S18 Swift 2025

The Nicolai S18 Swift 2025 is a hand-built German aluminium gravity eMTB at the bike-park-and-DH end of the full-power category. It runs 180 mm of fork travel and 180 mm rear on Bosch's latest Performance Line CX Gen 5 motor, with an integrated 600 Wh PowerTube battery and a claimed 23.7 kg system weight. Headline numbers: 120 Nm of torque, 750 W peak power, size-specific head angles from 63.5 to 64.5 degrees and reach growing from 452 to 537 mm across five sizes. £9,200 for the GX AXS trim with FOX 38 Factory and Magura MT7 Pro HC. Community verdict: a beautifully engineered, raw-aluminium gravity tool from a brand finally producing eMTBs that look as serious as their riding promises.

Drive system and range. The Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 5 brings 120 Nm of torque and 750 W of peak power after the PU2.0 firmware update, and the motor weighs 2.8 kg. The integrated 600 Wh PowerTube is smaller than what most enduro rivals offer, which has been the most consistent owner caveat. Nicolai offers a 250 Wh range-extender option for longer rides, although it takes up the bottle mount. Real-world gravity-focused use on 600 Wh typically delivers 35 to 55 km depending on uplift availability, with bike-park use being the primary brief rather than alpine self-shuttling. The integrated Bosch Kiox 400C display sits cleanly into the top tube.

Geometry and handling. A 63.5 to 64.5 degree size-specific head angle progression is a clever touch: bigger sizes get progressively steeper angles to keep the steering feel consistent across rider heights. Reach grows from 452 mm in S to a properly long 537 mm in XXL, with chainstays growing from 440 to 462 mm via Nicolai's mutator system. The L size at 497 mm reach with 448 mm chainstays and 1308 mm wheelbase is the volume sweet spot. The frame supports both single-crown 180 mm forks and 150 mm head tube allows accommodation of dual-crown forks like the FOX 40 (with a Risse Racing drop crown adapter) for full DH conversion. SRAM UDH compatibility and clean internal cable routing complete the package.

Build and value. One GX AXS trim, £9,200. Build includes FOX 38 Factory with Grip X2 damper and Kashima, FOX Float X2 Factory shock 225x70 mm custom-tuned for the S18, Magura MT7 Pro HC four-piston brakes with 220 mm front and 203 mm rear rotors (Bosch ABS Pro optional), and SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission. The standout strength is the chassis-and-suspension combination at this price step: a hand-built hydroformed 7020-T6 aluminium frame with FOX Factory suspension and Magura MT7 Pro HC brakes is a genuinely top-tier gravity package. The questionable note is the 600 Wh battery on a 180 mm chassis built for serious riding, which limits self-pedal range compared to 750 to 800 Wh rivals.

Community-verified strengths. Long-term Nicolai S18 Swift discussion on the forums confirms the frame and rear suspension as universally praised, with reviewers describing the linkage and shock tune as delivering exceptional small-bump compliance and big-hit composure. The mutator chainstay system lets riders dial in 461 or 453 mm chainstays for racing or freeride bias. The 180 mm of rear travel on a 23.7 kg chassis with Gen 5 Bosch power is a unique combination not offered by other major brands. The S18 also accepts dual-crown DH forks for full DH conversion, which is exceptionally rare on a production eMTB.

Caveats and known gripes. The 600 Wh non-removable battery is the most consistent compromise, and the range-extender takes up the bottle cage mount. Nicolai is a low-volume hand-built brand: dealer reach in the UK is thin and frameset orders involve wait times for non-stock colour configurations. The 140 mm head tube limits some dual-crown fork compatibility, requiring aftermarket drop-crown adapters from Risse Racing or accepting a Manitou Dorado as an alternative. At £9,200 the S18 Swift sits squarely in flagship territory, where buyers will compare it directly against the Mondraker Zendit XR and Specialized Kenevo Expert.

Verdict. The S18 Swift 2025 suits the experienced rider who wants a hand-built German aluminium gravity eMTB with size-specific geometry, FOX Factory suspension and Bosch CX Gen 5 power, and who is happy to manage 600 Wh range through bike-park or uplift-based use. Riders chasing carbon, removable batteries or bigger battery capacity should look at the Mondraker Zendit, the Pivot Shuttle LT or the Specialized Kenevo Expert. Production status: current.