Anyone ridden the Mojo Nicolai yet?

That's odd, my post was in reply to a message that's gone missing. There was someone linking to a bike for sale on EBay that was ~£4K.

The X2 is a great shock though, agree on that!

Noticed that too Hob Nob. Maybe a moderator deemed it as spam or something.

5'10 on a medium today , cockpit same as my medium Five in terms of length but massive increase in wheel base and reach.
Suspension set up was incredible and consequently grip was staggering.
The most amazing thing was, you just rode it, and never really thought about the bike!! It just did everything well.
One hell of a bike, deviant geometry .......hell yeah !!and it works.
Get out there and try one, the future is here already!!

Thanks to everyone that turned up. Despite pretty dreadful weather it was busy both days. For both Chris and Nicolai.

I don't work for either but help out due to a technical background and a long association and involvement in feedback so its good to be able to talk to people from an (average) riders perspective.

Interesting to see some serious racers with access to their equipment come along, ride the geometron and, get back post ride with a massive smile and go away wondering how they could make it happen.

A few Enduro 29 riders along too..

I was chatting to the Nicolai guys about their factory enduro rider Daniel, he didn't want to change bikes mid season so has been riding his std bike. Now the season is over he tested the Geometron geometry back to back and on ride 1 found himself 17secs faster on a single run....

I don't race now, but I think it gives an indication of the confidence and feedback you get to push further than you might otherwise.

I'd agree with catvet's descripotion, well put, you forget about the bike and just focus on the trail, very liberating.

Chainlin: if you are who I think you are, thanks for the chat after I gave it a test ride. Also did ever get that head light working?

I too can vouch for the fact that, you just concentrate on picking a better line. you don't have time to worry about if your about to loose grip etc. Because you wont you wont!!!

Thanks Paul, I am and I did fix the headlight! For a 10min job it took about 4 hours due to chatting.

I think there will be a lot more demo days. it's clearly a bike that needs to be ridden to make a any kind of decision and it's character not judged on paper.

It doesn't really matter if someone doesn't like it or think it's for them. If they go away able to articulate to others a real experience of riding it and (hopefully) dispel the myths of it being only a DH bike or that it won't go around tight corners, won't pedal well etc. it's worth it.

Also its possible to chat about the options, the fact you can choose to configure it with less travel if you want or try it with super light wheels to see if it works for you like that before committing.

Chainline,

I hope you dont mind, I have dropped you an email to the account in your profile.

Regards

James

No problem.

Chainline, it's Rik who was chatting to you first thing on Saturday. Thanks for the heads up about the event and your time on Sat. Thought you might be interested to know I've placed my order!

I think for me, I'm going to need to go for a proper demo on it ideally in drier conditions so I can really get handle on how the bike feels in more familiar conditions.

Actually though, thinking about it now, in those terrible conditions the unfamiliar geometron was much less work/more predictable than my own bike which I'd been riding there for several hours before my test ride.

Would be god to get a Scottish demo day opportunity - long way to go for a demo even if it is much more technical/rigorous than the normal process.

So has ridden the following/uprising as well as a geometron ?

Some testing by the dirt lads recently put up on Instagram...

[IMG] [/IMG]

[url= https://instagram.com/p/96nxc3jZci/ ]https://instagram.com/p/96nxc3jZci/[/url]

Still want one tho! 😉

How did the whyte do in the dirt test?

Rik, excellent, You wont regret it.

I could wade in on this, especially on plus tyres having used them on various bikes for a while but I won't. It's too easy.

Suffice to say all such tests are flawed clickbait and rolls faster yet grips better defies the laws of physics. They foster mtb tribalism, which the community is so good at. I assume that the next full fat bike full suss will do that even more? Or will it be too much...just like 29ers were when they came out...

Ride some bikes, pick one that you love and suits you and makes you feel good, ride it a lot. When it no longer makes you feel good and want to ride it, find another one...

Interesting change to Dirt Instagram post. Name changed to Nicolai tailor made frame, GeoMetron name removed. I understand they had a frame made to mimic a long Sanction but lower/slacker various changes and it didn't quite work as hoped.....

I didn't think the Geometron had been handed out for such a test...

Chainline - the 27.5 Ion, they now offer a "short seat tube" option, so you can size up, but have the same seat tube length. Have you ridden that?

Have 26" Ion I love, am always tempted to get the bigger wheels, and keep mulling over that extra reach option

honourablegeorge. Kinda, its like my previous version of the Ion, my custom. But the 'short seat tube' is just a removal of the gussets and a cut off extension. I dropped the whole top tube and made the ETT longer too. Other than that my last one was a std Ion 650b

lowering the TT and keeping gussets is still custom.

I'd be tempted to change to geometron linkage lever if I was going custom but wanted the rest of the Ion to be standard to improve pedalling without a platform and to make it a bit more progressive to match an air shock. unless you were going coil of course in which case the current curve is bonza. Well the current curve is bonza but I like the firmer platform at sag point offered by the Gtron linkage.

Yeah - I'm not sure the budget would stretch to custom, so the short seat tube was attractive for just 100 Euro, versus 700 for custom. Didn't realise it involved removing the gussets - I quite like them, with the detailing. Do you have a pic, by any chance?

Didn't know the linkage could be changed, that's interesting. Bt if it involves the full custom upcharge, it's probably not for me.

29 and gearbox versions now as well. That should interest more people.

If I have the money available when the time comes to retire my current bike the Geometron is on my list of replacements. But then I guess it'll depend how my riding has evolved and changed by then (I might have retired to a fat bike by then).

Tom Kp

29er not available. Built only for a purpose at the moment, to show that the same geo doesn't really transfer over directly but it may backfire with 29er fans loving it......
Gearbox has been available for a little while. I may get one to make available as a demo bike as an excuse!

FWIW I've had a 29er Ion15 since the start of the year (replaced a 26" Helius AM) and it is faultless.

The only thing that holds me back is me, in terms of bottle, and skills both on the bike and (to lesser extent) setting up.

It's light, climbs well, almost never needing the shock to be locked out, and it descends ridiculously well.

Way out of my price range and even if I could afford it I doubt a mincer like me would really benefit but I'd love to demo the 29er

Thanks digga 😉 The Ion15 was my baby, joint design with me and Marcel. and I agree, still one of my favourite bikes.

I actually preferred my proto with slightly longer chainstays, but thats being picky. it's a stunning all round bike.

I keep telling myself that the longer I suffer and persevere on my steel hardtail, the tricker and more expensive I can go when I get back on a modern bike.

I was just a bit disillusioned with posh, off the shelf superbikes that promise the world, get amazing reviews, then turn out to be flawed and underwhelming. Also I didn't really want to look at any new bikes until the industry decided what a mountain bike actually is again.

I feel like the Geometron kind of bypasses a lot of the industry B.S.
If I can get to a demo day I will make the effort but I'm in the northeast so FOD is a mission.

sharkattack, I think Chris may well do some more Demo days after the success of the FoD, particularly oop North. I too would like to see that.

In the mean time, I've been thinking how demo's can be made more available and for people to ride on terrain they are familiar with but in a cost effective manner for all concerned.

I've generally offered my bike, if the right size, and to visit but obviously thats a bit dependent on my life/schedule since I've kids and a day job. Clearly it also costs me money, the flip side is meeting new people and riding new places and the enjoyment of seeing and helping someone enhance their riding experience. It also helps to get feedback.

It's been a good while since I've visited and ridden Dalby....

I'm not sure the industry will decide, its gone bonkers again with standards and tyre sizes..At least, within reason you can retrofit changes to a Nic and replace with new parts e.g. axle standards, dropouts, levers and rear end. or even front triangle in some cases.

@chainline do you know anything about the Argon Semi Fat proto with the same geometry?

That has me intrigued.

Having spent 24 hours trying to do a deal on a seemingly cheap private 2nd hand one, and emailing chainline with infinate inane questions I will be going for a new one.

Just arranging a days riding with Chainline to get a feel for the bike. His passion and knowledge for this stuff is infectious. A true credit to the industry (that he does for the love of it)

Really like the reviews this bike is getting, but the only thing I think it lacks is space for a water bottle. Is there room or mounts?

rotton, its one of the reasons some people still go for a Helius, to fit a bottle. You could fit mounts below as a custom option. I think on the current Longest there would be room to fit one on the bottom of the top tube, not sure how that would work though. No room on the long/longer.

BiGMAN Ill ask about the argon

Chainline - Member

At least, within reason you can retrofit changes to a Nic and replace with new parts e.g. axle standards, dropouts, levers and rear end. or even front triangle in some cases.

You can't retrofit a 27.5 rear end to a 26" though, unfortunately

(Unless you know different...in which case I'd be interested to hear about it)

@Chainline - I asked them directly this am and it seems it might be a future thing and to go back to them in April.

Either that or it's a custom thing.

Chainline - Member

Thanks digga The Ion15 was my baby, joint design with me and Marcel. and I agree, still one of my favourite bikes.

Here's mine BTW:

[img] [/img]

@Digga I do love the semi yellow and red finish. Yes, that's me.

There's a medium on eBay.

There is Mugboo. a young man who changes his bikes rather regularly I think, makes me look like an amateur!

I've now ridden the longest version of this, admittedly only up the car park and back but at least it's something. I was surprised how normal it felt, I was expecting it to feel really odd especially as that's the biggest one they make and I'm only 5.10ish but I could see me getting on with it just fine.

That's exactly how I felt on one. I went to the demo and timed several runs, then went back on my current bike; mojo was consistently faster, felt more stable and confidence inspiring.

That's exactly how I felt on one. I went to the demo and timed several runs, then went back on my current bike; mojo was consistently faster, felt more stable and confidence inspiring.

Taking speed and timing out of the equation, if big brands started doing similar geo bikes it's not as if it's a wild difference for people to get used to. It's just a pity I don't have the cash and there's nothing particularly similar at lower prices

Anyone know the weight of the frames? I'm not a weight weenie but I'll be looking for a new bike in the near future and the Geometron is on my list. It ticks all the boxes I'm looking for: Very slack, long front, no silly short seat stays and no fancy suspension system.

I'm currently on an Orange Alpine (26) and not sure whether to get another newer one, something with less travel like a Five or the Geometron. Just trying to decide what sort of riding I'll be doing for them next 3-5 years after I buy it.

Tom KP.

He didn't tell us the weight and pointed out that heavier bikes have better sprung to unsprung mass ratios explaining how in the past he's filled some frames with lead weights and had better results with them than lighter ones.

Also considering it's much longer than a lot of frames it's not going to be light is it because it's simply got more material in it.

Having said that, it felt lighter than my 32lbs hardtail but I didn't have it to hand to do a proper comparison.

Was that the longest he had there on Friday then?

I think so, it was his bike so whatever he rides, said it should suit people 5.11 to 6.3 but he's thinking of doing a fourth size even longer however Nicolai are reluctant to make the chainstays any longer so it'd be a bit of a compromise at the back end.

I'm not too bothered about weight (within reason), current bike is 35lbs and I like how it doesn't seem to get deflected offline compared to some lighter bikes I've ridden. But it's more about having to winch a heavy bike up long climbs.

He says the steepness of the seat angle and the seat position make it climb better than most bikes and as before, it'll not be a lightweight frame as its simply got more material in it than most.

Standard 2013 Nicolai Ion 16 frame is 7.08lbs/3.2 kg (Size M, black anodize, w/o shock [url= http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Nicolai-Ion-16-review-2013.html ]http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Nicolai-Ion-16-review-2013.html[/url]...

Cheers. Like I said, weight isn't the decider, but no matter how well designed a bike is if it's a proper porker it'll effect climbing on a long ascent. 3.2(ish) plus shock doesn't sound too bad to me for a long travel frame so it's still in the running (not much more than a Transition Covert). As I said, I don't tend to race up climbs, they're mainly there to get me to the top for the fun stuff.

Tom KP

With such a slack head angle, how would putting on a high rise handlebar affect the riding postion?

Like many have said here , climbs nicely and amazing at high speed on the way down,
did not have much time to get used to it but found tight turns a bit weird though.

Pinion gerbox was not to my liking either, pity as I had wanted one for ages..

Bit OT, but has anyone tried short-shocking a Helius CC with a 190x50?

nice or nasty?

He didn't tell us the weight and pointed out that heavier bikes have better sprung to unsprung mass ratios explaining how in the past he's filled some frames with lead weights and had better results with them than lighter ones.