Who Kalle Nicolai who have known the company for some time will not be surprised by this step. The head of the aluminium forge with the industrial charm has long been one of the biggest advocates of transmission technology on mountain bikes. Nicolai has been building bikes with Pinion transmissions since 2012 and has new Gearbox models since then. Also on the E-MTB Nicolai declared war on classic derailleur gears with the E14 models with Bosch and Rohloff. So it's no wonder that Nicolai is now also launching a bike with Pinion's new motor with integrated gearbox, the Saturn 16 MGU. This makes the small cult manufacturer one of the first to present a bike with a Pinion MGU, apart from the four original Pinion launch partners Flyer, Bulls, Rotwild and Simplon.
The facts about the Nicolai Saturn 16 MGU
- Motor: Pinion MGU, 85 Nm max. torque
- Battery: 720 or 960 Wh (removable)
- Frame material: Aluminium
- Suspension travel: 160 / 160 mm
- Wheel size: 29 inch
- Frame sizes: S - XXL
- Price: 10,999 euros
- Weight: 26.9 kg (manufacturer's specification)
Made in Germany: frame & concept of the Nicolai Saturn
Nicolai frames are primarily welded by hand from straight tubes and CNC parts in Lower Saxony. Rough, even welding beads emphasise the material and the handcrafted aspect of frame production. Over the years, this has become Nicolai's most important distinguishing feature alongside the geometry. Only four welders are allowed to produce the bikes, and each welder gives the bike their own individual signature with their welding beads. In the age of carbon fibre, this is an unusual approach to say the least, which gives Nicolai bikes their industrial look and a loyal fan base.
As the name suggests, the Saturn 16 MGU is modelled on the classic enduro Saturn 16 without motor. 160 millimetres of suspension travel at the front and rear are intended to equip the bike for difficult terrain, while the rear triangle with the filigree CNC rocker is designed as a classic four-bar linkage. As with the Saturn Swift e-trail bike with lightweight Bosch SX Nicolai also deviates slightly from the actual doctrine with the Saturn 16 MGU and uses a strikingly filigree top tube made of hydroformed aluminium in addition to classic round tubes and square profiles.
Geolution Light: The geometry
Longer and flatter has long been the trend. Kalle Nicolai was one of the first designers to design his bikes according to this motto 15 years ago and his "Geolution" concept caused many incredulous looks at the time. Today, almost all relevant manufacturers have followed suit and are also focussing on a long reach, steep steering angle and flat seat angle for smoother descents - but Nicolai's bikes are still among the most consistent representatives of long and flat geometry on the market.
As a bike at the interface between all-mountain and enduro, the Saturn 16 MGU does not drift too far into the extreme. By Nicolai standards, the geometry is therefore somewhat moderate, but still super long by normal standards. The reach is 495 millimetres in size M and the wheelbase is over 1300 millimetres. The bottom bracket is relatively high with a drop of only five millimetres. The steering angle of 64.5 degrees and "only" 451 millimetre long chainstays should nevertheless not make the bike look bulky. Typical Nicolai: there is also an XL and an XXL model for tall riders, with an enormous 555 millimetre reach and 1375 millimetre wheelbase.
Saturn 16 MGU geometry at a glance (sizes M / L)
- Seat tube length: 445 / 455 mm
- Wheelbase: 1302 / 1324 mm
- Reach: 495 / 515 mm
- Stack: 651 / 660 mm
- Steering angle: 64.5 degrees
- Seat angle: 77.5 degrees
- Chainstay length: 451 mm
- BB drop: -5 mm
Pinion MGU: The e-bike motor in the Nicolai Saturn 16
With the Pinion MGU, Nicolai has opted for a completely new drive concept. The highlight: instead of external derailleur gears, the gear ratio is changed directly in the motor housing using an integrated gearbox. This enables shifting even when stationary and promises completely wear-free operation, even in the long term. The power is transmitted to the rear wheel via a lubrication-free Gates belt. With 85 Newton metres and around 600 watts of peak power, the Pinion motor itself is in the same league as classic power motors such as the Bosch CX, Shimano EP801 and Brose Drive S Mag.
The energy for the system comes from either the 720 or the 960 Fit battery, which are installed in all MGU bikes. The large battery costs 200 euros extra, both batteries can be folded forwards out of the down tube. The charging port is easily accessible on the top tube, while the Fit Remote all-in-one display with a small LED screen provides information on the most important riding data. Here and in the associated Fit app, additional features such as Start Select (motor shifts to a predefined starting gear when stationary), Pre-Select (motor shifts to match the speed when rolling) and, in future, the complete automatic gear shifting system can also be switched on and off.
10,999 euros: Equipped with only the finest parts
As of now, you will have to invest at least €10,999 for the Nicolai Saturn 16 MGU. The extensive manual work for the frame and motor produced in Germany make the bike expensive as it is, so Nicolai has also opted for matching high-end equipment, as with the previous models. Namely: Fox Factory suspension, Magura's MT7 stoppers, high-quality aluminium wheels from DT Swiss and add-on parts from Raceface, Acros and SQ-Lab. Schwalbe's e-specific Eddy Current tyres provide good puncture protection, but in combination with the Fox 38, steel spring and aluminium frame, they also push the weight up to an impressive 26.9 kilograms (manufacturer's specification). There is no affordable entry-level version for the time being, but there is a model with mudguards and pannier rack for everyday use.
- Fork / shock: Fox 38 Factory Grip / DHX Factory
- Gear system: Pinion MGU
- Brakes: Magura MT7
- Wheels: DT Swiss HX 1700 Spline
- Tyres: Schwalbe Eddy Current, 29 x 2.6
- Special features: Belt drive, frame and motor made in Germany
EMTB summary of the new Nicolai Saturn 16 MGU
With the Saturn 16 MGU, Nicolai is presenting the first aluminium bike with the geared motor and, as is typical of the brand, caters to custom fans and fans of long geometries. The weight and price are high, but the unique look, the consistent heavy-duty approach and the promise of wear-free shifting should ensure that the Nicolai attracts a lot of attention. - Adrian Kaether, editor for BIKE and EMTB
Adrian Kaether
Editor
