbers mean on the trail

Computed from this bike's geometry, spec and build kit — reach, wheelbase, chainstay, head and seat angles, travel, motor, weight and the fork/tyre/brake spec — and worked out per size, because a fixed chainstay can make an S and an XL feel very different.

Size

Descending

Steeper 68° and shorter travel — happiest descending smooth, flowy trail rather than properly rough or steep terrain.

Playfulness

A fair bit of pop, but happiest on flowing trail rather than trials moves.

Size balance

Rear-long with a planted front in L (FC:RC 1.65) — easy to weight the front and quick to turn, though it can feel light at the back at real speed.

Technical climbing

Shimano EP8 (DU-EP800) and a steep 76.5° seat angle keep the weight planted over the front — a proper winch. 500W of peak power and 85Nm of torque — a strong full-power motor.

Best suited toAll-round trail riding across mixed terrain.

No single standout trait — a balanced, versatile bike.

Watch out forNot built for serious descending — happier on flow than in the rough and steep.

Fine at trail pace; it'll feel out of its depth on properly rough, steep tracks.

How it stacks up vs other Full Power · Cross-Country bikes (from 130 bikes in the database)

Battery540 Wh146 Wh below average

Motor torque85 Nmabout average torque

Computed from geometry + spec, not a paid review. Scores are guidance, not gospel.

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💬 Forum discussion

2023 Norco Bigfoot VLT

11 replies · 5.3k views · last reply 44 months ago

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“Took delivery of new bike today. First spin was great. Looking forward to more rides in future. So far I recommend.”

— NickJ · ♥ 3 · most-liked post

Geometry · hover a row to highlight the measurement on the bike

	S	M	L	XL
Reach	420 mm	450 mm	480 mm	510 mm
Stack	631 mm	631 mm	640 mm	649 mm
Seattube	385 mm	390 mm	410 mm	460 mm
Chainstay	460 mm	460 mm	460 mm	460 mm
Headtube Angle	68°	68°	68°	68°
Seattube Angle (eff)	75.9°	76.2°	76.5°	76.8°
Wheelbase	1156 mm	1186 mm	1220 mm	1254 mm
Headtube	110 mm	110 mm	120 mm	130 mm
BB Height	321 mm	321 mm	321 mm	321 mm
Standover	677 mm	678 mm	688 mm	726 mm
Front Centre	696 mm*	726 mm*	760 mm*	794 mm*
FC:RC	1.51	1.58	1.65	1.73

Trims · 2

	1 $5,999	2 $4,999
Motor	Shimano EP8 (DU-EP800) · 85 Nm · all trims
Battery	Shimano 540Wh in-tube · 540 Wh · all trims
Travel F/R	100/? mm · all trims
Frame	Butted X6 Aluminum · all trims
Fork	Manitou Mastodon Pro EXT, 100mm Travel	6061 Aluminum (rigid)
Headset	FSA No.55R Tapered	FSA No.55R, Sealed Bearing, Tapered
Stem	6061 Alloy, 50mm Length, 35mm Clamp · all trims
Handlebar	Butted 6061 Alloy, 780mm, 20mm Rise	Butted 6061 Alloy, 760mm, 15mm Rise
Grips	WTB Waffle Lock-On · all trims
Saddle	SDG Bel-Air V3 · all trims
Seatpost	TranzX YSI22PLQ Dropper, 34.9mm, 150mm (S), 170mm (M, L), 200mm (XL) · all trims
Brakes	SRAM DB8, Sintered Pads (front and rear)	SRAM Code R, Organic Pads (front and rear)
Rear derailleur	Shimano XT RD-M8100	Shimano Deore RD-M6100
Crank	Samox Alloy, 32T, 165mm · all trims
Shifters	Shimano SLX SL-M7100-IR	Shimano Deore SL-M6100-R
Cassette	Shimano SLX, 10/51, 12 Speed	Shimano Deore CS-M6100-12, 10/51T, 12 Speed
Chain	Shimano Deore	Shimano Deore CN-M6100
Drivetrain	Shimano XT RD-M8100; Samox Alloy, 32T, 165mm; Shimano SLX SL-M7100-IR; Shimano SLX, 10/51, 12 Speed; Shimano Deore	Shimano Deore RD-M6100; Samox Alloy, 32T, 165mm; Shimano Deore SL-M6100-R; Shimano Deore CS-M6100-12, 10/51T, 12 Speed; Shimano Deore CN-M6100
Wheels	Sun Ringle Mulefut SL V2, 27.5", 32H · all trims
Tyres	Vee Snow Avalanche, TLR, 27.5x4.5", 120 TPI, Studdable (front and rear) · all trims
Price	$5,999	$4,999

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