The bike is labelled "all-mountain" at the factory. However, top riders such as Frank Schneider also use it to compete in downhill marathons such as the Mégavalanche in Alpe d'Huez. We rode the bike in the 27.5 mm version, which the RockShox "Pike" gave a smooth front end. The geometry is also trimmed for smoothness, whereby the precise handling in wide cornering radii was particularly positive. The technical complexity of the drivetrain, on the other hand, failed to impress any of the testers - especially as the gear unit in the bottom bracket comes at a hefty extra cost. At 6149 euros, this hardtail costs as much as some high-end downhillers. One criticism levelled at the gearbox was that the lower gears of the gearbox are choppy and gear changes require more concentration and less pedal pressure than with a conventional drive. Nowadays, twist grips are no longer everyone's cup of tea. The weight of 15 kilos does not encourage playful hopping or climbing. However, the versatility of the "Argon" series is impressive. At Nicolai, you can configure the bike as a lightweight race hardtail or as a purist dirt bike. Colour and geometry are of course freely selectable. Variable dropouts allow the wheelbase and chainstay length to be adjusted at a later date.
Conclusion: Sturdy bike for the well-heeled. The bike is well conceivable as a tourer for heavy riders who can and want to do without full suspension comfort.
PLUS Fit, processing
MINUS Price, weight, gearbox breakage
MANUFACTURER INFORMATION
Distribution Nicolai GmbH www.nicolai.net
Material/sizes Aluminium/S, M, L (in the test L)
Price 6,149 Euro
Weight without pedals 14.9 kg
MEASURED DATA
Front suspension travel 150 mm
Rear suspension system Hardtail
Reach 422 mm
Stack 630 mm
BB-Drop -41 mm
EQUIPMENT
Fork RockShox Pike RCT3
Cranks/gears Pinion/Pinion
Brake system Hope Race M4 Evo
Impellers Shocker Enduro hubs, WTB Frequency i23 Team rims, Continental Trail King Protection 2.4 tyres
