[Closed] Nicolai Helius FR + Magura Thors?

The FR is a great frame to build on, so with some fine tuning the 150mm Thor should be fine. Bear in mind though that it’s an old school freeride bike, with slightly steeper angles than today, so a 160mm fork would probably suit it better, but the great thing about the FR frame is it’s adjustability. The 2007 spec frame has 4 shock mount holes, for reducing the travel (without affecting BB height), so you’ll be able to match rear travel to the Thor, and if you find the HA is too steep you could always fit offset shock bushes, and you can also play around with the front shock mount placement, as this is adjustable too, so by moving the shock forward in the mount you can lower the BB and slacken the HA slightly. Having said that, the adjustable front shock mount is there to allow a greater choice of shocks by allowing for different E2E lengths, it was never designed to alter geometry, but it can work. Need to check the rear tyre doesn’t buzz the seat tube though. A 2.4 Schwalbe Big Betty’s did on my 2008 Helius FR, but a 2.3 High Roller was fine.

Have you read the Helius FR owners database on MTBR? Loads of set-ups on there.

The 2007 spec frame has 4 shock mount holes, for reducing the travel (without affecting BB height]

Actually, on the FR reducing the rear travel *will* slacken the head angle and drop the bottom bracket. The above comment is true only for the AC/AM generation bikes. A 150mm fork should be fine but you might want to try running in one of the two lowest settings. If it's a coil sprung rear shock you'll need a lighter spring.

Ah, ok, cheers Simon 🙂 Must’ve been one of those incorrect or misread internet titbits picked up over the years.

Thanks yetiman and simon.
Question on sizing too. Its a medium frame which my mate who's selling it has always thought was too big for him. I'm a little bit bigger and have cruised around a carpark on it (but no more) and it does feel good. I'm 6'2" of there abouts and presently ride a hardtail with a 24" TT. Will the nic be too small?

Sizing always depends on individuals and type of riding. At 6' 2" I'd normally point you at a large frame but if it feels right.

I don't have the geometry chart for that age of frame to hand at the moment unfortunately so can't offer much more detail on it.

I'm running my 2007 FR with 150mm Revs, rear travel is in the 147mm position. Head angle looks steepish for the travel, but it doesn't seem that way when you're riding TBH. Running a 2.4 Fat Albert up front and a 2.4 NN on the rear - no issues with hitting the seat tube for me. Loving mine! It's a small & I'm 5'8 (if I drag myself up to full height). They are "compact", a med might might be too small if you do a lot of pedally rides, but if you're hooning about in the woods it's probably ok.

Simon - I didn't realise changing the travel affected the HA, I thought it was moving the shock shuttle back or forward that had an effect on the BB height/HA?

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Simon - I didn't realise changing the travel affected the HA, I thought it was moving the shock shuttle back or forward that had an effect on the BB height/HA?

Again, don't have a bike of that age around to check but if you take the bolt out and move it to a lower position you effectively move the bike through it's travel - that means the static HA and BB change

Makes perfect sense when you put it like that Simon! Ta

....but not the case on the newer bikes - on those the holes in the lever are in an arc around the front shock mount so the leverage changes but the static position of the bike doesn't.

If that helps

Shock holes are in a straight line on mine, I'm going to drop it a notch and see what that does 🙂

I'm 6'5 and ride a Large AM its perfect for me - but i've always liked smaller bikes so really its all a matter of preference - i'd give it a test ride especially as its a mates bike, i'm sure he'd be willing to let you take it for a longer ride and see how it feels.

i ran the bike with 140 Pikes for a year before switching to Fox 36s and again it rode a dream so your maguras will be fine until you yern for more travel 🙂 the joy of the Nic's adjustabe rear to balance the bike

Thanks.
Test ride seems like a good excuse to go riding with him.

An older Helius FR owner here - runs perfectly with Fox 36's, still love how the whole bike handles, nicest bike I've ever ridden.

Simon, ygm

Its a medium frame...

Still pretty sure it's a large... 😉

If it's a large it will be all good. My BFF runs a large, I've dropped the bb/steepened it using front mounts and it's much better now 🙂 ideally I'd still lob in a -1deg angleset, especially if running 150's even with balance. It's in reduced travel on my friends too to avoid seat tube strike. It does slacken off the ST. But again can be compensated for with moving saddle forward and I think its fine for pedalling anyway.
Rides really nice now, felt a bit high before.

Cracking stiff frame and very adjustable.
I would say at 6'2" a M would be too small but clearly a ride would tell you that and it is horses for courses. I'm 5'11 and waiting for a frame from Nic with a 661mm ETT so I may not be normal!