COOL bike! Great Company! And to partner up with pinion is a great idea, to put the in the spotlight.... not going the easy way, and using Shimano or Brose, putting themselves into a mix of a lot other great bikes!
@@Scottishebikeadventures I also want rear brake free bikes. If no derailer then they could use motor reverse magnetism to have regenerative braking and program in anti lock braking controls
It everything I want- big battery, big suspension travel, and no derailer. It's like the ultimate adventure emtb. Plus it looks like the perfect location for a weekend of enduro bike packing 😍
Do you consider the 160 front and 160 rear as big suspension? It's more than a trail, but not enough to be enduro, which is usually 170-180. I would instead go to the Simplon Rapcon version, 170\160 and cheaper.
@@patrolmaverick, I 100% agree with you. That MGU is a fantastic step forward, and the bike itself is very decent. There is only one moment I wish they covered better, as I couldn't find the extender for Pinion on Nikolai's website. I wonder if it's possible to buy it from them and have enough space in the frame.
I'm looking forwards to this tech appearing on other bikes within the next 3 years - probably the only thing thing that will make me change my current bike is a combined motor & gearbox, at a more affordable price. Wonderful location and great videography. Could you do a 'behind the scenes' video of one of these tours showing the logistics and the preparation you put in, as you all make it look so polished.
And dont forget how much one reduces the unsprung mass of the rear wheel if there is no cassette and no derailleur.... So much better sensitivity, especially with the coil!!
“Large side flange” - now that’s a phrase you don’t expect to hear on a Sunday morning Steve! As for the bike itself - the frame, build and attention to detail is superb (possibly not to everyone’s taste). The heart of this package, MGU and drive system, takes emtb out of the dark ages into the 21st century where the technology needs to be. Personally, because of the price point, would wait a year or two and let the market place debug the system and the next evolutions come on stream when this gets months of trashing in the mud, wet and grime here in the UK. Using in manual or fully auto is a great option which depending on where you’re riding and how knackered you are, you set to suit (look at most performance cars and how they are used). As for the weight - well, it a bit of a current marketing obsession but with riders like ourselves at 95kg, the 85kg rider is better off immediately and the 100kg rider less so. I know it’s where that weight sits but a few KG extra, lower in a bike setup it no big deal. 😎
Man this particular white purple Saturng 16 MGU is like a collectors item now.. all they youtubers had it :D love it, gonna get one for sure... have tout terrain MGU bikes for my parents but this will be for me :D
as someone who always has to fit high-rise bars on his bikes, I'm liking the generous stack-height dimensions which are arising from the generous head-tube lengths - even the size Small has 150mm head tube! Might not appeal to everyone though.
@@danielsimmonds5162 I ride all year round and live in Austria.. We have also a lot of snow and bad weather... And those look good compared to some of the available plastic options for retro fitting
Hi Guys, l have a month old Simplon Rapcon what an absolute monster 170mm front and back . Had a complete nightmare 20 miles in, when my belt drive broke . I'm back up and running now, was sent a new one from the bike shop 😊. It is so playful for a heavy bike I just love it. ❤ Can't wait to do Ard rock 25 on it . MGU are the future. 🤘🏴 Phil Chesterfield.
@@markdove5930 you will as soon as you point it down a steep off-camber trail. You can get used to it but it's really noticeable even with a 22kg ebike compared to a 15kg normal bike.
Beautiful Bike. I also had a Nicolai M-Pire DH. My wife and I now have the Canyon Spectral ON, which weighs about 22 kg. However, the Nicolai, at 28 kg, is more than half my wife's weight. That's okay while riding, but it's not so great if you come across obstacles like downed trees or logging. I can see gearbox e-bikes are the future, but the AXS works perfectly as well. I have done 3000km on mine without a problem. If the weight comes down, I'm all in.
I like the rack and mud guards on this bike. Aftermarket mud guards look like they are made to be deliberately strange... I've destroyed three derailleurs on my e-mtbs with the sticks and rocks where I ride so I'm for doing away with 'em. Not crunching gearshifts uphill would be a treat too.
My comment is again is the stunning videography. I am a director of photography as well. Your what used to be informidable videos are now just so much more pleasant and pleasing visually. I noticed the Hitchcock move Dolly back push in. Again. Just really nice work and Steve I want your job. I am an avid rabid bike guy at 63. Lean, fit and strong thanks to bicycles.
More emtbs need to have the ability to have racks on their back - more of us over-50s want them as cross country tourers. Carrying my things in a pannier bag on a rear rack whilst going on long country hikes is a big plus when choosing any bike. I am as interested in the Nicholai for the rack and rear mudguard as I am in the gearbox... and then you immediately remove both
@@RoissyAngel I bought a cube stereo hybrid allroad for this same reason. I use my emtb to commute so the ability to have fenders and a rear rack from the get go is awesome
Hope Steve's recovering well! I find quiet, clean as far as oil goes belt drives the way to go. But would definitely be all for the rack mudguards and lights myself.
Amazing bike and concept, hopefully the future of all emtb’s, plus Italy has just everything you need in life, just need a lottery win to make it happen.
Yes beautiful bike but the sound under load would really annoy me. The coffee grinder sound of the MGU under load would kill the joy of Emtb for me. I've updated my 2018 super silent, smooth and powerful 1.3 Brose Levo with a Rohloff manual change hub,170 mm Fox 38's 150mm cranks, 9piont8 steering head slacker kit + fox DPX2 shock. The silence is golden and goodbye derailleurs for me. A brand new spare sealed, updated motor and two 500wh batteries are the go for me.Going backwards with updates gives me what I want until they can come up with something as silent , smooth and reliable. E=mtb²
Wow thanks for the amazing video guys! Wonderful bike in a wonderful location! I'm very very tempted by the Nicolai Saturn MGU with the explorer add-ons but I'm a bit surprised by how close they've fitted the mud guard to the tyres. Did you ever get stones jammed between them? I also suspect that these mud guards wouldn't work well in sticky mud.
@@karlheinznicolai4489 Hi Do You Plan to make a lighter Saturn 16 MGU Next year ?Also Any idea When the 800wh battery will be standard on the kit.Thanks.
Weight is really not an issue on this bike for me. I got the Simplon Pinion MGU in size small and it comes in at 24kg, which is probably the better option. I rode both the Nicolai and Simplon at Frankfurt bike show 2024 and decided on the Carbon framed Simplon. Just felt better overall. Loved them both either way. With regards to comments on longevity, Pinion has been about for a while and are quite solid but this MGU iteration will need to be tested long term for sure. I think it will pass the test of time. 2nd and 3rd generation is where people will really start to trust the MGU and hopefully by then others may have joined the MGU band wagon. Prices will also come down by then too.
Do you think with a high pivot, they could banish the belt tensioner? Looks like it could get under the 50lb target without the fenders, coil shock, lights and the smaller battery. It really looks like a transformer, you can single track and winter commute! But,I like the kitted out bike! Add a kick stand?😂
The bike for everything except top level hard core racing. Put a shopping basket on it for town. Packs for trekking. Take all that off for the bike park. Put a little bit back on for a trail ride so you can make a coffee. It would do me for a one bike solution. Slightly lighter than the Reise and Muller Delite. Great for getting to a social gathering across town. Just remember to bring the big chain and lock.
Just a quickie, Get some impact resistant knee protectors and wear them when riding.lm currently nursing a fractured patella due to a MTB topple,which could have easily been prevented using knee protectors. Great bike and shoot. Protect your knees!
I'm seriously considering buying this as my next new bike. I currently have a Turbo Levo e-bike fitted with a Rohloff. So I'm a 100% convert when it comes to internal gearboxes on eMTBs. It is very expensive, and I guess the price has caused me to hesitate. However, the Nicolai design has me sold. I'm keen to take it bikepacking. I just wish I could test ride one in Australia.
At 11'000 Euros without options this bike needs all the advertising in the world, and it seems that EMTB is really eager to give it. I know that Nicolai is as far as possible from an entry brand, but one could buy a really god motorcycle (talking about comparing apples and oranges) at half the price. And at 27 Kg is at least 5 kg to heavy.
judging by the fact that they are currently almost exclusively building this bike in their factory, like >80% of total output, as sales are going on like crazy… no, they don‘t need advertising.
@@ninetendopesaitama2107 what money for maintenance???? its a bicycle. If you cant maintain your bicycle, there is something seriously wrong with you and you most likely shouldn't be on a mtb, because you're a danger to yourself and others...
@@asifitmatters1 I have been at the Nicolai factory a few weeks ago, and many times before that - and I have never seen the factory literally flooded with one single model like that before. Even when they launched the Saturn 14 Swift with Bosch SX motor, which was also well adopted, the diversification of models was still visible. A few weeks ago though, there were Saturn MGU frames in the dozens, maybe 70-80 (didn’t count), in all states of finishing,and maybe two G1’s and a few hardtails and that’s it. I was completely amazed at how good that Saturn MGU must be selling.
Except for the weight, I like it. Not maintenance free since it has shocks which still need servicing at regular intervals, but so does any MTB. Wondering what the rear rack maximum payload is?
I’ve got the simplon rapcon with the MGU, done 500miles in 5 weeks and love the bike. I take a little getting used to the MGU and how it works. But I have had a failure with he MGU, it isn’t the gear box itself , but is looking like a problem with the electronics/internal PCB. Bike is away waiting for diagnosis and repair ! It’s not put me off, its the only way to go.
Hoping to hear how this works out for you. I'm interested in learning what the Pinion support folks are like to deal with and how happy you are when it is fixed.
@@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter I will be reporting back on m y experience with pinion. The dealer has been great in doing all that they can do, so no complains about them. watch this space to see how pinion deal with this.
@@TucanoTMK1 Just waiting for my vendor to get back to me about the problem, I'm not rushing them, but working with them as they are learning about the new system. I really like the ride, it is a little noisy in the lower gears, but that docent bother me personally. The test to do is riding it with no motor input. it feels like a normal bike with that extra weight. The higher you have it in the power modes, the more you feel it when the motor stops helping. People don't realise how soon you get used to the assistance that a motor gives, and when that stops. It feels like an anchor has just been deployed ! My mate borrowed my other E-bike for a ride, and when we got back, he had to ride home on his normally aspirated bike, he couldn't get up the hill, he had acclimatised to the assistance. Overall I do love the pinion and the MGU. The problem seems to be with the fit controls
The update The bike shop who are great and jumped on the trying to sort the problem straight away have hit a brick wall, they have been communicating with FIT who haven’t been able to sort the issue (bike is still a brick), looks like pinion are having to step in to sort the problem. So my expensive bike has been out of use now for 3 weeks. Im a little pissed to say the least, not at all with my bike shop, they are the middle man that supply this ‘top end product’ that quite frankly should not fail so easily. Looks like I’m one of the Beta testers .
Very interesting technology with many benefits but its so niche that it would be hard to take the chance on the overall package for the average rider in the US market. I can only imagine what happens when that motor fails and you need parts. How long would that take to get it back up and running. Even the typical E bike setups today have failures but Shimano, Bausch, and Brose parts are at least more available to fix. I cant wait to see what the next version has in terms less noise from the motor and more power in some of the faster gears. Ultimately, I'm glad someone is pushing things in new directions so that it gives riders more choices and puts pressure on the legacy fellas to innovate. We may all be riding this format in 2-5 years but time will tell.
Nothing excites me more than the idea of a maintenance free motor-gearbox. Will this bike be available in the states? How much will it set me back? Are there any other competitors to Pinion, or are they the only ones who see the future of eMTB? Thanks for the video gents.
Beautiful rig , i think the Pinion gb is defo the future, but i believe it has a little evolution to still go through with regards to gear changing on certain shifts .. but still fantastic. 27-28kg is just too heavy , i still think the pome vioma did it better with looks and functionality it also was 24/25 kg. Great video stunning scenery. Ultimately, i wouldn't buy the nicolai, to heavy, and i feel there are better rides on the way and some alresdy out there for sale that are better value for money and performance.
If you apply this tech more widely, it really is the future of transportation. The maintenance, power and capability is unrivaled and the storage space is minimal. I would love this tech in a commuter bike for £4k with 5 or 6 years warranty.
Where you going to risk parking a 4-6k bike you don’t need a commuter bike you just need a reasonable priced bike that will do it all been asking for starters do it all bike reviews for ages and they only seem interested in silly money bikes for silly rides not the big picture
@@darrenjones3681 my place of work has key card access for bikes. I climb 10-20% hills on the way back from work. They salt the roads and it rains half the week. Chains and motors get burnt out easily for me so this is what I want. Motorbikes don't get their own place to park and cost on insurance tax and fuel. This is the best for me.
Can you share the name of this area, and these trails please ? just amazing. Is it in the Dolomittes somewhere ? We would like to go and explore. Thanks
economies of scale. right now Pinion are tiny and selling to tiny bespoke companies like Nicolai. The fence sitters of Shimano, Sram etc need to come on board for mass-market and then prices will drop.
@@windinthewillows6248I’ve been asking for for realistic starter bike reviews for people who may not hat cycled for some years but no still throwing unreasonably priced amounts around like seriously who has 4-10k to buy a bike with that have kids , average regional wages ect
Absolutly bno Noise down ( havent u seen the Video ? ) Up its in Gear 1-4 Louder than Bosch , 5-8 same like Bosch , 9-12 more silent than bosch . U Have to try it on your own if u can handle the sound in gear 1-4 . The Nicolai is in my opinion more silent than the carbon MGU Bikes .
Belt drives are a really good idea but how many shops stock them, at least with a chain you can fix it there and then. I think for commuter bikes they make a lot of sense as does a geared crankset or rear hub.
Hallo Steve for me the Bike is to Heavy with 28 kg.The Pinion Drive Unit is good but Sorry 28 Kg and you say is a Uphill Tool Not for me .Thanks for the Work you do and the Location that Trail where is it in North Italy
I've 2x Nicolai gboxx's - not e bikes circa 2008 and 2010 - build quality and design details are insane - as soon as i saw the eboxx version I had it on my list of ONE as I almost bought the previous version with hub gears but 6 months covid delivery put me off so I went levo and 2 motors later it's ok but..................................I've trashed more transmission components maybe £1500 in 4 years with pennine mud wear and tear
My LBS have raised cynicism in me; is there a good after sales service & is there just more to go wrong with the MGU? Personally I love the look & tech of it all but I have some, small doubts
Your video is absolutely gorgeous, but please please write the locations or a GPX file in the description. I'm having a bit of trouble getting it from the pronunciation. Is it Col di Frontera? Anyone knows?
It's still there but it seems it's marketed more in the urban direction, looks more bulky and heavy (0.8kg more than Pinion) and it's mostly a French affair.
Gearbox / belt drive is the future. Also, we don't need 12 or even 10 gears on an e-bike. Someone should come out with a, say.... 8 speed gearbox that trades complexity for ruggedness and affordability so long as it has a 500% range.
I respectfully disagree. I have 14 speeds in my Rohloff gearbox, all evenly spaced with a 600%+ range. I have one Rohloff on my non-e-bike fat-tyre Tumbleweed bikepacking bike, and another Rohloff fitted to my S-Works Turbo Levo eMTB.The 14 speeds enable me to easily adjust the gearing to maintain a steady cadence. I'm 72, and the strength in my legs isn't what it was 10 years ago. So when I turned 65 I purchased my first e-bike. On both bikes it is the gearing that enables me to still get out and ride difficult challenging terrain. My wife's e-bike has a Shimano Alfino 8-speed. I've tried her chunky gearing. The gear changes are too severe. You always seem to be hunting for the in-between gear, and never feel comfortable with your cadence. It is ok for her on rail trails. But, for me, on gnarly off-road terrain I want the finer granularity of my Rohloff 14 speeds coupled with the 600%+ range. I do agree with you that gearbox / belt drive is the future.
@@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter I find I frequently shift multiple gears on my 12 speed Levo. Hell- I have a 10 speed 480% regular bike and never even think "gee- I wish I had a gear between these two gears"
Nice i’dd like to compare the Alu Nicolai with my CF Rapcon, it sure looks better. Anyway, Pinion/Efit please asap a mtb remote (no joystick nobby) and a 12V charger. It would be nice to make 25kmh speedlimit less abrupt( ie motor support ‘eco’ up to 32kmh) This would be lovely on flow trax!
Nope its not its ca 5 % less eeicent than the bosch cx gen4 , but its same than the DJI .. it has way more Support than teh Bosch . I turned it a bit Down
i want to have one of this kind of emtb but i wait coz i have 2 emtb and now im looking to buy a hose so maybe in 2 years i got one .I hope in 2 years moore brand to developed this kind of emtb
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
What do you think of the new Nicolai bike?
I rode it in June on our Festival in the bavarian forrest. This thing is a beast!
COOL bike! Great Company! And to partner up with pinion is a great idea, to put the in the spotlight.... not going the easy way, and using Shimano or Brose, putting themselves into a mix of a lot other great bikes!
good for e-bikes, would have been good to show the autoshift on that same climb....
They have to refine the motor for less noise...there is also a new bike from Moustache coming out with the Pinion motor, called the Project Box 46
28 kg....
This is what we want - derailleur free bikes 👍
@@Scottishebikeadventures I also want rear brake free bikes. If no derailer then they could use motor reverse magnetism to have regenerative braking and program in anti lock braking controls
Just less than £9k
..and no mucky chain to clean and maintain.
And sprockets, chains and gear cable free bikes.
Rise and Muller Have Done them for years with Rohloff E14 belt drive and 1200 Wh Batterys and Now they are doing pinion MGU bikes
It everything I want- big battery, big suspension travel, and no derailer.
It's like the ultimate adventure emtb. Plus it looks like the perfect location for a weekend of enduro bike packing 😍
Do you consider the 160 front and 160 rear as big suspension? It's more than a trail, but not enough to be enduro, which is usually 170-180. I would instead go to the Simplon Rapcon version, 170\160 and cheaper.
160 is borderline.
Trail is 150-160. Enduro is 160-180.
@@patrolmaverick, I 100% agree with you. That MGU is a fantastic step forward, and the bike itself is very decent. There is only one moment I wish they covered better, as I couldn't find the extender for Pinion on Nikolai's website. I wonder if it's possible to buy it from them and have enough space in the frame.
and big weight
I'm looking forwards to this tech appearing on other bikes within the next 3 years - probably the only thing thing that will make me change my current bike is a combined motor & gearbox, at a more affordable price.
Wonderful location and great videography. Could you do a 'behind the scenes' video of one of these tours showing the logistics and the preparation you put in, as you all make it look so polished.
Mgu + belt is what we want.
How do you repair a belt on the trail?
@@vashon100 bring a spare belt with you, there are detachable belts available.
@@danmorrison667 thanks
Plus chances of a carbon reinforced belt breaking on the trail are practically null. It's more likely you damage ANY other component.
And dont forget how much one reduces the unsprung mass of the rear wheel if there is no cassette and no derailleur.... So much better sensitivity, especially with the coil!!
“Large side flange” - now that’s a phrase you don’t expect to hear on a Sunday morning Steve!
As for the bike itself - the frame, build and attention to detail is superb (possibly not to everyone’s taste). The heart of this package, MGU and drive system, takes emtb out of the dark ages into the 21st century where the technology needs to be. Personally, because of the price point, would wait a year or two and let the market place debug the system and the next evolutions come on stream when this gets months of trashing in the mud, wet and grime here in the UK. Using in manual or fully auto is a great option which depending on where you’re riding and how knackered you are, you set to suit (look at most performance cars and how they are used). As for the weight - well, it a bit of a current marketing obsession but with riders like ourselves at 95kg, the 85kg rider is better off immediately and the 100kg rider less so. I know it’s where that weight sits but a few KG extra, lower in a bike setup it no big deal. 😎
Just wait till next year, this ultra pricey EMTB will also be out dated.
Man this particular white purple Saturng 16 MGU is like a collectors item now.. all they youtubers had it :D love it, gonna get one for sure... have tout terrain MGU bikes for my parents but this will be for me :D
I love Steve, such an amazing story teller! ❤
Very easy to listen to and get into story
as someone who always has to fit high-rise bars on his bikes, I'm liking the generous stack-height dimensions which are arising from the generous head-tube lengths - even the size Small has 150mm head tube! Might not appeal to everyone though.
Where is this route?
Cool video! Mudguards are great!
A "must" in Bonnie Scotland!! 🌧️☔⛈️!!
@@danielsimmonds5162 I ride all year round and live in Austria.. We have also a lot of snow and bad weather... And those look good compared to some of the available plastic options for retro fitting
Steve.
Love the work you do😊
Thank you!
Fantastic bike and motor gearbox, really happy i am getting one . I will be one lucky lad
Very lucky! When are you expecting to get it?
@@embn 3rd week in November
@@RobMillington-l6m What Spec have You Ordered ? Did You order Direct from them
Hi Guys, l have a month old Simplon Rapcon what an absolute monster 170mm front and back . Had a complete nightmare 20 miles in, when my belt drive broke . I'm back up and running now, was sent a new one from the bike shop 😊. It is so playful for a heavy bike I just love it. ❤ Can't wait to do Ard rock 25 on it . MGU are the future. 🤘🏴 Phil Chesterfield.
28kg !!! That’s the deal breaker
Why you won't feel them with the motor
@@markdove5930 you will as soon as you point it down a steep off-camber trail. You can get used to it but it's really noticeable even with a 22kg ebike compared to a 15kg normal bike.
Love the Side Flange Protection 🤣
Bike looks sick and love the commuter/adventure setup. I want one.
Wow! That’s a beautiful location!
Beautiful Bike. I also had a Nicolai M-Pire DH. My wife and I now have the Canyon Spectral ON, which weighs about 22 kg. However, the Nicolai, at 28 kg, is more than half my wife's weight. That's okay while riding, but it's not so great if you come across obstacles like downed trees or logging. I can see gearbox e-bikes are the future, but the AXS works perfectly as well. I have done 3000km on mine without a problem. If the weight comes down, I'm all in.
I like the rack and mud guards on this bike. Aftermarket mud guards look like they are made to be deliberately strange... I've destroyed three derailleurs on my e-mtbs with the sticks and rocks where I ride so I'm for doing away with 'em. Not crunching gearshifts uphill would be a treat too.
It sounds like this is the bike for you!
Thanks Steve , great video , great bike and location👍👍another move forward in technology , amazing 👍
Great bike. Beautiful scenery! 👍
My comment is again is the stunning videography. I am a director of photography as well. Your what used to be informidable videos are now just so much more pleasant and pleasing visually.
I noticed the Hitchcock move Dolly back push in. Again. Just really nice work and Steve I want your job. I am an avid rabid bike guy at 63. Lean, fit and strong thanks to bicycles.
If I could, I would. Looks amazing.
Chicks dig that mud guard. Another great video from EMBN.
More emtbs need to have the ability to have racks on their back - more of us over-50s want them as cross country tourers. Carrying my things in a pannier bag on a rear rack whilst going on long country hikes is a big plus when choosing any bike. I am as interested in the Nicholai for the rack and rear mudguard as I am in the gearbox... and then you immediately remove both
@@RoissyAngel I bought a cube stereo hybrid allroad for this same reason. I use my emtb to commute so the ability to have fenders and a rear rack from the get go is awesome
Hope Steve's recovering well! I find quiet, clean as far as oil goes belt drives the way to go. But would definitely be all for the rack mudguards and lights myself.
Thanks for the sales pitch! 😳
If I may ask, what are these like when pedalling above the limiter compared to a typical Shimano or Bosch powered bike? Many thanks 😃
Amazing bike and concept, hopefully the future of all emtb’s, plus Italy has just everything you need in life, just need a lottery win to make it happen.
Love me some adventure bikes and with no derailleur?!?! Nice!!
The ability to track stand and dump gears 🙌
It's so useful on the more technical climbs!
@@bostondye3736 the ability to just know what gear you're in sells me LOL
I hate that shifters don't have a display anymore.
Yes beautiful bike but the sound under load would really annoy me. The coffee grinder sound of the MGU under load would kill the joy of Emtb for me. I've updated my 2018 super silent, smooth and powerful 1.3 Brose Levo with a Rohloff manual change hub,170 mm Fox 38's 150mm cranks, 9piont8 steering head slacker kit + fox DPX2 shock.
The silence is golden and goodbye derailleurs for me. A brand new spare sealed, updated motor and two 500wh batteries are the go for me.Going backwards with updates gives me what I want until they can come up with something as silent , smooth and reliable. E=mtb²
I love my xt 11 speed link glide and don't even care about a gear box ,just my ep8 and linkglide will do me for many years to come ❤
Wait for the new Haibike MGU 🤗
Please PLEASE give some details. Thanks in advance.
@@bernardvreulink2457 it is top secret, wait and see
Another great video.
Wow thanks for the amazing video guys! Wonderful bike in a wonderful location! I'm very very tempted by the Nicolai Saturn MGU with the explorer add-ons but I'm a bit surprised by how close they've fitted the mud guard to the tyres. Did you ever get stones jammed between them? I also suspect that these mud guards wouldn't work well in sticky mud.
We placed the mudguards with enough distance for off-road riding ; not easy to see in the video , cheers Kalle Nicolai
@@karlheinznicolai4489 Hi Do You Plan to make a lighter Saturn 16 MGU Next year ?Also Any idea When the 800wh battery will be standard on the kit.Thanks.
Weight is really not an issue on this bike for me.
I got the Simplon Pinion MGU in size small and it comes in at 24kg, which is probably the better option.
I rode both the Nicolai and Simplon at Frankfurt bike show 2024 and decided on the Carbon framed Simplon. Just felt better overall.
Loved them both either way.
With regards to comments on longevity, Pinion has been about for a while and are quite solid but this MGU iteration will need to be tested long term for sure. I think it will pass the test of time. 2nd and 3rd generation is where people will really start to trust the MGU and hopefully by then others may have joined the MGU band wagon.
Prices will also come down by then too.
Do you think with a high pivot, they could banish the belt tensioner? Looks like it could get under the 50lb target without the fenders, coil shock, lights and the smaller battery. It really looks like a transformer, you can single track and winter commute! But,I like the kitted out bike! Add a kick stand?😂
Agreee the Simplon is more and more better and more developed than this rustical old one .... Nikolai
Love the drive, very interesting. I think I would miss the sounds of the chain however. I am sure I'd get over it though.
Love that bike!!
I've been watching videos about the Pinion MGU for over a year and still waiting for it to be available in the US! C'mon, now !
Fingers crossed it'll be available for you soon!
The view is breathtaking
It was an amazing place to ride bikes ⛰️
The bike for everything except top level hard core racing. Put a shopping basket on it for town. Packs for trekking. Take all that off for the bike park. Put a little bit back on for a trail ride so you can make a coffee. It would do me for a one bike solution. Slightly lighter than the Reise and Muller Delite. Great for getting to a social gathering across town. Just remember to bring the big chain and lock.
Nice video! Love the bike, great review of it. Would love to ride that trail. Is the route on Komoot? Can you post it?
Is the tensioner pulley wheel on the Pinion drive a source of concern: dirt? noise? spring-breakage?
Just a quickie, Get some impact resistant knee protectors and wear them when riding.lm currently nursing a fractured patella due to a MTB topple,which could have easily been prevented using knee protectors. Great bike and shoot. Protect your knees!
We all know the risks.
Thanks for sharing this, I have them but don't bother to put them on when wearing long pants. I will do now!
Heal well from your injury. 👍
I'm seriously considering buying this as my next new bike. I currently have a Turbo Levo e-bike fitted with a Rohloff. So I'm a 100% convert when it comes to internal gearboxes on eMTBs. It is very expensive, and I guess the price has caused me to hesitate. However, the Nicolai design has me sold. I'm keen to take it bikepacking. I just wish I could test ride one in Australia.
Looks like the dream
At 11'000 Euros without options this bike needs all the advertising in the world, and it seems that EMTB is really eager to give it. I know that Nicolai is as far as possible from an entry brand, but one could buy a really god motorcycle (talking about comparing apples and oranges) at half the price. And at 27 Kg is at least 5 kg to heavy.
You don't buy a motorbike if you want an efully. Also nobody is mentioning the money you spend less for maintenance. ☮️
judging by the fact that they are currently almost exclusively building this bike in their factory, like >80% of total output, as sales are going on like crazy… no, they don‘t need advertising.
@@ninetendopesaitama2107 what money for maintenance???? its a bicycle. If you cant maintain your bicycle, there is something seriously wrong with you and you most likely shouldn't be on a mtb, because you're a danger to yourself and others...
@@stfn7839 where are you getting this information from???
@@asifitmatters1 I have been at the Nicolai factory a few weeks ago, and many times before that - and I have never seen the factory literally flooded with one single model like that before. Even when they launched the Saturn 14 Swift with Bosch SX motor, which was also well adopted, the diversification of models was still visible. A few weeks ago though, there were Saturn MGU frames in the dozens, maybe 70-80 (didn’t count), in all states of finishing,and maybe two G1’s and a few hardtails and that’s it. I was completely amazed at how good that Saturn MGU must be selling.
Except for the weight, I like it. Not maintenance free since it has shocks which still need servicing at regular intervals, but so does any MTB. Wondering what the rear rack maximum payload is?
Hello guys, bravo for the movie, you are doing an great job, i hope that soon you will make an test with Rotwild -Pinion motor
They are already in the car price category
these additions will take them to stratosphere
I’ve got the simplon rapcon with the MGU, done 500miles in 5 weeks and love the bike. I take a little getting used to the MGU and how it works.
But I have had a failure with he MGU, it isn’t the gear box itself , but is looking like a problem with the electronics/internal PCB. Bike is away waiting for diagnosis and repair !
It’s not put me off, its the only way to go.
Hoping to hear how this works out for you. I'm interested in learning what the Pinion support folks are like to deal with and how happy you are when it is fixed.
@@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter I will be reporting back on m y experience with pinion. The dealer has been great in doing all that they can do, so no complains about them. watch this space to see how pinion deal with this.
Have you got it fixed Yet ?Whats it Ride Like over Speed Limiter ? is there a lot of Drag in it etc
@@TucanoTMK1 Just waiting for my vendor to get back to me about the problem, I'm not rushing them, but working with them as they are learning about the new system. I really like the ride, it is a little noisy in the lower gears, but that docent bother me personally. The test to do is riding it with no motor input. it feels like a normal bike with that extra weight. The higher you have it in the power modes, the more you feel it when the motor stops helping. People don't realise how soon you get used to the assistance that a motor gives, and when that stops. It feels like an anchor has just been deployed !
My mate borrowed my other E-bike for a ride, and when we got back, he had to ride home on his normally aspirated bike, he couldn't get up the hill, he had acclimatised to the assistance.
Overall I do love the pinion and the MGU. The problem seems to be with the fit controls
The update
The bike shop who are great and jumped on the trying to sort the problem straight away have hit a brick wall, they have been communicating with FIT who haven’t been able to sort the issue (bike is still a brick), looks like pinion are having to step in to sort the problem. So my expensive bike has been out of use now for 3 weeks. Im a little pissed to say the least, not at all with my bike shop, they are the middle man that supply this ‘top end product’ that quite frankly should not fail so easily. Looks like I’m one of the Beta testers .
Nicolai makes me think of Vodka. Stunning metal work on this bike. Wow.
Very interesting technology with many benefits but its so niche that it would be hard to take the chance on the overall package for the average rider in the US market. I can only imagine what happens when that motor fails and you need parts. How long would that take to get it back up and running. Even the typical E bike setups today have failures but Shimano, Bausch, and Brose parts are at least more available to fix. I cant wait to see what the next version has in terms less noise from the motor and more power in some of the faster gears. Ultimately, I'm glad someone is pushing things in new directions so that it gives riders more choices and puts pressure on the legacy fellas to innovate. We may all be riding this format in 2-5 years but time will tell.
Pinion needs more competition. Their price is so high and ridiculous.
There's Valeo with a similar idea, but it seems it's not been pushed beyond concept bikes yet
Nothing excites me more than the idea of a maintenance free motor-gearbox. Will this bike be available in the states? How much will it set me back? Are there any other competitors to Pinion, or are they the only ones who see the future of eMTB? Thanks for the video gents.
it will cost your first born
Beautiful rig , i think the Pinion gb is defo the future, but i believe it has a little evolution to still go through with regards to gear changing on certain shifts .. but still fantastic. 27-28kg is just too heavy , i still think the pome vioma did it better with looks and functionality it also was 24/25 kg. Great video stunning scenery. Ultimately, i wouldn't buy the nicolai, to heavy, and i feel there are better rides on the way and some alresdy out there for sale that are better value for money and performance.
great bike! I didn't really understand where the location is, coldi fonira? could you briefly say what the trail is called? thx!
Once again, stunning setting and videography. The bike is a definite want. Did I miss the cost and availability?
If you apply this tech more widely, it really is the future of transportation. The maintenance, power and capability is unrivaled and the storage space is minimal. I would love this tech in a commuter bike for £4k with 5 or 6 years warranty.
Where you going to risk parking a 4-6k bike you don’t need a commuter bike you just need a reasonable priced bike that will do it all been asking for starters do it all bike reviews for ages and they only seem interested in silly money bikes for silly rides not the big picture
@@darrenjones3681 my place of work has key card access for bikes. I climb 10-20% hills on the way back from work. They salt the roads and it rains half the week. Chains and motors get burnt out easily for me so this is what I want. Motorbikes don't get their own place to park and cost on insurance tax and fuel. This is the best for me.
There are so many Sentiero dei fiores in Italy ... can you tell us, where this beautiful trail is that you rode?
Can you share the name of this area, and these trails please ? just amazing. Is it in the Dolomittes somewhere ? We would like to go and explore. Thanks
I am also interested in the information
Colle Fauniera
Sentiero dei fiori, in valle grana in the Cottian Alps, Piedmont region of Italy
@@adriannash755 Thanks a lot
I tested this motor, and it felt good, but compared to Sram or Pinion, Sram shifts more smoothly and runs more consistently without jerking.
This definitely is the future, the big thing is cost and availability worldwide?
economies of scale. right now Pinion are tiny and selling to tiny bespoke companies like Nicolai. The fence sitters of Shimano, Sram etc need to come on board for mass-market and then prices will drop.
Hi Very nice review can you tell what size the bike was and how high you are in cm maybe, and what a landscape 🤪
We don't want derailleur anymore! Finish with this antiquated bike mechanism already!
Love it but could never afford it!!
Agreed, beyond most people’s budgets sadly.
@@windinthewillows6248I’ve been asking for for realistic starter bike reviews for people who may not hat cycled for some years but no still throwing unreasonably priced amounts around like seriously who has 4-10k to buy a bike with that have kids , average regional wages ect
what's the motor noise/clunk like up and down hill?
Absolutly bno Noise down ( havent u seen the Video ? ) Up its in Gear 1-4 Louder than Bosch , 5-8 same like Bosch , 9-12 more silent than bosch . U Have to try it on your own if u can handle the sound in gear 1-4 . The Nicolai is in my opinion more silent than the carbon MGU Bikes .
Belt drives are a really good idea but how many shops stock them, at least with a chain you can fix it there and then. I think for commuter bikes they make a lot of sense as does a geared crankset or rear hub.
@@ebikescrapper3925 you could order a few and take them with you go out. I do this with a chain already as we all should especially riding an eMTB
Hallo Steve for me the Bike is to Heavy with 28 kg.The Pinion Drive Unit is good but Sorry 28 Kg and you say is a Uphill Tool Not for me .Thanks for the Work you do and the Location that Trail where is it in North Italy
it literally does the riding for u wdym
I'm 60 looks like I'm going to miss out on this😢.
I want one but can’t get one in California. The amflow sounds good too with that Uber powerful Dji motor.
Anyone know where this trail is inwan tto go
I've 2x Nicolai gboxx's - not e bikes circa 2008 and 2010 - build quality and design details are insane - as soon as i saw the eboxx version I had it on my list of ONE as I almost bought the previous version with hub gears but 6 months covid delivery put me off so I went levo and 2 motors later it's ok but..................................I've trashed more transmission components maybe £1500 in 4 years with pennine mud wear and tear
How long is that trail, and how much battery capacity was used on the ride?
My LBS have raised cynicism in me; is there a good after sales service & is there just more to go wrong with the MGU? Personally I love the look & tech of it all but I have some, small doubts
I think I've just started saving up for one 🙂 I wonder what Marco Pantani, one of the best climbers ever would think about ebikes ??
i want more brand explore this idea is this the future of emtb
would like a bit more detail on the NVH/sound under load, both high range and low range gears, level ground, and elevation.
Does it have a dropper post? Or is it just that specific model or did it just not get installed?
You can see the dropper down and then up between about 8 minutes to 8:30ish
Your video is absolutely gorgeous, but please please write the locations or a GPX file in the description. I'm having a bit of trouble getting it from the pronunciation. Is it Col di Frontera? Anyone knows?
What happened to the Valeo Motor Gear Box Unit ? Did it disappear ? We need competition between several MGU manufacturers to drive the prices down.
It's still there but it seems it's marketed more in the urban direction, looks more bulky and heavy (0.8kg more than Pinion) and it's mostly a French affair.
Gearbox / belt drive is the future. Also, we don't need 12 or even 10 gears on an e-bike. Someone should come out with a, say.... 8 speed gearbox that trades complexity for ruggedness and affordability so long as it has a 500% range.
I’d say 10 is good. Maybe 9. Now that I think of it, I have 12 speed and I haven’t used gears 1 and 2 and 12 almost or probably never. Ok, 9 it is…
I respectfully disagree. I have 14 speeds in my Rohloff gearbox, all evenly spaced with a 600%+ range. I have one Rohloff on my non-e-bike fat-tyre Tumbleweed bikepacking bike, and another Rohloff fitted to my S-Works Turbo Levo eMTB.The 14 speeds enable me to easily adjust the gearing to maintain a steady cadence. I'm 72, and the strength in my legs isn't what it was 10 years ago. So when I turned 65 I purchased my first e-bike. On both bikes it is the gearing that enables me to still get out and ride difficult challenging terrain. My wife's e-bike has a Shimano Alfino 8-speed. I've tried her chunky gearing. The gear changes are too severe. You always seem to be hunting for the in-between gear, and never feel comfortable with your cadence. It is ok for her on rail trails. But, for me, on gnarly off-road terrain I want the finer granularity of my Rohloff 14 speeds coupled with the 600%+ range. I do agree with you that gearbox / belt drive is the future.
@@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter I find I frequently shift multiple gears on my 12 speed Levo. Hell- I have a 10 speed 480% regular bike and never even think "gee- I wish I had a gear between these two gears"
Nice i’dd like to compare the Alu Nicolai with my CF Rapcon, it sure looks better. Anyway, Pinion/Efit please asap a mtb remote (no joystick nobby) and a 12V charger. It would be nice to make 25kmh speedlimit less abrupt( ie motor support ‘eco’ up to 32kmh) This would be lovely on flow trax!
Is the engine more efficient in range than conventional ones I’m interested in
Nope its not its ca 5 % less eeicent than the bosch cx gen4 , but its same than the DJI .. it has way more Support than teh Bosch . I turned it a bit Down
I like the MGU and belt system, but 1000€ on mudguards is ridiculous.
The pricing is a stupidity test.
@@markdove5930 You get lights as well front and back for the 1000 Euros 🙂So around £800 Extra for £200 of Cost.
I love this brand!! And I also love this model " but" the only not so cool thing I see it's! Those 28 kilos! Anyway it's an awesome bike actually! 😊
I have the Simplon Rapcon Pinion, carbon and 26kg. Also very heavy. I've carried that thing on my shoulders through some hiking path steps. Not easy.
We’re in the Italian alps is this exactly?
What a beast, Shimano, Yamaha and Bosch left looking like dinosaurs compared to this.
7:55 "Everything is protected from....water...moisture" ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT? No more motor/bearing failures due to ingestion?
I want one. Just need my premium bond numbers to come up now...
What's the over/under on pedal strikes and a warranty claim? How long to get a claim and a replacement?
Oh crap I’d miss lubing the chain😢
- nobody
How many miles or elevation gain can it go????
I love it, just wish it had regen so i never had to replace brakes…. and i could afford it.
How belt drive will perform in rain, mud , debris from elements?
Better than a Chain would!
Look at the riders who bike pack the globe using Rohloff hubs and Gates drive for tens of thousands of kms with minimal maintenance.
i want to have one of this kind of emtb but i wait coz i have 2 emtb and now im looking to buy a hose so maybe in 2 years i got one .I hope in 2 years moore brand to developed this kind of emtb
Two years is a long time so fingers crossed! What eBikes do you have at the moment?
What's the rack about.