Ticking nearly all the niche boxes at once, this prototype Nicolai fat bike is sure to cause a bit of a stir. The German engineers have combined the 18-speed Pinion bottom bracket gearbox technology with a fat bike frame and 120mm Carver suspension fork. Nicolai claims this is the world’s first gearbox fat bike.
Pinion’s gearbox bolts on to a suitably built frame, giving 18 gears.
Last weekend, Nicolai team rider, Frank Schneider aka ‘Schneidi’ met filmmaker Jan Zander to shred the Harz mountains. Is he riding the FAT Bike future? That’s what Nicolai is wondering.
We can only assume the bottle is full of rocket fuelBlue matching grips compulsory120mm upside down fork for snow bumps
The prototype of the Argon FAT is equipped with Pinion Gearbox, Gates Carbon Drive system and Carver Trans Fat fork. Enough of this, on with the video!
With 25 years as Editor of Singletrack World Magazine, Chipps holds the record for the longest-running mountain bike magazine editor in the world. He started in the bike trade in 1990 and became a full time mountain bike journalist at the start of 1994.
Chipps stepped down as Editor in April 2026 after 25 years at the helm. He's now wondering what to do next, while riding his bike in the French Pyrenees, where he also runs some gites.
nice, want one 🙂
Do like… But this is why you never do blue bits, no 2 bits will ever be the same blue, even if you’re nicolai.
Nice gearbox design, wonder how much that lot weighs ?
Have they redesigned the Pinion gearbox after the recent issues?
Really want this!!!
Hear that? That’s the sound of all the niche-mongers blasting into orbit with excitement.
Does look good though!
Which kidney would Nicolai like , looks great in orange .
Not niche enough. Needs a 29+ front wheel and a fat 650b rear.
🙂
I want one though.
Loco: what issues?
Actually… I’d love one of those.
*looks outside at the -15ºC and fresh powder.
Anyone know anything about the brakes? Looks like both front and rear brakes are operated from the left lever.