Friends of high CNC art, aficonados of aluminium porn and gravity fans, stand still! Nicolai presents its latest bike model - the G1. Six years after the manufacturer from Elze in Lower Saxony With the Ion G1, the MTB with probably the most radical enduro geometry in its portfolio, the German aluminium specialist is now presenting its successor. This highly customisable bike was created to provide gravity addicts with everything in one package.
Understanding the setting options
The new Nicolai G1 has been completely revised and modified in all areas compared to the previous model. With its design-orientated approach, Nicolai has equipped the G1 with a wide range of adjustment options. The company also offers a balanced basic setup for every frame size, which should meet the needs of the majority of riders. Extensive documentation is also available, making it easy for non-experts to optimise the riding geometry and setup.
Geolution - with the Nicolai G1 also applies: length runs
The G1 from NICOLAI uses the manufacturer's specific Geolution concept as the basis for its geometry. Put simply, Geolution means that a mountain bike should be faster, more stable and safer thanks to a slacker steering angle, longer reach and correspondingly longer wheelbase. The steep seat angle enables a central and comfortable riding position on the bike. Thanks to this geometry configuration, optimum load distribution between the front and rear wheels is guaranteed.
For the G1 2025 model, the Geolution principle has been revised to ensure consistent performance across the entire range of frame heights. The main dimensions - primarily the reach and stack values - have been optimised to fit modern enduro forks with a travel range of 170 - 180 mm. For example, the L-frame has a reach value of 500 mm and a stack value of 657 mm. The seat tube lengths have been reduced, while the insertion depth has been increased to allow the use of retractable seat posts with a longer stroke.
Nicolai G1: Mutators and the EXT Storia V4 damper
The G1 comes with the "mutators" developed by Nicolai, interchangeable rear adapters that make it possible to vary geometry, wheel size and shock length - others might just call them flip chips. The G1 was developed in co-operation between the Nicolai and Geometron Bikes (UK) brands, with support from suspension specialist EXT, whose new Storia V4 steel spring shock. Following its prototype presentation at the Sea Otter Festival 2024, it has now been integrated into a production bike for the first time.
With the help of the mutators, the G1 can not only be ridden as a 29er, 27.5er or mullet, but you can also choose between two shock lengths, which significantly varies the suspension travel. With a 230x65 mm shock, 162 or 175 mm of travel is available at the rear, while a 250x75 mm shock allows 182 or 200 mm of travel.
The innovative centrepiece of the G1 Enduro bike is the new EXT Storia V4 steel spring damper. The shock is designed to impress with its sensitivity, temperature stability and progressive hydraulic bottom-out protection. It is also equipped with a hydraulic top-out system that effectively prevents an undamped end stop. With spherical plain bearings, it enables complete decoupling of torsional loads. Depending on the damper size and setting, NICOLAI recommends an enduro suspension fork with 170 to 180 mm travel or a downhill double-bridge fork with 200 mm.
Anti-squat and climbing ability
Thanks to its Horst-Link rear triangle, which offers constant progression over the entire suspension travel, the Nicolai G1 can tackle uneven terrain sensitively while ensuring optimum grip and traction. With an anti-squat value of 100 % at 30 % sag in the lowest gear, the G1 enables compensation of the compression movement during acceleration, which should lead to efficient climbing and acceleration. Compared to the previous model, the anti-rise value has been reduced to 62 % at 30 % sag, which should lead to a more active chassis reaction when braking and increased traction.
Availability and prices
The Nicolai G1 offers the finest "Made in Germany" manufacturing quality. In addition, Nicolai offers a five-year guarantee against breakage and material failure - even during racing - as well as at least ten years of spare parts supply.
Due to the large number of tuning options, the G1 is not available in fixed equipment variants, but is primarily offered as a frame kit, which can be customised with individual equipment using a configurator on the Nicolai website.
The frame kit costs from 2949 euros.
In addition to the Nicolai G1 with derailleur gears presented here, the G1 GPI will also be available with a Pinion C1.12i gearbox, electronic Smart Shift gears and Gates Carbon Drive drivetrain in the course of the 2024 season.
The features of the Nicolai G1 in brief
- Geolution 2.0: Progressive, size-proportional Gravity and Enduro geometry
- Mutators: Mounted, interchangeable rear adapters for adapting geometry, wheel size and shock length
- HMT - Hollow Milled Tech: Hollow milled CNC components that combine maximum durability with minimum weight
- UDH Dropout: Reinforced rear derailleur mount on the rear axle according to UDH standard for SRAM T-Type rear derailleurs
- Thru Axle 148x12 Boost: Rear thru axle according to Boost standard
- Horst-Link: Drive-optimised and brake-neutral four-bar rear triangle
- Insert Bearings: Quadruple-sealed full complement enduro deep groove and angular contact ball bearings
- Extra Love: Powder and anodised colours, decors, customising, individualisation
- 5 frame sizes available: Proportional geometry and load-dependent modification
- 7020 T6 aluminium: Sustainable and durable
- NICOLAI welding technology - manufacturing quality made in Germany
- Warranty and spare parts supply 5-year warranty against breakage and material failure, even during racing - at least 10-year spare parts supply
Marc Strucken
Editor
