Nicolai Bikes (Germany) - Press Release: The SATURN 14 ST inspires the rider with its modern and balanced GEOLUTION TRAIL geometry: perfect for a lap from your house, around a trail centre, or bikepark. The GEOLUTION TRAIL geometry is best described in three words: agile, stable and climb-friendly. Crashing ‘over the handlebars’ downhill, or front wheel lift going uphill are in the past, the SATURN 14 ST can do exactly what a trail bike has to do. To avoid confusion, the SATURN 14 ST is offered with a reinforced tube set and bike park approval. The extension ST means SUPERTRAIL and expands the NICOLAI product portfolio. The SATURN 14 remains in the range and is aimed at somewhat more dignified drivers. With two possible wheel sizes, geometry adjustment and water bottle mounts, it is the most versatile NICOLAI trail bike we have ever built.

We have been manufacturing and delivering the SATURN 14 for over six months and we have received an enormous amount of positive feedback from Day 1. The versatility of the frame makes this bike a true all-rounder up and downhill. But we received some questions from our loyal fans: Why doesn’t this frame have bike park approval, and why is it limited to 34mm fork stanchions?

The SATURN 14 in its current version is not warrantied for bike park use or suspension forks over 34mm stanchions. Since we paid careful attention to the details of frame weight, we had to place limits on the frame for its intended purpose. However, the number of enquiries continued to increase. Feedback reflected the fact that the GEOLUTION geometry and frame kinematics can increase trail performance and overwhelm a 34mm stanchion fork – we saw a need for action.

Due to our “modular frame system” and continuing our in-house frame production in Mehle, Germany, we are now able to offer the SATURN 14 in a tougher version and with bike park approval. The frame gains the suffix ‘ST’.

ST is the suffix for ‘SUPER-TRAIL’. NICOLAI connoisseurs may be surprised and associate ST more with the meaning ‘SUPER TRAVEL’. We are aware of the danger of confusion, but unfortunately, we have not come up with anything better. Our core competence and drive is engineering, frame construction and the perfect finish – not marketing.

A NICOLAI SATURN 14 frame graced with the ST moniker has a thicker down tube, seat tube, and top tube, as well as gussets on the head tube. We also changed the rear dropouts and chainstays to one of our stronger versions to increase stiffness.

The frame travel is still set at 138/130mm, but can be fitted with a burlier fork up to 160mm travel.

Frames given bike park approval must meet the highest requirements at NICOLAI. All of our frames can withstand a great deal of stress caused by riding. However, it is also important in the bike park that the frame can withstand impacts caused by riding errors or crashes. The regularity of riding errors is significantly higher in the bike park than on home trails or XC tours. This statement is somewhat sweeping, but it is largely true. Conversely, this does not mean that the SATURN 14 cannot handle a fall or two. It simply means that the SATURN 14 ST offers more in reserve to give the frame a long life.

A high-quality 7000 aluminium tube set, FEM-optimised CNC milled parts made of high-performance 7068 aluminium alloy and the carefully drawn welds. All of these details together result in a frame with highest rigidity, durability and low weight. The Boost rear triangle brings additional stiffness and tyre freedom, while the elaborately 4-way sealed ball bearings at all pivot points ensure a sensitive response and minimum maintenance. Should a bearing service be required after intensive use, it can also be carried out by an experienced home-mechanic thanks to the service-friendly design.

The SATURN 14 ST is finalised with space for a full-size bottle cage, ISCG splines to mount a chain guide or bash guard, and our full external routing. As it is designed as a lightweight machine, we also use titanium bolts at the Horst Link connection, and for shock mounts, this saves a few more grams and looks cool as a side-effect.

The GEOLUTION TRAIL geometry developed by us is another unique selling point of the SATURN 14 ST. For us, “Long, Low & Slack” is not just a trend, but a philosophy that has really come to a peak. GEOLUTION improves almost every aspect of performance on the bike – uphill as well as downhill. An experience for every rider, from experts to beginners. Anyone who has ever fought a steep trail sitting on the saddle nose, tense and cramped, knows how important optimum weight distribution is for the climbing ability of a bike. Our GEOLUTION bikes have for good reason a steeper seat angle and longer chainstays than usual. This is the only way to keep enough pressure on the front wheel. But even downhill and on technical trails, the SATURN 14 ST goes beyond what a trail bike can usually do.

Every aspect of the bike, from the slack steering angle, the large reach with its short stem and of course the carefully balanced weight distribution, provides the unique GEOLUTION handling and riding experience. Believe us, we have tried out many things and we are sure anybody who has not experienced the safety and stability, but also agility that the SATURN 14 conveys, will be amazed to see how difficult passages are suddenly playful and possible, you won’t want to ride anything else. The SATURN 14 ST frame is the basis for a 27.5″ or 29″ setup. The 29″ frame can be easily converted to 27.5″ by using a deeper lower headset cup from CANE CREEK or RESET RACING and longer Compression Strut Mutators. With 29″ wheels and a metric 210x50mm damper, the rear suspension gives 130mm travel, with the smaller wheel size and a 210x55mm damper, 138mm travel is possible at the rear. In order to adapt the SATURN 14 ST even better to the needs, the frame can be adjusted further to the personal preferences with our Mutators. Steering angle too steep or bottom bracket too low? Simply change the screws, anything is possible. With a total of 5x frame sizes we are sure to have the right bike for every rider, whether a petite 1.60m biker or a 2-meter man.

As with all NICOLAI frames, we offer complete individualisation. Choose from various powder coatings, anodised colours or the legendary raw look, plus colour accents of our “Extra Love” parts or Tailormade custom geometries – all options are available.

The Saturn 14 ST is designed for those who are looking for the one bike to rule them all. From a day trip to bike park use.