[Closed] Nicolai Helius AM - tell me all about yours (pics if you have them)

I have a beefed up Helius CC. Love it to bits. Take a look at 'Ambrose' on flikr.

What's your budget?

If it's limited, I'd go with a cheaper frame than a Nicolai and hang the best suspension you can buy off it, eg a Bos Deville at the front and a Vip'r at the back.

If however you want to spend an arsehole load of money and you want something a bit special, a Nicolai would be nice but if you like coil shocks it's not as different and in your face so to speak as say a 2012 Ancillotti FRY. Custom built as standard for your measurements, geometry preferences and rear shock valving.

The older Ancillotti's I rode handled as though they were on rails, the weight is slung down low etc. No huge revisions in the past few years but just constant updates to the balance of chassis stiffness and compliance which is IMO the most important aspect.

My love for them is just my opinion though

I'm GOING to have one....one day.

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I have a beefed up Helius CC. Love it to bits. Take a look at 'Ambrose' on flikr.

I too have a Helius CC and it's much more than the long legged XC bike it appears to be.

Revelation RLT Ti up front, wide bars, short stem, reverb, longer shock on its way to slacken it off yet maintain travel, sorted and it climbs really well. As my mate (intense tracer) puts it, "it just wants to go when you out your foot down, you can't even feel the shock moving/working but it does"

Also a Helius CC which replaced a Mojo SL with no regrets. As said above run mine beefed up short stem wide bars flow rims Rev uturns etc etc . Never left wanting for more bike and climbs superbly, I also like the versatility the adjustable rear travel brings (which also alters the geom on the CC) can be two bikes ie lots of travel or short and snappy for local rides.
Just a great do it all trail bike will never sell and that's coming from a serial bike buyer/swapper

I've had my AM for two years and still absolutely love it. It's a very versatile bike, I can ride XC one day and chase doonhallers the next. The angles on mine are spot on for the 160mm forks (new ones can take 170/180). I've run a few shocks and forks on it with VIPr/Deville being the best light weight air option, and CCDB/Marzocchi RC3 Ti being the best for doonhall. I have no plans to change this bike... why would I?

Note - my bikes are never clean, if I had the time to clean them I would have the time to ride them more.

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XC set up from through the winter - about 32lbs

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Current more doonhall set up - 35lbs

Any particular questions fire away.

I bought mine from Dipper at Gravity Sports in Buckie - top chap.

Gratuitous photo opportunity of a dirty Helius CC

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I've rode those you mentioned, ibis was magic up hill, but not as great down. Don't like Nomads and really didn't like the carbon, just don't get on with VVP's. Also owned a couple of Ellsworths (epiphany, moment and racerX), very nice bikes and a Titus El-Guapo (very good frame). Currently have an AM and it's the first time I've had a frame and not been looking for the next thing. Very understated, not many people will walk up to you and ask about it (not a problem for me) as most people don't know what it is. Didn't fall in love straight away, I have a CCDB and took a while to set it up correctly (in fact I was very disappointed after the Titus to start with) but once sort it works for me. Mine is probably about about 35lbs but I can get it up the stuff I want to get it up and it is very confidence inspiring on anything that goes down. Build quality is second to non (no man with hammer in the frame alinement process). Buy one and get your CCDB from somewhere where they will help you with on going setup (got mine of Dave at Standac).

Messiah, that bottom AM with the CCDB is 'kin lush!

bwaarp - Member
What's your budget?

If it's limited, I'd go with a cheaper frame than a Nicolai and hang the best suspension you can buy off it, eg a Bos Deville at the front and a Vip'r at the back

Have the Deville/Vip'r combo already, so just need the frame - that I can get the Nicolai minus shock suits me.

Loved my AM, now also have an RC for trail/xc riding, 20.5lbs with pedals
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7131/6937230676_3191fcb35a.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7131/6937230676_3191fcb35a.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pilot/6937230676/ ]P1010833[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/the_pilot/ ]philip.pryor[/url], on Flickr

and my AM which my friend now has was fantastic. I bought it complete s/h, as a medium. Raced it in the Italian Enduro series and rode it around the UK, great especially with Vipr/Deville. It weight 30.5lbs all up in the end with hammerschmidt. This pic's with the Stoy on the back.

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7054/6981556920_2c4d56c59d.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7054/6981556920_2c4d56c59d.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pilot/6981556920/ ]IMG_1788[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/the_pilot/ ]philip.pryor[/url], on Flickr

I am waiting for a Helius 29 AC/AM of my specification now. Only reason I changed was as I wanted a longer TT than my med after I swopped to a 50mm stem/wider bar cos I also wanted to run inline post, I'm 5'11" and felt the benefits of a 140mm 29 work for me for the type of racing/terrain I ride.

Is that Finale Ligure in the pic, Chainline? I was there last week. Wish I was still there.

Heres mine -

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Newer geometry, now with middleburn cranks and flats after I broke the old chainset...

I like the industrial feel to the bike and I particularly like the way I feel in the bike rather than on it (as I did with y Yeti) - a hard thing to really explain without sounding a bit fussy but I get on with it in a way I never did with the Yeti. The ;it'll survive a bomb blast' build quality gives me the confidence to jump/drop off things that I would never have done before too (that's not to say I'm any riding god by any means; lets say it's an aspirational ride!!!)

What was the "newer geometry"?

I'd like a 142 rear to suit current wheels, don't think that's possible. is it?

Pretty much anything is possible if you pay

142 is currently not offered even if you offer to pay! We are kinda lobbying but most people seem less bothered than 44/56 ID taper headsets. Generally 135mm with 12mm is not a problem. 142 only gives you a slightly easier wheel change and not really any other benefits.

honourablegeorge its Sestri Levante on a SuperEnduro race. I did Finale too and also wish I was still there. going back in June!

Newer geometry is 66.5deg head angle 216x63mm shock. Older is 67.7deg HA with 200x57mm shock.

I fitted a headset to reduced the HA by 1.3deg. Easily done even on a 1.1/8" head tube. You can also change the shock levers/front mount to make it 216x63, but not everyone likes the lower leverage ratio. They are very flexible bikes, 125-170mm rear travel without geometry changes, pretty useful.

All this talk of Helius CCs has made me want one, who's going to sell me theirs?

I had one of the very first am,s in the uk....
Suffered terrible pedal strike and could never get it dialled in e en with a custom tuned CCDB....

However, my new Helius AC 29er is utterly sublime in comparison...

Op, what do you want to use it for ?

New AC 29er....[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7080089343_7a30301c2e.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7080089343_7a30301c2e.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/62031621@N06/7080089343/ ]IMAG0330[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/62031621@N06/ ]the_lecht_rocks[/url], on Flickr

Helius FR + Bos Devilles + CCDB = Gnarr to the power of Grrr!!

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Sold now to pay for the Helius ST (pics to follow).

And here's the ST:

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the_lecht_rocks - Member

Op, what do you want to use it for ?

It would replace my Spicy frame - my Devilles and 216x63 Vip'r would all transfer across.

It'll be heavier but stiffer.....
Dipper at gravity has a nice am for sale currently.....

Dipper does, I think there is also one in stock at Nicolai UK, but thats new and more expensive...

It wouldn't be much heavier compared to an Alloy Lapierre. It would be a bit more versatile with variable rear travel.