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BikePorn: Two Unreal Custom Nicolai Ion 16 Builds

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Custom Nicolai Ion 16 BuildSpotted over on the MTB-News.de forums is a dream build you’re just going to have to jump past the break to see in it’s full glory. We’ve ridden our share of dream bikes and brought you some pretty ridiculous readers rides and pro bike checks, but these two builds take it to a whole new level with their incredible attention to detail.

 

Custom Nicolai Ion 16 Buils

The Nicolai Ion 16 bikes that Kephren23 chose to bling out are handbuilt in Germany. The 160 mm travel frame is claimed to weigh just a touch north of 7 lbs without shock, but the beefy construction and slack 65/66 degree headtube angle bike is meant to reward riders on the descents.

While these  are the nicest looking pair of fraternal twins you’re guaranteed to see today, we’ll start off with the shiny bike first:

Custom Chrome Fox Fork Nicolai Ion 16

Nicolai Kephren23 Cockpit Setup

Custom Nicolai Ion 16 Chrome Fork and Cockpit

Kephren 23 Nicolai Ion Hope

Nicolai Kephren23 Frame Details

Kephren 23 Ion 16 Build

Kephren 23 custom engraved Nicolai Ion 16

Custom Raw Shimano XT Derailleur

The pictures pretty much speak for themselves. How can you replicate the build? Here’s how it was done:Custom Chrome Fox Fork Nicolai Ion 16 ProcessThe fork lowers, crowns, and brake mount were all polished to a gleaming finish. All the twidly bits ( compression, rebound, etc) where anodized gold.
Custom Chrome Renthal Lite HandlebarsFor us lazy mortals, Renthal handlebars are only available in ano gold. So Kephren23 took his favorite UK made bar and buffed it to a mirror finish.
Custom Polishied Shimano ShifterThe Shimano shifters also received the polished and bling treatment.
Custom Nicolai Shimano XTR ShifterThe green gremlin saw the XTR shifter body powder-coated white and paired with anodized green.
Custom Polished Cane Creek Double Barrel Air ProcessLeaving no piece untouched, the shock was also color coordinated.
Custom Raw XT Derailleur and Gold HardwareHeck, even the derailleur saw some love.
Custom Anodized Small Parts Nicolai CollectionThis is the total sum of random bits that were anodized in order to crank the bling factor to 11.

And now for the other twin:

Green Custom Nicolai Ion 16

Custom Hope Evo Tech Controls

Kephren 23 Custom Fox Fork

Kephren23 Fox Fork Custom

Kephren23 Green Nicolai Ion

Kephren Green Nicolai Ion Monarch Custom Shock

Kephren Green Ano Hope Brake Custom

Kephren23 Custom Derialleur Jockey Wheel

Kephren23 Custom Nicolai Ion TwinsHaving built up my fare share of bikes from the ground up, I can’t begin to imagine how long something as detailed as these two projects would have taken Kephren23 to assemble, but the effect is stunning.

Do you prefer the green or silver build? Let us know in the comments!

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Ken
Ken
10 years ago

Forest green and gold ,yuck! Should have went with blue or even purple.

wheelz
wheelz
10 years ago

I’d go with the silver build. These are easily the most lust-worthy mtb builds of 2013 imo.

mac
mac
10 years ago

That gold, green and white version is absolutely horrible, colours clashing all over the place. However, the silver and gold variant, stunning…

drew and not u
drew and not u
10 years ago

Man, they really aren’t into 29rs over there, are they? Impressive commitment to aesthetics though.

cracked-frame
cracked-frame
10 years ago

The cable/brake line holders are nice. Colors may not be you your/my liking, you gotta admit, there are some nice details.

Aaron
Aaron
10 years ago

Wow, that’s a ton of work. Props.

Jake
10 years ago

Silver and gold…… I want his rear shock

AlanM
AlanM
10 years ago

I actually like the green and gold. Either way, talk about some dedication to craftsmanship.

Ed R
Ed R
10 years ago

The silver one reminds of something Liberace would ride if felt like doing the MTB thing, just needs a handle bar mounted candelabra and the Angry Single Speeders helmet.

Slow Joe Crow
Slow Joe Crow
10 years ago

The CNC milled seat tube gusset on the bigger bike is a nice touch.

Dylan James
Dylan James
10 years ago

This reminds me of how a tricked out BMX race bike looked in 1984. Cool! Kuwahara, Torker, Nicolai…

Seraph
Seraph
10 years ago

Seems like an awful waste of money to put all these nice ano parts on some of the ugliest frames ever made. Now if they had been on something like a Nomad Carbon or SB-66C then they could be amazing.

Just my $0.02 though.

Psi Squared
Psi Squared
10 years ago

I’d happily ride either if one was given to me.

Devin
10 years ago

That’s it- my next vtt will be either a Nicolai or a Liteville. Those two take the cake when it comes to Al full suspension, just awesome attention to detail.

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
10 years ago

Not as light but another cool German ride is Last.

Schralpnasty
Schralpnasty
10 years ago

These are killer. Light weight was never a priority of mine (insert: is this dude even a cyclist?!) but I do admire these.

JJ
JJ
10 years ago

I have a 2013 ION16, sometimes not the most practical bike, but definitely the funniest bike I’ve ever owned. It takes a while to get one (made to order), but worth the wait. It descends and corners like a rocket…wicked fun!! Everyone should have one!

Cheers,

Joshua Murdock
10 years ago

Absolutely incredible.

Momentus
Momentus
10 years ago

Not to be an arse but only one of these bikes is an Ion 16 (Ion’s shock mounts terminate on the down tube). The green one is probably a Helius AC.

PMRocha
PMRocha
10 years ago

Perfect! I prefer the green one!

Velo Zephyr
10 years ago

Great details, beautiful!

Reformed Roadie
10 years ago

I am all for making your ride look good, but this is a little beyond matching you grips and cable housing…how much time was spent doing this? Personally, I’d rather spend the time riding.

steve
steve
10 years ago

Beautiful bikes. I really hope those are not alloy bolts on the brake calipers, well at least if he plans to ride them.

Boo
Boo
10 years ago

Green one is Helius AC.

Both are available in 650b.

K11
K11
10 years ago

the silver one. metal at its best. F#@k everything has to be carbon, here’s the proof.

Miha
10 years ago

Taking care of every detail, nice job. We have also build ION 16 in a bit different colour combination…
http://bikebook.si/2013/08/sestavljanje-kolesa-nikolai-ion-16/

kephren23
kephren23
10 years ago

Its an Honour, that my Bikes are postet here!
The green one is an AC the silver one is an ION16!
And the green one is a girls Bike.
I dont like the easy way.
Greets

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