Nicolai Announces New Ultra-Adjustable G1 Enduro Bike

Dec 13, 2018
by Richard Cunningham  
Nicolai G1 2019

PRESS RELEASE: Nicolai


Announcing the Nicolai G1

After one year of work and many tests and optimization, we are very proud to present our new Enduro Bike named G1. The completely new designed frame is modular and can be mounted with 27,5 or 29 inch wheels. The adjustment is done by the headset and different screw-in elements, which we call "Mutators." The round tubes, made of high-strength 7020 aluminium, underline the purist appearance. The thicker down, tube paired with a lower top tube, provide an aggressive look and more legroom. Today we achieve more safety, traction and speed in all situations thanks to the GEOMETRON geometry. With the new EXT damper, the suspension reaches a new dimension.

Nicolai G1 frame

Nicolai G1 Information:

Geometry Links:
Version 29 inch wheels - G1-29
Version 27.5 inch wheels - G1-27

Prices:
• Frame without shock 2699.00 Euro
• Extra charge, EXT shock + 950.00 Euro
• Extra charge, FOX shock + 799.00 Euro
• Complete bikes from 5999.00 Euro

To order or for questions: Nicolai


All in all, the G1 has unrivaled and incomparably good riding performance. The reason lies in the sum of all the 'big' small details, which we would now like to explain further:


EXT Shock

The new Nicolai G1 and its suspension is the result of co-operation between the manufacturer NICOLAI and two other European specialists, EXTREME Racing Shox and GeoMetron bikes…

Italian company EXT are known worldwide in professional racing and motorsports for their high performance suspension (www.extremeshox.com) and our friend and partner Chris Porter (www.geometronbikes.co.uk) is recognised for creating and being at the forefront of the current trends in geometry and kinematics. Behind locked doors, these two companies have worked together for over a year to produce a completely bespoke shock absorber and suspension system for the new Nicolai G1. We think that if you want to own the best mtb enduro suspension in the world, you should be buying this new bike - the result of our unique collaboration.

Thanks to the increased length versus travel (230x65) in the new metric standard shock there is room for several new technologies which help to give the softest of initial touch (small-bump sensitivity), a dynamic ride feel, and an unparalleled feedback when the bike is loaded hard.

Spherical bearings in the shock eyelets (seen in all other performance off-road suspension applications) have improved the bump feel and grip in all situations because of the reduced side loading on the shock. A negative spring and a hydraulic top out system, not only enables that all-important soft, initial touch, but also allows the rebound to be as dynamic as the rider wants or needs it to be. A hydraulic bottom out system absorbs some of the excess energy normally transferred back to the bike and rider at the limit of their capabilities.


Nicolai G1

With carefully thought out leverage ratios and damping rates, we can accommodate riders of all weights without compromise. A medium sized rider (85kgs) on a medium G1 will be using a 375-425 spring (depending on configuration), while an XXL rider of 125kgs will be between 550 and 600lbs.


Geometron Geometry

“We don’t care about trends! All that matters is lap times, driving pleasure, safety, and the physical facts.” This quote is our approach to the development of new mountain bikes. This mission statement has made us one of the most innovative bicycle companies in terms of chassis performance, steering dynamics and geometry.

GEOMETRON is the geometry concept on which all current Nicolai models are based. In the last 4 years GEOLUTION was developed by Chris Porter and NICOLAI The concept is based on the realization that a longer wheelbase, a flatter steering angle and a steeper seat angle make the bike faster, smoother, more climbing and safer. The geometric relationship between wheels, steering angle, and weight distribution between wheels are the decisive factors for good handling. The relationship between saddle, crank and rear wheel axle are the decisive factors for a good climbing behavior of a bike. The GEOMETRON concept combines perfect handling with optimum climbing behavior. The rider is integrated into the bike through the long reach, the steep seat angle and the long wheelbase, so that the center of gravity lies optimally between front and rear wheel axle.

All GEOMETRON models are driven with short stems, so that the driver has a relaxed, sporty sitting position despite the long top tube. The very complex topic can be simplified down to 4 advantages which offers both professionals and beginners a clear added value:

• Best climbing ability (front does not rise)
• No feeling of rollover downhill
• The rider sits and stands integrated in the wheel (more control)
• Higher cornering speed (more grip on the front wheel)

These advantages are clearly noticeable not only for the professional, but also for the beginner. We build bikes because we want to ride them the same way.


Nicolai G1
A flip chip at the rear shock mount alters wheel travel from 162mm to 175mm. The black "Pressure Strut Mutator" fittings are available in different lengths to compensate for wheel diameters, or change its BB height and geometry.


Pressure Strut Mutator

We can fine-tune the bottom bracket height and the steering head angle with the help of the so-called compression-strut-Mutator. The Mutators are available in lengths of 3.5, 6.5, 10, 12 and 15mm. This new technology enables us to realize different strut lengths. The added value for the customer is explained as follows:

Different wheel sizes can be mounted on a single G1 frame. We can also produce different rear wheel lengths on different frame sizes. This allows us to take full advantage of our GEOLUTION technology.
The compression struts Mutators are installed ex works in the correct length depending on the frame size and wheel size. Changes should only be made by a specialist.

Swingarm Mutator

The MUTATOR is a newly developed component on the swing arm, which combines many functions in a single component. The Mutators are available in different lengths (33, 41 und 47mm). In this way, only by replacing a Mutator can the length of the swingarm “grow with” the frame height according to the GEOMETRON concept. The inner and outer Mutator shell is positively connected to the swing arm via a wedge-shaped rectangular structure. This completely prevents twisting or play. The Mutator components are both seal carrier and bearing axis. This minimizes the number of components and thus also the number of error sources.
Nicolai G1
The swingarm Mutator alters the chainstay length and is used in conjunction with the Pressure Strut Mutator.

G1 Shock Lever

Another completely new development is the G1 suspension lever, which allows two different travels by moving the damper. Built into the upper hole, the bike offers 162 mm travel at the rear. 175mm travel occurs when the damper is placed in the lower hole. As in aircraft engineering, all Nicolai components are CNC-machined from a high-strength aluminum block to achieve maximum strength and minimum weight.

Nicolai G1
Nicolai G1

7020 T6 Alloy

Aluminium is not Aluminium! We at Nicolai exclusively use the alloy 7020-T6 (AlZn4,5Mg1) for our frames. Compared to our competitors, who mostly use aluminium 6061-T6, this grade has much better strength values. Here is a table for all Tech-Nerds:

chart

The tensile strength of 7020 compared to 6061 aluminium is about one third higher. The elasticity is about one fifth higher. These properties, coupled with high quality welding, result in a bicycle frame that is far superior to the average in terms of durability. In comparison to carbon, aluminium is much more robust and tough, so that bottom contact, falls or stone impacts cannot harm the structure.

CLOSING REMARK: We could also tell you more about the bearings setup on the bikes, the optimized wire routing, our manufacturing quality "Made in Germany“, the 5 year warranty, the possibility of individual color selection or about the 10 year spare part availability, but that would go beyond the scope here.

For more information on the G1, visit nicolai-bicycles.com.

Author Info:
RichardCunningham avatar

Member since Mar 23, 2011
974 articles

179 Comments
  • 67 19
 I'm no weld nazi, but Jesus Christ those welds.
  • 38 0
 Looks solid to my untrained eye.
  • 10 2
 Ya those welds are nuts dude
  • 7 3
 They just look big. I wonder if that's due to the 7020 vs 6061.
  • 19 17
 They do a colab with Orange Big Grin
  • 52 0
 @JasonALap: It's Nicolai, they have never done welding, it's always been WELDING. Just the way those guys are.
  • 7 3
 @WAKIdesigns: anything that makes an Ancelotti look like a Cannondale is messed up
  • 6 4
 @BenPea: I don’t know anything about welding.
  • 16 2
 @WAKIdesigns: no not even on the same play field. These things are just yuge, orange's are as if a blind guy tried to draw a line between two points.
  • 1 3
 @SnowshoeRider4Life: don't worry, they can do everything else in a straight line better than us.
  • 1 6
flag jayacheess (Dec 13, 2018 at 13:53) (Below Threshold)
 Total weld philistine here:

So why are western welders still doing the stuttered weld thing, while the eastern factories seem to be able to produce those gorgeous smooth welds?
  • 40 3
 @jayacheess: Those smooth bead welds you see are usually ground down after the fact to get that look. Although Giants usually have nice neat welding that isn't ground down afterwards. To get a big fish scale pattern as consistent as it is on a Nicolai is quite hard to do and also slow, it's basically Nicolai showing off how good their welding guys are. I don't imagine the far eastern factories want their welders wasting time on it when a smaller bead is just as strong.
  • 22 0
 @jayacheess: Welds naturally have that bumpy look; it comes from holding the welding gun over a part of the joint long enough to properly melt the metal of each part being joined before moving on. Generally speaking, the better and more uniform the ‘lumps’, the better the weld, and welder. Anyone can grind off a weld to make it appear perfectly smooth without really affecting the strength of the joint. So ‘gorgeous and smooth’ might actually have been poop before it was ground off that way. Whereas if you see an unground weld with those ridges, you know there’s nothing to hide and the weld was spot on in the first place. If you think about it it fits with the more expensive European, cheaper from the Far East thing we’ve got going on.
  • 7 1
 @jayacheess: Double pass and an air file.
  • 17 1
 You do know they are perhaps the most respected welds on the bike on the planet right? And for a good reason too.
  • 18 2
 @jayacheess:
It's the welding method for the material. Aluminium conducts heat differently to harder metals, so you need to be careful with long exposures can distort the metal. Few passes with a large electrode is better than many passes with a small electrode in these types of cases. But for evidence of concept, try finding a picture of a broken Nicolai (I have tried extensively, still been unable to). Their work is beyond exemplary, and the fishscales on their bikes are some of the most beautiful workmanship you'll see, ever, not just on a bike.
  • 15 0
 Welds look strong as feck to me..
  • 3 28
flag endurocat (Dec 13, 2018 at 15:38) (Below Threshold)
 That thing is absolutely hideous!
  • 1 32
flag speed10 (Dec 13, 2018 at 15:59) (Below Threshold)
 Looks MIG welded to me, which is way easier to do.
  • 19 0
 @speed10: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYBJI4J6W6w

Get your eyes checked, they're TIG.
  • 5 0
 @Zaff: cool video
  • 3 0
 I'll take Martin Luther for $7020, Alex.
  • 10 13
 Nicolai has always built bikes as if they were Russian tank factory workers brought from Eastern front to build battleships. At least they limited number of gussets and shock mounts because in the past they had more welds than cannon turret of Bismarck and the whole frame reminded me of Eleiko squat rack. They looked dorky as hell. I knew two guys who owned them in the past and they are Volvo engineers, as nerdy as they get. The latest ones are just industrial chic. Fine by all standards
  • 5 2
 Industrial chic intended to divert from the lack of bottle space. It nearly worked.
  • 7 8
 @BenPea: Many engineers are pragmatic - they don't want water bottles. They wear functional back packs with a spohisticated hydration system with hose attached to the front strap with easy to undo yet secure latch system so that they can take a sip whenever they want without stopping and wasting mmomentum. It is not a surprise that the dude I know who used to own a Nicolai bike, has pictures of himself in Bell Super 2R and full body armor and by the time I met him first, he owned the first Switchblade and had huge knee/shin guards. Pragmatic, functional, reasonable, safe. Like the nicolai geometry. When you jump on green trail in the park you don't want to be thrown sideways. How embarassing would that be? Even if he didn't crash, imagine the additional air drag.
  • 4 4
 @WAKIdesigns: Riding with a backpack in cases when you do not really need one is not pragmatic. Backpack restricts your movements so being able to sip whenever you want does not really compensate for the inconvenience. You do not realize this until you try riding without it. Nikolai simply forces you to wear one, which for some people is not acceptable when you consider 3k euro for a frameset.
  • 2 1
 @Zaff: that's actually really informative.
  • 4 8
flag WAKIdesigns (Dec 14, 2018 at 3:58) (Below Threshold)
 @lkubica: it is a design compromise that they took. It is optimized to get the best suspension layout achieveable by current mountain bike design. Either best suspension possible layout or water bottle. You choose. I mean if they are capable of coming up with such refined geometry which was the best geometry before they shortened the reach, one cannot criticize their suspension design. I mean, this is a sarcasm, I mean I am not mean to Nicolai. I mean I am mean to people who ride short bikes and look at this as the second coming of Christ that will make them better than people with shorter bikes. I like the fact that Nicolai is doing stuff outside the box. Or at least that would stick outside of the box if they packed it to a box for 2019 Enduro 29 XXL #betterthanyou #deadsailorsforever #rotorburn unless you buy a 20cm shorter DJ bike as well and #learntoride. Hence #jerrymetron #joeymetry #wakirant
  • 3 0
 Took "stack of dimes" to a new level.
  • 2 0
 Most eastern welder a do not grind there welds. Cannon dale used to do this. Most smooth welds like a specialized or giant has are double pass. Not a cover up for bad welds. The quality of welding on even lower end frames from the east are usually quite good. @Fix-the-Spade:
  • 2 1
 My ION 16 snapped clean at the weld on the chainstay. Might want to get some weld nazi's in there.
  • 3 0
 @pchudoba42: send @Zaff a photo and you'll pop his cherry
  • 14 0
 You know it’s time to stop reading the comments when people are complaining about the welding at Nicolai
  • 5 2
 @lkubica: water bottles are a pain in the ass. In summer they get covered in dust and winter they get covered in mud. I've tried mud caps bit they are such a faff. I'll take a bladder in a hip pack anyday over a bottle.
  • 3 4
 @fartymarty: exactly! Attaching your life’s possessions to you bike only became a thing when EWS pro’s needed to ride with sponsors’ logos visible, therefore they couldn’t cover with a bag. If you’re not being paid to ride, do yourself a favour and get a pack. The lighter your bike the more you can move it on the trail, so water and tools on the bike are counter productive. [prepares to take a beating from the fashion police]
  • 2 0
 @aps62: well, it´s not about fashion really(ok, maybe it is for many people around here) but sprung to unsprung mass, which is somehow less of a concern in this case as it weights as much as it does. But on a light frame, it will make handling better unless you put all the weight right behind head tube.
  • 1 0
 @Mondbiker: I agree there are debates on that, here’s a couple of thunks for a friendly bat back across the table: 1) I only comment on PB when waiting for my train, I’m sure everyone agrees the biking is the fun part!!; 2) all these sort of things are splitting hairs really to us amateurs; 3) if weighting the frame is beneficial it is for high-speed straight-line blasting through rough. If you have a mixed diet of biking including slower speed tech, a nimble bike is helpful too; 4) the real unsprung mass is your body, often suspended by your arms and legs. So stick the weight there and let the bike be moved by the ground.

All that said, I totally get the weight=planted viewpoint - some of the e-bikes I see look super stuck to the ground. My favourite riding is steep forest tech where they don’t work so good.

Anyway I’m on the train now. Goodnight, hope everyone’s riding goes well this weekend!
  • 1 0
 @aps62: you cannot count your body as unspung mass really, because it´s way too variable as you can (and on most regular bikes have to) move your center of mass 40cm front and back, unlike in a car where you are trapped to a seat or even motorbike other than trials motorbike perhaps. Also, you wan´t the bike to transfer as little harshness to you and your weight won´t help with that. You would be surprised how even quite small amount of weight added to the right place will help with fatigue yet not noticeably hinder your ability to move it around. Everyone is obsessed with light bike yet they will put shitty heavy plus sized tires on 40mm wide rims to be able to support them... I mean performance for most people is not even in the second place on their list of values. I for one don´t ride with bottle cage because I hate the looks of it and I would drink it´s content on the way up a hill anyway so it wouldn´t give me any advantage when it counts. Only thing that worries me a little is if I crashed on my back bottle in a backpack could hurt me, it´s no concern if you use bladder obviously.
  • 1 0
 @lkubica: If you are restricted by backpack you must have really bad one or just not set up right. Just because you feel it on the back it doesn´t mean it reduces you range of movement in any way. If you would say you don´t like it because you get all sweaty because of it or are afraid of injury caused by it´s content, I could agree as that is the only thing that worries me a little. But better backpacks out there even come with designed back protector so it should actually protect you. I for one feel weird when I don´t wear one, sort of like with helmet, once you get used to it it feels unnatural to ride without. And as ex trials rider I deffo didn´t use to ride with backpack other than to riding spot and back from there, only after I started with proper mountain biking I started to ride with one and cannot see the reason to stop other than sweaty back in hot summer months, but I would get sweaty without as well, it would just take a little longer.
  • 2 0
 @Mondbiker: I have 2 backpacks and a fanny pack. One is an Evoc with protector and it's total shite for me sin wce it's too long and colides with ff. Now this one simply does not fit. Another is a lowrider camelbak, this one fits great. Fanny pack has a bladder but when filled is too heavy and not comfortable at all. I can ride comfortable using any od those, but when not using any my ride is smoother and my body feels more relaxed, my movements are cleaner. So the fact that one can adjust to riding with heavy shite on the back does not mean that the difference is not there.
  • 1 0
 @Zaff: my back aches just watching that. I've done a little TIG welding and have great respect for people with the patience to do it well.
  • 30 0
 Well I'm happy that the people who built King Tiger tanks are happily occupying their time by building bikes because holy moly does that thing look like it will take down some shit.
  • 19 11
 No, people who built Tiger Tanks work at YT, they learned their lesson and they are pumping out 100 T-34 Capras per one Geometron...
  • 4 1
 Useless trivia, the factory that built the Tiger and Tiger II is still standing, although nowadays Daimler owns it and they build trains there. Not sure I'd want to try and clear a double on train carriage.
  • 8 2
 @WAKIdesigns: Except the build quality on YT is a little janky. Not "it's unridable" or anything, but not as well made as the stuff from a Giant or Merida factory's A-lines (which is any major brand bike).

These welds look burly but solid.
  • 7 1
 @WAKIdesigns: But zee German engineering, so hawt right now. Nicolai is functioning industrial art at its finest. Don't get me wrong YT is rad, but by no means is a capra alloy frame on par with this G1 or an Ion 16.
  • 2 0
 @Fix-the-Spade: Daimler hasn’t been building trains since 2001.
  • 2 1
 @roschtatoschta: Yeah, I noticed Bombardier bought the train buisiness, I was hoping nobody else would.
  • 3 1
 @peleton7: you missed I wrote T-34 before Capra. If you’ve ever seen the tank in person you’d know what I mean. Sherman looks like an F1 car by it
  • 16 3
 That looks so very good. And I remember one major brand stating how difficult it is to make bikes with different length chainstays to keep front:rear centre balance as frame size increases. Apparently it's not difficult, it just takes focus and application.

100% would ride.
  • 5 0
 It is only hard if you make them from carbon and have to make damn expensive molds for them.
  • 17 3
 NICOLAI FTW. WHY? BECAUSE SCREW THE NORM!!!
  • 13 1
 Am I the only one who thinks that frame and suspension is a really sexy beast?
  • 9 0
 No you are not.
  • 10 1
 Nicolai’s technical details definitely aim at riders with stamina. It’s poles apart with a simple machine infatuation.
  • 5 0
 Compared to those bikes PB brought to Whistler for testing, this one seems like a steal. Geometry where different sizes are all designed to work properly (instead of most others where they stick to one single chainstay length, except for Norco out of what they have there). A quality shock actually designed for this frame. Handmade in Germany by a company where reputable is even an understatement. I'm not in the market for this kind of bike, but I'd rather spend 8k on a bike like this I'd expect to keep for well over a decade than spend 4k on something where I would be worrying about scratches and cracks after only a few years of riding and crashing.

In the looks like dept: my first thought was this looks like Liteville 601, which is a compliment.
  • 9 5
 What's with all the hate on the welds? They look amazing. Definitely proper man welds. I think its just all you soft boys that are used to your girly carbon and hydroformed tubing you've been spoiled with over the recent years.

The frame itself is ugly as sin. But the welds are perfect.
  • 6 4
 I really fail to understand how you can draw connexions between materials and gender. But I agree these welds are perfect, and I wouldn't mind a Nicolai or a Unno.
  • 2 1
 No hate, just astonishment, like when you see a dog with particularly large knackers.
  • 8 1
 How much with the Intend fork? And will you ship it that way to the US of A?
  • 2 1
 Intend won't allow their products to be sold in the U.S. or Canada :-(
  • 4 1
 @ninjatarian: That's not true. I ordered and received several of their products without issue.
  • 2 1
 I wonder if Cornelius is prepared to manufacture enough forks to have them as a spec-ed option on this bike (even if it adds a couple months to the wait time). Or maybe it was just a cool photo and Nicolai doesn't intend (sorry) to sell complete bikes with them?
  • 7 1
 They shortened the reach! Medium went from 502mm to 495mm they were too long?
  • 3 1
 They look long as hell haha
  • 16 3
 No way!? Is that right? I have been waiting for this day. To catch Chris Porters eye with a knowing glance and see a tear roll down his cheek as I draw on the last dregs of power from his withering flower. In his final hour I shall see him cower and take his place atop the tower.
The writing has been on the wall since his defeat to the 29” wheel. Now he must surely question everything, the very material of life itself. Depravity ensues as he undoes all that he has made.
  • 3 1
 Stack went up by nearly 3cm, so they will feel bigger nonetheless
  • 1 0
 @iqbal-achieve: Actually, the mojo version of the g16 had the exact same reach since it had a slacker headangle than the standard Nicolai version.
But yeah, he tried really hard to persuade me to go with hybrid wheelsizes on my g16. I doubt he gives up that easily to the full 29 Smile
  • 1 1
 I don't think the Large changed though, it was already around 510mm.
  • 7 1
 we heard you guys like welds so we put welds on the welds so you can weld while you ride
  • 8 5
 Gorgeous and progressive. I laugh at all the haters and await 2023 when every other brand has caught up geo wise. I remember when people ran skinny rims and laughed at me for running +35mm rims...who is laughing now conservative, no imagination sheep?
  • 1 0
 Don't forget this industry runs in circles. The time for skinny rims will come again and so will the shorter bikes time return. Some years ago I was insisting in running a coil shock in my enduro bike and everybody was saying air was the way to go. I continued to use coil and, surprise, I am following the trend without knowing it. :-) My next frame will probably be one of these big reach frames, I would like to try.
  • 2 0
 @migkab: I'm not so sure it runs in circles. For some things maybe, but the "progressive" thing may be a deep tendancy of mountain bikes emancipating from road bikes.
Some may still prefere a shorter bike because their trails have tight curves or not so much gradient, but a normal bike now is 50mm longer than 5 years ago (my 2013 Reign has a 417mm reach !), and the actual long bikes like the geometron, pole etc may be the norme in a few years (but it probably won't go much longer).
  • 2 0
 I like the platform concept. There are some other companies doing the same sort of thing. I’m not sure about the EXT shock Nicolai is using, but it would be nice to be able to have user adjustable shock stroke lengths. That would ease some of the cost of running different travel configurations.
  • 2 1
 I don't understand why the shock is that expensive. If you buy a Pole frame you pay 450€ extra.
If I buy the shock by myself form them 800€ so what the heck?
  • 2 1
 @Serpentras: €800 + VAT ;-)
  • 4 1
 No new and improved hyper jargon.
Real data like an Aluminum with greater tensile strength and a greater elasticity?
Thank you for speaking to my inner nerdy mind.
Frame has lots of fancy milled bits.
Fun to look at.
  • 6 1
 I’ve learned everything I know about welding from pinkbike comments. For better or worse.
  • 1 0
 It might be the 7020 alloy they are using that is causing the welds to look like that. All the welds are uniform otherwise.
  • 8 2
 No gear box no Nicolai.
  • 9 3
 my virgin welding eyes!
  • 7 2
 Those welds are so big i cant see the damn bike!!
  • 10 0
 Oh Chickenstrips. You so crazy.
  • 5 12
flag rezrov (Dec 13, 2018 at 14:18) (Below Threshold)
 Apparently Nicolai apprenticed at the Orange Bikes School for WELDING.
  • 1 0
 This is somehow an environmentally friendly frame with future proof features. When you get fed up of 27,5 you just switch it 29 and vice versa. Buy it in raw and a couple of years later you can have it anodized in some colour you choose and there, a new looking frame. I like the concept. I will get one sooner or later to succeed my ION16.
  • 2 0
 Anyone knows what kind of saddle it has on there? I'm looking for that kind of design, which allows you to set the saddle in a more forward position.
  • 1 0
 Wtb Silverado i think
  • 5 1
 Fork looks like it has some good lubrification.
  • 3 1
 Swingarm... Driving pleasure... this thing a motorcycle? Certainly looks like a no f***s given machining and welding throw back to 2008. 7k series aluminium pleases the soul.
  • 1 0
 Sorry to be asking a boring question, but how is it it possible to achieve identical head angle between the 27 and 29er, yet the BB-axle changes from -20mm to -30mm respectively?
  • 1 0
 With the seatstay and chainstay adjustment links.
  • 1 0
 @SintraFreeride: yeah but if you lower or raised a the BB, with the same fork length, the head angle has to change.
I don't see how that avoidable.

150mm travel 29er fork is the same axle-to-crown length as 170mm 27er fork
  • 2 0
 @IllestT: If you increase the chainstay mutator it will increase the chainstay length and lower the bb and add more drop. This would slacken the head angle a bit. To compensate you would increase the mutator length at the linkage thus bringing back the head angle. Of course, you won't be able to have the same exact geo with both wheels as bb drop and chainstays will vary, head angle is an issue. This of course is assuming same fork length but not same travel lengths.
  • 1 1
 few thoughts - grinding the welds as Cannondale has done for years, helps reduce stress concentrations and increases fatigue life - showing tensile and ultimate strengths for the different aluminums is great, but hopefully its designed with metal fatigue in mind. I'm curious in practice how all these extra bolt on adjustment bits hold up over time.
  • 4 1
 Its the Geo Metro of bikes.
  • 2 0
 Nicolai press release drinking game... take a drink for every “geo” last person conscious wins.
  • 2 0
 i wanna throw on a DVO onxy on this and take on some mountain creek with this!
  • 1 0
 Just waiting for a DVO Onyx SC29 with low offset and I'm there.
  • 3 0
 Enduro version of the Transition Gran Mal?
  • 4 1
 Hey Nicolai, nice bike but we ride them, not drive them.
  • 1 0
 What a spec, what a look...great to see you can spec a whole lot of Intend parts (fork, stem and seat clamp) and build up an amazing competitor for the Pole Machine/Stamina!
  • 4 1
 gear box pleassse!
  • 2 0
 Best Nic to date, by a fair margin. Best wishes tup
  • 2 1
 After a few drinks she might be worthy of a quick ride. Wouldn't want my friends to find out though.
  • 2 0
 Where does the water bottle go?
  • 4 0
 Down your shorts my man.
  • 2 0
 under the down tube if you drill two holes in it Big Grin
  • 3 1
 It looks a bit short to me, any chance I can make it slacker?
  • 5 1
 So that it attains the ride characteristics of a canoe? Sure, yeahwhythehellnot.
  • 2 0
 @Neale1978: but hey, in Canada the government allowed us to get drunk in canoes now... so maybe not a totally bad thing.
  • 1 0
 I'm envious!
  • 4 1
 weld porn!
  • 2 0
 Anybody know what make the forks are??
  • 2 0
 More material from the welds or the tubing?
  • 1 3
 Maybe a dedicated 29er version, ditch the silly adjustments? If it brought the price down a few hundred euros/dollars/whatever it would be a worthwhile tradeoff for a bunch of stuff most riders (including me) wouldn't mess with. And it would likely weigh less too.
  • 2 0
 Ehm, nothing stops you from buying G15...Or even go custom with 29setup if that isn´t good enough. This is bike for people who want to play with setups and care about last 0.1% of performance.
  • 2 0
 I know I’m a bit late to the party, but man this comment is dumb. This is the point - adjustability. You’re comment is like saying “make it out of carbon fiber and make it shorter, and steeper (HTA).” There’s plenty of bikes if you want that. This is unique. It is the only adjustable frame that can run 27.5”, mullet, or 29” and adjust geometry for it, AND adjust geometry for user preference even further. And has good (progressive) geo. And it isn’t fragile.
Sounds like it’s not for you. Have fun riding your Peloton.
  • 2 0
 Machinist and welders work of art! Wow, gorgeous!
  • 1 0
 I got to ride one of these last weekend - it was very, very good, the whole package really works..
  • 1 0
 all honesty how much for one of these in canada, anyone have experience, frame only no shock
  • 2 0
 and that fork?
  • 14 15
 What is the purpose of this thing besides going down straight?
It can't turn, it can't jump. Have fun trying to lift the front wheel.
  • 8 3
 I ride and own a G15 GPI, they turn plenty fast. When you look at it, my size large bike has a wheelbase of 1312mm vs something like 1219mm of a same sized Trek Slash. If 10cm is stopping you getting around corners, you've got bigger issues than a wheelbase. Does take some extra effort to get the front wheel up, but it's just a body language adjustment once you're used to it.
  • 4 1
 Joeys can’t do jumps or corners either Razz
  • 3 2
 @Zaff: in a way I agree with you. In another way, when I go from my DJ to my Enduro bike, with around 10cm of difference in the wheelbase, the change is rather dramatic... but well... cheers to improving skills, being better us, instead of whining on dumb numbers.
  • 6 2
 another internet hero who's never tried it.
  • 5 10
flag RedRedRe (Dec 13, 2018 at 14:33) (Below Threshold)
 I have ridden two of these things over the years. They are busses. This is just a begginer bike... 10 cm longer wheelbase is not a big deal? Probably a good bike for smooth bike parks... wanna see anybody going uphill with this thing... it is not a matter of skills, this is just a very limited bike.
  • 7 3
 If you cannot turn on long bike you don´t know how to turn mate, same goes for jumping or lifting front wheel.
  • 7 1
 @RedRedRe: I agree with you. I rode a Geometron with 510 reach (I am 5'11" and my current bike has 445 reach, although it might be a tad short since I use a 65mm stem on it) and I fit on the bike from a saddle to handlebar perspective, so its not like the bike was too big for me. It felt fine pedalling around. But while it worked well where you would expect it to - straighter chunk, and it felt awesome on wider sweeping corners, most of the time it felt like bus to me.I rode it for 3 days too, not just a quick demo. It also felt fatiguing to me after a few hours, just so much bike. Not just the reach but I could feel the long chainstays as well. It climbed well as long as you could motor through stuff but as soon as I went into real uphill tech I couldn't donkey hump the bike up stuff and it would lose traction because the rear wheel was so far back. Now it climbed well uphill through rock garden stuff where you could stay on power but for any trails move it didn't work for me. And even on steep gnarlier stuff I felt like it was hard to jump it out of a groove and change my line. I didn't feel like I would endo it in a million years though so there is that. I have also extensively ridden a bike with 465 reach and had the same experiences albeit to a lesser extent. So count me as one who is a bit skeptical of the new geo. Great for plowing, but I didn't like it for trail biking and I wouldn't even choose it for my Enduro race bike either, just not agile enough in the rough. Now, I would like to get a DH bike with a nice long reach though, there my Jedi with a 445 reach feels like a BMX bike in those giant berms on A-line. About right in the tech though
  • 3 1
 which is too bad, because I love the raw look, Horst link, adjustability, and boutique hand built Euro flavor to these bikes. I would ignore the weight and buy one for sure if I liked the layout more.
  • 4 0
 @preston67: sounds like exactly my experience when riding bikes like the Geometron. Warms my heart when I see others who’re sceptical, Merry Christmas Smile
PS aesthetically the Nicolai bikes are my faves ever. I love the no bullshit aluminium, huge welds etc. Shame they don’t make bikes for neo geo sceptics
  • 4 0
 @preston67:

I ride a G15 with 535 reach in XL but im 6'6" so i need such a large bike cause everything below a reach of 500 feels to short for me!

This bike goes like hell when you ride it fast, but sure the geometry won't work if your slow cause then it handles like the truck it is in wheelbase and total length (1.36m wheelbase and surely over 2.00m in total, haven't measured the second one)

If you can do manuals before you can manuals this too but you surely wouldnt learn it with such a long bike.

I'm excited to see what Pole can do with the Stamina in the EWS and if such long bikes work on EWS tracks cause the only super long bike i know which raced at EWS was UK Nicolai ambassador Ramsay MacFarlane with his Pinion driven G16 and EWS Madeira last year.

But for the G1, i'm happy the Pole Machine/Stamina with its sheer endless travel gets a competitor and concerning my experiences with the suspension travel on my Nicolai and the whole lot i've ridden before i'm quite sure the Nicolai uses the travel more effective!
  • 7 0
 @RedRedRe: lol! This bike can ride anything better than a normal bike! It won't wheelie when going uphill nor will the back wheel spin out even when you stand up (which isn't really necessary). It provides a ton of grip going up and down. With this bike you can ride faster, harder stuff more safely. Obviously you have to change the way you ride, no more riding off the backend. Now if you don't like that stick to short bikes by all means but to say it is a very limited bike is just pure ignorance.
  • 2 0
 @SintraFreeride: Preston67 does say though that "it would lose traction because the rear wheel was so far back.", which is something I've experienced on my old and short 2013 giant reign when I'm really at the tip of the saddle.
Long chainstays may be cool but you've got to be careful not to unweight the rea wheel too much.
  • 4 0
 @Will-narayan: short bike with long chainstays is not the same as long bike with long chainstays, weight distribution is completely different. I you´re struggling with traction, you either have bad tire and/or you are not climbing stuff steep enough for this setup to work. You can still slide seat back to compensate if you have to.
  • 1 0
 @Mondbiker: I agree with the theory, in my case I understand there could be issues as the bike is too short, the seat angle way too slack (73°), so going to the tip of the saddle is only a mere correction on a bike to bring my weight more in front of the rear axle, but then weighting the front wheel maybe too much and the rear not enough, but in Preston case, he says he had this grip issue on a Geometron with I guess a long wheelbase and long chainstay. Or there's a problem with his position.
  • 1 0
 @preston67: you could always buy a 10 year old Nicolai, and get the suspension design, build quality, looks, and the dated geo which you prefer.
I wonder, did you ever own a Preston FR? That would make a lot of sense how one might actually think short & steep is good - that thing was short and steep AF.
FWIW, I got away from the Jedi because as much as the linkage was great, it didn’t corner so great, and wasn’t so stable in rowdy chunk (too tiny).
  • 3 2
 what is this feeling of ROLLOVER during downhill they speak of?
  • 2 2
 it's a made up marketing term to shift bikes.
  • 1 1
 @markg1150: it a poor attempt at it too, that's probably the worst part haha
  • 1 0
 Maybe they mean endo?
  • 1 0
 Or front end getting hung up?
  • 2 0
 It's about debumping all the bumpy bits.
  • 1 0
 Maybe they can build sure sultans for dt?
  • 1 0
 Cool..that's awesome..antimainstream bike
  • 1 0
 Beautiful metal bike. Looks like it was built by a SkyNet Terminator.
  • 3 3
 Spherical bearings aka heim joints. You thought creaking was annoying, wait until those things start knocking!
  • 5 0
 Dude, like seriously? most race cars/race bikes have those, even my freaking car has coilovers with spherical bearings, after 4 years of all season use on f*cked up Slovak roads, no sign on looseness whatsoever. You must have had some really shitty soft ones if they did knock.
  • 2 1
 @Mondbiker: former car mechanic here. Every a*shole that thinks he needs the fattest swaybar they could fit in their track car, and they all came with heim joints, and a lot of them were loose and loud as f*ck.
  • 1 0
 @yzedf: well, it´s always about ballance, you cannot have too thick swaybar and too soft spring rates and expect the setup to work very well, the other way around isn´t very good either.
  • 1 1
 @Mondbiker: they were the rich snobs that don't listen to advice. Most of the time it was just changing parts because they asked me to. At least the cars were usually clean.
  • 1 0
 555mm reach in an XXL. Longest bike ever?
  • 1 0
 Pole claims 7000 series can't be welded - but here we are :-)
  • 2 0
 they claim 7075 can´t be welded, people where using 7005 20 years ago.
  • 1 0
 @Mondbiker: I had an Outland nice welds , design was not as impressive as the marketing .
  • 1 0
 Them are some STRONG-looking welds for sure.
  • 1 0
 Looks cool but it’s not for me!
  • 1 0
 yea somebody can tig!
  • 1 0
 T6 yes please
  • 1 0
 No hucks given!
  • 1 1
 Which fork is that?
  • 2 3
 You alu guys can have it... I love me some sexy Carbon frames
  • 1 4
 Dentists on enduro now? 6000€??? Holy shitballs
  • 2 5
 No thank you.
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