Nicolai Helius AC – Long Term Test
Mark finally gets his long termer test bike out of the door
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Posted on: July 23, 2010
32 responses
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Sure youy’ve spotted this already but the damper is currently set in the shortest travel setting, not the longest.
The longest travel is the top hole and the shortest the bottom.
And that is a ‘C’ not a ‘K’.
Either way will be interested in your thoughts on this – have 3 Nicolai’s in my garage and an AC frame in the box ready to build.
Looks tiny and theres no brace on the top tube, is it a small or custom size even?
I test ride one a while back and found its really important to get the shock just right otherwise it feels wallowy and you get pedal strikes.
This and Matt’s Blur are on my short list, so this one will be followed with interest.
I’m Nicolai’s biggest fan but that is minging! sorry Mike and Simon. The hugeo mech makes it look cack too. Holy crap, £1700, behave!!!
Looks short, tall and insanely steep. EEUGH!
Is the rear mech bolted to the mech hanger properly? It looks as if the rear mech should be in more forward(/downward) position than it appears here. Shadow mechs do seem to have a tendency to twist back when you tighten them up
Or is it because its 10speed?
geetee.. yup, spotted that as soon as I sat on it and rode out the car park. It’s been put in it’s ‘correct’ full travel position now
Looks nice Love the paint scheme, are Nicolai smoothing out those lovely fishscale welds now, or is it just the picture
No – just received my 4th Nic and it still has the trademark welds. Stand out even more if you go anodized.
Do Fox not angle stanchions relative to the crown? All the offset is in the dropouts?
Though Rock Shox seem to just achieve offset from the dropout, so perhaps Fox are the same.
I’d like to know what it’s like in the other travel settings, so do you fancy playing about with that, just for me?
Small travel for local stuff and bigger travel for uplift days and Alps trips.
I will be playing about with the travel settings so I’ll let you know what happens
Good point Brant, shouldn’t head angle be measured on the actual head tube to avoid these discrepancies?
shouldn’t head angle be measured on the actual head tube to avoid these discrepancies?
That doesn’t work if you have a lumpy head badge (or a tapered head tube)
Might be the angle of the photo of course but it looks tall and steep to me. Not something to take to the Alps with uplift on offer.
The headtube is parallel to stanchions.. I measured both. Both read the same 69 degrees. I took the photo on the stanchions because, as Chipps said, it’s a smoother surface due to the head badge.
Must be a small based on the top tube length and lack of brace.
Are your other long term tests on this size bike?
I’m 5’6″ and I’ve ridden quite a few bikes that I’ve preferred in small.
‘I’m 5′6″ and I’ve ridden quite a few bikes that I’ve preferred in small.’
That’ll be because at 5’6″ you are small.
Small bikes are great
simple unfussy suspension designs are great
like a lot
“That’ll be because at 5′6″ you are small.”#
Yes! A truism
“That’ll be because at 5′6″ you are small.”
Yes but hung like a donkey by all accounts.
Someone called Dave told me befor you ask.
That is a terrible pic of the bike! Makes the head angle look ridiculous!
Much better here:
http://www.nicolai.net/products/e-frames/e-helius-ac.html#heliusac
I have one of these and I love it!!
You’ll love it!
Seat looks a bit big and fat though!
The saddle (seat?) is a WTB Lazer. Quite common and very comfy. It does look a bit big though on this bike although it doesn’t on my Sanderson. I reckon it’s the telescopic seatpost and the narrowness of the top section which makes it look slightly out of proportion.
looking forward to your comments – my AM is a stunning bike, but too much for normal duties – considerinjg an AC [for a while] now.
Not sure why you would both changing from or getting an AC if you have an AM. Seems like a waste of money given that you can drop the AM to 130mm travel.
@dirtynap – it’s more about shedding the weight, but agree, it’s unlikely i’ll downsize.
can we get some feedabck please ? any increased pedal strike ?