Exclusive first ride review: new NICOLAI SATURN 16 2022 – A dream bike for individualists? #CNCporn

The new NICOLAI SATURN 16 is meant to bridge the gap between the SATURN 14 trail bike and G1 enduro racer. It’s available in three different wheel sizes and, like all NICOLAI bikes, allows for countless customization options. Is the new SATURN 16 just a very gorgeous and exclusive piece of engineering or can it crank up the heat on the trail?

NICOLAI have long established themselves as a brand for true bike connoisseurs, offering a wide range of unique-looking alloy bikes with machined parts and a striking industrial look – and of course, all made in Germany! The small manufacturer has been building mountain bikes and small parts such as suspension links and cable holders at their headquarters in Lower Saxony since 1995. All production steps, from prototype development to frame welding and the final bike assembly, are carried out in-house by NICOLAI. This is also the case with the new SATURN 16, which is available in three wheel sizes, as a 27.5″, MX or 29″ version. Depending on the wheel configuration, the NICOLAI generates 150 mm or 160 mm travel, both front and rear. Retail price is €2,799 for the frame without shock while the complete bike in this test costs €7,549. In typical NICOLAI fashion, the spec of the SATURN 16 can be customised down to the smallest detail.

The NICOLAI SATURN 16 2022 in detail

When you see the new NICOLAI SATURN 16 for the first time, you’ll be struggling to contain your excitement: just WOW! The frame just exudes love for detail and clearly distinguishes itself from most modern carbon and hydroformed alloy frames. Sanding off the weld seams and hiding them under a thick coat of paint? Not at NICOLAI, where welding is an art in itself! The SATURN 16 unites supposed opposites: it’s graceful yet imposing and combines utter elegance with a raw industrial look. All machined parts, like the frame reinforcements, bottom bracket area and rocker link, are beautifully processed and look incredibly good. The unique frame silhouette is a graceful ensemble of straight lines, with the round tubes of the main frame standing in sharp contrast with the square-edged swingarm. On our test bike, the frame colour is perfectly matched to the decals on the EXT suspension.

NICOLAI’s online configurator allows for countless customisation options, making every SATURN is 16 one of a kind. We’ve worked out that there are at least 6,473,291 possible combinations ;) Yeah, that sounds crazy, but it’s possible thanks to all the different wheel sizes, geometries, frame colours and component options you can pick and mix using the configurator.
The geometry of SATURN can be adjusted using NICOLAI’s Mutators, a clever proprietary system of screw-in elements that lets you change the seat and chainstay length of your bike. Eloxal-junkees can get their fix with the huge selection of anodised Hope components.

The suspension kinematics of the NICOLAI SATURN 16 agree with both air and coil shocks. While many manufacturers already offer their bikes with both shock options, not all of them manage to match the suspension kinematics to the different characteristics of the shocks. Needless to say, this can affect and even compromise the overall performance of the bike – but that’s definitely not the case with NICOLAI! To play it safe, the Germans employ two different shock mounts to change the progression and thus ensure optimal performance with both types of shock.

Sustainability is the great corporate challenge of the 21st century and NICOLAI’s production philosophy already reflects what was outlined in our “Sustainability megatrend” story, which was released as part of the 2022 Design & Innovation Award. The frame of the SATURN 16 is designed for maximum durability, longevity and reparability, featuring a reinforced head tube, replaceable ISCG mount and aluminium inserts as well as double-sealed ball bearings. To make sure you can hit your line in all confidence, all frames are fitted with a form-fit sliding, exchangeable dropout for track and camber adjustment. Unfortunately, NICOLAI don’t rely on a UDH mech hanger, which makes it harder to find a replacement in case of damage. The chainstay guard is very thin and secured only by means of zip-ties. While this may not be the most elegant solution, it works well and matches the industrial look of the bike while ensuring a quiet ride on the trail.

The brake lines and shifting cable (if applicable) are routed externally and neatly clamped to the frame, ensuring a clean look and quiet ride. Two of the clamps also function as a bottle cage mount. In good-old steampunk fashion, the Saturn 16 doesn’t have a downtube protector. However, NICOLAI assure that their bikes don’t need protection, because the frame is made entirely of robust 7020 alloy, which has a higher tensile strength and exhibits a higher fatigue strength than 6000-series alloys. On the other hand, the 7020 alloy is more expensive and more difficult to process, which is why manufacturers prefer using lower-grade aluminium. If you want to know all the facts, half-truths and myths about bike materials and find out the pros and cons of alloy and carbon, you should read our “Carbon myths” story.

NICOLAI SATURN 16 2022 – specs and models

Depending on the wheel size, the rear suspension of the new NICOLAI SATURN 16 generates different amounts of travel, with the 29” version offering 150 mm and the 27.5” and MX models 160 mm. All three versions can be used with either a 150 mm or 160 mm fork. As mentioned before, the spec of the Saturn can be customised down to the smallest detail. In NICOLAI’s configurator, you’ll find components from exclusive and rare brands that perfectly match the character and intended use of the bike. For the suspension, you can choose between EXT, FOX, Formula, Marzocchi and Intend. MAGURA and HOPE supply the brakes while Continental, Schwalbe and Wolfpack take care of the tires. Moreover, you can choose a different colour for the frame, seatstays, chainstays and decals and unleash your creative beast with the countless colour options of the Hope components.

The spec of our NICOLAI SATURN 16 2022 test bike

Our NICOLAI SATURN 16 test bike in size M costs € 7,549, tilts the scales at 15.5 kg and relies on a MX wheel setup with a 29” front wheel and smaller 27.5” wheel at the rear. Italian suspension manufacturer EXT supplies the ERA V2 fork and STORIA LOK V3 coil shock, which both control 160 mm travel. The shock mounts rely on ball bearings instead of bushings, preventing the STORIA LOK V3 from flexing laterally.

Shifting is taken care of by a wireless SRAM GX AXS drivetrain, which NICOLAI combine with a smaller 50t cassette instead of the 52t model typical of this drivetrain. In combination with the smaller 27,5″ rear wheel of the MX model, the smaller cassette will get you at the top of every climb. Hope Tech 3 V4 brakes with a 203 mm rotor at the front and smaller 180 mm disc at the rear do stopping duties. With lighter riders like our editor Simon (75 kg), the brakes ensure powerful and reliable deceleration even on long, steep descents – the only drawback is the annoying squeaking noise! Heavier riders should run big 203 mm rotors front and rear.

Our SATURN 16 rolls on Hope Fortus 30 SC wheels, which are the lighter version of Hope’s super-robust Fortus 30 DH wheel. Like all Hope components, the wheels are available in different colours and can be colour-matched to the rest of the bike. With its open tread pattern, the 2.4″ Continental The Baron tires with Protection Apex casing and BlackChili rubber compound have slightly less rolling resistance than other enduro tires, like Maxxis’s proven DHF/DHR II tire-combo, for example. They generate excellent grip on loose forest trails but tend to break off easily in hardpack corners.

The cockpit consists of 780 mm Renthal FatBar alloy handlebars and 40 mm Hope AM/Freeride stem while a 185 mm BikeYoke DIVINE dropper post ensures sufficient freedom of movement downhill.

The Geometry of the NICOLAI SATURN 16 2022

Most bike geo tables have around 4 to 6 columns for frame sizes. Of course, that’s also the case with the SATURN, only that the adjustable seat and chainstays make for a whopping 288 geometry variants. But don’t worry, with every NICOLAI comes a very clear set of recommendations and guidelines, which come in handy even for seasoned geo-nerds. That means that every bike is shipped in a standard configuration, if you don’t choose otherwise. But even in this standard setting, the chainstays of the SATURN grow with the frame size – awesome! The Saturn is available in a total of 6 sizes, S to XXXL, offering a suitable option for riders between 164 cm and 210 cm tall. All frame sizes are available in all three wheel configurations. The table below shows the geometry of the MX bike.

size	S	M	L	XL	XXL	XXXL
Top tube	593 mm	620 mm	647 mm	671 mm	695 mm	713 mm
Seat tube	405 mm	440 mm	455 mm	475 mm	520 mm	550 mm
Head tube	110 mm	110 mm	130 mm	150 mm	170 mm	190 mm
Head angle	64°	64°	64°	64°	64°	64°
Seat angle	78.25°	78.25°	78.25°	78.25°	78.25°	78.25°
BB Drop	22 mm	22 mm	22 mm	22 mm	22 mm	22 mm
Chainstay	438 mm	438 mm	447 mm	447 mm	447 mm	453 mm
Wheelbase	1239 mm	1265 mm	1306 mm	1334 mm	1363 mm	1391 mm
Reach	465 mm	490 mm	515 mm	535 mm	555 mm	570 mm
Stack	618 mm	618 mm	635 mm	654 mm	672 mm	690 mm

Long, longer, NICOLAI: even the smallest S size has a rather long 465 mm reach, while the XXXL sports a mighty 570 mm! in the table you’ll find the geometry of our MX test bike in size M. The only difference is that our test bike has 447 mm chainstays, which are the same you get with the 29er bike.

The NICOLAI SATURN 16 2022 on the trail

First of all, the NICOLAI SATURN 16 doesn’t feel perfectly right from the get go and takes some getting used to – and that’s despite the fact that we didn’t fiddle around with the Mutators to change the geometry settings during this test.

The EXT suspension alone requires a fair amount of tinkering for a basic setup. Moreover, with EXT’s recommended settings, our suspension was far too stiff and we ended up using just half of the available travel on the fork. To save time, we recommend using slightly less air than recommended by EXT and in our case, using the setting recommended for riders 5 kg lighter than us did the trick.

On level ground, the riding position is compact despite the generous reach. The steep 78° seat tube angle positions you on top of the bike rather than integrating you into the bike, ensuring a sporty and slightly front-heavy pedalling position – there are definitely more comfortable bikes for long rides out there! As soon as the trail points uphill, the position feels pleasantly comfortable and the front wheel always stays planted, no matter how steep the incline. When pedalling, the rear suspension of the Saturn doesn’t wallow, making the climb switch superfluous.

Downhill, the SATURN 16 feels nice and roomy and yet the riding position doesn’t feel overly stretched. The handling is direct and the weight evenly distributed between the front and rear wheel, making it easy to negotiate corners, even in tight switchbacks. All in all, the SATURN is a very quiet trail companion.

The rear suspension offers excellent small-bump sensitivity and good progression, ensuring good mid-stroke support and huge reserves. At the same time, it provides a crazy amount of feedback from the ground, which is surprising considering we’re running a coil shock. As a result, the SATURN 16 is anything but smooth: the rear suspension doesn’t swallow big hits as willingly as you’d expect, making it hard to control the bike on fast rock gardens and nasty root carpets. After contacting NICOLAI about this, they told us that our test bike came with a pre-production shock. On the production bike, the shock tune should have tad more rebound and less compression, which should solve the problem. On steep descents, the SATURN 16 generates excellent traction and instills huge amounts of confidence. However, it is very hard to pop off ledges and pull manuals. Even with a minimal amount of compression damping on the pre-production shock, the bike provides tons of feedback from the ground, requiring an active and vigilant riding style. Once you figure out its character, the NICOLAI rewards your efforts with tons of speed and shed-loads of fun. However, with our geo setting, passive riders who want the bike to do the work for them, will quickly become passengers onboard the Saturn. The good news: thanks to the countless geometry settings and suspension options, you can adapt the character of your SATURN to suit your needs and riding style.

The NICOLAI SATURN 16 is by no means a plug & play bike and requires an experienced rider who has the skills, time and patience to explore its endless possibilities. Like most bikes of the German boutique brand, the SATURN 16 is a very special steed, with the painstaking attention to detail behind the 100% made-in-Germany frame, the exclusive suspension, countless geo options and numerous spec configurations making it a dream come true for all bike individualists! The SATURN 16 comes to life with an active riding style and is a trusted riding companion, particularly on steep trails. However, the active suspension of the SATURN provides plenty of feedback from the ground, which makes it feel rather nervous in fast rock gardens and nasty root carpets. That being said, NICOLAI have promised to improve the shock tune for the production bike.

For more information about the new NICOLAI SATURN 16, please visit NICOLAI’s website.

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Words: Simon Kohler Photos: Robin Schmitt