Nicolai Helius AM 2011
Reviews / Enduro Bikes
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At a glance
Having enjoyed testing the Nicolai CC so much in a previous test there was a buzz of expectation at the thought of getting our hands on the CC’s big brother, Nicolai’s highly regarded AM.
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The bike was to spend a couple of weeks with us in the Alps, at the end of which it was going to be put through its paces at the Mega Avalanche so all in all a true test of this all-mountain machine.
With the frame arriving in the country literally hours before we were due to set off, Simon the man behind Nicolai distribution here in the UK, got it built up with a mixture of parts that he had to hand and rushed it over.
Straight away the stunning anodised orange frame with its beautiful fish scale welds and it’s ready for anything stance had its admirers salivating. The purple Marzocchi fork split opinion regarding colour, but is highly thought of regarding performance.
So could our colourful AM live up to its All Mountain monica?
Tech heads
It is fair to say that the build on the AM was somewhat hurriedly put together and during the course of the test it morphed somewhat depending on where and what we were riding.
Our frame is a medium and sports Nicolai’s signature tube set with straight round tubes making up the front triangle whilst box section is used for the seat and chain stays.
The original Horst link suspension system is used to give up to 171mm of rear wheel travel, this can be altered by changing the hole that the shock is mounted to on the linkage plate. Changing the travel setting does not change the geometry but it does increase the amount of compression damping giving the bike a firmer feel the less travel you run.
The head tube can be ordered in pretty much any configuration you want and is strengthened with plates where the top and down tubes join giving plenty of stiffness.
A 73mm bottom bracket shell comes with ISCG mounts and our test bike came fitted with a Hammerschmidt.
Out back you can have a choice of rear axles including a Rolhoff specific, our AM came with a 135x12mm bolt thru.
Angles wise the Nicolai has a slacker head angle for this year at 66.5º when measured with a 160mm travel fork whilst the seat tube angle is 73.2º. Top tube length is 585mm, chainstays are 430mm and the wheelbase is 1148mm. Reach is 405mm and stack 597mm.
Suspension duties were taken care of by a Marzocchi 55 Ti RC3 up front and a Fox RP23 out back.
Kit included Formula RX brakes, Shimano XT rear mech, Hammerschmidt crankset controlled via a Sram X9 shifter and a KS dropper seat post.
Wheels were Syncros wide and strong FR DS32 shod with 2.35 Maxxis Highrollers. Steering leverage was handled by a set of 745mm wide Sunline bars and various stems were used throughout the test.
In this guise our medium test bike weighed in at 32.7lbs. The claimed frame weight is 6.8lbs excluding shock.
On the trail
One of the first things to note is the stiffness of the frame both up front and out back.
With the excellent Hammerschmidt set in its ‘normal’ setting (22T) you just point the thing up hill and pedal, the solidity of the frame means all your efforts are instantly transferred to the rear wheel and you find yourself climbing as if you are on a much lighter rig, there is very little bob yet the active rear end hugs the ground tenaciously giving plenty of grip
Once zipping along ridgeline trails the bike flows and holding speed is a breeze, bursts of acceleration were dulled slightly by the weight, but the excellent power transfer meant there was still plenty of kick.
Turning the bike downwards really gets the juices flowing and it was possible to stick with the guys on their DH rigs through everything but the roughest sections.
It was through these sections that the tyres showed themselves to be inadequate due to being the single ply variety.
So on went some DH tyres and DH tubes, this bumped the weight up and the rolling resistance too but it meant that there would be no further punctures for the remaining 14 days in the Alps.
With the bike shod in hardcore rubber caution was thrown to the wind and the AM responded. Speeds went up, jumps got hit harder and the DH guys got some company.
The Marzocchi 55 stepped up to the plate and showed just how good a fork it is by taking some pretty gnarly alpine trails in its stride, dealing with hits across the range smoothly and calmly.
Likewise, the Nicolai was plush and controlled through some extreme terrain give confidence and grip and the stiff front end held its line throughout.
In full travel in this heavy weight format the AM proved well and truly capable of handling whatever the mountains could throw at it and after 16 days of alpine riding and no mechanicals with anything other than a rear mech it is safe to say it is a reliable package.
Once back from the road trip the bike got a make over, light but strong Crank Bros Iodine wheelset shod with Nobby Nics and BOS suspension front and back bought the weight down to 31lbs.
It is in this guise that the AM really did blow us away.
Climbing improved to the point it is a bolt to the top rather than a steady toil up. Through the singletrack there is agility, a nimbleness that really lets you flick from corner to corner knowing that there is plenty of grip once you have the bike lent over carving your way through the turns yet on rough descents it is still planted and calm.
For
The AM is the best selling bike in the Nicolai range and it is no surprise.
This bike can be built up light, we reckon you could get it under 29lbs and it would still be a strong build or you can go for DH spec to make it bombproof or anywhere in between.
However you build it you will have a strong reliable frame that will last for years to come.
The geometry is pitched just right, encouraging you to ride hard and the more you push it the better the Nicolai feels. The suspension is smooth and controlled offering up grip galore whether climbing or corning, descending is a joy as you can pick a line with confidence, knowing that you will not be turned or twisted off course.
Then there is the custom factor, there are a huge number of colours to choose from and a range of other custom options so you can have your bike just how you want it.
Against
It is possible that all that versatility could be seen as compromise.
Some would argue that a bike that is capable of everything from xc to dh lacks the focus to allow it to really shine in any one disciple.
Frame weight is a touch high and there is no carbon option, this could be a sticking point when compared to the competition.
Custom options cost, the basic frame price is about right for a top end frame but customising costs and that may put some buyers off.
Overall
The Nicolai Helius AM is a joy to behold, the quality just oozes from it and the welds are immaculate.
The suspension is smooth and plush yet not soggy in the mid stroke and the frame is stiff and confidence inspiring.
When in a more DH oriented build the AM was a very good bike and hung with the big boys well beyond what was expected.
In the lighter weight mode this bike comes to life, from boosting jumps to fast singletrack and high speed descending it will make you smile as you laser cut your way down trails at warp speed.
Aggressive and fast the AM will suit riders that love to trail ride, but really love a good dust up with some serious terrain.
Buy Enduro Bikes onThis review was in Issue 13 of IMB.
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By Nigel Garrood
Nigel Garrood was one of the instigators of the IMB project and has been with us since the very beginning. This loveable rogue has more stories than the Bible and is known to enjoy a beer or two. On the bike, he’s fast and loose and often puts younger riders to shame. Equally he’s been known to suffer from the odd crash and carries the scars to prove it. He was once referred to as being a robot sent from the future to save us all!
