Anyone ridden the Mojo Nicolai yet?

Seeing as we're on page 26, I just though I'd drop in and say:

"Nope"

as I am clearly one of the few that hasn't ridden one!

Bloody would though 🙂 looks zarking fantastic. Sweet builds, peeps. Happy trails.

My frame is coming!! Went for the Raw Matt finish as, in the words of Vincent at Nicolai, you can take scotch brite wool to the frame to "refurbish" at any time! I have high hopes for this bike being the only one I need for enduros and big days out for a number of years!

Raw is good. Black easy to manage as well.

Top twip peeps, Halfords Matt Black car paint is an exact match, indiscernable in fact from the ano finish should you scrape it.

Don't forget clutch off guys and a small chain device 😆 unless of course you don't like the noise or you run a Sram mech, although you can reduce the power of the SRAM clutch.

I'm so happy peeps are happy!

fartymarty, it's a photo on flickr. I can make it public. you can see the link I think.

I ended up bumping into Bestie at the weekend.

If you're reading this and still weighing up your options on the 29er I have found XT 30t, 11-46 works for me on 27.5 and 29, although it'll obviously be heavy for less range compared to Eagle.

The other thing I didnt mention is I went for carbon wheels on the 29er. I think they pickup and track noticeably better than the Flows on the 27.5 bike. Fair enough the Flows haven't had an easy life but if I had to choose between a better groupset and the carbon wheels I would go for the wheels every time.

Thanks Shandy for the chat on Saturday and the chance to see your geometron. Its likely I will transfer my current groupset over from my stumpy initially and try a 11-46 cassette.
I have a set of carbon roval rims that I was going to get rebuild with hope evo 4 boost hubs - anyone any thoughts on these or any better options.

@singklespeedstu excellent work, glad you like it. feel free to provide feedback 🙂

Thanks Shandy for the chat on Saturday and the chance to see your geometron. Its likely I will transfer my current groupset over from my stumpy initially and try a 11-46 cassette.
I have a set of carbon roval rims that I was going to get rebuild with hope evo 4 boost hubs - anyone any thoughts on these or any better options.

No bother, its a shame mine wasn't even close to fitting or you could've had a lap on it. Swapping all that stuff over sounds like the way to go. Make sure you get the DFender as well, well worth the outlay.

I've had one of the demo g13 bikes in my garage for a couple of weeks now, and I have too admit, I really like it.
It's not as wierd as I thought it would be, takes a bit of adjustment, but Christ, it's fast

Greetings all. As you can see from my screen name, I am Scott in Arizona.

Normally I wouldn't join a UK forum, but since this is the only good thread I found regarding my future bike, I thought I would sign up.

I have been patiently waiting several months for my 2017 G16 to arrive. All of the necessary components have been purchased and are collecting dust.

Hopefully my next post will be about how wonderful it looks in person.
I've never seen or ridden a Nicolai, but I have lusted after them for some years now.

After I discovered the Geometron collaboration with Mojo, it proved irresistible and I had to place an order.

Scottarizona I don't think you will be dissapointed. I know the G16s are in transit to Mojo so it shouldn't be long...

[img] [/img]

My frame is coming!! Went for the Raw Matt finish as, in the words of Vincent at Nicolai, you can take scotch brite wool to the frame to "refurbish" at any time!

I really do fancy a geometron for my next bike in a year or so,but they really are ugly and ungainly looking.

Not sure if the ones in the recent pictures in this thread are extra large and whether the smaller sizes would look more in proportion. What size is the one in the pic above this post?

Duir that's a thing of beauty!!

I'm a long way off buying a new Nicolai, but the Geometron looks amazing, I love the way the rear triangle looks so small, another 3or4 years and I hopefully will get one. Until then the Helius will have to do, bloody love it, and the Matt black Halfords tip is great, will be trying that out shortly, thanks Chainline.

I really do fancy a geometron for my next bike in a year or so,but they really are ugly and ungainly looking.

Not sure if the ones in the recent pictures in this thread are extra large and whether the smaller sizes would look more in proportion. What size is the one in the pic above this post?

Can't agree with the ugly comment, to me they are works of art and I like the way they do not look like anything else. You need to see one in the flesh to appreciate they are a thing of beauty. The Geometron is unique, original, massively durable and fit for purpose. Looks are always in the eye of the beholder but to me the soulless lookalike "pick one from a catalogue in Taiwan then pass it off as your own design" crap the industry keeps churning out is the very definition of ugly. That said good on you for deciding what your next bike will be based on something other than looks!

The one above was a custom Geometry version when I got it a year ago which is a standard longest except for the seat tube which was 460mm and a lot shorter than the longest at the time to lower the top tube. Now I see that the latest G16 longest is identical geometry to my custom one so looks like it caught on!

Duir that's a thing of beauty!!

I really do fancy a geometron for my next bike in a year or so,but they really are ugly and ungainly looking.

Not sure if the ones in the recent pictures in this thread are extra large and whether the smaller sizes would look more in proportion. What size is the one in the pic above this post?

Other than fancying one, I agree, the 650b bikes look like a total abberation in my eyes. It's not even like I don't appreciate a nice Nicolai, hell, i've owned a couple.

The 29" G13 looks much more proportionate in my eyes. It's not pretty, but it's not an eye bleach moment.

The G13 is probably a bit more relevant as well IMO 🙂

The 29" bikes do look more in proportion (and therefore less harsh on the eye) than the 650b bikes.

I reckon the 650b bikes look marginally better in the smallest two sizes, and luckily for me I would probably go for the second smallest size.

I suspect I will end up with one (prob 650b as I dont want to have to buy new wheels/fork ) at some point in the next 12 months, unless someone else produces something with similar geometry, but better looking.

Choice of bike shouldnt be based on looks alone, but it would be nice to be able to like how it looks as well as how it rides.

Anyway keep the geometron info/reviews/pics coming, always interesting to see other bikes.

Other than fancying one, I agree, the 650b bikes look like a total abberation in my eyes.

After owning the Geometron for a year it just looks like a normal long bike to me.

@duir

Are you on Raise there? Looks like Helvellyn in the background. This is the only bike i'd look to for a replacement. No point going for another version of the same thing and i trust it would survive a long time. Plus it's not conforming to any trend which exempts it from any fashion or consumer BS.
I bet it eats descents?

I like the 650b version, but there again I like a lot of custom motorbikes that look stretched (not choppers, more with compact and very clean mid/fronts. I like the fact it does look so long and low.

The 'notso-long' size will look right in 650b.. 😉

In my opinion, the main reason people find these bikes to be unattractive is because they are accustomed to seeing short wheel base, steep head angle, carbon fiber or hydro-formed frames.
In five years these frames may appear to be quite average.

Again IMO, form should always follow function and that is how these frames are designed. The true beauty is in the function, the superficial beauty is in the details of the construction, such as the beautiful CNC machining and immaculate welds.

The ultimate attraction of these frames is how they perform, and that is why I bought one.

@doorag

Are you on Raise there? Looks like Helvellyn in the background. This is the only bike i'd look to for a replacement. No point going for another version of the same thing and i trust it would survive a long time. Plus it's not conforming to any trend which exempts it from any fashion or consumer BS.
I bet it eats descents?

Well spotted. I always chuckle when people think the Geometron is for fire road climbs/uplifts and downhill tracks. It's superb for huge mountain days with thousands of feet of climbing and high mileage because it is very efficient.

In my opinion, the main reason people find these bikes to be unattractive is because they are accustomed to seeing short wheel base, steep head angle, carbon fiber or hydro-formed frames.
In five years these frames may appear to be quite average.

Again IMO, form should always follow function and that is how these frames are designed. The true beauty is in the function, the superficial beauty is in the details of the construction, such as the beautiful CNC machining and immaculate welds.

The ultimate attraction of these frames is how they perform, and that is why I bought one.

That's the beauty of opinions & all the associated cliche's 🙂

We all like something different.

I still it's great there are people who are prepared to push the boundaries with setups, without people going too far to find things don't work, progression never occurs.

I've ridden one & it was too much for me. The G13 is worth a go I think. I don't know though. I've got friends & friends of friends who bought one (love a fad!) professed to be faster yet the race results prove otherwise. For all the dogmatic praise, i'm yet to see people jumping up the results lists after swinging a leg over one.

I see the real benefit for tall people, being able to get a bike in proportion to the rest of us.

Duir I think that's the most beuatiful thing I have ever laid eyes on! Cannot wait to get riding on it now!

And to those who think it isn't beautiful, well, you're just jealous ain't you

For all the dogmatic praise, i'm yet to see people jumping up the results lists after swinging a leg over one.

I see the real benefit for tall people, being able to get a bike in proportion to the rest of us.

I did not buy it to improve my race results, since I don't race.
However, a better handling bike should improve the safety of the rider, allowing him to go faster safer.

I bought it for the fit, function and fun factor, all of which should be a massive improvement over my current bike.

At 183cm I am not huge, but I have never had a proper fit on a MTB.

If I find it to be "too much" for my local trails (doubtful), then I am sure it will be "just right" at the bike parks.

I've ridden one & it was too much for me

I see the real benefit for tall people

At just over 6ft 3 my XL G13 is the first bike that feels like it fits properly. Broadly speaking I also think it rides brilliantly and I haven't noticed the additional length on the slow, super tight nadgery corners where I thought I would. It has also made me a fair bit faster (strava and mates say so) which I suspect is down to me feeling more comfortable on the bike as I have a much bigger sweet spot to move my weight around when descending. So for me it is a great bike and I've always wanted a Nicolai due to the Germanic industrial look. For what its worth here's a gratuitous pic where I think it looks in proportion :wink:....

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The g13's look fine to me,proportions are correct,it's the g16 that just doesn't look right to me

Before I ask Mojo does anyone know if the demo fee is refundable against a frame purchase or is it just a full bike?

Just drop Mojo a line and tell them exactly what you are interested in and how/when you would like to demo. They are very straightforward and easy to deal with.

I ended up getting frame, forks, headset both times. I would suggest getting both ends of the bike set up by Mojo.

IIRC fee is refundable against frame/shock, frame/shock fork or full bike. Paul will tell you.

Great, thanks guys.

Confirmed by CP. Demo fee is refundable against any combination of frame/shock, frame/shock/fork or full bike.

Looks like I'll be booking a demo for Spring then 🙂

duir - Member

That's one of the many misconceptions of the design. The only advantage to tall people is a decent reach and XL/XXL sizes.

Yah, but that's a massive (er, pun not intended) deal. Last year ChrisL of this parish was on a mission to find a new #enduro sled and tbh XL sizing is just a total pisstake with many brands. He rode a Mojo HD and had 445mm reach ffs, it was almost exactly the same size as my medium Trailfox and as tall as it was long.

Even where a brand has a decent medium they often have stupid size increments so the seatpost gets 2 inches longer and the bike gets 15mm longer and so the bigger the size you get the further back in time you travel.

If you're in the middle you get a bit more flexibility at least, I just went up a size frinstance, and you get more choice and generally better sizing in the first place. But the XL guys are boned.

So I've got an XL G16 for sale if anyone is interested. Anything between the complete bike and frame and rear shock (as the rest of the parts I can reuse). Lightly used and well looked after.

Great looking build - Raw frame (with orange parts), XT gearing/CrossMax wheels/Hope brakes and finishing kit (in orange of course). Drop me a line for more details.

I'm split between the Mojo G16 and a Turner RFX.

I'm running a 26" 5 Spot at the moment. It's a large and at 5' 10 and having short legs and long body, it's probably a touch too big (feels big). I can't really upgrade it due to the straight head tube so it's museum piece now.

I like Turner's geo, and the customer service, plus I used to work just outside Temecula, so I'm a fanboi.....

So, I'm a rider used to a stretched position, used to being "cab forward".

I'm waffling.

What I'm asking is - how does it ride compared to a 5 Spot, which is a Swiss army knife of a bike?

...and is it worth going frame and shock, then transplanting a lot of the Turner kit, or the full bike?

Thanks

Yah, but that's a massive (er, pun not intended) deal.

At 6' I find the longest size with its 520mm reach feels like exactly the right riding position for my height yet it is 74mm longer than my previous Nicolai! However you will never convince everyone and there will always be some that form an opinion based on the geometry or the looks but there seems to be very few people that demo one and don't buy one!

At 6' I find the longest size with its 520mm reach feels like exactly the right riding position for my height

These are reassuring words.

@Simon, did it not work for you or just time for a change? Just interested, feedback is always welcome to consider both improvement and in understanding people's differing perspectives.

Even if we are lucky enough to have a number of bikes to choose from most of us want/need "one bike to rule them all" - the default bike that's the one you'd take on a trip where theres a mix of riding or you don't know what the riding will be. All bikes have strengths and weaknesses. I know I can ride and enjoy the stuff the G does really well on a bike I find more rewarding on the stuff it (in my view) is not so good on. Other people's priorities will be different.

simons_nicolai-uk, what's the stuff it's no so good on mate? Interested to hear your experience having loved with the bike for a while.

What kind of riding are Geometron owners doing? You doing serious mileage in backcountry pedal fests or smashing berms on DH tracks?

Any videos available?

You ever take it off any sweet jumps?
[img] [/img]

I ride allsorts on mine, raced it dh and enduro, big mountain days and everything inbetween. Can't fault it on anything really only thing I'd have is a bottle cage mount.

Some more videos and pics in my Instagram

View this post on Instagram

Just wondering, but given how long these are, do they fit on a thule 591 roof rack?

What kind of riding are Geometron owners doing?

All sorts for me, big days out in the mountains, xc blasts at Trail Centres, uplift days at BPW and similar, Finale uplifts, 24hr XC course in Finale. It's my one bike except for my CX bike that doubles as a road bike/local bridleway basher.

what's the stuff it's no so good on mate?

When we’re selling Nicolai’s I always try to steer people to the right bike for them and I think it's all in this thread if you read back through. I found it happiest when it is was ridden fast downhill or pointing straight up the fall line to get back to the top of a run. It works well enough at trail centres where the singletrack climbs tend to be fairly open and if they have some tricker sections they're shorter features you can go up and over rather than being extended techy climbs.

Where it really suffers is in tight and slow tech, whether up or down - it’s not the bike for “trials" style riding.

I tried it for long days out and flatter terrain and for me it's definitely not the right tool for the job on those - but as other have said, you *can* ride it on those in a way you couldn't on other bikes with the descending capability of the G. I enjoy the climbs as well, this bike climbs but it isn’t about that.

Nicolai's usage chart is honest about this - it's an Enduro/Gravity bike that's will stretch to a bit of 'all mountain’.

Interesting stuff, good to have some different points of view rather than us over enthusiastic owners who never complain!

I have found the Geometron to be exceptional on slow tech climbs. I believe this is because of its stability due to a long wheel base and long chainstay which allow the constant laying down of power without traction loss or the slack front end coming up.

If I was to give some criticism I have always found the Fox 36 to be harsh considering its a 180mm fork. I find it particularly harsh on long rough descents in the first part of its travel. The forks are off at Mojo just now and will hopefully come back much better. The X2 however is a dream!

I was also having some difficulty with front end grip on steep tech descents. I had put this down to the fork not being quite right and the slack head angle but I recently took the spacer out from under the stem and ran the stem right up against the headset. I could also have run lower rise bars instead of the 30mm rise ones but the spacer removal was miles cheaper. I couldn't believe the difference this made and I finally seemed to find the legendary geometron grip!

Its a bike that is very sensitive to setup and a lot of time needs to spent getting it to ride how you want it to. I could have saved myself a year of tinkering by doing a mojo demo day!

I must say though i'm loving mine on uplift days and local descents* I am finding it very slow on local flat trails and kind of draggy on fire road type climbs.
It has however got a vertstar supergravity magic mary on the front and the same tyre in trailstar on the rear.
Maybe that's what's dragging it down a bit?
Think I need to try some other tyres for local stuff.

*Which is my main reason for buying the bike and I have other bikes for more XC local rides.

The wait is literally killing me now!

Stu TBH I have a supergravity Magic Mary on the front of my blur LTC and it is most definitely super-draggy. But coming down it's like I can properly attack the trail instead of going into sections with uncertainty as to how the tyre will react. All about balance of what you need it for I reckon. I won't keep it on in the summer though as I think I will go with the evo trailstar. But for winter slop..

It's all in the wheels and tyres, I currently use a Baron Projekt 2.4 rear and Magic Mary snakeskin 2.35 front for winter and it feels pretty sprightly. Have not found a need for anything heavier on the front even on the rockiest terrain but the rear tyre needs to be tough. I would ditch the SG casings and go for something lighter, my combination has held up on the rockiest Lakes descents all winter with no issues so will cope with uplift days no problem.

That said, it's a big travel, aluminium bike with 62 degree head angle so it's never going to sprint up the fire road! So loosing a few 100g off the wheels in rolling mass will make a huge difference.

What wheels are you running?

Flow mk3 on Pro4 hubs.
Not the lightest but should be up to uplifting dutys.

I got a reduced pair of Blue AM wheels in the Superstar sale so am now blinging the grey and blue all over! Never been this ponsonified with a bike!!

Just taken the vertstar off the front and swapped the trailstar from the rear to the front. Fitted the only other 650B tyre I had to the rear.
The accelerate up and down the road test seems a lot more responsive like that.
Think I'll save the vertstar for uplift days.

I also found the Mavic Crossmax XLs make a huge difference. I tried the bike with a Hope/DT 471 wheelset and it felt really draggy so I guess the fancy wheels translate to being super efficient. Thats a real shame as I hate fancy wheels with silly spokes and only really bought them because of the 2 year insurance that Mavic do not do anymore.

I'm in the polar opposite camp to Simon on the tech stuff, particularly climbing, I find it amazing at tech climbing, tight or not, steeper the better, and yes tyres make a huge difference to grip rolling.
Same on flatter stuff, I love how it feels and my fun is often derived from how hard I can drive it round a corner and in generating that front end grip.

I spend a lot of the year on a semi slick rear riding it like Colin McRae in an Impreza in Sweet Lamb, as long as the front wheel is facing in the right direction it'll be reet

But I also agree that it, like every other product, is not for everyone, we all ride differently or have particular aspects of bikes we prefer. I think as long as people are honest with themselves about that, it's all good. It's often easy to feel like you should like whatever is being touted this week, plus tyres, ebikes, fat bike. It's also ok to try these things, see if it works and if it doesn't to change. That's called choice!

Slight tangent but since people are here maybe you can clear things up...

Where does Nicolai UK sit in all this because it seems I either go to Mojo or Nicolai direct depending on what variation I'm after.

^^^ I bought my G13 (which I understand is a Nicolai bike rather than Geometron per se) through Mojo if that confuses you any more 😀 Even more confusing is that it also has Geometron on the seat stays! The benefit for me was that by getting it through Mojo I had a huge amount of help from one of their guys local to me in setting up the suspension which was a huge plus.

It almost seems like if you want a black one go to Mojo, any thing else comes via Nicolai direct

Nicolai now distribute direct and Nicolai-UK are a retailer, as is Mojo (the Nicolai-UK name came from when we were acting as UK disty).

Nicolai will also sell to you direct from their website but the price will basically be the same whoever you buy from. As will warranty cover.

The Geometron name refers to the long/low/slack geometry - Nicolai use it in their catalogue and on their website. Mojo's "special edition" of the G16 is a degree slacker and has a slightly lower/shorter seattube (if the geometry charts are accurate). I'm sure you can get one from Mojo in whatever colour you want if you're prepared to wait but probably only carry stock in black.

Blackand raw from MOJO but yes any colour, custom etc as per retailer.
The MOJO GeoMetron(G16) in addition to the changes Simon mentions also was planned to have a different (83mm) BB width and (must check), wider bearing placement which was the reason for the BB change proposal to widen the bearings to the same place as on the GPI (which was the inspiration) for improved stiffness (not that it wasn't/isn't stiff enough) and to allow more heel clearance with a Boost rear end and straight chainstays.
I'll see Chris at the weekend and check if that did happen. Essentially the same BB as the G19 but that bike doesnt (yet) have the ST angle and remains as per mainstream DH bikes.

So I can get any Nicolai from Nicolai direct or one of their retailers but I can only get a Geometron from Mojo... That's much clearer.

Now all I need is enough to buy a mildly custom Saturn.

So I can get any Nicolai from Nicolai direct or one of their retailers but I can only get a Geometron from Mojo... That's much clearer.

As for waiting for custom colours etc I was very surprised how quickly mine came in from Nicolai it was under 8 weeks where my last Nicolai was 3.5 months!!!

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That's my G13 in it's natural habitat. I went with the float and 34 build and I don't regret it. The 34's are super stiff in 140 length. similar to the 160 pikes i had on my last bike. Every time I ride it, it just keeps getting better!

Blimey mate that's a stunning pic!

Cheers Wookster! It was on a Lakes hikeabike over Fairfield and down Great Tongue. We weren't really expecting the foot and a half deep snow and whiteout on the peak! Was worth it though for the epic single track to finish!

So I have just had an email from Nicolai to say my Geometron frame is going to be delayed by 6 weeks 😥 What do folk think i should do? Wait? Try and get one of the ready to ship G-16's? Go somewhere else? I have Vallelujah in about 6 weeks so i was hoping to have a bigger bike than my Blur before then. I have all the parts but the frame ready to go on a 27.5 beast..

If you ordered from Nicolai direct, then give mojo a call as they just had a big delivery and have quite a few frames in stock at the moment.

Thanks Wiggles i've emailed them. Will they just send a frame and shock or do you have to go and do the test thing?

No they sell frames with shocks & forks etc as bundles now. They will get back to you with what is available but there were plenty a few days ago

Speedstar, they will also set up the shock for you based on weight/anticipated riding style.

There is one BUT in that the Mojo frame has an 83mm BB to allow wider bearing spacing, straight chain stays, more tyre clearance and more heal clearance.

If you have a Hope crankset ready to go thats easy as you can just swop spindle over. Mojo do good deals on Hope with a frame if thats the case. Otherwise you may need a different crank to suit.

6 weeks is a lot even for Nicolai but I know they are buried in orders at the moment and trying to get the EBOXX3 out. Not an excuse.

Someone earlier in this thread said they's had a Nicolai on test for a month or so, perhaps see if you can get the same to ease the wait.

or buy the Mojo one and benefit from the changes 😀 word on the street 😉

Although if it's ordered there may be a cancellation charge I guess.

HI folks,

Thanks for your replies. It was a production order so no money has changed hands. I'm sorry but 6 weeks extra is not acceptable from a customer service perspective. They really need to not promise the earth if they can't deliver. I am interested in the MOJO frames although I have all the kit ready to go for the frame that was supposed to be delivered by the 16th.

I have bought a Mondraker XR frame instead and will be cancelling the Geometron sadly. Chainline, people just don't have the time to wait around forever for things. If a company promises something then it needs to deliver. I'm really very disappointed as I genuinely believe the Geometron was going to be amazing but, given that at the time of order the frame was supposedly "in stock," I have already waited well over a month and that would be 3 months by the time it was delivered. Not a good outcome.

Sure I saw a Nicolai social media post this morning saying they has loads of G16s in stock

Hi Chainline, just wanted to say I'm bloody loving the G13! After a bit of research, I discovered the rear shock is a 190 x 51 which is just a reduced stroke 190 x 57 shock? Is there a reason why the travel at the rear is limited to 133mm by the reduced stroke? Was it purely as that was what was discovered to ride best? On rough calculations a 57mm stroke would give 148mm. I personally don't think it needs anymore travel but just wondered. Thanks. R.

Well Honourablegeorge, it seems that MOJO are also the victim of this 6-week extension. Really poor customer service as I was promised twice very recently that the frame would be with me around the 16th February. I'm really disappointed but I can't wait around as I have all the parts waiting to go on and enduro's to train for. It's just not what I expected from a company like Nicolai..

It's just not what I expected from a company like Nicolai

My last two Nicolai's I ordered then tried to forget about delivery dates and got on with my life, which is very different to buying a mass produced bike from a large batch manufacturer. Just think in 6 weeks when you would have been getting your Geometron you will be changing a full set of tiny Mondraker bearings instead!!! 😀