First Look: Nukeproof's New Scout Hardtail

May 25, 2022
by Seb Stott  
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The Nukeproof Scout is a classic do-it-all hardtail. After remaining unchanged for five years, Nukeproof have redesigned the frame with subtle tweaks to the recipe, but aimed to keep the overall character unchanged. These tweaks include a slightly slacker head angle and steeper seat tube, along with a few new frame features. The chainstay length is now size-specific, growing by 2.5 mm between each size. It's available with 27.5" or 29" wheels (no mixed-wheel option) and full builds get a 140 mm fork, though it will accept 130-150 mm of travel.

Due to the supply chain issues which are affecting the entire industry, it will be available as a frame only from the 1st of June 2022 with full builds expected to land from the 11th of July.
Nukeproof Scout Details

• Wheel size: 29" or 27.5" f&r
• Fork travel: 140 mm (130-150 mm should work)
• Size-specific chanistay length
• 64.5-degree head, 74-degree seat angle
• Sizes: S-XL (27.5"), M-XXL (29")
• Frame only price: £499.99/€599.99/$699.99
• Full builds from: £1,399.99/€1,749.99/$1,599.99
• nukeproof.com



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Frame Details

Though similar, the frame is all-new, with triple-butted hydro-formed alloy tubes. There's internal cable routing for dropper posts and external routing for the brake and derailleur. It's single-ring specific and uses a threaded 73mm BB and ISCG05 tabs. All the standards are shared with the previous Scout, so it's possible to simply swap parts from an older Scout frame. The most notable update is the contoured rubber protection on the chainstay and downtube. There's also an accessory mount under the top tube as well as bottle cage bosses on the downtube.


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The 29" Scout's geometry.

Geometry

Above is the geometry chart for the 29" version of the Scout; the 27.5" geometry table is here. The geometry is very similar between the two size-for-size - the most notable differences are the shorter stack height and the smaller chainstays (422-430 mm vs. 432-440 mm) on the 27.5" version.

Compared to the old Scout, the head angle has been slackened by half a degree to 64.5-degrees and the seat tube has been steepened by one degree to 74-degrees. The reach hasn't grown all that much size-for-size, but there is now an XXL size for taller riders looking for more room.

Nukeproof say the 74-degree effective seat tube angle matches a 140 mm-travel full-suspension bike with a 77.5-degree seat angle. That's because the full-suspension bike will get slacker by about 2.5-degrees due to sag (squatting) when pointed uphill, while suspension sag only makes the hardtail's angles steeper. Similarly, the BB height matches a 140mm-travel bike with a static bottom bracket height of 336 mm once sag is taken into account.
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Nukeproof provided this diagram showing how the Scout's climbing geometry is designed to match a modern trail bike running 40% "climbing sag".

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Models and Pricing

For now, the Scout is available as a frame only for £499.99/€599.99/$699.99. From July, complete bikes will be ready to purchase.


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Scout RS - £2,999.99/€3,699.99/$3,399.99

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Scout Elite - £2,499.99/€3,049.99/$2,799.99

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Scout Comp - £1,899.99/€2,299.99/$2,199.99

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Scout Race - £1,399.99/€1,749.99/$1,599.99


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Posted In:
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124 Comments
  • 74 3
 oh nice its the hardtail that everybody buys and resells for the same price as retail
  • 63 0
 Sir I think you just described any bike since 2019
  • 3 0
 Hi Tree Village, why so bitter?
  • 41 0
 or throw on some $7 grips from Amazon and mark it up $200 with a tag that says "upgraded" or "fully custom..."
  • 18 0
 @danielfloyd: Dont forget the random purple parts
  • 1 1
 So funny that’s exactly what I did with my scout frame after a couple years. But at least I included a dropper and the free headset Nukeproof sent. These used to be such good value it was hard to believe. - shipped to the USA in 2018 with a headset for $400. Now 4-years later $700. Inflation seems real.
  • 24 1
 Too cheap for the 2023 Value Hardtail Bike Field Test. Nukeproof better cones out with something at a more appropriate pricepoint because this won't cut it.
  • 32 0
 3700€ for an aluminium hardtail seems a bit high
  • 8 1
 @Daddybear: Yep. Get a Radon Cragger in the EU, it is way better value
  • 3 0
 @bashhard: The Cragger 7.0 with the Marzocchi Z2 is actually pretty incredible value in terms of spec, especially considering all the price hikes recently. And the geo is decent too!
  • 8 0
 We all know that somehow $2,500-3,000 is now what’s considered value. $1,500 is practically a Walmart bike for them.
  • 2 0
 @Daddybear: the Comp (Deore 12spd) and Elite (SLX) are far better deals than the RS one.
  • 1 0
 @bashhard: Günstiger is not always the best
  • 7 0
 In 2018 you would've paid £100 LESS for a Mega Comp (SLX, Yari, Super Deluxe R) than the Scout Elite (SLX, Rhythm 36) today
  • 3 0
 @kenoath: Du gets was du pays for.
  • 3 0
 @kenoath: that's why I said "better value" instead of "cheaper"
  • 1 2
 @Daddybear: Too high in fact. They aren’t value bikes as they are too expensive.
  • 4 0
 @letsgethurt: it’s sickening to see it like this..
Since the start of the pandemic gravity mtb went from extreme sports to elitists sport.

I love the modern bikes, but between 2014 and 2018 you got the most bike for your money.
It’s very sad to see this development and everybody agrees with that bs talk about „supply chain issues“.
  • 2 0
 @Pukeproof: exactly. If it s stay like this it s really gonna becam a rich man/woman sport
  • 24 1
 Sagged geometry figures? It's about freaking time. Take notice other brands.
  • 6 1
 This. Static numbers can be deceiving. Also bike companies can take liberties with their measurements. As long as people see a “magic number” for whatever bike geo they fixate on…its ok.
  • 21 0
 this bike is very appeeling to me
  • 4 1
 Everyone else was caught slipping on the puns, but you weren’t monkeying around.
  • 21 1
 Yellow bikes are my weakness
  • 6 0
 Me too
  • 3 0
 Yup. Not enough yellow bikes out there.
  • 16 0
 Kudos for proper geo chart.
  • 8 0
 i got a 2021 scout pro last summer just as a fun bike to play around on and wow, this thing truly rips. so much fun to take on trails that you already know on the full squish, turns it into an entire different trail in a sense. ive ridden other hardtails and none of them let you open up quite like this beast. only thing i will admit is that it is heavy. way heavier than you would expect. not the end of the world, as it is (so far) an incredibly beefy frame, but would be nice to shave some weight. it weighs more than my stumpy. all in all, definitely the best cost-to-fun ratio ive ever spent on a bike
  • 12 2
 If your complaining about the price buy it now things aren’t going to get cheaper anytime soon.
  • 22 0
 Better save your money for food and housing.
  • 17 0
 Bette ride your old bike
  • 11 1
 Nothing wrong with complaining about the price. Why would I buy this when I could have a Trance for damn near the same price?
  • 4 0
 @nickfranko: Trance raves are so popular these days too.
  • 8 2
 Why is Nukeproof way less of a deal (relative to other brands) than they used to be? Brexit? Or are they just repositioning from a value brand to a premium brand of some sort?
  • 15 4
 Replace Nukeproof with any other bike brand. Or cars. Or vegetables... everything is more expensive man.
  • 6 4
 @bishopsmike: Don't you understand what "relative to other brands" means?
Nukeproof rose their prices way more the last couple of years than other brands
  • 6 0
 @bashhard: yeah this is what I'm asking. They used to be at a price point that was competitive with direct-to-consumer brands (Canyon, Commencal, Fezzari, etc.) but now their price points are more in line with traditional brands like Trek, Specialized, Santa Cruz, etc.
  • 11 0
 @rickybobby18: because that's now the role of Vitus. Nukeproof signed some big name riders, got some big results, and moved upmarket. So they positioned Vitus as the more budget brand.
  • 1 0
 @ratedgg13: that's what I figured
  • 4 1
 @bashhard: It's always nice when people respond kindly Smile
  • 1 7
flag louiefriesen (May 25, 2022 at 9:38) (Below Threshold)
 Ever heard of inflation?
  • 5 0
 @louiefriesen: once again, ***relative to other brands***
  • 1 1
 @rickybobby18: reading comprehension is not a leading quality of pinkbike readers, lol
  • 1 0
 For CRC/Wiggle, Nukeproof is the premium/cutting edge brand and Vitus is the value oriented with slightly more conservative geo as well. In the past both lines were designed by the same person, don't know about current models.
  • 8 2
 Updates these days are just slacker head angles and steeper seat angles. Why couldn’t the angles reach optimal numbers earlier?
  • 1 0
 Don't forget the most important thing! Colour ways!
  • 23 0
 Because you sell a lot more product making incremental changes over time, and because the public doesn’t respond well to drastic changes. There were brands that jumped to longer, lower, slacker years ago but they didn’t experience widespread adoption or massive growth.
  • 4 0
 Because evolution takes time.
  • 2 0
 I read an old review on Bikeradar of a Cannondale Rush I used to have. They complained at the 69 degree head tube was too twitchy and the top tube length was too long, being almost an inch longer than other bikes at the time.

It was 110mm fork'd bike that slotted between their XC race bike and trail bike...sound familiar?

Anyway, it didn't light the world on fire because it was 15 years too early.
  • 6 2
 the colors seem a little to booring... either its all black/yellow or that same mint-greeny-stuff which was already seen on the canyon stoic, commencal meta ht, production privee and numerous other bikes/frames.
  • 3 0
 I agree, I have one of the Brushed metal Scouts and it looks sick.
  • 2 0
 @You2: all the way baby, love my Pro 290. Though the Petrol Blue always gets my juices flowing.
  • 11 6
 600€ for an aluminium frame? Ouch... better spend a bit more and get a steel one.
  • 29 2
 You could always spend a bit less and get a steal one, @danstonQ?
  • 1 1
 @broscience: and then you could spend more and seal one.
  • 2 1
 @broscience: $435USD for my fully custom steel Marino, including shipping. CRC wants $800+ for this after shipping? Nope.

The Titus Loco Moto (titanium aggressive hardtail) is $125 less than this!
  • 2 0
 @tpfenning: In GBP the Titus is the exact same price as this but doesnt look anything like as nice (visually it looks like its trying to collapse in half). That said as a 275 Scout owner from 2019 I dont plan to buy a new one just for a couple of minor geo tweaks.
  • 2 0
 @broscience: the secret ingredient is crime
  • 3 0
 I tried getting a Scout frame 1.5 years ago or so and couldn't get one in stock, but ended up finding a Steel Kona Honzo frame for $600 USD at a local bike shop and have been very happy how it all worked out
  • 2 0
 The new Specialized Allez Sprint aluminium frameset goes for 1800 €. Roadies are ripped off even more.
  • 2 0
 Interesting that Nukeproof and Transition both have a Scout in their lineup. Shouldn't one company be suing the other over this?! I thought that's how things worked in the mtb world.
  • 5 1
 I want more BB height, not saggy position
  • 4 0
 You've got to pay £500 extra to get SRAM components. lol.
  • 2 0
 Rolled up in shit!!!
  • 1 0
 That's how seat gussets should be and just the minimum seat tube extension above it, should allow the biggest drippers out there.I had to trim 1,5cm of my DeeDar seatpost to be able to use a 210 OneUp (shimmed to 200).
  • 5 0
 Not sure I'd advertise a big dripper...
  • 4 3
 Be nice if a chainguide came installed on the complete builds. At least an upper guide would do. You'll be getting a lot of dropped chains without a guide on a HT.
  • 3 1
 Can attest to this. Had to install an upper guide to my Orange Crush after too many dropped chains.
  • 6 0
 I have a scout - haven't dropped the chain yet riding in Whistler. Since I have had 1x NW rings I cant recall ever dropping a chain. I may not be the fastest or gnarliest rider but I still dont havent had an issue.
  • 3 0
 I also run a hardtail with no chain guide. It infrequently drops the chain. It’s not really a problem and I figure it’s down to the thick/thin ring and clutch.
  • 1 0
 Never had this issue on my 2019 Scout with Sram Eagle GX
  • 1 0
 @paulskibum: can confirm with you on this, have only dropped my chain 1 time on my scout and ive taken it to the bike park, shuttle laps, everything you can think of. dont think a guide is necessary but i think having a bash guard would be nice. easy to smash your ring and bend it
  • 1 0
 @paulskibum: +1. No guide on my Ragley. Haven't needed one.
  • 2 1
 This is the bike I really want for my son. I wish there was a pov spec version with like, a Rockshox Recon and 10 speed Deore. Would totally buy that.
  • 6 1
 What’s wrong with the deore marzocchi build?
  • 3 0
 @jaame The previous version full bike with Deore is on sale right now, I just picked one up. Really good Deal!
  • 2 1
 @unrooted: the only thing wrong with it is the price. I bought a Trek Marlin 7 for my daughter for £620. That kind of build would be spot on for my son... But nukeproof instead of Trek.
  • 3 1
 Nice. Proper Mountain Bikes. No ridiculous geometry and wheels that match in size!
  • 3 1
 Sam Hill's new commuter lol
Nice looking frame @Nukeproofinternational !
  • 2 0
 But what about the kids Cub Scout?
  • 1 0
 Or the full suspension model from Transition?
  • 1 1
 Konami honzo esd would be my choice. Steel frame, z1 marzocchi and better value which is odd cause most folk think kona is over priced. Extra slack dude
  • 3 3
 why bring out new bikes when they still owe people bikes from more than a year ago...
  • 5 3
 No raw aluminum?
  • 8 3
 I know, and no turquoise either!!!
  • 2 2
 @Nukeproofinternational: No Pink either, or Orange, or Red...or......
  • 2 1
 @Nukeproofinternational: the yellow is great tho. Have it on all your bikes.
  • 1 0
 My favorite color is ham
  • 1 0
 @Middnight: flesh
  • 1 0
 @Strath-cona: bacon
  • 1 0
 We only see 275 models. 29 same price ????
  • 2 0
 goes from £1,899.99 for comp up to £2,999.99 for RS, frame only for 500
  • 2 0
 I prefer a Boner-o.
  • 2 0
 Beautiful.
  • 1 0
 Raw version would look ace...
  • 1 1
 Please make it with a Pinion gearbox mount and I'll replace my 2020 Scout in a heart beat. I love the Scout!
  • 1 0
 What about the frame set option?
  • 1 0
 Ain't no stoke like hardtail stoke
  • 1 0
 It look's a bit like the "santacruz camilion"
  • 1 0
 Steel frames have sharper lines
  • 1 0
 $700 for an aluminum MTB frame? No thanks.
  • 1 1
 Scout Race w 220 mm front brake?
Doesn't look like it! Big Grin
  • 1 0
 Transition
  • 3 4
 cool, now make it with steel.
  • 8 11
 Should be in steel
  • 4 0
 Why? This isn't intended to be a steel bike, never was. Endless options out there if you want a steel frame
  • 2 0
 Kona's ESD is steel with somewhat similar #'s... Not egregiously priced either, but you'll be paying a $200 extra premium for steel over this alloy frame($699).
  • 2 0
 @cgreaseman: you can pick up things like a steel Cotic BFE Max for £575 for the frame, so not that much of a premium
  • 1 0
 @Nairnster: In the USA?? I love my Flare Max. I would jump at a chance to own their HT frame. Import fees would put that frame closer to $900, sadly.
  • 4 3
 Because you want it to be heavier and break sooner?
  • 2 0
 @cgreaseman: Converting GBP to USD, this frame is $627. So the Honzo ESD is only $70 more then the Nukeproof.
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