Nicolai have just launched the new Ion14, a 4X machine with 125mm rear wheel travel that was first spotted in prototype form earlier this year, but is now heading into production.

We’ll readily admit that 4X bikes are usually up our street, but interesting Nicolai say that, depending on reactions to this bike and demand, that a more trail friendly version could see the light of day. “We think this might make a real trail ripper with a longer toptube and seat tube – if there’s enough interest Nicolai will make another standard size….” That excites us.

We’re seeing a few more bikes that don’t follow the usual ‘same travel at both ends’ design philosophy, but instead mixes travel with longer forks and shorter rear travel, like the GT Distortion we rode in the Alps last summer.

The Ion14 can be run with a 100mm fork, as the Nicolai 4X team riders are giving a steep 69.5 degree head angle, but stick a 140mm fork up front and it’ll slacken right off to 66.5 degrees. Weight of the frame is around 3.5kg (5.51lbs).

Pricing is yet to be confirmed but £1725 (frame only) is a ballpark figure.

More at www.nicolai-uk.com

What do you think?