As winter creeps in, our experienced test team are preparing to take the long term test bikes through the toughest of seasons. The NICOLAI ION-16 Techline is one bike on the fleet that certainly looks like it could survive anything, but looks can be deceiving. It’s time to check in and see how the clean lines, tough look, and the sweet components have held up to the abuse.

The NICOLAI ION-16 Techline is brutal in it's intent, looking more like military hardware than a bike.
The NICOLAI ION-16 Techline is brutal in it’s intent, looking more like military hardware than a bike.

Specifications of the NICOLAI ION-16 Techline

As detailed in the First Ride bike check, the Techline model is all top of the line, dripping in SRAM and Hope components and costing €5,499.00. A RockShox Pike RCT3 Solo Air fork and a Monarch Plus RC3 shock supply balanced suspension with simple setup and the RockShox Reverb dropper post is always a welcome addition on any bike. The SRAM X1 1×11 drivetrain is proven to be robust, and unsurprisingly has performed without any problems at all over the past months. The brakes, wheels, cranks, and bottom bracket are all from Hope Technology, known for their durability, but have required some attention during testing – more on that later. At 14.1 kg, the ION-16 isn’t a lightweight bike, but it’s been hammered in the roughest terrain we could find.

The hardware on the NICOLAI ION-16 Techline is all business, wide and strong it looks built to last.
The hardware on the NICOLAI ION-16 Techline is all business, wide and strong it looks built to last.
Hope E4 Calipers provide lots of power with smooth and buttery modulation, but lack the bite of more aggressive brakes.
Hope E4 Calipers provide lots of power with smooth and buttery modulation, but lack the bite of more aggressive brakes.

Setup of the NICOLAI ION-16 Techline

From the sloppy winter mud of southern Germany to the dusty sunbaked trails of the Italian riviera the NICOLAI has been thrashed hard. The initial recommended setup of the suspension felt overly stiff but was sorted out by the suspension tuners at Fahrrard Fahrwerk and our tester hasn’t made any adjustments since. The distinctive Ergon seat and grips were comfortable at first but the shape eventually became distracting so our tester swapped them for a WTB saddle and Sensus grips. The Continental Trail King tires were also not suitable for aggressive riding so were swapped for Onza Citius front and Ibex rear tires. These changes made the bike ride well and feel confident and comfortable during long, aggressive rides.

It’s beautiful details like this that make a bike a pleasure to own.
It’s beautiful details like this that make a bike a pleasure to own.
Wide and aggressive, the Truvativ BooBar is the perfect match for the industrial frame.
Wide and aggressive, the Truvativ BooBar is the perfect match for the industrial frame.

Riding the NICOLAI ION-16 Techline

The Hope cranks came fitted with a 32 tooth chainring which although good for undulating riding, really made our tester struggle on long climbs in the mountains. For long thirty to fifty minute climbs followed by fast singletrack descents, the 32 tooth ring was swapped for a 30 tooth ring. The difference made by two less teeth on the chainring was absolutely worth the hit that our testers ego took. With the gearing finally set, we found that the bike climbs quite well and the rear wheel rarely loses traction. The front wheel tracks well even when climbing fairly steep trails and the platform ‘climb’ damping of the Pike and Monarch keep pedal-bob to a minimum.

It’s no mountain goat, but it will haul up a climb as well as expected given the weight, but how does it descend? We are still riding the Nicolai with the stock head angle of 65.5°. If required the “ET” key can be reversed which will steepen the geometry, giving a head angle of 66.5° but we are not sure why you would when it rides so well in the slacker setting. Our tester has pushed the bike hard on loose rocks, big doubles, steep choppy descents and the only time he has even thought about the bike was when he launched an accidental huck-to-flat off of a poorly designed drop in a bike park and bottomed out the Pike – no troubles for the burly Nicolai. The suspension feels a little stiff in the ‘car park test’ but on the trail this translates into supportive and predictable at high speeds. The combination of the effective suspension and the aggressive Onza tires really makes this bike consistent and reliable in nasty terrain. The bike is fast and feels stable both on the ground and in the air, and launching into roots and rocks is riotous fun.

The NICOLAI ION-16 Techline just loves to be pushed hard, stable, fast and aggressive.
The NICOLAI ION-16 Techline just loves to be pushed hard, stable, fast and aggressive.
nicolai-ion-16-techline-review7

Issues with the NICOLAI ION-16 Techline

During the testing we did encounter some problems, the Hope cranks, although burly, repeatedly came loose, Unfortunately, to tighten Hope Cranks it is necessary to use a special tool which makes trailside work impossible unless you carry one. Take away the components and the Ion-16 has been incredibly reliable. Every bolt has stayed properly tensioned and the pivots are silent and smooth. There is not a hint of flex or play anywhere on the frame and even the special machined cable guides are where they started.There is a small dent in the downtube from a rock kicking off the front wheel, but otherwise the bike looks brand new. The finish has held strong and has not suffered from any scratches or rubbing from contact with clothes or shoes.

The Hope crank matches the tough styling of the frame, but we experienced lots of loosening that needed a special tool to rectify.
The Hope crank matches the tough styling of the frame, but we experienced lots of loosening that needed a special tool to rectify.
Made in Germany, the NICOLAI will certainly appeal to a certain type of rider who appreciates durability and craftsmanship.
Made in Germany, the NICOLAI will certainly appeal to a certain type of rider who appreciates durability and craftsmanship.

Is the NICOLAI ION-16 Techline a good bike?

Overall we have been very pleased with the NICOLAI ION-16 Techline. Appealing to a rider who values reliability and durability over carbon and featherweight components, the ION-16 is for to those who likes to ride hard. This bike has uncomplicated good looks with loads of attention to detail and craftsmanship but it also descends like a beast. To hit features flat out it’s necessary to have confidence in a bike, but this has to be earned and the Nicolai Ion-16 has certainly earned it so far.

Fore more information about NICOLAI bikes, head to nicolai-bicycles.com.


Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more.

Words: Evan Philipps Photos: Noah Haxel