First Ride: The 2016 Nukeproof Mega 275 and 290

The outgoing Nukeproof Mega was a very popular bike, and rightly so. It’s simple single pivot design and confident handling made it a common sight on the grassroots racing circuit. But it was a bike that polarised opinion when it came to looks, with a bulky looking frame that many said only a mother could love, and there was the brake jack issues too. The latest Mega is worlds apart, slimmed down, athletic looking and rocking an entirely new suspension platform. And the surprises keep on coming, as the new bike is available in both 160 mm 27.5 and 150 mm 29 options.

The Nukeproof Mega switches to a Horst Link Suspension Platform

The aesthetics of the new bike could not be more different, and it’s clear to see why. The top tube mounted shock and single pivot suspension has been replaced by a Horst Link 4 bar design. Removing the shock from the top tube has allowed the original bulky tubeset to be thinned out and made more compliant, and has also saved a lump of weight. To get technical for a second, moving the shock to the down tube has also reduced the progression resulting in a more linear suspension curve than the outgoing design. “More linear, that’s no good”, you may cry! However, the misguided belief that a progressive shock equals a better ride is not the case. With a more linear linkage, riders are free to adjust the spring curve through the addition of volume spacers in the shock as required. The new Horst Link suspension should mean the brake jack that plagued the original single pivot design will be greatly reduced.

The new Nukeproof Mega 29er will please big wheeled fans!

Another welcome surprise for 2016 is the addition of the 150mm 29er incorporating the same gravity ethos, clean lines and aggressive geometry as the 27.5 bike. On paper the 150 mm travel and 66 degree head angle certainly point towards a big hitting potential, and matched with an aggressive build kit; this will be a bike that will interest a lot of riders looking for outright speed and composed handling. Available in the same three specifications, the big wheeled option provides a good choice for those looking for a bike that offers a trail smoothing feel.

Getting Technical about the new Nukeproof Suspension.

If you care more about how a bike rides than its leverage ratios and spring curves you should skip down to the next section now. For those who love the geeky stuff we caught up with Dale McMullan, the engineer behind the new platform to find out more about the new bike and why they switched to the Horst Link. “The biggest benefit is the reduced Anti-rise (brake squat) this keeps the suspension more active during braking. The leverage curve is still a falling then rising rate as before, even with the Horst link. The benefit of the Horst link 4 bar design is that you can chose to have the falling rate at the start or finish of the travel, I chose to have it at the start because the falling rate actually supports the rider weight up to sag point. We found this setup also works very well with a Debonair shock giving very good support at full travel.”

“From the beginning we wanted the New Mega to be more gravity focused so we decided to reduce the anti squat numbers, the result is a very active bike on the downs the only downside is you need to use the pedal settings on the climbs, the monarch plus compression works a treat killing any unwanted bob. The anti squat is low but stays very linear through its travel where other bikes drop off very rapidly from start to finish”

Geometry of the new Nukeproof Mega

The new Mega is a little longer than the outgoing bike, both the top tube and the wheelbase have been stretched and the head angle has become one degree slacker too. Sometimes the sizing of bikes can be a minefield, but the new Mega offers no nasty surprises. the low slung frame and long top tube, combined with a 50 mm stem made the size Large perfect for our 180 cm tall tester, as expected. With a 460 mm reach the cockpit is comfortable and aggressive, and we were big fans of the sweep of the Nukeproof Warhead 20 mm rise 760 mm bars.

Geometry of the Nukeproof 275

Geometry of the Nukeproof 290

Riding the 275 Nukeproof Mega

We had been invited for some pre launch testing in the Italian resort of Dolceacqua, sitting between Finale Ligure and Nice. During the two days of testing we were shown some incredible enduro trails by the excellent Supernatural guiding company and Sam Hill no less. Setting up the 27.5 bike with two bottomless tokens in the fork and 30% sag in the rear suspension it was time to hit the rugged trails and get some first impressions.

Climbing up the first hills the lighter weight makes itself obvious immediately and the Mega skips forward with eagerness, punching up the hill confidently. The new suspension stroke means that the bike is buttery smooth around the sag point, tracking the ground well and finding lots of grip. The ride is balanced and composed and we found we only had to use the shock platform to control bobbing when we were climbing out of the saddle for long periods. The 65 degree front end certainly feels slack and will feel wandery at low speeds unless you are used to such an aggressive position. The low slung frame and long wheelbase add to the ‘give it full gas’ feel.

So it was no surprise when turning downhill that the bike feels instantly at home. The new incarnation is a very different animal from the outgoing Mega. The original Mega AM was a very stable bike that suited a more planted riding style, the single pivot suspension mopping up the big hits well but also suffering from brake jack under hard braking. The new Mega 275 is a much more balanced bike and is hugely confidence inspiring and fun to ride. The new thinner tubes have reduced the harshness of the older bike and we were all impressed with the silent ride.

A confidence inspiring cockpit and sensible bar/stem combo allowed us to exploit the bike to our limits very quickly, and it seemed equally as happy when playfully popping off every rock and root as it did when we adopted the ‘point and pray’ approach. Through the corners the low slung frame allows easy movement over the bike, and it was great fun to slide and drift. Big hits did hang up the linear action a little so aggressive riders will be looking to add some volume spacers to tune the rear shock. Two days do not make a review, but on the rocky trails of Dolceacqua the new Mega 275 Pro was riotous fun and we look forward to further testing.

Riding the 290 Nukeproof Mega

The new 29er 290 will be a bike that will interest a lot of riders; an aggressive 150 mm bike that blends playfulness with the advantageous capabilities of the bigger wheel. We found all the excellent qualities of the 27.5 bike were in evidence in the 29er; fun handling, confidence inspiring cockpit and a build kit that we wouldn’t change. Where the 290 finds it advantage was on the climbs, the slightly steeper 66 degree head angle kept the bike on its line better while the big wheels smoothed out the trail.

There was no lethargy or clumsiness at all, pinpoint steering and excellent acceleration defined the climbing performance. Descending was impressive too – on the long rocky straights the 290 simply charged forward, making ground easily on it’s smaller wheeled brothers. The bigger wheels found less holes and smashed through loose ground maintaining speed a lot better, even when popped into the air the bike felt nimble and sharp. It was perhaps a much better all around package than the 275 and only felt outclassed in very tight sliding turns.

Nukeproof Mega Models

The new bike will be available in three build options for each wheel size, the Comp, Pro and Team with an additional entry level Race model in the 27.5 version. In both wheel sizes the Comp model retails for £2599.99 (€3449.99) and comes fitted with a RockShox Pike RC 160 mm fork and Monarch Plus RC3 Debonair shock. The SRAM GX 1×11 drivetrain and SRAM DB5 brakes are good to see at this price point and the SRAM ROAM 30 wheels with good WTB tyres are strong and light enough. Our favourite, the Pro model retails for £3199.99 (€4299.99) and sees an upgrade to a Pike RCT3 fork, ROAM 40 wheels with Schwalbe tyres and full SRAM X-1 Drivetrain with Guide RS brakes. The top of the line Team model commands a £3799.00 (€5199.99) premium but comes with a SRAM X01 Black drivetrain, Guide RSC brakes and Rail 50 rims. In the 27.5 version the entry level Race model retails for £1999.99 (€2799.99) with a Manitou Mattoc comp fork, Monarch HV shock, WTB SX23 wheels and a Shimano Deore drivetrain. Both versions will be available in a frame only package for £1349.99 (€1799.99). Surprisingly none of the bikes use a Boost 148 standard, which will please those who already have nice wheelsets.

Bottom Line

We look forward to testing both bikes more extensively, but first impressions indicate that the new Nukeproof Mega is an excellent bike at a very good price. It’s great to see Nukeproof offering both 27.5 and 29 models, giving the buyer the opportunity to choose a bike that suits their own riding style and home trails. Building on the experience of the previous model the switch to Horst link suspension and the nicer aesthetic has produced a much more rounded bike that is immensely fun to ride! We look forward to testing it under more varied terrain.

Words: Trev Worsey Photos: Duncan Phillpot

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