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Readers’ Rides: Rock and Road Bike Shop debuts Norco Revolver Terminator w/ cleanest Di2 possible

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Rock And Road bike shop Norco Revolver FS Terminator Edition (7)
Photos c. Simone Berger/Rock and Road Bike Shop

One look at the custom touches on this Norco Revolver FS, and it’s clear this isn’t your average build. But it does look familiar. Especially if you’ve caught one of Julian DaSilva’s other works of art that we’ve featured here. Known for some impressive integration of Shimano Di2 drivetrains into his builds, Julian has now partnered up with two friends to open their own store, Rock and Road Bike Shop. Located in Weston, Florida, Julian says they’re two blocks from one of the best trails in the area – and yes, Florida does have some great mountain biking.

To celebrate the opening of the new shop, Julian decided to give a Norco Revolver FS 9.3 the Rock and Road treatment. Calling it the Terminator Edition, the bike has an even more impressive Di2 integration that we’re used to seeing from Julian, plus some exclusive Industry 9/Atomik wheels as well…

Rock And Road bike shop Norco Revolver FS Terminator Edition (6)

Rock And Road bike shop Norco Revolver FS Terminator Edition (1)

We know that Julian likes to hide every bit of the Di2 wiring system as much as possible. But for this build he didn’t want to simply bury the junction box inside the frame. Wanting to preserve the functionality of the junction box for battery indication, adjustment, and charging, he decided to go with something a little more custom. After taking apart an EW90-B 5 port junction box, it was modified with Julian’s own LEDs, buttons, and charging port to fit neatly inside the frame ports on the Norco’s head tube. Everything is neat and tidy and allows every bit of functionality from the system.

This angle also highlights the custom head tube badges that Rock and Road one off bikes will receive with a 1 of 1 designation and the mechanic’s name who built the bike.

Rock And Road bike shop Norco Revolver FS Terminator Edition (5)

Rock And Road bike shop Norco Revolver FS Terminator Edition (8)

The build makes use of the Shimano Pro Tharsis Di2 handlebar and stem which helps hide the wires, but Julian tells us he modified the stem to use a standard starnut. Apparently the non-starnut system has a tendency to come loose, so a starnut was modified so that the wires could pass through and a standard compression plug keeps the headset tight. Additional wiring wizardry was used on the Fox iRD lockout lever to hide the wiring and LED display box. Addional build notes include a full Shimano XTR Di2 M9050 1×11 drivetrain, Stages XTR Power meter, and full Fox iRD suspension.

Rock And Road bike shop Norco Revolver FS Terminator Edition (4)

There is even a set of custom Atomik carbon wheels with Industry 9 hubs and aluminum spokes that will only be available through Rock and Road.

Rock And Road bike shop Norco Revolver FS Terminator Edition (2)

As shown here the build comes out to 23 lbs with pedals, but Julian says with a Step Cast fork and XC wheels it could be as low as 19-20. Want one for yourself? Head over to, or call up Rock and Road Bike Shop!

rockandroadbikeshop.com

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Groghunter
Groghunter
7 years ago

wait, so how is the wiring leaving the stem? In the other Tharsis setups I’ve seen, you still had a wire leaving the stem & heading into the frame, they just tried to hide it well by attaching it to the brake line, like this: http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Shimano-Tharsis-di2-integrated-bar-stem-giger-1.jpg

Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa
7 years ago

I dont know if words can describe how awesome this thing is, these guys pulled out all the stops.

Andrew
Andrew
7 years ago

Wow.

Chefdog
Chefdog
7 years ago

Saw this in progress on NBMA page. Beautiful work.

xxx
xxx
7 years ago

very cool. wonder how much that cost ;P

Allan
Allan
7 years ago

Is this a new, ongoing feature, “Reader’s rides”?

Bill
Bill
7 years ago

Ohh, it’s a special Di2 handlebar. Took me a minute to figure out how he had two free ports with the NDS hydraulic on the other. That’s a really thought out and well executed setup. Spokes are a nice touch to remove the otherwise black/black/black color scheme too.

scissorhands
scissorhands
7 years ago

I believe they drilled a hole in the steerer tube of the fork to route the wires back into the frame.

Groghunter
Groghunter
7 years ago
Reply to  scissorhands

Then how do they avoid cutting the wire when they turn the bars…

Nico
Nico
7 years ago
Reply to  Groghunter

Usually there is space enough between the headtube and steerer tube, that you can route the cable around it. Hole between the stem and steerer, through the star nut, down the steerer tube, another hole out of the steerer tube and into the frame.
At least thats what i would have done (;

scissorhands
scissorhands
7 years ago
Reply to  scissorhands

Ask them ? They did drill the steerer tube. I also wonder about structural integrity by doing so. However, I imagine there is not as much stress in the middle as there is on the ends

Groghunter
Groghunter
7 years ago
Reply to  scissorhands

You say that like you’ve seen it confirmed, where are you seeing that? Another article?

scissorhands
scissorhands
7 years ago
Reply to  scissorhands

He did a similar build on the last bike he submitted. His Niner RKT. You should be able to see a link on the bottom of the page. How else do you think the wires get back into the frame. SUPER Clean build. AWESOME integration…..VERY well thought out…but adding additional holes worries me.

Greg
Greg
7 years ago

Very clean

stiingya
7 years ago

Sweet bike, but that’s not a “readers ride” that’s a “ringers ride???”, industry insider impeller? um IDK… But a business that builds a top end display to showcase their tallent/products isn’t the same thing as a “readers ride”. To me at least… 🙂

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