2017 Nicolai Geometron Long ("small") + options

Unique Nicolai Ion Geometron

Size: "Long" (AKA "small") - I am 6' (183 cm) tall and rode this x2 years, and it fit well. It took me almost that long to get to a point where I wanted to try an even longer bike. Even a bike of this length was a bit of a leap, but I'm glad I made it. Most of y'all are riding bikes too small.

MSRP: $2500 USD without shock (not including shipping or duties/import fees (~$200 for each). With the Storia, I paid $3850 for frame + shock. A new G1 will cost you $4050 without shipping or import duties. These frames are not cheap because they perform, they are hand-made (ethically, unlike most bikes these days), and they last.
Price does not include a shock due to the options you might like to choose (I have 4 different shocks available for this frame, details below).
I also have other things you might want to get with this frame, below in "Options."

Geometry: This is a unique frame as it was made to Mojo's Geometron specs, but did not have the wider 83mm BB that they elected to have on their bikes, or the "Mojo" seatstay brace (says "Ion" instead, like all Nicolai Ion's). Please see attached pic for geometry. Realize that this is customizable too, with flip chip to adjust low vs. high BB (which also slackens/steepens HTA & STA), different headset, offset bushings, different stroke shocks, and the possibility to run it as a Mullet/Hybrid (29" F, 27.5" R).
Notable bits:
*150mm rear travel, can be increased to 165mm with longer rear shock
*142mm non-boost rear, 12mm bolt-on axle
*Seat tube is long enough for ANY dropper (not interrupted)
*420mm seatpost
*485mm reach
*445 chainstays
*77-77.7* seattube angle

Color: Custom "Traffic Blue" powdercoating. Had protective tape on for most of it's life. Nicolai can also refinish the frame, if you would like them to.

Condition: Used for 1 full season of riding, + about a dozen rides as I had a bit of a hiatus from riding in 2019. There is nothing functionally wrong - it works perfectly. The bearings and bushings are smooth and perfect with that feeling like they're brand new, which is crazy for a 2 year old frame. This is because the bearings all have an extra shield on them, so water & dirt can't get in there. Now that I've had a frame with bearings sealed to this level, I don't want to go back. I HATE replacing bearings. I'm not sure if that'll ever be necessary. Ditto for the bushings which also look near-new and feel like new. This bike is made to last. There's a reason why they have 5 year warranties, and 10 year spare parts available: even with heavy riding, these frame have no problem lasting that long (longer). They just aren't fragile unlike pretty much everything else out there. Parts don't wear out. Parts that can break are replaceable in such a way that they do not necessitate frame replacement (intelligent design). There are some scuffs, scratches, and minor dings, but nothing that is concerning. The frame looks great, but I'll let you decide for yourself based on the pictures. No, nothing creaked, or wobbled, ever. This will outlive all the carbon (and I'm not a carbon-hater, it's just inherently not as durable). Every little thing on this frame is made to last.

Geometry customization:
As I stated previously there are numerous ways to adjust the geo of this frame even further:
* One can put a angle-adjusting headset in it to slacken it even further (not necessary, but hey, you do you).
* One can "long-shock" this bike, so instead of the stock 8.5" x 2.5" rear shock providing 150 mm travel, you can do what I ended up doing, and use an 8.75" x 2.75" rear shock to provide 165 mm travel.
* One can put offset bushings in the shock eyelets to drop the BB even further (not advised to raise the BB as the bushings rotate eventually) - I have a set of Burgtec Ti offset bushings if you want to buy them as I preferred to run both offset bushings when long-shocking.
* This particular iteration of the Geometron, more than any other Nicolai or Geometron (save the G1) suits itself to be run as a Mullet, or Hybrid, 29" front, 27.5" rear, without slacking things out too much. I found it to be just on the edge of too slack with a 170mm Fox 36 on front - if I was going to keep it, I would have lowered the fork travel to 160 mm, but it pedaled fine with the saddle in the middle position when Hybridized. Other Nicolai's and Geometrons tend to become too slack when Hybridized, leading to weight being too far back for pedaling uphill, losing some of the benefit of that otherwise-steep seat tube angle.

Included
*Cane Creek 40 headset with race, works fine.
*Race Face Cinch 30mm BB, works, but upon disassembly, I noticed it wasn't exactly smooth anymore. Never noticed it while riding.
*Kind Shock QR seatpost clamp (and 30.9-31.6 shim, if you want it)
*Downtube cable clamps
*Chainstay chain guard
*Nicolai bolt-on rear axle

Options
Rear shock:
1. EXT Storia Lok v2 8.75" x 2.75" (222 mm x 70 mm) custom for this frame (just how the new G1's come with a custom Storia Lok v3 for that frame; the shock is custom for the frame, and Nicolai and EXT both have told me separately that the shock does not require additional customization beyond that, to which I can attest). So it shouldn't need more customization, but if you so desire, or want it overhauled (not anywhere near needed), there are a couple US shops doing this. $599 for this option. Cost was $950. Includes 375 lb or 400 lb EXT spring of your choice.
2. Fox Float X2 Performance Evol 8.75"x2.75" (222x70) custom-upgrade by Avalanche Suspension - it feels ALMOST as good as the Storia, which is saying A LOT. It's really a draw between them, but I usually ran the Storia, so the X2 is in near-new condition. $499. Cost was $800 with tuning.
3. Bos Kirk 8.5" x 2.5" (216x63). Stock, overhauled once by Bos. Best stock air shock I've ridden. It is controlled and efficient. It makes this bike more playful, poppy, and worked great for race pace (as did the other 2 above, but I was surprised by just how well it worked, though Bos, I hear, know a thing or two about suspension). Works great, no problems. $249. MSRP was $700.
4. Cane Creek Double Barrel Coil with Climb Switch 8.5" x 2.5" (216x63). Great shock, very controlled and customizable damping. The CS is stiff and it's been a while since an overhaul, so heavily discounted. I have a CC lightweight steel spring for this (included), or a Ti spring ($50) if you want something a little lighter with longer usable life (steel fatigues, Ti doesn't). $199. MSRP was $650 without Ti.
Don't feel like you need to choose just one.

Tires
6. I have all the 27.5" tires. Like all of them. I only need a couple as I do sometimes run the new bike in Hybrid mode. With any wheelset purchase I will include tires of your choice. I have E13 TRS+, TRSr, Hutchinson DZO (new), Magic Mary's, Continental Mud King, maybe more. I like trying tires. Most of these are in 90%+ shape as I tend to just toss them once they begin to perform less-well than new, but I usually take them off once I have a good feel for them, just to try something new.

Please feel free to ask questions. This is not a cookie-cutter bike. If you're thinking about an off-the-shelf build from a major manufacturer, this might not be for you. This bike is for those who want to take their setup to the next level. Who realize that the big companies make disposable bikes that work well before they are eclipsed by the next year's version, every. single. year. If you want to get a bike that supports customization, try 27.5" vs. Mullet, fiddle with angles and BB height, and keep a bike for more than a couple seasons, this might be for you. I will warn you though - people will ask you questions.

Fun facts:
*Most bike companies are still catching up to the geometry that Mojo and Nicolai pioneered, along with Mondraker and Pole. Fun times are had when you map out how much other bikes are slowly adjusting their geometries, year by year, to catch up without making too much change at once (to avoid risk of alienating loyal customers).
*Not all aluminum bikes are created equal. The type of aluminum matters. The welds matter. The butting matters. While nothing looks similar, some other bike companies may claim to achieve a similar effect, but don't be fooled. Nicolai's are second to none.
*Nicolai care so much about the quality of suspension (both for ascending and descending) that they were unwilling to compromise the leverage ratio, anti-squat, anti-rise, etc... and could not keep the best suspension characteristics AND fit a water bottle in the front triangle. Many other companies compromise on this, but don't tell you. Nicolai felt that the best suspension characteristics were the most important factor, and would not compromise. So just ride with a hydration bladder - this bike will make you want to be on the trails so long that you're going to need more than a single bottle in the front triangle anyway.