Nicolai Nucleon 16 with Supre drivetrain on test: How the special bike with chain reaction rides

Normality is banned on the Nicolai Nucleon 16 Supre. Even non-bikers can see this at first glance. The redirected drivetrain is particularly striking. Alternative shifting concepts are as much a part of Nicolai as butter on bread. Gearboxes have always played a central role as a replacement for the exposed derailleur gears on the machined aluminium frames. The full-suspension Nucleon also follows in this tradition and in earlier versions - such as the Nucleon DH or the Nucleon Evo - relied on a modified 14-speed hub from Rohloff, which was positioned at the height of the swingarm pivot point. However, high weight and poorer shiftability under load were points of criticism that ultimately sealed the end of this gear solution. Now the Nicolai Nucleon is back with another exceptional drivetrain and suspension solution.

Supre drive on the Nicolai Nucleon: Out of the line of fire

According to Nicolai, however, it doesn't always have to be the gearbox when it comes to optimising the classic derailleur system. With the Nucleon 16, which will be presented at Eurobike in 2022 Nicolai is sticking with derailleur gears, but is nevertheless saying goodbye to the traditional rear derailleur. The so-called "Supre drive" of the Nicolai Nucleon 16 Supre is based on a derailleur system with twelve gears and does not require an exposed rear derailleur cage. The aluminium Fully therefore aims to be different from its enduro counterparts. The Nicolai also goes all out in terms of hard facts. It offers 178 millimetres of rear suspension travel and weighs in at 18.37 kilograms.

But why all this effort in the development of the Nicolai Nucleon 16 Supre? This question comes to mind when looking at the futuristic Supre drivetrain with its oversized pulleys and tension levers. Well, all protruding parts on the MTB are potentially at risk: Stones, branches and even falls are simply part of everyday MTB life and can quickly destroy exposed, filigree components. On bikes with derailleur gears, the rear derailleur is in the direct line of fire and is the victim in the event of a collision.

High-pivot par excellence on the Nicolai Enduro

Another reason for the Supre drive developed by Canadian Cedric Eveleigh is the rear suspension system chosen for the Nucleon 16. The enduro bike with 165 to 178 millimetres of travel is based on a single pivot with a high pivot point, which results in an optimised wheel lift curve. Instead of getting stuck on rocks, the rear wheel can swerve upwards to the rear thanks to the high-pivot linkage. So far, so good, if it weren't for the chainstay elongation. To eliminate pedal kickback during compression, the chain is deflected close to the main pivot point. Drive influences are therefore history. However, elongation also occurs in the lower part of the drivetrain between the chainring and the rear wheel axle as soon as the rear suspension compresses.

>> High-pivot enduro bikes are all the rage at the moment. We also tested the Norco Range with a high pivot point. <<

In traditional derailleur systems, it would be the job of the rear derailleur to compensate for this. However, the rear derailleur cage moves against the force of the friction damper, which is designed to prevent the chain from hitting. This in turn worsens the response behaviour of the rear triangle. Nicolai avoids this effect with the Supre derailleur, as the chain tensioner is not part of the rear derailleur but is integrated into the main frame.

Due to the position of the lower chain strand aligned with the pivot point, there is virtually no chain elongation during compression. The chain tensioner with friction damper sits above the chainring and is oil-damped and therefore speed-dependent. During slow movements, such as when shifting to larger sprockets, the force to be overcome is low, whereas chain slap is effectively prevented during fast strokes.

The frame of the Nucleon 16, which Nicolai has literally built around the drivetrain, can be ridden in a mullet setup or with 29-inch wheels. So far, the Nucleon 16 is the only bike that is compatible with the Supre drivetrain. Forks from 160 to 180 millimetres can be used for massive downhill fun. Nicolai also relies on the geometry of the new Nucleon 16 on the Geolution concept with a long reach (473 mm in size M) and a super steep seat angle of 77.7 degrees. At 63 degrees, the steering angle is also very slack - typical of Nicolai bikes. Thanks to the five frame sizes, riders from 1.64 to 2.10 metres will be happy with the Enduro.

Nicolai Nucleon 16 Supre in detail

We have summarised the five most exciting details of the Nicolai Nucleon 16 with alternative Supre drive:

1. The upper and lower chain strands are aligned with the main pivot point. As a result, there is virtually no chain elongation during compression. The chain runs over two guide rollers. The smaller one keeps the chain under tension and moves around the chainring.
2. The Supre rear derailleur is operated with a conventional Shimano XT shifter. The thumb force is somewhat high, but the gear changes are as reliable as with a normal derailleur.
3. The compact rear derailleur only needs one pulley and is well protected in the frame triangle. There are no exposed parts. The idler pulley above the chainring tensions the chain and operates with oil damping.
4. An opening on the down tube provides a clear view of the shock linkage and prevents dirt from getting trapped.
5. Like the Supre rear derailleur, the brake calliper is well protected in the rear frame triangle and connects the seat and chain stays. The rear triangle uses the Superboost mounting dimension with a width of 157 millimetres.

Data & BIKE review of the Nicolai Nucleon 16 Supre

We have already ridden the Nicolai Nucleon 16 Supre on the challenging trails in Finale Ligure and in the Geißkopf bike park and were able to get an impression of the enduro bike. "made in Germany" get to know the Nucleon. We also measured the Nucleon extensively in the BIKE test lab.

Facts about the test bike

• Front suspension travel: 160 mm
• Rear suspension travel: 165 mm
• Frame material: Aluminium
• Wheel size: 29 inch
• Complete bike price: 11,599 euros
• Price frame kit: 3699 Euro
• Available from: Specialist retailers

>> How the BIKE test system works <<

Equipment

• Fork: Fox 38 Factory Grip 2
• Shock: Fox DHX2 Factory
• Gear system: Supre / Shimano XT, 1x12
• Ratio/bandwidth: 30; 10-51 / 510%
• Brakes: Trickstuff Direttissima C42; 203 / 203 mm
• dropper post/stroke: Bike Yoke Revive / 180 mm
• Wheels: DT Swiss 240 hubs / DT Swiss EX511 rims
• Tyres: Continental Kryptotal Enduro, 29 x 2.4"

Measured values

• Total weight: 18.37 kg (without pedals)
• Weight of wheels: 5926 kg
• Acceleration of running wheels: 5039 kg x cm²

Ride report: How the Nicolai Nucleon 16 Supre fared in the BIKE test

The Nicolai Nucleon 16 Supre is a bullet. It's not just the technical, martial look, but also the impressive total weight of around 18.5 kilos that sets the Nucleon 16 razor-sharp apart from ordinary enduro bikes. In addition, the Supre drive, the centrepiece of the frame, attracts attention like a magnet. The XT thumb shifter allows reliable operation of the rear derailleur, which is safely integrated into the frame triangle. Apart from the somewhat high manual force, the chain changes sprockets precisely and reliably. The shifting feel is similar to a conventional Shimano XT drivetrain. Uphill, the Nicolai can't hide its many pounds. It only makes leisurely progress. The steep seat angle positions the rider far forward, while the long chainstays guarantee good climbing ability. The rear suspension is also very active under chain tension and provides traction. When pedalling out of the saddle, the shock pumps at an acceptable level.

The Nucleon 16 longs for the descent and eagerly awaits real steep sections. On flat sections, the high inertia prevails. As soon as it gets really steep and bumpy, the Nicolai impresses with its smooth and confident ride. The high-pivot rear triangle smoothes every rocky section into a flow trail and offers defined support despite the steel spring. Only small, fast bumps penetrate the rider more than expected. A little annoying: after a short time, the cartridge of the chain tensioner came loose in the frame and rattled. According to Nicolai, there is already a solution to this problem.

Conclusion from BIKE test director Peter Nilges

The Nucleon 16 with Supre drivetrain aims to kill two birds with one stone and combine the efficiency and shifting comfort of derailleur gears with the robustness of a gearbox. While the function is already convincing, the durability of the system still has to prove itself. It is almost regrettable that the elaborate Supre project will not be continued and will be discontinued for Eurobike 2024.

Interview with Vincent Stoyhe, Head of Sales at Nicolai

BIKEFrames with a gearbox solution have often been criticised for their high weight. Despite the Supre derailleur, the Nucleon 16 is by no means a lightweight.

VINCENT STOYHEIntegrating a gearbox into a bike involves overcoming a few hurdles. The Supre system, with its three essential features - rear derailleur integrated in the dropout, tensioning arm mounted around the bottom bracket shell and the damping cartridge in the down tube - also required some special solutions that would not be necessary on a bike with a regular UDH rear derailleur. Nevertheless, the advantages are obvious: the lower weight on the rear triangle reduces the unsprung mass and makes the suspension more sensitive and perform better. Added to this is the damping cartridge integrated in the down tube, which keeps the chain under tension depending on the speed and does not generate constant tension through a friction damper as with a rear derailleur.

BIKEThe risk of a rear derailleur failure cannot be ignored, but it is not a frequent cause of damage. At the same time, you also offer a version of the Nucleon 16 (UDH) with a different rear triangle and conventional derailleur gears. Which version do you recommend?

VINCENT STOYHE: Preventing derailleur failure is not the main focus here either and should be seen more as a pleasant side effect. The focus is clearly on rear suspension performance. People who want to get the maximum out of their suspension and are not afraid of the technical advantage of a customised rear derailleur solution will go for Supre. The new, super-precise and robust UDH-AXS rear derailleurs are the perfect choice for anyone who wants a tidy cockpit and precise shifting. The classic rear triangle offers compatibility with all common 1x12 drivetrains, so that spare parts are available in every workshop. This is also the reason why we will be removing the Nucleon 16 Supre from our portfolio in future.