When Nukeproof dropped their new range of Mega’s we were all in for a surprise! 150 mm of travel was nothing new but mixing it with 29-inch wheels was certainly an unexpected move from the Irish brand. We approve! many people think that 150 mm travel is too much for a 29 er, but we have found that in the pursuit of raw speed it’s as explosive as pouring petrol onto a fire. We have been riding the Nukeproof Mega 290 Pro for the last 4 months to see how the big hitter would deliver on the trails.
The original Nukeproof Mega was a cult classic, popular on the start lines of grass-roots enduros all over the world. The thinking privateers bike it blended rugged reliability with a well-chosen geometry and the simplicity of a single pivot. But while the Mega was a great ride, it was fugly as hell. The slabby tubes looked as if they could take a beating, but had the aesthetics of Chuck Norris in a leotard. This year Nukeproof released their new look Mega and what a beauty it is! Using a new Horst link suspension platform and with a thinned out, more sculpted silhouette the mega is no longer an ugly duckling, but a long-legged thoroughbred. The Mega is available in three build options Comp, Pro, and Team. The Pro model we tested retails for £3199.99 (€4299.99).
Specification of the Nukeproof Mega 290 Pro
The build on the Pro spec Mega 290 is all business, with the venerable Rockshox Pike RCT3 Solo Air 150 mm fork. We were pleased to see this fork, as with such a big hitting bike we like the option to be able to increase the spring rate with bottomless tokens (at least 2-3 for racing). SRAM features heavily on the bike with a full X01 drivetrain with a 32 tooth chainring driven by the 170 mm crank arms. With the frames low standover height, we were super happy to see a 150 mm Rockshox Reverb post. The SRAM Guide RS brakes run on 180 mm rotors front and back and the SRAM Roam 40 Wheels on double time hubs complete the race ready package. The rest of the finishing kit is supplied by Nukeproof and feels burly. The 50 mm stem is neat and tidy and the 760 mm Warhead 20mm riser bars are just wide enough though taller riders may have preferred a 780 mm that they could cut down. The build is finished with Schwalbe 2.35” Magic Mary and Nobby Nic tyres in Trail Star and Pace Star compounds respectively.
Geometry of the Nukeproof 290
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Tube | 381 mm | 420 mm | 458 mm | 508 mm |
| Top Tube | 570 mm | 595 mm | 621 mm | 642 mm |
| Head tube | 100 mm | 100 mm | 105 mm | 110 mm |
| Head angle | 66° | 66° | 66° | 66° |
| Seat tube angle | 75.5° | 75.5° | 75.5° | 75.5° |
| Chain Stay Length | 450 mm | 450 mm | 450 mm | 450 mm |
| BB drop | 30 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1172 mm | 1197 mm | 1224 mm | 1246 mm |
| Reach | 410 mm | 435 mm | 460 mm | 480 mm |
Climbing on the Nukeproof Mega 290 Pro
As soon as you step aboard the Nukeproof Mega 290 Pro you know it’s going to climb well. The riding position is comfortable and with a reach of 460 mm in the large, there is plenty of room to breathe. The risers bars and tall fork give the bike a slightly high position at the front which does make the front end wander a little on seated technical climbs, but dropping the stem kept it much more planted. Once up to speed it’s unstoppable, there is no terrain that the big 290 cannot truck up and over. The 290 combines that ‘pressing on’ feel of a 29er with the low-slung feel of a smaller bike, allowing it to be chucked about over technical steps and up sharp inclines with ease. Pedal bob is well controlled in firm mode on the Monarch Debonair shock, and the longer 450 mm chainstays help keep the front end from lifting under power. The Nukeproof Mega 290 Pro is a fast bike up the hills, you can feel it has a lot of travel, but it shows none of the lethargy that can plague other long travel rigs.
Descending on the Nukeproof Mega 290 Pro
Bringing 150 mm of travel and a 66 degree head angle to the larger 29 inch wheels does mean that the front end sits a little higher than a 650b bike, especially with the 20 mm riser bars (we would probably fit some flatter bars), and initially with the stem set with a few spacers underneath it felt a little like the front end was running away in the turns. This made it hard to properly weight the wheel for maximum traction. Dropping the stem to the bottom of the stack was a revelation, the weight shift meant that the front wheel could now be weighted and driven hard through turns, opening up the serious potential of the chassis. Once we had the position sorted the 290 became a fearsome descender, the long legged travel sucking up every impact that the big wheels could not smooth out. Riding the 290 against the 27.5 version (275) one thing was clear, the 290 is a real charger. Where the 275 has the slight edge through repetitive sharp turns, as soon as the trail opens up and the speeds increase the 290 smashes through everything in its path, closing the gap with every pedal stroke or rock garden before pulling away from its smaller wheeled sibling with ease. High-speed rocky terrain is the kingdom of the 290, where it rules with an unshakable confidence.
Through the turns the 290 is no slouch, the longer 1224 mm wheelbase and slack 66-degree head angle mean that you have to use a little more energy to keep it on the limit through fast turns but the speed you can carry over rough terrain is insane. The rear suspension now stays very supple under hard braking, but the Debonair (like on many bikes it is fitted too) gives up its travel in the middle too readily and works better with 3-5 bottomless rings fitted inside. [Editors note: Our bike was one of the first in the UK, and Nukeproof now supply the bike with a regular ML High Volume air can on the shock. Early stage testing shows the new shock is far superior but we will report back after extensive testing]
Things we would improve with the Nukeproof Mega 290 Pro
When it comes to 29er’s, especially aggressive ones, often the limiting factor is the wheels. Nothing exposes weaknesses like a 29er, and our pre-production bike came fitted with SRAM’s Roam 40 wheels, we are pleased to see that Nukeproof have chosen to fit the more burly Rail 40 wheels to production models which are far better for racing and hard riding. We did find the shock tune was a little linear as standard and heavier or more aggressive riders would need to fit 3-5 bottomless rings for a more supportive ride, but this is an easy job and well within the capability of even the most ham-fisted mechanic. Our only last gripe was we did not like the thin walled Schwalbe Nobby Nic rear tyre on such a big hitting bike, while it may be light and fast to accelerate, the 2.35 Pace Star was not tough enough for the speeds the Mega 290 is capable off and soon succumbed to repeated punctures and splits (even at 28 psi). Outside of those small specification issues, the Nukeproof Mega 290 is a very accomplished bike.
Sizing of the Nukeproof Mega 290 Pro
The Mega 290 is a big bike, but it does not ride big. Our 180cm testers felt more at home on the Large bike, some opting to swap the 50 mm stem for a 35 mm to quicken up the steering, and all felt that the bike rode better with the stem slammed to the headset.
Should I buy the Nukeproof Mega 275 or 290?
The new Nukeproof Mega is available in both 27.5 and 29 models which will leave consumers with a hard decision to make. We have spent time on both and soon will bring you a full head to head with timing over different terrain, but both bikes are a lot of fun. If you’re a slash and burn rider who likes getting loose and knifing through turns then the 275 will probably be the better bike for your style. If you are more focussed on hitting sections as fast as possible in complete confidence and lighting up STRAVA scoreboards, then the 290 is a formidable tool for the job.
The bottom line
Long travel 29ers are growing more popular, and deservedly so. If you live somewhere rough and rocky, then the Nukeproof Mega 290 Pro will open your eyes to a new level of speed. Confident, stable and extremely fast on open trails there are few bikes on the market that can stay on its wheel in rough terrain. More aggressive riders may choose to fit a lower rise bar to bring the front end down, and will be rewarded with a great handling bike. The original Mega was the privateers choice for racing and we expect the new Mega to be equally as popular between the tapes, and also out on the trails.
For more information on Nukeproof you can check out their website.
Long Term Testing with the Nukeproof Mega 290 Pro
The Nukeproof Mega 290 is currently being ridden in our long-term test program by ur newest tester. Elite EWS racer and ex-British XC and Scottish DH champ Stuart Wilcox will be racing the bike in select EWS rounds and national events to see how it holds up. You can follow the bike in our Long Term Test timeline.
Words and photos: Trev Worsey
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