# Restoring a Beat Up Full Squish For a Lucky Kid - Flip Bike

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrvKdL5hojE
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/KrvKdL5hojE
Generated: 2025-07-15T06:39:31.748+00:00

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## Quick Overview

An old, beat-up 2013 Norco Fluid mountain bike underwent a comprehensive restoration, including frame cleaning, component overhauls, and key upgrades like a dropper post, shorter cranks, and a correctly sized fork, transforming it into a race-ready bike weighing around 30 pounds. This fully restored bike, along with a kit covering race fees, was donated to a deserving student at IC Imagine Public Charter School to enable their participation in NICA mountain bike racing.

**Key Points:**
- A 2013 Norco Fluid mountain bike was fully restored and upgraded to modern standards.
- The restoration included replacing worn bearings, servicing suspension, and cleaning every component.
- Key upgrades involved drilling the frame for an internal dropper post and replacing the oversized fork with a correctly sized 120mm RockShox SID.
- The original 175mm cranks were swapped for shorter 170mm cranks, and new tires replaced the old, damaged ones.
- The completed bike weighs approximately 30 pounds and is optimized for NICA mountain bike racing.
- The restored bike and a kit covering race fees were donated to a student at IC Imagine Public Charter School to enable NICA participation.

**Context:** The video documents the restoration of a 2013 Norco Fluid mountain bike, which had a history of being passed down through owners, including a mountain bike racer and his son. The bike, despite its age and wear, possessed quality components that made it a worthy candidate for a full overhaul. The project's ultimate goal was to provide a fully capable mountain bike and necessary support to a student who might otherwise be unable to participate in NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) mountain bike racing, a program for middle and high school students.

## Detailed Analysis

A 2013 Norco Fluid mountain bike, originally owned by a mountain bike racer and then handed down to his son, underwent a complete restoration. Despite being over a decade old with smaller wheels, no internal dropper routing, and numerous cosmetic scratches, the bike retained good core components like Industry Nine wheels, a Shimano drivetrain, and Fox/RockShox suspension. The restoration began with a full disassembly, revealing water in the bottom bracket and worn linkage bearings, which were subsequently replaced. The rear shock was serviced, and the frame was meticulously cleaned. Key upgrades included drilling a hole in the seat tube for internal dropper post routing, replacing the original 175mm cranks with shorter 170mm ones for better fit, and swapping the oversized 160mm fork for a 120mm RockShox SID to correct the bike's geometry. New tires replaced the old, plugged ones, and the handlebars were updated. After reassembly, including bleeding the brakes and adjusting the derailleur, the bike weighed approximately 30 pounds and was optimized for NICA racing. The restored bike, along with a kit containing a helmet, multi-tool, and $650 for race fees, was donated to IC Imagine Public Charter School, a public charter school with a NICA team, to support a student who otherwise could not afford to participate in the program.

### Initial Assessment

- The 2013 Norco Fluid was a 10-12 year old hand-me-down, outdated with smaller wheels, no internal dropper routing, and a worn, scratched frame
- Despite its age, it featured quality components like Industry Nine wheels, Shimano drivetrain, and Fox/RockShox suspension, with the chain, cassette, and brake pads showing minimal wear.

### Full Disassembly & Cleaning

- The bike was completely stripped down to its individual components, including pedals, chain, derailleur, brakes, handlebars, headset, bottom bracket, and suspension linkage
- Water was found inside the bottom bracket, and all parts were thoroughly cleaned to an 'impossibly clean' state.

### Frame & Suspension Overhaul

- The main pivot bearings were replaced, and the rear shock was serviced to ensure optimal performance
- A hole was drilled in the seat tube to allow for internal routing of a dropper seatpost, a modern mountain bike feature.

### Component Upgrades & Replacements

- The original 175mm cranks were replaced with shorter 170mm cranks for improved fit and pedaling efficiency
- The oversized 160mm fork was swapped for a 120mm RockShox SID, correcting the bike's geometry for racing
- The headset was replaced, and the bright blue handlebars were exchanged for black ones to update the aesthetic.

### Wheel & Drivetrain Refinements

- The old tires, one with a significant plug, were replaced with new Vittoria Mazza and CST BFT tires, ensuring reliability and matching aesthetics
- The cassette and rotors were reinstalled, and the brakes were bled for optimal performance
- The derailleur was reinstalled and adjusted for smooth shifting.

### Final Product & Donation

- The restored Norco Fluid weighed approximately 30 pounds and was equipped with modern features suitable for NICA racing
- The bike, along with a kit including a helmet, multi-tool, and $650 for race fees, was donated to IC Imagine Public Charter School to support a student's participation in the NICA mountain bike program.

![Screenshot at 00:03: A bright green Norco mountain bike leaning against a wooden fence in a snowy setting.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/KrvKdL5hojE/00-00-03.png)
![Screenshot at 00:22: The disassembled bright green Norco bike frame and various components laid out on a brown surface.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/KrvKdL5hojE/00-00-22.png)
![Screenshot at 00:40: A person in black gloves using a tool to remove a bearing from a green bike frame component.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/KrvKdL5hojE/00-00-40.png)
![Screenshot at 01:04: All the disassembled bike parts, including the frame, wheels, and various components, laid out on a table.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/KrvKdL5hojE/00-01-04.png)
![Screenshot at 02:51: The main frame and swingarm of the Norco bike, along with various removed components, are laid out on a table, ready for cleaning.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/KrvKdL5hojE/00-02-51.png)
![Screenshot at 03:17: A person in black gloves uses brushes and water to clean bike components on a wooden deck.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/KrvKdL5hojE/00-03-17.png)
![Screenshot at 04:11: A person uses a drill with a conical bit to enlarge a hole in the green bike frame's seat tube.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/KrvKdL5hojE/00-04-11.png)
![Screenshot at 05:03: The main frame of the Norco bike, with the rear shock and linkage reinstalled, is mounted on a repair stand.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/KrvKdL5hojE/00-05-03.png)
![Screenshot at 06:15: A person holds a black RockShox SID fork, highlighting the '120mm TRAVEL' label.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/KrvKdL5hojE/00-06-15.png)
![Screenshot at 07:08: The partially reassembled Norco bike with the new black RockShox SID fork installed, showing the contrast with the original tan-wall tires.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/KrvKdL5hojE/00-07-08.png)