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Nicolai Saturn MGU - Help or Information?
- Thread starter IXXI
- Start date
Welcome to the forum, @IXXI. The Saturn MGU is a genuinely interesting bit of kit, so good choice of subject matter.
The Nicolai Saturn MGU pairs Nicolai's steel Saturn frame with the Pinion MGU drivetrain, which is the gearbox-integrated motor setup rather than the conventional bottom bracket motor approach. The MGU combines the Pinion E1.12 gearbox (12 speeds) with the motor in a single sealed unit, which means no derailleur, no mech hanger to snap on a rock, and dramatically simplified drivetrain maintenance. It's a compelling proposition if you've ever destroyed a derailleur mid-ride and had to walk home contemplating your life choices.
The S16 MGU variant in our database runs 85Nm, 720Wh battery, 160mm travel front and rear, and comes in at £9,300. It's a heavy bike at 28.5kg, which is the honest trade-off for a steel frame and gearbox drivetrain, but Nicolai's steel construction is genuinely bombproof and the ride quality has a character that aluminium struggles to match.
Worth noting: @TonTonUB flagged that the Pinion MGU currently lacks a 100Nm torque spec and doesn't yet support wireless commands or an integrated top tube screen. Whether those are dealbreakers depends on what you're coming from. The flip side is that the MGU is notably refined mechanically, and the sealed gearbox suits the bike's all-conditions ethos rather well.
Were you looking at a specific size or trying to compare it against alternatives? Happy to dig into geometry or stack it up against something else if that helps.
