Test: The Nicolai company from the small community of Lübbrechtsen in Lower Saxony is known for its innovative constructions. A few years ago, with their Geolution geometry, they were among the trendsetters of the now ubiquitous "long-flat-low trend". The Nicolai Ion G15 closes the gap between the G13 trail bike and the G16 enduro. With the top model, which costs €6999, we had the opportunity to get an impression for ourselves and to pursue the question: How much revolution is there in the Geolution?
Nicolai Ion G15: frame and rear end
Nowadays, carbon is omnipresent in the high-priced bike segment. But how should it be different with Nicolai: Like the entire range, the G15 also comes with an aluminum frame. If you are now wondering whether this is still "state of the art" at all, you should take a closer look at the welding work of art. The frame consists of fine milled parts and simple tubes that have been joined together with beautiful welds. A closer look reveals the attention to detail, as well as a technically interesting solution to split the chainstay.
The lines are routed outside of the main frame. Nice detail: the cables are clamped with CNC-milled holders - no plastic clips or cable ties are necessary. Externally routed lines are very popular with screwdrivers because they promise easy maintenance. In part, however, this advantage is lost again, since the lines run below the damper mount. The damper measures a classic 216mm with a stroke of 63mm from which the rear triangle gets 150mm of travel; the transmission ratio is therefore quite low, which should allow the damper to be fine-tuned to the requirements. The rear end itself is a classic four-bar linkage with large bearings, which are also very well sealed. This promises a silky smooth response for a long time. The geometry adjustment, which influences the steering angle and the seat angle by half a degree, is also positive.
Nicolai Ion G15: Geometry
The long reach is immediately noticeable at first glance in the geometry table. The test bullet is very long with a reach of 490 mm in size M – longer than some of the competitors in XL. Once again, however, it shows that one should not be fooled by isolated geometry values. Due to the slack head angle (64° or 64,5°) in combination with the steep seat tube angle (76,7° or 77,2°), you sit pretty far forward on the bike despite the enormous length. The whole concept ends the already mentioned name Geolution and should show its advantages especially at high speeds. In the gravity disciplines, the approach is by no means new and more and more imitators can be found in enduro bikes as well.
Nicolai Ion G15: Equipment
First of all: The equipment of our test bike did not correspond 100% to the standard version, but was trimmed a little more in the direction of stability and descents. However, nothing has changed with the chassis and that's a good thing! A Fox Float X2 damper and a Fox 36 with RC2 damping were installed here. The chassis is certainly one of the crème de la crème on the market at the moment. It is rolled on 29 inch DT-Swiss EX 1501 wheels. From experience we can say: Despite their low weight, they can take quite a beating.
Let's move on to the revised components. While Hope E4 brakes were still installed on our test bike, the G15 now comes with the MT7 from Magura in series production. The drive has also been revised. While we still had to make do with eleven gears, a 12-speed Sram X01 Eagle will provide more range in the future. The Hope crank has to give way to a significantly lighter SRAM X01 Eagle made of carbon. In the cockpit, the 780 mm wide Renthal carbon handlebars continue to be used. Hope also has to make room for the stem – Nicolai uses his own components here as standard.
Nicolai Ion G15: On the trail
The initial skepticism about the extreme geometry quickly dissipated. I was afraid that driving would feel like being on the rack, but I was completely wrong. Contrary to my expectations, the overall ergonomics even felt very comfortable. You have to get used to the front wheel being far away due to the slack steering angle. On the trail, however, the bike is extremely smooth-running and provides security even on rough terrain. The bike doesn't seem sluggish, but it does require an active riding style and a rider who isn't afraid to put pressure on the front wheel. As soon as things get technical and the curve radii tighter, the long wheelbase becomes noticeable. You have to swing out of corners unusually far, unless you master the transfer via the front wheel. I managed this very well with the G15.
Let's talk about climbing, which certainly plays a big role in an all-rounder like the G15. I'll make it short: The bike not only goes downhill like crazy, but also reveals unexpected climbing talents. The steep seat tube angle and the long front mean that even blocked ramps can be mastered. All in all, I can recommend the bike to anyone who wants to have fun in the forest. Whether you are an enduro racer or a trail enthusiast, a ride on the powerful trail bike is definitely worth it. A little info for potential Nicolai drivers: the manufacturer from Lower Saxony has recently started offering test drives directly in front of their own front door. A Nicolai representative will bring the bike of your choice free of charge for a test lap on the usual home trails.
