I thought the Nicolai Nucleon 16 looked a bit "busy" with the idler and rear LAL derailleur, and maybe it's the angle/lighting, but this Slash with both pulleys, big chain slap guard, long rear fender, chunky seat tube, shock mount etc. brings me late 90's vibes too. It probably rides great, but with the swoopy tube junctions and straighter/angular rear end, the lines don't flow that well IMO and it looks a bit "unfinished" in the industrial design department. In front of a white background with studio lighting, it would probably look more finished. My 0.02$.