Nukeproof Announce New 2017 Mega and Digger 2.0
We’re sure you all know that Sam Hill recently won the EWS in Valberg! No sooner than he had gone on record stating that he would focus on the EWS next year that he went and stole the top spot on his Nukeproof Mega 275. The Nukeproof Mega is a great bike and we expect them to be more popular than ever in 2017, we check out their new range that was announced yesterday.
From our first ride on the new Nukeproof 275 and 290’s we were impressed with the new Mega’s no-holds-barred approach to speed and great handling, it’s a great bike for a privateer racer or someone who just likes going really, really fast. Thankfully there have been no changes to the frame of the Nukeproof Mega, it’s still an aggressive charger, but there have been some key updates to the specifications across the range.
Nukeproof Mega Team 275
The top-of-the-line bike favoured by Sam Hill wears a distinctive black and yellow paint job and has been beefed up a little with a 170 mm RockShox Lyrik RCT3 Solo Air fork and full SRAM XO1 12-speed drivetrain. Nukeproof has also included their new 780 mm Nukeproof Warhead carbon bar, wide and aggressive, and the wheels have been upgraded to Mavic Deemax Pros running a Mavic Claw Pro XL 2.5 tyre on the front and a Mavic Quest Pro XL 2.4 on the rear. RockShox Guide RSC brakes and a Reverb Stealth (125 – 170 mm depending on size) dropper post finishes off the premium £4699 packag which is only available with 27.5″ wheels.
Nukeproof Mega Pro 275 and 290
The Nukeproof Pro is available in two models, the 275 (27.5″) and 290 (29″) versions rocking 160 mm and 150 mm of travel respectively. We have been long term testing a Nukeproof Pro 290 on the EWS circuit and have been impressed. For fans of Shimano, the Pro models is kitted out with the reliable and popular XT 1×11 drivetrain and Shimano XT brakes. A RockShox Lyrik also features up front, this time in 160 mm guise (150 mm on the 290). The wheels and tyres remain unchanged from the 2016 model and both the 275 and 290 models retail for £3399.
Nukeproof Mega Race 275 and 290
The £2799 Nukeproof Mega Comp is largely unchanged from last year and offers amazing value for money, but it was the cheaper Race spec that drew our attention. The new 2017 Nukeproof Mega Race model is available in both 27.5″ and 29″ versions and retails for just £2299, an impressive price point for such a hard hitting bike. It looks great on paper too, with the high-performance RockShox Yari RC fork (160 mm and 150 mm on the 27.5″ and 29″ respectively) and the latest SRAM NX 1×11 speed drivetrain. Braking is handled by Shimano Deore M615, which we have found as powerful as the XT’s, and you even get a dropper, granted it’s only a Brand-X but still far better than none. WTB STP 125 wheels and WTB Vigilante and Trail Boss Comp tyres finish off the amazing package.
The new Nukeproof Digger 2.0
OK, so it has drop bars, but this is an adventure/road/cross bike that appeals to the mountain biker in us. Perfect for smashing out some winter miles or getting loose on the gravel roads – we like the look of the new Nukeproof Digger 2.0. Compatible with panniers and with a blend of road/MTB geometry, it looks primed for adventure. It has a 2×9 Shimano drivetrain and features a 700C aluminium frame and carbon fork.
Nukeproof states “For people who have asked why do a drop bar bike like the Digger. It came from a conversation with Sam Hill last year at a test session, he asked about a training bike to put in some miles. The more we rode these style bikes this year the more we loved the freedom they gave us. Quick rides from the front door with the option to turn off the roads and onto the dirt allowed us to discover new areas to ride. Also a bike to enhance the commute to work and rack up the miles.
The name Digger comes from the same Grave Digger conversation behind Sam’s custom frame. After some “Italian hospitality”, the Grave Digger somehow became “Gravel Digger” and the plan to design a gravel/ cross/ training/ bike was born.”
For those who love going against the clock, or racking up air miles in the local woods, the Nukeproof Mega is a very good bike. The Mega blends excellent geometry and refined handling, with a brutish desire to charge down the trail like a demented bull. We look forward to testing some of the new 2017 models to see if the Mega is still the animal we love.
For more information check out the Nukeproof website.
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Words: Photos: Nukeproof
