ULTIMATE HARDCORE HARDTAIL 💥 NICOLAI ARGON / MTB BUILD
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2020
- Watch me assemble my new Nicolai Argon hardtail mountain bike, with Pinion gearbox, Gates Carbondrive belt and parts from Ergon, Hope, Mudhugger, VEE Tyre, Bike Yoke, Sixth Element and more.
This machine is definitely a hardcore hardtail - feel free to ask questions in the comments below!
Nicolai: www.nicolai-bicycles.com/
Pinion P1.9XR - pinion.eu/
Gates Carbondrive: www.gatescarbondrive.com/
Ergon grips/saddle: ergonbike.com/
Hope Technology: www.hopetech.com/
Find me on insta for the bangers! / macramsay
Fancy some MTB coaching? trailcoach.co.uk/ - กีฬา
🎉 Celebrating 100k views on this video - I upgraded the forks with the new ERA from EXT! See the video here: th-cam.com/video/F5YHvRH8yWQ/w-d-xo.html
This is like the alien of hardtails XD
Not exactly sure why you don't have more subscribers...your videos are awesome. I really enjoyed this build!!
Thanks Scott, that's very much appreciated! I'm really glad you enjoy the videos. I'll continue to make them and hopefully more people can enjoy them too 😁👍
One more 😬
New sub here!!
What a machine! Beautiful 💕
Liked this before the build started :P
Ok that was awesome and easy to follow thanks so much for all the info!
Excellent video Highlander. Your presentation was entertaining and informative. I bet you’ve had fun on that bike over the last couple months.
Ah cheers bud, thanks! 👊 I sure have man, it's been tons of fun! 🔥👌 Couple upgrades coming soon 😏
Didn’t realise you’d need a split in the frame for belt drives. Blew my mind.
Yeah, gotta get it in there somehow! There are frame designs that have a higher chainstay that you don't need to split, but it compromises the strength and rigidity...
Also there are belts made especially for frames that can't split.
@@kaedeschulz5422 wow, really? I wonder how that works... Not sure I'd trust a belt with a weak point at the split 😬
@@RamsayMacFarlane Nom It's split to in a way that over a certain distance it's cut to half the width and cut so that it can split off course. It's being hold together with some kind of clips. Maybe you will find some video on YT i don't have the money for this kind of drivetrain so i haven't looked into it at all.
@@RamsayMacFarlane Veer makes them, have a look at their site, pretty clever solution: www.veercycle.com. On the other hand - have you considered Kindernay XIV hub instead of pinion gearbox? 1kg lighter, cheaper, almost identical ratio range, super robust, hydraulic shifters and ability to easily switch it between wheels.
One of the most unique bike builds I've ever seen
Thanks Sonia! ✌️ Check out my other bike checks to see my Geometron, it's also pretty unique!
TH-cam has presented your channel to me.... Love this build!!!
Cheers greeny! 👊💚
So nice! Very long wheel base too. I'm in love with it !
The long wheelbase makes it so stable and gives a big leverage to throw it around with!
This is a thing of beauty
Really enjoyed your build and commentary. Beautiful bike!! I’m not very familiar with belt drive so that tensioner app was something else.
Glad you enjoyed Brett, thanks 👊
What a gorgeous bike Brother 👍🍺 absolutely love it!
Hell yea man that thing is sick
Love the Pinion and Gates. Hope it evolves, expands and become more cheapish. I'll never go pro so I don't need light weight . In fact I need training, the comfort of full suspension , the reliability , sturdiness and the low degree of maintenance . Heavy lifting , heavy biking , heavy man.
Btw.: love your accent
It's a brilliant system for exactly all those reasons! Becoming more widely adopted would definitely bring the price down and make it even more affordable in the medium/long term. Very few people actually need lightweight bikes!
Cheers dude 👊💥 more vids coming soon - just rebuilt the geometron today, vid soon ☺️
Wow some really neat features in that vid especially tuning the belt drive ! I’m coming up from London to pick up a Deviate in October my first gearbox bike , literally can’t wait to send it down Dumyat!
Thanks! Glad you've made the right move, I'm sure it'll be good for ya! 👌
What a setup 🤯
New bike day is always fun! Nice!
Haven't done it for a good while (the main rig is so reliable) but it sure was a thrill!
Now I know what I’m riding into heaven!
Stunning build !!!
Glad you like it, thanks! 👊💥
Love this bike, thanks for the video.
I'm glad, that's for watching 🤘
Dude, this is amazing! You make the built seem so easy, too. Any video on how it rides? Just subscribed 😁
Thanks! It is so easy 🙂 especially with the gearbox and belt 👌 YES! Riding video coming soon, but gonna fit the new forks first - the current ones are awfully creaky at the CSU, always have been, inadequate kit! There is plenty riding footy on my insta just now @MacRamsay 🤘
Bike looks awsome Ramsay 🤙
ATB
Martin
Phenomenal build! Such a good array of components.
Nice one!
beast of a machine
Gripshifts remind me of the good old days. Sick bike dude 👌
Haha yeah, good old slipshift 🤣 thankfully it operates almost completely differently than the old twisty derailleur (other than the twisting motion) and it is actually a benefit to the operation of the gears rather than an unpredictable hindrance!
Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for watching!
What a machine. Love the idea of the pinion box. Need to try me one.
Do it! Get a test ride if you can, you won't regret it 👌
What a bike!!
Cheers dude! Compliments the Geometron perfectly 👌
Wowww, new subscriber from Philippines
Somehow this got in my feed. I'm glad it did. I had no clue there were gear drive bikes like this. What an epic bike. I've NEVER seen one here where I live.
I'm glad you found it! Thanks 😄 where do you live? They are fairly new and less common in MTB but they have been going a while now and gaining traction! I will never go back to traditional drivetrain now.
@@RamsayMacFarlane I'm in the Eastern US. I'm wondering how well they do around gravel and sand. A lot of our trails are sandy with bits of gravel or rock in them.
@@Oper8or I ride in the worst conditions all year and it's totally fine although it does wear faster of course with more debris and grind paste. I think cycle monkey import them in USA 👌
love it men,from Philippines.ride safe
great clip 👍
Thats the nicest bike Ive seen ever i think
Thanks Piers! 👊 There's a couple of mods coming very soon that will really complete it, stay tuned!
Man that bike looks so dope, love the pinion drive. I bet it's super quiet to ride! Stealth Machine!!
It's SO quiet! 😌 Just a gentle purr of the tyres and the tiniest of whirs from the gearbox 👌
@@RamsayMacFarlane Is the pinion gearbox much heavier than running like an 11spd setup? I've always wanted to run an internal gear hub on a hardtail, but the engagement is usually terrible.
@@stargazeification yeah it's significantly heavier, but the weight is in a good place! The engagement is pretty poor tbf, but you get used to it and it barely comes into play in most MTB riding 😛
Sweet Bill bro
The hardtail of my dreams! 😍 saving up to get Pinion GB. Been running with Rohloff. Still enjoying it but on the heavy side.. hehe!
The dream is perhaps not too far away then! The Rohloff is a beautiful piece of kit, it's just a shame it doesn't really work for MTB due to the unsprung axle weight 😔 still better than a derailleur! 😁👍
Ramsay MacFarlane actually my Rohloff was used for Specialized Demo9 DH before. But i heard its counterpart got a thru axle series. Kindernay, it’s so gorgeous! 😍
I really do like the look of this hardtail and how the PINON gearbox keeps every thing neat and tidy by the back wheel there and that is why I am going single speed on my build, as sometimes less is more you know and this is very cool, and must be lots of fun to ride too !!!!!.
I would love to have Argon CX single speed!
That looks badass! Love the simplicity of the single gear in the back. Is this an e-bike too, or is it that just an internal "transmission" type system? Very cool!!!
No electricity in this bad boy ⚡🚳🔌 but yes, it's an internal transmission!
I like your vids! I use to race bmx,but I'm getting back into biking with a trek Roscoe 7.picking it up in a couple days!!
Excellent, great to hear it! Thanks for watching and enjoy the new ride! 🤙
ITS A DREAM BUILD !
Nice interactive mtb build!
Cheers dude 👊
One of my good friends (Sadly departed) used to swear by Nicolai’s and gear boxes. Certainly a nice build
Sorry to hear, but glad he had good taste/sense! 😜
Awesome video Ramsay...! Watching this makes me feel old, lol. I started young in BMX in the 70`s... had Redlines, Mongooses, Cooks brothers, Race inc. The MTB began and built Cannondales with beautiful components when Chris King,. Kore and Race Face still offered anodized colors. My last Cannondale weighed 20lbs. W/Marzocchi bomber forks. Then the MTB powers that be needed to make more money. Take away the colors and start at the bottom again... change this, change that and make EVERYTHING BLACK. I am going to throw up now. Love your vids! Stay Radical!
Thanks Scotty! I've got a wee 16' wheel redline racing BMX just now hahaha it's a good laugh on the pumptrack! Got a pic on my insta instagram.com/p/CUU_w48Ml_g/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
I hear ya dude, the industry has made a joke of things in a lot of ways, very frustrating. I'm over the moon I finally have an adequate gearbox solution though! And we still have Hope and Nicolai kicking out the anodising 🙌
Thanks for taking the time to comment, still makes my day engaging in conversation as a result of these videos. I don't monetise them and hopefully never will - I make them for the love and for sharing my opinion/philosophy if I can. Would love to make so much more!
That's a beauty my friend. It would be my dream build.
Thanks Tango! Hopefully one day you can build this dream bike too 😄
I love how raw it looks
I'm looking forward to giving a polish sometime ☺️
I loved this build, Nicolai has always accustomed us all to high standards of quality and convenience on all sorts of parameters,back in the day when I initiated myself in downhill biking there was someone in the group who managed to get his hands on a Nicolai Nucleon ST (it came without Internal Transmission hub) but immediately showed us the quality of the brand, the only thing is that it was a bit of a heavy bike still... Regardless, I've long decided to get a belt driven system bike in order to try something new while getting rid once and for all of the chain racket noise we all know so well.I had my mind set on buying a Cavalerie but I just came to the realization that Nicolai has long been equipping their bikes with both belt and Internal Transmission system plus designing a frame with very convenient details like we could see there 👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻.
really cool build video. You have answered all my doubts and questions regarding pinion drive. Nicolai Argon GLF with 2.8'' tires and pinion seems to be an ultimate second bike (rounded up with a G15 or G1 or Saturn 14 ST).
Thanks Mateusz 👊💥 Pair it up with a Geometron for sure! I have the GPI too (four years now) and just rebuilt it today (video soon!) see it my other bike check on my channel 👌 The new Saturn GPI is also cool!
Sick bike bro.
Cheers 👊💥
Wonderful german engineering. 👌🇩🇪
And a very good Video!
Many greetings and keep it up.
Beautiful bike! Always love the Nicolai since 2 decades ago. Had afew of them in the past and currently have an argon pinion. Infact there are 2 pinion bikes in the household now.
Brilliant, I have two Pinion bikes now too! That's how good they are! My Geometron has been running for 4 years now and I have loved every minute of it.
@@RamsayMacFarlane yes they are very fantastic drive train. I have a p1.18 on my Nicolai while a c12 on a sick! Bicycle co wulfbaron titanium. Both have custom 3D printed gearbox cable covers and custom printed bash guard. Anyhow , yours looks really fantastic. 👍🏻
@@Disorderwrx sounds awesome, where can I see the bash guards?
@@RamsayMacFarlane hi I have drop you a msg with photos at your fb page. Do check it out.
got me thinking...💪🍺
I'm new to your channel Ramsay, and I like what I've just seen. 👏
This excellent build vlog leaves a major point unanswered though. Emmachizzit? 🤔
I'd wager London to a brick on that most of us drive cars worth far less than this beautiful build.
Finally, I love your shed. It looks like it predates bicycles by a long margin.
I'm off to look at your other vlogs!
Keep well and ride hard!
Thanks, glad you like my vids!
I'm not sure of a price on my build - I'm more concerned with getting the right kit that won't give up on me. It's definitely worth more than my vehicles, for sure! 🤪 I think full builds come in around 6k. The most important part is that it's an investment - you start saving again as soon as you buy it, no more broken derailleurs that sometimes go way further and kills wheels and all sorts, no replacing worn out drivetrains multiple times a year, almost no maintenance and lubes required etc.
As for the shed, thanks! It's actually my dad's shed that I've helped to build over the years. I grew up here and regularly visit. We just got the floor concreted and everything weather tight and a garage door... Wish it was my shed! Also wish we owned it 😭
@@RamsayMacFarlane 👍 😀
Mint 🤘🤘
wow nice vid , ur viewer here from philippines
Cheers dude! 👊💥
Big thumbs up dewd
Sick
That's the dream
Beast
Hey Ramsay, I just ordered the same setup and trying to figure out the rest of the build. Did you manage to change the Hope trials hub to Boost?
Just found out from my service man there exist some Nikolai bikes and their flippin wicked!
Service man has good taste 🤩👌
those massive welds look like the welds on dirt bikes! That thing could survive a cliff! 😂
Beautiful, huh? 😍 My Geometron HAS survived a cliff! 😂👌
Those axle slides❤❤❤. When is the test footage coming along?
They're beautiful, huh?! There is plenty test ride footage on my insta @macramsay but some mods coming next on here to finish off the bike and then I'll shred it for the 'tubes!
sick
Great looking build! what size is that frame? medium? large? have you had a chance to weigh the bike? Thanks!
Thanks! It's a medium Argon GLF. I don't weigh my bikes! Weight is the least important factor IMO - performance, durability and reliability are far more important. I build my bikes to suit the intended purpose, not to sit on scales! 👍
Nice build! I’m looking at building a Fatbike/29+ Bikepacking rig. I can only get hold of a P1.9xr, I really wanted a 12 speed. Do you think the 9speed xr would be ok for off road Bikepacking?
Thanks! Love the bike still, so reliable and solid. I have 9XR on this one and it's more than enough still! I would ditch the 12 on my Geometron and run the 9XR instead - the range of 568% (estimate from memory) is still more than a conventional 1x drivetrain.
The bikes looks amazing 😉 wondering how it’s ride??
Thanks, I love it too 👌 it's been riding great - loads of fun!! Feels so planted. There's plenty footage on my insta (@MacRamsay) but I'll get another video up here when I've fitted the new forks and 29 up front! 🤘
Thanks. Nice job. Love the pinion concept just wish they were a bit lighter.
Thanks! Sure, a bit lighter would be good, but look on the bright side - it improves the handling by having that weight central and low! Plus that weight is comforting knowing that you've got some durable and reliable kit underneath you 😉 My priorities are reliability, durability and performance because I ride so often and so hard 🙂 weight can wait... I'll cover this more in more detail in videos coming soon 👍
New suscriber
Dream bike
omg at 9:29 when he strikes the precision machined pieces against each other
What a beautiful noise 😍🙈
Can this be converted into an ebike? I assume you could just add a rear hub motor on it and battery on the frame?
Yes, a hub motor would work with the PInion gearbox and belt! It's a great option, but not for me, due to the huge extra weight on the rear axle making the handling utterly awful for anything other than tarmac.
Really well presented, just wanted to see it in action.
Thanks Dan! There's plenty footage on my insta @MacRamsay and will be fitting the new forks very soon and giving it a good thrashing then so stay tuned! 👊
@@RamsayMacFarlane thank you for your reply. I’m not on instagram. This is about as social as I get on media.
You certainly got me interested in the pinion system and have been reading up on it.
@@danielwarton5343 you don't need the app or an account to view the footage, just visit instagram.com/macramsay/ and you can see the footage if interested.
The pinion gearbox is brilliant - I have two now! Wouldn't consider traditional drivetrains again now.
@@RamsayMacFarlane thank you, and I really did enjoy the way you presented it. Made me laugh.
Quality video mate. Would like to see you riding it though.
Plenty footage on my insta @MacRamsay if you wanna check it out! Will be fitting new forks very soon and then giving it a good thrashing for an edit on here 🤘
Very Good
Great building. Enjoy that Ride. Would be absolutely perfect with an Intend fork
Thanks! Got the EXT ERA on now and it's fabulous but would be nice to try an intend fork!
@@RamsayMacFarlane not for that 😉
Cool. Sure nice on at. Maybe, i dont know. Do Not drive myself 🤷♂️ only Boltron 😉 but i like
What a nice całe! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🏴 the Bike looks awesome i Like the end music
What is it?
Thanks! The end music is just some stock music from TH-cam, but it works really well!
Ramsay MacFarlane awesome good choice 👍🏻
🔥
thats a nice bike
Thanks dude, glad you like it!
What's the engagement points like on a Pinion?
Rubbish! 🙈😂 However, I see it a necessary evil and would obviously like to upgrade that aspect of it. You get used to it and it really doesn't bother me whatsoever and I do a lot of jibby trials stuff too. It's high on their list of prospective improvements! 🤞 Also, it provides a little slack for an perceived pedal kickback and disengagement from the suspension... Like the Ochain device.
Hey Ramsay, where did you get the grip from? I have been looing for some for my Pinion bike.
Ergon GA2 Twist grip!
I’m sold on the gear box as a concept, but don’t like the idea of a grip shift. That’s a really cool looking bike. I love a hardtail.
The idea is understandably concerning, but trust me, it's nowhere near what you think! It's very different from old gripshift with a derailleur... VERY different! Multi-gear shifts with instant engagement is quite an advantage - give it a try (with an open mind) if you possibly can!
@@RamsayMacFarlane if ever the opportunity arises I will definitely try! It’s the future after all.
When he says : "very nice", kind of reminds me to be hearing Borat saying it 😉
It is ALL Borat's fault 😂👍
What is with the trottle shifter?
It's for changing gears! Two cables, multiple gears in one movement.
Amigo, buenas noches, soy de Colombia, me gusta la bicicleta, como hago para adquirir una de esas? Gracias
www.nicolai-bicyles.com
super!
👊💥
Awesome bike and video Ramsay. This might be a silly question given how you have set up and use the bike, but how is bike/gearbox for climbing and riding on the flat? I ask because I suck at going down (current bike shite for that tho), but I would be trying to climb those trails on the video.
I'm definitely downward focussed but I've still got to get up first! The bike is brilliant at climbing - as is the Geometron! Flat is a bit tiresome due to my cockpit setup but I rarely travel flat and if I did would make a some slight cockpit adjustments to suit... Is there anything specific you want to know? I take these bikes all over and ride everywhere so they are true mountain bikes. Episode #2 of local lockdown loops features the hardtail and is due up within the hour! 📺👌
@@RamsayMacFarlane Specific? Well I'm looking at Zerode Katipo or Nicolai Saturn 14 GPI. Testing these is not possible where I am. I know they well descend really well. I still trying to convince myself that I will be as happy going up as on a derailleur equipped bike.
I've never seen such a hardtail
Ground breaking! Literally 😜
Kansan accent is cool! laugh out loud!!! Kidding!
Kansan?! Haha this is puuuure Scottish 🤪
i have the same frame, it is a damn good frame :)
Sure is! 👌
Looks cool, the drivetrain makes sense for HC hardtail, but I really dislike the gripshift making it no for me
nice machine tho wish you a lot of fun with it
The twist shift is better than you might think! I would encourage everyone who is sceptical to try it before you express an opinion - the old 'gripshift' with a derailleur was terrible, I agree, but this is different - trust me! I've been riding it on my Geometron for over 4 years now and I love it, will never go back... That's why I got it on this hardtail! The gears are instantly engaged and you can shift multiple gears in one twist - while stationary! Please, test it if you can.
Sure the build is great, but what is the performance like? Especially interested in how the Pinion performs
The subsequent video (fitting EXT ERA fork) has some riding in it and I'll follow up with my thoughts after riding it for a while. Regards to the Pinion gearbox, it's my second - I've been running one on my geometron for over 4 years now and it works so well I got another, so... I honestly wouldn't go back to external drive ever again. There will be some more videos focusing on specific aspects on my two pinion-powered bikes very soon 👍
Great video! to avoid annoying noise in the transmission, it would not hurt to put some copper grease. With only 5000 km my pinion C1.12 was a box of annoying noise
Copper grease in the mounting points? I've had my P.12 on the geometron for over 4 years and found that it only makes noise when it's loose or the cranks have dirt in the interface - I used moto-foam in the cavity to prevent mud ingress between the frame and gearbox too. I will probably strip and rebuild after a few months of bedding in! 👌
@@RamsayMacFarlane what a good idea the foam! I will try it next time I have to disassemble. my frame creaked and I thought the transmission was failing. According to the pinion technical service, I disassembled it, grease it with copper paste and change the threadlock. my problems disappeared
@@IbonEtxaiz nice one - sometimes creaky bits just need a good clean and lube!
You had me sold on the pinion system until I saw the grip shift! Is there any other options for shifting?
Yes, there is a two-paddle system from Cinq, called the Shift:R, but I haven't tried it... yet. Don't be put off by the twisty shift though - I've run it for over 5 years now and I don't find it an issue. It's a long way from the old gripshift days that is obviously coupled with a derailleur... it behaves totally differently. I've never slipped a gear by accident and although there is some adjustment in how/when shifting can happen, it is easy and intuitive and even brings its own advantages, such as multiple gears in one movement and the ability to shift while not moving or pedalling.
@@RamsayMacFarlane the ability to shift without pedaling is interesting and something I didn’t consider. I think you’re right…I shouldn’t write it off so quick 🤔🤔
@@EvanShowsMTB you'd still be able to do that with the Cinq shifter, but you have to click one gear at a time as far as I'm aware, so getting from end of ratio to another is potentially much slower than the twist shift... The number of times dumping a big twist of gears from going rapid downhill to suddenly uphill has got me out of bother is very considerable! It is also only compatible with the C-line gearbox, not the P-line as I have. Give one a try if you can, I guarantee it'll be worth trying for yourself at very least. I wouldn't make these vids if I genuinely didn't believe in it!
When you ordered the frame did you specify mullet specific geometry or is that a stock 29 version?
Nvm - that must be the GLF not the GTB
It's the GLF and is stock 👌
Did u need to cut down the hope brakes
No! The front is fine and the rear is a tad long but it's easy to create a wee hoop at the rear that sits nicely with the extra slack in it so no need to trim.
The loctite you are mentioning is actually nylon 11 pouder which will be melted on the bolts.
Oh cool! Thanks for the correction, I will look that stuff up, I need some! 👌
How much does a bike like this one cost?