The Argon GAM is a completely new development which replaces the long-serving Argon AM. With the GAM, NICOLAI presents, for the first time, a hardtail that has all the genes of a modern trail bike. It is a strong climber, snappy, efficient, a ruler of downhills and a projectile along single trail. The key to this characteristic is the Geolution Trailconcept, formed from the basis of the exclusive Geolution design of the radically long and slack NICOLAI Race Enduros. When Geolution premiered a few years ago, the manufacturer already caused a stir and set the trends in geometry evolution.
For the Argon GAM, NICOLAI has essentially transferred the geometry of its successful full-suspension trail bike, the Saturn 14, to a hardtail. The Argon GAM is ready for every type of single trail in its territory, whether riding from home, trail center or Alpencross. The 76.5° steep seat angle places the pilot centrally, achieves optimal weight distribution between the front and rear wheel and can easily master hard climbs while seated. The central riding position provides more comfort and optimum traction when climbing without the front wheel lifting. Along fast single trails, the GAM becomes a rocket. Smooth and true to the track it allows radical corner carving and high speed flow. As the downhills steepen, the genes of the great NICOLAI enduros come into play. With its long reach (475 mm size M) and a slack 65° steering angle, the Argon GAM can handle any gradient. Because of its strong downhill potential, NICOLAI has designed a tough and durable frame that receives bike park clearance and is ridden with 140 to 160mm front forks. The Argon GAM is proportionally equipped in all frame sizes with extra short seat tubes to allow modern dropper posts with the longest possible stroke.
To achieve maximum stiffness and durability and low weight, NICOLAI uses butted tubes as well as topology-optimized milled parts, such as the elaborately manufactured, hollow-milled yokes for GAM seat and chainstays. Frames with hollow-milled components are etched at NICOLAI with the label ‘HMT,’ for Hollow Milled Technology.
The Argon GAM is designed as a pure 29er and frame sizes M to XXL have been designed exclusively around this wheel size: a hybrid or 27.5” option is not available for this reason. Exclusively, the Small size frame is designed in terms of the ergonomic requirements for shorter riders and for safer handling as a 27.5” bike.
The Argon GAM is offered in its base configuration with Boost standard dropouts (148 x 12mm thru-axle) and is configured exclusively for use with “one-by” derailleurs with a single front chainring. A Rohloff option with parallel sliding dropouts is not available on this model. However, fans of enclosed gears are still catered for by NICOLAI, offering a PINION transmission model.