Manitou has just released its legendary Dorado upside-down downhill fork in a special Pro Silver Edition. At present, there are only two ways to get your hands on this shiny component. The first is to be an elite-level DH racer on the AON Racing team. The other is to purchase one of the extremely limited supply of Nicolai R20 MGU AON Edition downhill eMTBs that will be produced this fall. A silver fork is cool and all, but the Nicolai R20 is really something else. Read on for the details
Why Silver?
With a name like Dorado — Spanish for “golden” — silver is a curious choice for this limited-edition fork. Working with AON Racing, Manitou developed the silver Dorado exclusively for use on the team’s super-wild prototype race bike, which carried Reece Wilson to 2nd place at the World Cup DH in Andorra. That very unique bike is a story in and of itself, and Cory already covered it in great detail if you’re interested in learning more.
Interestingly, the Manitou Dorado may be one of the most “normal” components on that AON DH bike. With its distinctive looks and inverted design, the Dorado still turns heads, especially in flashy silver. The inverted architecture is intended to keep the bushings and seals lubricated to maintain consistent, smooth performance while enhancing fore-aft stiffness and controlled torsional flex.
Dorado Details
Without going into too much detail — we’ve covered the Dorado before — the fork can be configured in 180, 190, and 203mm travel lengths with no additional parts. Manitou says the Dorado Air Spring includes a unique balancing valve to equalize both the positive and negative air chambers during inflation for consistent spring behavior. The fork is also equipped with IRT (Infinite Rate Tune), which is a secondary, infinitely adjustable positive air spring for the middle and end of the fork’s travel. This allows riders to tune for small-bump sensitivity independently of the mid- and end-stroke.
On the damping side, the TPC+ provides variable damping depending on velocity and position in the travel. It also features a Hydraulic Bottom Out circuit to provide progression and control in the last 30mm of travel with no impact on the rest of the stroke. A spring-backed IFP (internal Floating Piston) helps keep your damper oil pressurized so the fork maintains its consistent, smooth performance during long, rough downhill runs.
The Dorado also features TSR bleed buttons to release pressure from the outer legs as a result of temperature or elevation changes. The Dorado works with 29” and 27.5” wheels, and riders have the ability to adjust air spring pressure, IRT, rebound, and high- and low-speed compression.
How Can You Ride It?
Since most of us aren’t elite-level DH riders and will never be on the AON Racing team, the only other way to acquire the Dorado Pro Silver Edition fork is on the Nicolai R20 MGU AON Edition bike. And while a silver inverted fork is neat and all, this Nicolai DH eMTB is arguably a lot more interesting. Let’s check it out.
Nicolai R20 MGU AON Edition
Nicolai has never really been a brand that makes conventional bikes. This out-of-the-box approach to bike design is on full display with the R20 MGU AON Edition. According to Nicolai, this bike “is the focused execution of a very specific idea: What happens when you equip a proper downhill bike with an e-drive system so it can get back to the start of the next descent under its own power?”
The R20 MGU is a joint project between Nicolai and Gamux. The two brands/manufacturers both support AON Racing, and have been working together since 2024. The R20’s suspension platform is based on the one-of-a-kind Gamux Sego, with its CNC-machined frame, Pinion gearbox, and Gates Carbon Drive belt. Nicolai says the Sego’s suspension, kinematics, and geometry were carried over to the R20, with its frame integrating the Pinion MGU (Motor.Gearbox.Unit) and Gates Carbon Drive.
R20 MGU AON Edition Details
As with most Nicolai bikes, the R20 is a sight to behold. It has a tennis ball yellow aluminum frame comprised of CNC-cut tube sets and precisely TIG-welded by hand. Other parts, like the linkage and the swingarm, have been CNC-machined. It rolls on a mixed wheel setup for a confident front end and more clearance/maneuverability in the rear. Unlike most downhill bikes, the R20 comes with a Manitou Jack G2 dropper for the ride uphill, with a straight seat tube for full insertion for the party back down.
Suspension
The R20 is made to be a self-shuttling downhill bike that matches the Gamux Sego raced by AON Racing on the World Cup. As such, it has 200mm of rear wheel travel using a high-pivot suspension design with a single-pivot layout and a linkage-driven shock. That’s paired with the 203mm travel Dorado Pro Silver fork for some high-speed, rock-smashing fun.
Nicolai says that the R20’s kinematics are sensitive off the top with a continuously progressive leverage curve. It starts off sensitive, support increases through the mid stroke, and there’s plenty of progression for big hits and hard compressions deep in the travel.
Geometry
Geometry-wise, the R20 “is clearly focused on handling, stability, and speed downhill.” It has a 63.3° head tube angle for stability, speed, and confidence in steep, rough terrain. Reach numbers increase in 20mm increments up the size range, with 480mm on a Large. That’s paired with a 462mm rear center (all sizes) to “create a centered riding position and balanced weight distribution between the front and rear wheel. The comparatively tall front end adds further confidence and control on steep sections.”
Seat tube angles are barely even a consideration on most downhill bikes, but the R20 is designed to rip back uphill for more laps. As such, it has a steep, 78° seat tube angle and comes with a Manitou Jack G2 dropper post. For maximum freedom of movement on the descent, the dropper can be fully inserted into the frame. The R20 comes in three frame sizes, M, L, and XL.
Pinion Motor.Gearbox.Unit
The Pinion MGU E1.12 essentially combines the 12-speed Smart.Shift system with an e-drive system, all of which is housed around the bottom bracket area. This puts the combined weight of the drivetrain and motor low and central on the frame, which aids in stability and composure. This also reduces unsprung mass at the rear wheel, which is claimed to improve suspension response and sensitivity.
Pinion Smart.Shift
Unlike a non-motorized downhill race bike, which might have 6 or 7 gears, the Pinion MGU has 12 to facilitate the uphill travel the R20 is intended for. Pinion Smart.Shift uses the electronic TE1 trigger shifter with intuitive operation and familiar ergonomics. The system has numerous features, including Pre.Select and Start.Select, to help with gear selection and maintain ride flow.
Pinion E-Drive
Pinion’s e-drive system has a brushless motor that delivers up to 600 watts of peak power and up to 400% assistance. In gears 1 to 4, it can reportedly generate up to 160Nm of torque at the rear wheel. The FIT Master Node display is integrated into the top tube with a 1.52” color display to monitor key riding metrics. The FIT Remote Pure is a handlebar-mounted unit with a ring-style control to adjust assist levels or system functions.
One of the alleged benefits of the MGU is that all of the components work together as a coordinated unit. “A wide range of internal sensors continuously measure input torque, motor speed, shift shaft and crank position, cadence, riding speed and additional parameters. The system always knows which gear is engaged and in which riding situation the bike is operating. This enables dynamic power delivery, precise, lightning-fast shifting even under load and an intuitive riding feel with direct feedback.”
Power Supply
The R20 works with the latest FIT Tubepack batteries, and riders can choose between 800Wh or 1060Wh (+200 €) capacities. The batteries can be removed for storage or charging off the bike.
Gates Carbon Drive
With the Gates Belted Purse still up for grabs, belt drives are becoming increasingly common on the World Cup DH circuit, and the Gates Carbon Drive is the most common. This carbon-reinforced belt never requires lubrication and is very quiet with no chain slap or derailleur rattle to distract from the action.
On the R20, the rearward axle path of the long-travel, high-pivot suspension results in what would be called chain growth on a bike with a regular drivetrain. This requires that the Gates Carbon belt passes over the idler pulley at the swingarm point while the GBT3 Belt Tensioner compensates for the change in length while maintaining tension on the belt.
Nicolai R20 MGU AON Edition: Build
- Fork: Manitou Dorado Pro Silver Edition, 203mm
- Shock: Manitou Mara Pro 250x75mm
- Drivetrain: Pinion MGU E1.12 w/ Smart.Shift and Gates Carbon Drive
- Drive Unit: Pinion MGU E1.12
- Battery: Fit Tubepack 800Wh or 1060Wh (+200 €)
- Brakes: Hayes Dominion A4 w/ 203mm rotors
- Wheels: Reynolds Blacklabel 307 DH Expert 29”/27.5”
- Tires:
- Front: Schwalbe Magic Mary Gravity Pro Ultrasoft, 29”x2.5”
- Rear: Schwalbe Tacky Chan Gravity Pro Ultrasoft, 27.5”x2.5”
- Handlebar: ProTaper E50, 31.8mm x 810mm, polished silver
- Stem: ProTaper D-Vice Direct Mount, 31.8mm x 45mm, black
- Grips: Rev Grips Half Waffle Pro Series
- Seatpost: Manitou Jack G2, 30.9mm
- Saddle: Fizik Zea:k X3 Team
Pricing and Availability
The Nicolai R20 MGU AON Edition electric downhill bike is available now. It retails for 14,999 €, with the option to upgrade to the 1060 Wh battery for an additional 200 €. It comes with a 5-year warranty against breakage and material failure.
