REVIEW
Nukeproof Mega TR
WORDS Matt Wragg
PHOTOS Alex Boyce
Since Nukeproof re-emerged on the market a few years ago their Mega trailbike has gained a strong, and growing, following. Originally it was a 150-millimeter-travel mountain smasher - affordable and built tough for durability in the big mountains. More than a few trail guiding companies in Europe opted for the Mega as their bike of choice. It's the kind of punishment that few bikes can stand, yet many of those Megas are still going strong several guiding seasons later. Reliability, however, is meaningless if the bikes are no good, and the fact they have kept rolling is largely because their owners wanted to keep riding them. In 2012, Nukeproof split the Mega range into two, with the AM carrying on the heavy-duty lineage and a new model, the TR, offering slightly lower weight, shorter travel and a more agile handling package. Next year, Nukeproof are shifting their full range of complete bikes to 27.5-inch wheels, but they will still be offering 26-inch framesets, so we decided to put one to the test.
Details: • Purpose: Trail/All-mountain/Enduro
• Frame: Aluminum, single-pivot rear suspension, 130mm travel
• Wheel size: 26"
• Shock: RockShox Monarch RT3
• Fork: RockShox Revelation 140mm travel
• 67° head angle
• 430mm chainstays
• Sizes: Small, medium, large (tested), X-large
• Weight: 6.49lbs (2.95kg - without shock)
• MSRP: Frame and shock - $2159.99
The FrameNukeproof’s Mega TR frame is slimmed down from the AM version, but it is still a pretty substantial bike. The tapered head tube is big enough to accommodate the larger, lower race of the headset without flaring out at the base and the entire upper raced is also recessed. On the front, sits a beefy, metal Nukeproof headbadge, something you don't see often these days. The rectangular-profile down tube and top tube are big, and curved just enough to keep the bike on the right side of industrial-looking. Behind the head tube, the top and down tubes are joined for a full three inches. You're going to need to do something pretty heroic to rip the head tube off this frame.
Working back along the frame, there is no doubt that the bike is made by Nukeproof - it has the Nukeproof logo on it no less than seven times, not counting the Nukeproof-branded headset and seat collar spec’d on our test bike. It's great to see the option to run an internally-routed dropper post, with the entry point on the front of the seat tube at the base. Around the bottom bracket are ISCG05 mounts for a chainguide. Heading to the back of the bike there are more big, square tubes for the chainstays and seatstays. It all finishes with a 142 x 12-millimeter rear axle to keep the back nice and stiff.
SuspensionNukeproof’s Erosion Link suspension system is essentially a single-pivot layout, with the upper part of the linkage controlling the movement of the shock. At first glance, it may look like a true four-bar linkage, but the detail that separates it from such bikes is that the back pivot is above the rear axle, so the rear wheel moves in a simple arc from the swingarm pivot above the bottom bracket. Driving the shock is a small, machined rocker link that pivots from the top tube.
The SpecWhile we are only reviewing the frame here, but it is worth mentioning the spec because Nukeproof sent it us with one of their standard builds, which tells a lot about what they have in mind for this bike. To put it simply, they want you to ride this bike hard. It came with a wide Nukeproof Warhead 760-millimeter handlebar and a Nukeproof Warhead 60-millimeter stem to match, a 1 x 10 drivetrain with a proper chainguide. Tyres were some of our favorites: a soft, Supertacky compound Maxxis High Roller on the front and a harder, MaxxPro version on the rear. We can't think of many companies who are willing to push the boat on a spec like this for a bike with only 130 millimeters of travel, but we approve whole-heartedly.
Most of the components on our Mega TR were provided by SRAM and Nukeproof. SRAM X7 takes on most of the drivetrain duties, except for the rear derailleur, which is the X9 with the Type 2 clutch, while the crank is a Truvativ Descendant with a single-ring setup. Stopping is handled by Avid’s cheap and cheerful Elixir 5 brakes. Suspension is handled by a 32-millimeter-stanchion RockShox Revelation fork, paired with a Monarch RT3 shock. Nukeproof Generator TR wheels and a Nukeproof Mega saddle finish off the build.
Climbing: The Mega TR isn't the lightest bike out there, which obviously counts against it a little bit when you are going climbing. That said, the full lockout option on the Monarch shock was a real bonus and left it almost feeling like a hardtail. Our test bike was a large frame for a 5-foot, 9-inch rider and the position this gave us for climbing was fantastic, it really opened up the chest to help us breathe.
On fire road climbs we could happily sit and knock out the miles. We went riding with some of the scary-fast XC riders around Sospel, where we put the bike to the test, climbing on the hiking paths around the town. Here it genuinely surprised us, how easily it let us keep pace with them. We simply did not expect a bike this burly to go so well uphill. The 67-degree head angle was spot on for picking a line up a steep section. The TR didn't wander at all. Sometimes on this kind of terrain, we could notice the compact, 430-millimeter chainstays and we almost found ourselves wishing they were a touch longer. In fact, Nukeproof appear to have discovered the same thing, as the 27.5-inch-wheel version of the frame has longer, 440-millimeter stays.
Descending: To get the Mega TR up to speed, you need to get involved, it's a very lively bike and once you start pumping the terrain it quickly accelerates. On the more flowy trails, where the bike was tested, the TR reminded us why bikes with 120 to 130-millimeters of travel can feel so good. The Mega TR hits a sweet spot for riders who like to play with the trail. Setting the shock wide open, there is just enough forgiveness in the bike to take risks, but there is also an immediacy to the handling - something that you inevitably lose with a longer travel bike. The Mega TR changes direction very well and feels much lighter on the downs than the scale suggests it should.
On fast, technical terrain, the Mega TR’s love for speed encouraged us to pick up pace, but the problem was what to do with it? The bike’s 67-degree head angle, combined with the 32-millimeter-stanchion RockShox Revelation fork and its single-ply tyres left us with few options to get us out of trouble. When our lines were precise and we were able commit to the trail, the TR was trustworthy, but the line between success and disaster was a very fine one.
Braking and Suspension: The Mega TR’s suspension design isn't the best under braking. We found out quickly that we either had to be completely off the brakes or be braking hard. Trying to moderate speed continuously left the bike feeling uncomfortable. In the downhill environment, if you are a very confident and precise rider, the Nukeproof has the potential to be a very quick bike, but less confident riders may find it hard to live with.
In steep, low speed technical sections, the problems with the suspension layout under braking really came to the fore. Near the bottom of one of our local loops is a set of ugly rock steps, they are jagged, uneven and constantly moving under the wheels. The Mega TR wasn't enough bike to try and plough through them, but to pick our way down on the brakes meant that we had to fight to keep the bike from constantly trying to build up speed. The suspension was very unforgiving under braking, leaving us feeling like we were jarring from one rock to the next. This is a problem with many single-pivot-swingarm suspension designs, so take the Nukeproof’s suspension layout into consideration along with your local trails.
Pinkbike's Take: | As bikes become lighter, faster and more efficient, one thing that is sometimes forgotten in the march of progress is fun. The Mega TR doesn't fit into any of the common categories people use to pigeon-hole bikes. Most other bikes with similar suspension travel are lighter with bigger wheels, bikes with similar specs tend to be longer-travel machines. Sitting outside all this, it is simply a fun, fast-handling bike, affordably priced and designed to be ridden hard. We would be very interested to try this bike with a burlier fork, like the Revelation's big brother, the Pike, as the speed you could pick up so easily left you feeling under-gunned with 32mm stanchions out front. We suspect it isn't the bike for everyone, but in the hands of the right rider, the Mega TR has the potential to be a hell of a lot of fun. - Matt Wragg |
www.nukeproof.com
Nice looking bike. Anyone remember the old nuke proof titanium frames that the frame builders would put the acetylene torch to the tubes and it would give a distinct purple haze colour to the titanium? Or the crazy titanium hubs!! Yes I'm old!,
to finish off
"we could notice the compact, 430-millimeter chainstays and we almost found ourselves wishing they were a touch longer. In fact, Nukeproof appear to have discovered the same thing, as the 27.5-inch-wheel version of the frame has longer, 440-millimeter stays."
what is this.. adverttising for ants ! this sentence scored high on the commonsense meter..
either that .. or they are making sure 26 bikes will handle not so good.. so they have "proof" that 27.5 is better
The Pivot Mach 6 is a 27.5 bike with 430mm chainstays. The Scott Spark 27.5 has 433mm chainstays etc.
So Nukeproof could have totally had 430mm chainstays if they wanted..
In UK the frame is £1250 and whole bike circa £2200 and you usually have the same price in $.
That comes out to $2016.13 for the frame, $4354.84 for the bike. Plus whatever duties and freight to get it to the US.
The Euro is .85 GBP.
.
It's clearly not the best value on your side of the Atlantic, but over here we get roughly screwed by a lot of the US/Canada based brands and the Nuke is much better priced from our perspective.
Just ordered silver mega TR from chainreactioncycles for £1980. They are on sale right now. I wanted 26". I tested yeti, trek, specializeed and santa cruz for a last threee months on bigger wheels and decided to stay with 26". Not many available cheap and with a decent spec around. I am going to fit it with Gravity Dropper and I seriously hope that will keep me grinning whole 2014. Happy New Year!
www.vitalmtb.com/community/ADDZ,13551/setup,23474
Nevermind the fact they actually criticized it in this review and said it could be better in certain areas. But yeah no, you ignore the evidence (like everyone else) that shoots your argument to shit.
Longer chain stay in any case for the 27.5 isn't it?
maybe strange at 140 and 130 travel
1.Combined rim, tube and tyre weight
2.surface of the uphill trail
3.steepness of the trail
4.total climb length
If for some reeason you must have 2ply tyres on your 5-6" bike (rough DH sections + aggro style?) then double ring setup or XX1 is a must for any longer climb. But most Enduro bikes are fine with 1ply tyres with reinforced casings run tubeless. So 34t front with 36trear might be an option. Then if terrain allows to run something like Spec Butcher/Purgatorymagic combo, on carbon rims, particularly on a 29er then you can climb anything on 1:1, you just might know about it. I think in many cases people don't velieve they are able to push a single ring. At the same time I realize there might be terrains in which lower gear ratios are a necessity
@Groghunter - I used to have a problem with slack (67) bikes on technical climbs which require steering precision. But no more since I bought a longish Blur TR put 140 fork on it (67,5deg), 50mm stem, and started to stand up more. Short stem destabilizes the bike along with shifting your weight forward when standing - no more trouble really! I was swearing on slack trail bikes myself. I have to put 160 Lurik that puts ha at 66 to make the bike feel like a drunk donkey on steepest and rockiest climbs, though they aren'tthat long.
Great input guyz!
XC is a class of riding built around best overall speed over varied terrain. Whether that means racing or translates to just good do it all is up to the rider, but as far as I can tell it opens the question up to subgenres and just calling them all xc would leave you pretty lost about what the bike is good at. An xc bike for a flat region is a hardtail with big wheels and a 4" or less travel fork. An xc rig in might be a 4" full susser with any size wheels (I like 26 since the roots here make nice little jumps and woops and the 29er just gobbles them, but that is prefference).
In BC it might be a 5" AM bike since the descents would be too slow on less suspension and any more would make the climbs slower.
Enduro plods up and flies down. DH walks up and screams down. DJ is BMX with a more stable platform, allowing riders to go bigger, and is therefor not a mountain bike. It takes more than flat bars to make a mtb.
No one would confuse my enduro rig for my xc rig. One is fun to climb and pretty good on the descents. The other can climb alright but is a blast on the down hill. If you can't tell the difference you are wasting money on good bikes since you can't feel the difference anyway.
What works as a dh-bike in BC might not work in the alps at all.
A few recent DH races were won by people on on non-dh focused bikes (one 29er first place and one 650b 2nd place if I'm not mistaken).
track etiquette is more about riding responsibly, and not doing rude crap like cutting people off, yelling obscenities at them as they ride, not sitting in the middle of the trail etc.
Those werent exactly Dh-tracks and WC was won on a 26 on a smooth track.
Tracketiquette on a dh course means dont ride a bike that will slow everybody down and dont get hurt and ruin everybodies day. That rules out XC/AM/End unless you are real crack and now what you are doing. XC skis dont work well on a skislope.