Nukeproof Mega AM 275 - Review

REVIEW

Nukeproof Mega AM 275

WORDS: Mike Kazimer
ACTION PHOTOS: Paris Gore

Last year, Nukeproof split their Mega range of bikes into two different models, the TR and the AM, with the 130mm TR billed as the lighter, more trail oriented version, and the AM the 160mm, all-mountain machine. Both models remain for 2014, but they are now rolling on 27.5” wheels. When we first talked with Nukeproof about the decision to bump up to the bigger wheel size, Alastair Beckett, Nukeproof's brand manager, said, “It was extremely important to keep the same feel and geometry as we had with the 26” Megas and if we had to sacrifice that because of the wheelsize then it wasn’t going to be the right thing to do. When we started looking at the drawings and the geometry, we quickly realized that we could get exactly the geometry and ride that we wanted with the bigger wheelsize, so it was a win-win situation.” Available in small, medium, large, and x-large sizes the Mega AM 275 retails for $5149.99 USD, and weighs in at 32 pounds without pedals for a size large.




Frame Details

The squared off shape of the Mega AM 275's hydroformed 6061 aluminum tubing gives the bike an industrial air, as if the tubes could also be used in the construction of a skyscraper, and the iconic head tube badge (the symbol for radioactivity) gives further credence to the idea that this bike could withstand a nuclear blast. The down tube and seat tube are welded to a one piece, CNC machined 73mm bottom bracket assembly that accepts traditional threaded bottom brackets. Asymmetric chain stays give enough clearance for a front derailleur or a chain guide like the SRAM XO one mounted to our test bike's ISCG tabs.


The only internal cable routing to be found is in place for a stealth dropper post, but the remaining housing is well managed, running along the top of the down tube and on the underside of the seat stays. The 12 x 142 rear spacing is in line with the bike's intended usage, as is the 44mm head tube that allows for either a tapered or straight fork steerer tube to be run depending on the headset cups used. There's certainly no shortage of branding on the Mega AM – we started to count how many times the word 'Nukeproof' appears on the frame and components, but lost count at somewhere close to 40.


Suspension Design

The Mega AM 275 uses a link driven single pivot design, with Nukeproof's one piece “Erosion Link” activating the rear shock. According to Nukeproof, this linkage was designed to provide “smooth progressive suspension action with a well controlled mid-stroke to avoid wallowing under pedal loads,” a claim we'd be putting to the test once we hit the trails.The bike's seat stays are joined by a thick aluminum brace that curves underneath the Erosion Link, a feature that is meant to add further stiffness. Clevis pivots are found where the seat stays join the chain stays, and sealed cartridge bearings are used at all pivot locations.

Specifications Price $5149.99 Travel 160mm Rear Shock RockShox Monarch Plus RC3 Fork RockShox Pike RCT3 Solo Air 160mm travel Headset Nukeproof 44IETS Cassette SRAM PG1030, 11-36 Crankarms Truvativ Descendant 170mm Chainguide SRAM X0 Rear Derailleur SRAM X9 Type 2 Chain SRAM PC1030 Shifter Pods SRAM X9 Handlebar Nukeproof Warhead 760mm Stem Nukeproof 60mm Grips Nukeproof Element lock-on Brakes Avid Elixir 9 Trail 180mm rotors Hubs Nukeproof Generator Disc Rim Nukeproof Generator AM 275 Tires Maxxis High Roller II Seat Nukeproof Trail Mega Seatpost Rockshox Reverb Stealth Compare to other All Mountain/Enduro/XC

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Riding the Mega AM 275

Climbing

Out of the box, the Mega AM 275's priorities are evident – wider bars, a short stem, Maxxis Highroller II tires and a RockShox Pike RCT3 all make it clear that this bike is equipped to take on serious terrain. On the flip side, the extra weight from the beefed up frame combined with the stout build kit do translate into a bike that takes a little extra effort to get to the top of the hill – you're going to want to eat those Wheaties before heading out on an all day mission, especially if you decide to run the Mega AM with the stock front chain ring. While we're fans of single ring drivetrains no matter how many speeds the rear cassette has, the 36 tooth front ring on our test bike ended being a little too tall for the extended steep climbs most of our local trails start with. After toughing it out for a few rides we threw in the towel and installed a 32 tooth ring, a change that allowed us to have enough energy left at the top to rally on the descents.

Nukeproof seems to have found the sweet spot for the pivot location on the Mega AM – when climbing the Monarch Plus rear shock remained free from any unwanted bobbing, especially when it was set to the middle compression setting. There wasn't any trouble tackling straight ahead sections of technical climbing, and the bike was able to span the spaces between roots and rocks that likely would have stalled a more compact, smaller wheeled bike. However, throw in a few sharp turns and the bike's length does become noticeable. With a 1198mm wheelbase and 445mm chain stays for the size large, the Mega lives up to its name, and advanced planning is necessary to successfully navigate tight switchbacks. For its intended purpose, the bike gets the job done with minimal fuss, but riders who are looking for a sprightly bike that will allow them to dance up the climbs without breaking a sweat won't find it here.



Technical Handling / Downhill

To see if we could find the limits of the Mega's capabilities we took it to the burly trails hidden deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, trails that starts with steep, root filled chutes and then continue on to slippery rock rolls followed by large drops and jumps, the type of trails that would have been the domain of clunky freeride bikes a few years ago. On steep, fall line sections of trail the benefits of the bike's 66° head angle and long wheelbase became clear, providing a stable platform for carving down the mountain. There doesn't seem to be an upper speed limit to the Mega AM 275 either; if anything, it has a speed that needs to be reached or exceeded in order for it to achieve its true potential. Casual, low key cruising isn't in the Mega AM's repertoire, and the proper soundtrack for a ride aboard the Mega AM is going to be something along the lines of Slayer or Sepultura instead of Simon and Garfunkel. This is a bike that can be plowed through the rough stuff without faltering, ripping down the trail like Casey Jones in his infamous Cannonball Express.

Despite having 160mm of travel, the Mega AM doesn't feel excessively plush, a feeling that the stiff frame no doubt plays a part in. This isn't a negative trait, it just means that the bike responds well to multiple impacts in a row without blowing through its travel, while at the same time having a bit of reserve for those moments of mis-judged air time. We took full advantage of this, since at first the Mega's uncanny ability to carry speed had us landing deeper into the transitions of jump and drops than usual. There wasn't any harsh bottoming out though, just a solid, controlled touchdown, no matter what we launched it off of.

It did take a few rides to get accustomed to the Mega AM's cornering habits - at times it felt reluctant to finish a turn, which made for a good crash and a couple of near misses while we got used its handling. The bike's geometry makes whipping it around corners at speed more of a task than we're accustomed too, but the key is to keep a firm grip on the reins, and be ready to use a little more muscle to bring the back end around. After a few rides we became accustomed to setting up earlier and slightly shifting our weight to help encourage the rear wheel to get around the apex of a sharp turn.




Component Check

• Nukeproof Generator 27.5" wheelset – The Mega AM has Nukeproof's house brand wheelset, which uses Sun Ringle's Inferno rims. The rims themselves held up well, shrugging of a number of hard hits without any damage, although the end caps on the hubs had a tendency to come loose, and we had to tighten them up on both the front and rear wheel more than once.

• Avid Elixir 9 Trail brakes – The Elixir Trail 9 brakes provided plenty of stopping power, but the rear brake was extra noisy from the start, emitting a high pitched wail on extend sections of braking. We eventually swapped out the organic pads for a set of metallic ones, which quieted things down a great deal.

• Drivetrain – As was mentioned before, the 36 tooth front ring ended up being too tall of a gear to comfortably use on the steeper climbs in our area. Riders that will be using lifts or shuttles to get to the descents won't have any trouble, but those planning on earning their turns will likely want to swap it out for something smaller. Other than that, the SRAM X9 10 speed drivetrain and chainguide was trouble free.

• RockShox Reverb dropper post – The Reverb worked flawlessly, and we particularly appreciated how the thumb remote was configured on the underside of the handlebar, a much more intuitive placement made possible by the bike's lack of a front shifter.





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