The new NOX Epium 2023 – Made in Europe, riding experience out of this world?

One frame, different areas of application? The new NOX EPIUM is meant to offer just that! The new light eMTB of the Austrian manufacturer is available in two versions called the ALL-MTN 5.9 and ENDURO 7.1. Both rely on a FAZUA Ride 60 motor and are entirely designed and produced in Europe, standing out from the crowd with their spacey paint finishes – here are all the most important details for you!

Austrian manufacturer NOX is no newcomer to the light eMTB segment and has already included several models with FAZUA Ride 50 motor in their HeLIUM eMTB range. With the new EPIUM, NOX are now unveiling their next generation of light eMTBs. As the name suggests, the EPIUM series isn’t the direct descendant of the HeLIUM but follows in the spirit of its light eMTB predecessor. Like the HeLIUM, the EPIUM is available in two versions: a shorter-travel trail model and a long-travel enduro variant with a downhill-oriented spec, called the EPIUM ALL-MTN 5.9 and EPIUM ENDURO 7.1, respectively. According to the NOX team, their new light eMTB tips the scales at 18.4 kg (ALL-MTN version in size M).

The new NOX EPIUM 2023 ALL-MTN 5.9 and ENDURO 7.1 in Detail

With the new EPIUM, the NOX team claims to have created a particularly light eMTB that delivers a ride feel that’s “out of this world”. The Austrians also use intergalactic references for the names of their striking paint finishes, which are called Jupiter, Mars and Moon. Watch out for the space invaders! However, NOX are clearly keeping their feet on planet Earth, delivering the new EPIUM with a genuine “Made in Europe” label: the bikes are designed, developed and assembled in Austria while the frames are manufactured in Portugal and hand-painted in Germany. The NOX EPIUM ENDURO 7.1 rocks a mullet wheel setup and generous 180 mm front travel, which should make it suitable for rough terrain with demanding descents. If you’re looking for better balance between up- and downhill capabilities, you should take a closer look at the NOX EPIUM ALL-MTN 5.9, which rolls on two 29″ wagon wheels and combines 160/150mm travel, at the front and rear, respectively, and should, therefore, cut a fine figure on more flowy singletracks. The ALL-MTN to ENDURO conversion is made possible by flips chips in the shock mount and dropouts and two different shock links, which allow you to adapt the geometry of the bike to suit the respective shock size and area of application.

Like its predecessor from the HeLIUM range, the EPIUM comes equipped with a FAZUA motor, only this time NOX rely on FAZUA’s latest Ride 60 model. Churning out 60 Nm of torque, the new motor is slightly more powerful than the Ride 50 of the HeLIUM while its 430 Wh battery is noticeably bigger and can be charged both externally and directly on the bike via the charging port on the down tube. The battery cover is secured with a new Fidlock locking system and sits flush with the frame. Until we can get our hands on an EPIUM, we can’t tell you how well the closing system works.

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New ALL-MTN 5.9 und ENDURO 7.1 spec variants

Both the short and long travel models of the new EPIUM are available in three spec variants. The ALL-MTN 5.9 combines 160/150 mm travel at the front and rear and comes equipped with Continental Kryptotal tires, which our sister magazine Enduro has already tested for you. The entry-level Core model retails at € 8,599 and combines a Marzocchi Bomber Z1 fork with a FOX Float DPS Performance shock. The mid-range Pro model sets you back € 9,199 and relies on FOX Performance suspension consisting of a 36 fork and Float X shock. The Ultra flagship model retails at € 10,899 and features FOX Factory suspension with a 36 fork and Float X shock with the fancy Kashima coating.

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The ENDURO 7.1 is designed to master rough trails and steep descents. To achieve this, NOX spec Continental Argotal tires and suspension components from Marzocchi and FOX, with a a 38 Rhythm fork and Bomber CR coil shock controlling 180 mm travel front and rear. The retail price is € 8,699. Between the Core and Ultra models sits the € 9,299 Pro variant, which comes equipped with a FOX Performance 38 fork and a matching DHX Performance shock. The top-spec Ultra model of the ENDURO variant retails at € 10,999 and rocks a bling FOX Factory 38 fork and a matching DHX2 Factory shock.

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NOX use the intergalactic theme not only to describe the handling of the new EPIUM but also for the name of the paint finishes. However, not all spec variants are available in all three stellar colour schemes. The grey Moon finish with glitter effect is reserved exclusively for the top-spec Ultra model, while the entry-level Core and mid-range Pro variants are available in the Jupiter (pink-violet) and Mars (yellow) finishes. If you’re in a hurry and want to explore the universe right now, you’ll have to make do with a conventional spaceship, because the NOX EPIUM won’t be launched until early 2023.

The geometry of the NOX EPIUM 2023 ALL-MTN 5.9 and ENDURO 7.1 in detail

The new EPIUM models are available in three sizes, S to L. If you look at the sheer numbers, both bikes sport a rather conservative geometry. At 468 mm for the ALL-MTN 5.9 and 457 mm for ENDURO 7.1 (size L), the new EPIUM is rather compact, at least on paper. On the other face of it, the 460 mm seat tube is on the long side, as are the chainstays, which measure 469 mm on the ALL-MTN 5.9 and 453 mm on the ENDURO 7.1 with a smaller rear wheel. Additionally, both bikes feature a slack head angle, measuring 64.7° and 63.6° on the ALL-MTN 5.9 and ENDURO 7.1, respectively (size L). A flip chip in the shock mount allows you to alter both the bottom bracket height and head angle by a few millimetres.

The geometry of the NOX EPIUM 2023 ALL-MTN 5.9

Size	S	M	L
Top tube	583 mm	607 mm	633 mm
Seat tube	435 mm	460 mm	460 mm
Head tube	105 mm	115 mm	128 mm
Head angle	64,7°	64,7°	64,7°
Seat angle	75,2°	75,2°	75,2°
Chainstay	469 mm	469 mm	469 mm
BB Drop	10 mm	10 mm	10 mm
Wheelbase	1.223 mm	1.248 mm	1.276 mm
Reach	424 mm	446 mm	468 mm
Stack	602 mm	611 mm	623 mm

The geometry of the NOX EPIUM 2023 ENDURO 7.1

Size	S	M	L
Top tube	596 mm	610 mm	636 mm
Seat tube	435 mm	460 mm	460 mm
Head tube	105 mm	115 mm	128 mm
Head angle	63,9°	63,6°	63,6°
Seat angle	74,4°	74,2°	74,2°
Chainstay	453 mm	453 mm	453 mm
BB Drop	6 mm	4 mm	4 mm
Wheelbase	1.214 mm	1.242 mm	1.267 mm
Reach	416 mm	434 mm	457 mm
Stack	607 mm	619 mm	631 mm

Conclusions

With the EPIUM ENDURO 7.1 and ALL-MTN 5.9, NOX are unveiling an exciting concept that relies on just one frame platform to cover two different areas of applications. Moreover, the bike is designed, manufactured and assembled entirely in Europe, effectively making NOX pioneers for a new generation of more locally produced bikes. The geometry, on the other hand, seems a little bit outdated, at least on the paper. That being said, we won’t be able to tell you how the bikes feel on the trail until it has reached our orbit.

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Words: Gabriel Knapp Photos: NOX Cycles