REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Indecision - Typical of Nicolai....

3792 Views 48 Replies 12 Participants Last post by lornibear, Jan 16, 2010

lornibear

Discussion Starter · Dec 16, 2009

I was about to pull the plug on my new frame - after months of research and countless bouts of procrastination, again I have halted my purchase plans because of the incessant lure of Nicolai bikes.

The frame in question is a Banshee Scythe, which ticks all the boxes in terms of adjustable geometry, adjustable travel, full length seatpost 1.5 headtube and a good single pivot suspension design - then I looked at the UFO ST...again!

The dimensions between the two bikes are very similar - considering I have been able to ride a Scythe extensively over the last few months. I have loved the more compact geometry, the manoeuvrablilty and 'flickability' that a large frame provides - the extra large Helius, although great, will be for sale very soon.

My question is this, a front mech is very important to me and I know that this will limit the travel on the ST to 180mm however, I have also read in a post on this forum that an owner has no problems with clearance, even set at maximum travel. Does anybody have any thoughts or have evidence to substantiate this?

My new frame will be built up to around 37/38lb (dependant on tyre choice/application) and be used for everything. After pedalling my Helius for the last twelve months at 41lb, I am confident with the UFO at this weight although another factor is bottom bracket height. If using the UFO for trail riding at the lower travel settings, with a totem, would i be subject to pedal strike? If the BB height is equal to that of my Helius - I will be a happy man.

Any advice or assistance you can provide, will not only cure my insomnia but would also be much appreciated.

Alex

1 - 20 of 49 Posts

derekr

· #2 · Dec 16, 2009

Lorni, i belive its the length of the mech tower which limits this on the helius ST/AFR but theres nothing stopping you making a shorter one, i have one altho im not using it i'll take a few pics of it tomorrow so you can see exactly what its like. I can only assume the UFO is the same but maybe we can have a look @ Sdr's the morrow and try n' work it out.

A call or email to Karl would provide all the info required.

The 37/38lb build will be interesting as my AFR with 3.5kg frame is 36.8 with single ply tyres so i doubt youd get the UFO that light without compromise?

sdr08

· #3 · Dec 16, 2009

derekr said:
Lorni, i belive its the length of the mech tower which limits this on the helius ST/AFR but theres nothing stopping you making a shorter one, i have one altho im not using it i'll take a few pics of it tomorrow so you can see exactly what its like. I can only assume the UFO is the same but maybe we can have a look @ Sdr's the morrow and try n' work it out.

A call or email to Karl would provide all the info required.

The 37/38lb build will be interesting as my AFR with 3.5kg frame is 36.8 with single ply tyres so i doubt youd get the UFO that light without compromise?

I think it might be possible....although you would have a slightly lighter drivetrain than Derek's Hammerschmidt and you could fit lighter bars you'll probably be running heavier wheels and tyres so you might end up about the same....suppose it depends on what parts you're going to use.

lornibear

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 16, 2009

I have a build spreadsheet that I will post up for discussion later, thanks for your input

pfalz

· #5 · Dec 16, 2009 (Edited)

2

Lorni, i belive its the length of the mech tower which limits this on the helius ST/AFR but theres nothing stopping you making a shorter one

In most cases, you rear tire will collide with the mech itself, not with the 'dome' or the chain/swingarm. So using a compact front mech will still allow you to run full travel on both the AFR and the (HELIUS / UFO) ST. Testing several front mechs, we figured out the shimano dual pull/down swing is working perfect... just make be sure making a clash check. Then you cut the the dome and turn it upside down (using a longer bolt then), looks cleaner and doesn't collect all the dirt and 5h1t...

But an UFO with front mech.....that's not my thing

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Whafe

· #6 · Dec 17, 2009

LOL - Lorni, go the lure of the Nicolai...... Hard to top a Nicolai in all reality.... The precision engineering, the welds, the paint jobs etc etc etc.....

derekr

· #7 · Dec 17, 2009

Pfalz: Cheers for some great info, i'm surprised the AFR dosent look that bad with the smaller mech tower on it, lovely build btw

lornibear

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 17, 2009

Pfalz, many thanks for your info, do you have any photos of the cut down dome and the adjustments necessary to run the ST with a front mech at full travel?

lornibear

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 22, 2009

Does anybody have any experience of the UFO on the trails? As with my FR, I would like a bike that will be able to pedal trail centres here in the UK. From a bit of research, I gather the BB height is somewhat lower than the FR, hence pedal strike - this indeed is another factor I need to consider. Your thoughts?

The_Lecht_Rocks

· #10 · Dec 22, 2009

lornibear said:
Does anybody have any experience of the UFO on the trails? As with my FR, I would like a bike that will be able to pedal trail centres here in the UK. From a bit of research, I gather the BB height is somewhat lower than the FR, hence pedal strike - this indeed is another factor I need to consider. Your thoughts?

are you serious ?
trail centres in the UK are best attacked on a long travel forked hardtail !

dipper

· #11 · Dec 22, 2009

The_Lecht_Rocks said:
are you serious ?
trail centres in the UK are best attacked on a long travel forked hardtail !

i'm sick of saying this, but just because you can't doesn't mean others shouldn't. He's looking for input from people who've actually ridden one not random speculation form someone who's never ridden a big bike.:madman:

lornibear

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 22, 2009

What are your thoughts dipper? Most of my riding is UK trail centre and bike park, of which my FR has been fantastic - I would like to get into more gravity orientated riding and only have the room for one bike - so, would a light (ish) build UFO be a viable option? I have established that the front mech is not an issue so as to hinder maximum travel, so could a UFO ST be made into a do it all bike that with minor tweeks could also be a DH rig? Or indeed as TLR says, am I barking up the wrong tree?

dipper

· #13 · Dec 22, 2009

erm...after slagging simon off for speculating I'd best watch what I say as i've never ridden one either!

however, I can make some observations but it's still speculation!

Comparing it to my AFR I'd guess pedalling efficiency may be the biggest issue seeing as it's a single pivot. It may need some fairly heavy LS damping

there's UFO's built below 40lb so weight is not that big an issue. Not sure how the geo stacks up when compared to the FR or AFR. I suspect it's not far off with a 180mm fork.

other than that i'd just be making it up.

i'd be happy to recommend the AFR for the riding you describe so if you compare all the stats you'll see how close they are. ie. HT and ST angles, BB height, weights etc. I'll have a better idea in the new year once i've had a chance to abuse SDR's sleekit beastie

although his is going to be set up for DH from the off.

lornibear

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 22, 2009

Just out of interest I emailed Simon at Nicolai UK to enquire as to the possibility of getting a replacement FR in large, of which I still can. I have scoured the forums looking for something new, something like the Scythe - but for what I want, the FR seems to do it all so well and it's this that so annoyingly brings me back to a position I was in twelve months ago - to swap out the XL for a L FR. Dipper can you do me a price on a new FR?

dmorgs4

· #15 · Dec 23, 2009

lornibear said:
Pfalz, many thanks for your info, do you have any photos of the cut down dome and the adjustments necessary to run the ST with a front mech at full travel?

Here's a post from the ST thread that I put up a while ago.
http://forums.mtbr.com/showpost.php?p=5244964&postcount=48

yetiman71

· #16 · Dec 23, 2009

Lornibear - that sounds like the sensible option to me but since when has buying a new Nicolai ever been sensible

Did you not run a solo air Totem equipped FR? That would be the exact sort of bike you're after with a large frame feeling more chuckable than the XL. On the other hand you might still feel the need to try something different and getting another FR might not help. I know, as I'm sooo tempted by an AC set up with 160mm travel

lornibear

Discussion Starter · #17 · Dec 23, 2009 (Edited)

@Yetiman71 - You are so right - it's the Nicolai lure! I have searched in vain, everywhere, trying to find something new, something to compete with the Nicolai frames but alas, when you take the FR for example, there is nothing else on the market that even comes close. Sure, I have ridden a Nomad, which was nice, but not in the same league and as for the 6.6, well, again there is no competition.

So again I am forced back in time where Whafe and I had a conversation regarding this very predicament on the Surrey Hills over twelve months ago.....I think have found my answer unless dipper comes up with a miracle.

Can anybody work out what drivetrain this guy on the german forum is running?

http://www.mtb-news.de/forum/showthread.php?t=429236&page=2

norcosam

· #18 · Dec 23, 2009

Lornibear- could you just buy a front triangle in large and use the rest of your frame and parts it would save some money

derekr

· #19 · Dec 23, 2009

Do you fancy an AFR then lorni?

The_Lecht_Rocks

· #20 · Dec 23, 2009

lol - 40lb bikes for riding UK trail centres and a bit of DH..........:eekster:

1 - 20 of 49 Posts

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