When Niches Collide: Norco Launches The Bigfoot VLT – A Big, Fat e-MTB

Canadian brand, Norco Bicycles, has just announced a brand new 2019 mountain bike called the Bigfoot VLT.

Building off the existing Bigfoot platform – a properly rotund all-terrain fat bike with 26×4.8in monster truck tyres – the Bigfoot VLT takes a similar approach, but throws a powerful Shimano STEPS motor and battery inside the downtube.

For anyone who’s ridden a proper fat bike on proper snow (spoiler alert: it’s really hard), you’ll be able to appreciate exactly what that means for the go-anywhere abilities of a fatty like this one.

The Bigfoot VLT is based around a hydroformed 6061-T6 alloy frame, and is equipped with clean internal cable routing, thru-axles front and rear, and components optimised for sub-zero riding temperatures. The VLT 1 comes with a 100mm travel Manitou Mastodon Pro fork, and both models are spec’d with DOT-fluid SRAM Guide T disc brakes, and a dropper post that Norco says will work in cold wintery conditions (not all droppers work so well in those temps). Here are the fundamentals;

Norco Bigfoot VLT Features

• All-terrain, fat tyre e-MTB
• Hydroformed 6061-T6 alloy frame
• Shimano STEPS E8000/E7000 motor w/integrated downtube battery
• 26×4.8in fat bike tyres
• Designed for 100mm travel forks
• 68° head angle
• 75° seat angle
• 455mm chainstay length
• Reach: 410mm (S), 440mm (M), 470mm (L), 500mm (XL)
• 150x15mm front & 197x12mm rear thru-axles
• Integrated kickstand
• Cold-weather optimised suspension fork, dropper post and DOT-fluid disc brakes

There will be two Bigfoot VLT models for 2019, and they’ll both feature the same frame. The VLT 2 however, will come with a rigid fork and a slightly less powerful Shimano STEPS E7000 motor and a smaller 500Wh battery pack.

With a 68° head angle, generous reach measurements (up to 500mm!), and a hefty 60mm BB drop, the Bigfoot VLT is pretty contemporary when it comes to fat bike geometry. All sizes feature wide riser bars and a 50mm long stem, and both spec levels will come with a dropper post, 4-piston brakes, and big 200mm brake rotors front & rear to ensure the Bigfoot VLT can let it all hang loose on the descents.

For accessing those descents in the first place, the Bigfoot VLT is equipped with a 455mm rear centre length and a steep 75° seat angle to facilitate an efficient climbing position. Factor in the extra power from the Shimano STEPS motor, and climbing on snow is likely to be a lot less awful on the Bigfoot VLT.

The higher spec Bigfoot VLT 1 comes with a Manitou Mastodon Pro fork.

2019 Norco Bigfoot VLT 1 Features

• Frame // 6061-T6 Hydroformed Alloy
• Motor // Shimano STEPS E8000 w/630Wh Battery
• Fork // Manitou Mastodon Pro, 100mm Travel
• Wheels // SUN Mulefüt 80SL Rims, 74mm Internal Width, & Sealed Bearing Thru-Axle Hubs
• Tyres // Maxxis Minion FBF EXO/TR 4.8in Front & Rear
• Drivetrain // SRAM NX Eagle 1×12 w/Samox 165mm Cranks
• Brakes // SRAM Guide T, 200mm Rotors Front & Rear
• RRP // $6,499 AUD, $5,699 CAD

2019 Norco Bigfoot VLT 2 Features

• Frame // 6061-T6 Hydroformed Alloy
• Motor // Shimano STEPS E7000 w/500Wh Battery
• Fork // Norco 6061-T6 Alloy Rigid Fat Bike Fork
• Wheels // Aluminum, 80mm Wide, 32h & Sealed Bearing Thru-Axle Hubs
• Tyres // Schwalbe Jumbo Jim, Performance 4.8in Front & Rear
• Drivetrain // SRAM NX Eagle 1×11 w/Samox 165mm Cranks
• Brakes // SRAM Guide T, 200mm Rotors Front & Rear
• RRP // $4,999 AUD, $4,199 CAD

So a fat e-MTB; is that a creation that you’d prefer didn’t exist? Or is this welcome news to the fat bikers out there who want to cover more ground per ride?

Tell us your thoughts on the Norco Bigfoot VLT in the comments section below!

And if you wanna know more about this snow-plough, head to the Bigfoot VLT landing page here.