Article Nicolai S18 Swift – A 180mm Gravity eMTB

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You'll need a Risse Racing drop crown to get a 150mm headtube to work with a 40, I've been using a 40 on my 140mm headtube K3 Voima for a couple of years now. There's the full set, or just the upper drop crown. I tried to get an S18 frameset and bought an upper crown, but ended up getting a Crestline and a Dorado instead. The Risse upper crown is 14mm offset, 48mm rake. The Fox lower crown to suit is: 820-12-347 Lower Crown-Steerer, 14mm OS, 48 Rake. The upper and lower set of suitable Fox crowns are: 820-12-353-KIT but I'm not sure which 40s come with that crown set stock, as the Risse crown didn't suit the 2024 Fox 40 29er, or the 2022 Marzocchi 58 27.5 crowns I had.
 
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King Liu said:
You'll need a Risse Racing drop crown to get a 150mm headtube to work with a 40, I've been using a 40 on my 140mm headtube K3 Voima for a couple of years now. There's the full set, or just the upper drop crown. I tried to get an S18 frameset and bought an upper crown, but ended up getting a Crestline and a Dorado instead. The Risse upper crown is 14mm offset, 48mm rake. The Fox lower crown to suit is: 820-12-347 Lower Crown-Steerer, 14mm OS, 48 Rake. The upper and lower set of suitable Fox crowns are: 820-12-353-KIT but I'm not sure which 40s come with that crown set stock, as the Risse crown didn't suit the 2024 Fox 40 29er, or the 2022 Marzocchi 58 27.5 crowns I had.
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Thanks. I found this which looks like it will work with 52mm offset Fox 40 29"

Dorado looks great though, how is it?

 
You can order a drop crown separately from Fox that should make it fit. I don’t have the pn off the top of my head, but I have one on my 40 that I ordered directly from Fox. I believe it’s a 44 offset. It’s currently on my Voima. Also MOJO rising used to make an aftermarket drop crown, so you might want to check that. I think they’re appointment only now though, but they’re in the UK, so probably easier for you. I think the problem with a dorado is the upper legs are larger because it’s USD, so the steering radius is reduced on a fat head tube bike like the Voima or Nicolai.
 
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Onetime said:
You can order a drop crown separately from Fox that should make it fit. I don’t have the pn off the top of my head, but I have one on my 40 that I ordered directly from Fox. I believe it’s a 44 offset. It’s currently on my Voima. Also MOJO rising used to make an aftermarket drop crown, so you might want to check that. I think they’re appointment only now though, but they’re in the UK, so probably easier for you. I think the problem with a dorado is the upper legs are larger, so the steering radius is reduced on a fat head tube bike like the Voima or Nicolai.
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Thanks. Is the 44mm offset 27.5" only though?

edit - looks like they do a 52mm version too: 820-12-354-KIT
 
Rob Rides EMTB said:
Thanks. Is the 44mm offset 27.5" only though?
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It could be, but I but I think they have options with more offset. It’s been awhile since I got mine from them so I’m not sure though. I’d give them a call and see. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I know that when I ordered mine, I wanted less offset, so I got the shortest one available.
 
In my experience with owning the fox and mojo drop crowns for the 40 on other bikes and trying them on my 140mm voima, they won't do 150mm headtubes. That type 3 looks like it would fit the stock offset on the 29er Fox 40s I have.

The Dorado might sneak onto a 150mm headtube. The 40 is maxed at 137mm and gets onto a voima headtube with a 5mm spacer above the compression ring using stock drop crowns. The Dorado is stated to be maxed at 143, so might possibly fit the 150m nicolai. The dorado on my crestline isn't quite stock. It has a custom NSR damper, and an adapted V2 smashpot in it. The front end grip is incredible. Also using a tuned Arma V4, and a 27,5 wheel on the 29er rear end with the gen5 bosch motor and 145mm cranks because it's low. It's so much fun doing downhill laps, it's puzzling to me that there aren't more long travel ebikes with double crown forks, which to bring things full circle, is why I tried to order the nicolai.
 
King Liu said:
In my experience with owning the fox and mojo drop crowns for the 40 on other bikes and trying them on my 140mm voima, they won't do 150mm headtubes. That type 3 looks like it would fit the stock offset on the 29er Fox 40s I have.

The Dorado might sneak onto a 150mm headtube. The 40 is maxed at 137mm and gets onto a voima headtube with a 5mm spacer above the compression ring using stock drop crowns. The Dorado is stated to be maxed at 143, so might possibly fit the 150m nicolai. The dorado on my crestline isn't quite stock. It has a custom NSR damper, and an adapted V2 smashpot in it. The front end grip is incredible. Also using a tuned Arma V4, and a 27,5 wheel on the 29er rear end with the gen5 bosch motor and 145mm cranks because it's low. It's so much fun doing downhill laps, it's puzzling to me that there aren't more long travel ebikes with double crown forks, which to bring things full circle, is why I tried to order the nicolai.
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Thanks. I think I will try that Risse Racing drop crown on the Fox 40. Looks likely that everything will work well with that.

I’m with you on dual crown on long travel e-bikes. They just never quite took off, but they are so well matched. I’d rather have a 40 than the new fox podium upside down fork.

I do think the time will come though.

The new crop of more slimline e-bikes make it even less of an issue on steering radius too.
 
How do Nikolai make a 180mm travel shred machine that weighs, and costs, less than a Gen 4 S-Works?
 
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Rob Rides EMTB said:
I’m with you on dual crown on long travel e-bikes. They just never quite took off, but they are so well matched. I’d rather have a 40 than the new fox podium upside down fork.
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I'd love a 40 on my KSL (although that would make it a KNL...) but I'm scared of snapping the frame...
 
Doomanic said:
How do Nikolai make a 180mm travel shred machine that weighs, and costs, less than a Gen 4 S-Works?
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600wh battery on this - 800wh would add 900g, making it about 24.4KG

But agree on price, it’s still not cheap, but hand built in Europe, extremely good build quality, massive double sided bearings, 5 year warranty even if used for racing…

Rated for DH fork and up to of 190mm rear too, just take the spacer out the shock. I think geo is one of my favourite out of all e-bikes so far, and 4 bar suspension on this bike works better than pretty much anything I’ve tried.

IMG_6996.jpeg
 
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Rob Rides EMTB said:
Chosen my frame colour. Cerakote in this colour.

View attachment 165638
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Personally I loved the colour of the one you ride in the video!

I’ve got an old mate who used to have a mtb guiding business in Austria, all of her guest bike fleet were Nicolai’s.

I’d never heard of them until that point, but the week or so I spent getting the cable car up to the trail head and then riding technical single track all the way back down, then repeat, was some of the best riding I’ve ever experienced.
 
Just been informed my frame kit has been delayed until calendar week 40 :(
 
Rob Rides EMTB said:
Oh no - any reason why? Thats the end of September I think?
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Apparently some of the pipe profiles will arrive later than expected - I'm not sure what exactly these are other than they're from an external supplier? I've asked how sure they are about week 40 too. Mine's a size small btw so fingers crossed it's something size specific and won't impact yours!
 
CJG said:
Amazing. Beautiful colour! Mine should be ready next week too, can't wait!
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Thats great - really looking forward to building mine too! I haven't seen the paint in real life yet, but it should have a little two tone effect to it, with the Cerakote protection too.
 
Torsten is a right unit, not someone I'd go out of my way to annoy. Is Chris English, Rob? I couldn't decide whether he was German with really good English or English with a hint of gone native in his accent.
 
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ntm95 said:
That is an ideal setup. Looking forward to more of your thoughts on it.
On a large, I'd go straight to the longest chainstays.
For sizing purposes how tall are you Rob, and is that a large or medium ?
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Thanks! I'm 191cm, and on a Large.
 
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