If that's not good timing: Nicolai is one of the first manufacturers to release the power update for the Bosch Performance CX motor. What's more, the company from Lower Saxony Just in time for the launch of the new Bosch CX-R and the update to 100 Newton metres and 750 watts of power is also presenting a completely new bike. The bike is called the S18 Swift and comes as a powerful E-Enduro on the trails.
The Nicolai S18 Swift at a glance
- Field of application: Enduro
- Drive: Bosch Performance Line CX (100 Nm, 750 watts)
- Display: Kiox 400 C
- Battery: 600 watt hours, permanently installed
- Spring travel: 180/180 mm
- Wheel size: 29 inch front / 27.5 inch rear
- Frame material: Aluminium
- Three variants, price: 10,999 Euro
- Weight: from 23.7 kilos (size M)
- Four frame sizes: S to XXL
- Special features: Extensively customisable features and colours, frame made in Germany
Power update for the Bosch CX
Nicolai uses the new Performance Line CX from Bosch, which was introduced last autumn, in the new S18. For this motor, Bosch now offers a update to a whopping 100 Newton metres, 750 watts peak power and 400 percent assistance (previously: 85 Nm, 600 watts, 340 %).
To keep the bike as slim and light as possible, the lighter 600 Powertube is installed in the down tube. The battery is permanently installed. If required, the range can be increased by 250 watt hours using a range extender. The brand-new Kiox-400-C integrated into the top tube displays the most important information.
Driving fun-Geo: Geolution 2.0?
Unusual for Nicolai: The S18 Swift comes with a modern, but not too extreme geometry. Short chainstays of 440 millimetres in the small frame sizes are designed to keep the handling explicitly lively downhill. However, the reach is very long and the head and seat angles are explicitly modern. To match the reach, Nicolai also adjusts the rear triangle length with the larger frames. The chainstays grow to 448, 454 and 462 millimetres in sizes L, XL and XXL.
Nicolai S18 Swift Geometry (Sizes M / L)
- Steering angle: 63,7°
- Seat angle: 77,8°
- Reach: 475 / 497.5 mm
- Stack: 645 / 656 mm
- Chainstay length: 440 / 448 mm
From 23.7 kilos: The equipment of the S18 Swift
The S18 Swift will be presented with high-quality equipment throughout, including Fox Factory suspension, lightweight DT aluminium wheels, GX transmission and MT7 brakes. This bike will cost €10,999 and weigh a relatively light 23.7 kilos in size M.
This is certainly also made possible by the smaller, permanently installed battery. However, Nicolai should be able to customise the equipment according to customer requirements. For example, Bosch's ABS Pro can also be configured.
Nicolai S18 Swift components:
- Fork: Fox 38 Factory, 180 mm
- Damper: Fox Float X2 Factory 2-Pos., 225 x 70 mm
- Impellers: DT Swiss HX 1501 Spline One (29" front, 27.5" rear)
- Circuit: Sram AXS GX Eagle Transmission 12-speed
- Brakes: Magura MT7 Pro HC (220 mm front, 203 mm rear)
- Seat post: Bikeyoke dropper post (stroke depending on frame size)
- Tyres: Continental Kryptotal EN Supersoft/Soft
- Price: 10,999 Euro
Weight-optimised aluminium frame - made in Germany
Despite the robust construction, Nicolai states the weight of the S18 Swift in size M at 23.7 kg. To achieve this value, the manufacturer relies on topology optimisation, load and material simulations as well as hollow-milled volume components. The frame is made of 7020-T6 aluminium, which, according to Nicolai, has a 30% higher tensile strength and 20% higher elastic limit than the usual 6061-T6 aluminium.
A classic four-bar rear triangle is designed to combine good suspension sensitivity with sensible progression. As usual, the frame is completely constructed, welded and coated at Nicolai in Lower Saxony.
Adrian Kaether
Editor
