13 Hello everyone, After a long development phase we are proud to present the youngest member of the NICOLAI family: The ION-GPI. Be careful though, the bike is fast, really fast. It is the first bike worldwide with the unique combination of the GEOMETRON Enduro geometry, the Pinion gearbox and the maintenance free Gates Carbon Drive belt drive. The buzzing sound of the freewheel, the sound of the tires digging into loamy ground and the optimized performance of the suspension is the only thing you will ever hear on this bike. We developed this geometry in close cooperation with the British FOX suspension experts from MOJO. The geometry is a key component on this bike which makes for some fairly special riding characteristics. The result is a bike that delivers plenty of traction in corners and extraordinary grip on steep climbs. It will give you a real buzz to rail the flat corners on your local trails with this one. Your body weight is perfectly centered between the axles because of the combination of the slack headangle, the long toptube and a relatively steep seatangle. Compared to a traditional MTB geometry, your centre of mass is moved further toward the front which is a pretty similar postion to the one on a motocross bike. That gives you more freedom of movement and a more aggressive position on the bike. Going over the bars belongs to the past. The Pinion gearbox delivers 12 gears with an overall ratio of 600% - paired with the GEOMETRON geometry it gives you the best tool to tackle even the steepest climbs. The bike has 40% less unsprung weight on the rear wheel simply because it doesn‘t need a rear derailleur or cassette. Due to this fact it feels like the rear tire is connected to the trail with a rubber band. Even the smallest high frequent bumps are eliminated by the suspension.Because of the Gates Carbon Drive system the bike is nearly maintenance free. There is no oil or lube required to keep the drivetrain running. The belt tensioner generates a constant belt tension and it doesn‘t act against the suspension movement like a conventional rear derailleur. The belt tensioner comes with an integrated bashguard to protect the belt from sharp rocks and impacts on roots or tree stumps. The smart design of the belt and the sprocket prevents mud or debris from getting stuck in the drivetrain. Even in the poorest conditions the bike keeps on and on and on. Ok, enough of the marketing. By the way the bike is in production right now. So go ahead and place your orders. Cheers Marcel Lauxtermann, Kalle NICOLAI ,5° GEOMETRON <e>