Sam Hill's Prototype Nukeproof DH Bike - Crankworx Whistler 2018

Aug 15, 2018
by Mike Kazimer  

Sam Hill

Sam Hill's Prototype Nukeproof DH Bike

Sam Hill may have made the switch to full-time enduro racer, but he's still a force to be reckoned with on the downhill bike, as his victory in the Garbanzo DH at Crankworx Whistler clearly shows. There's also the fact that it was only his second ride on the prototype Nukeproof he was aboard (the first ride took place the day before).

The 27.5" bike does have similarities to the current Pulse, but it's more of a test mule than a fully refined and finished product - the final result is going to look a bit different, and there's a good chance that it'll also have a new name when it's officially released. At the moment, the most visible change has to do with where the rocker link is positioned - it now sits outside of the seat tube, rather than being tucked inside a split in the frame. Moving away from that clamshell design helps to shed some weight, and it also means there's the possibility this suspension layout could make its way onto a bike that's not strictly designed for DH riding.


Sam Hill s prototype Nukeproof - Crankworx Whistler 2018
The mule in its current form...
Nukeproof Prototype
...And a computer rendering of what the final upper link will look like.


One interesting feature that's not immediately evident is the ability to change the position of the bike's main pivot in order to alter how progressive the suspension is. It's not uncommon for World Cup race teams to use different custom machined links to alter a bike's suspension feel for different riders, but with this feature a similar result should be possible by undoing the non-drive side main pivot bolt and selecting another position. Exactly how many positions there will be has yet to be determined - more testing is in the works to figure out what works best.


Sam Hill s prototype Nukeproof - Crankworx Whistler 2018
The bike has 200mm of travel, and multiple positions for the main pivot in order to alter how progressive the suspension feels.

Nukeproof Prototype
This version has a fixed chainstay lengthy, but having two axle positions hasn't been completely ruled out.

There were rumblings of Nukeproof making a carbon DH bike a few years back, but at the moment there still aren't any plans to go that route with the new bike. According to Nukeproof, they're able to hit the weight goals they want with aluminum and don't see any need to go with carbon, at least not yet.

When the new bike comes to market sometime next year it will also have a 29"-wheeled counterpart, but there will be two different, unique frames, rather than one frame that accepts both wheels sizes. Steve Jamison, Nukeproof's product manager, said that he sees the two options as being more related to rider height rather than anything else - taller riders will likely gravitate towards the 29" version, and smaller riders will pick the 27.5" option.


Sam Hill
Man, myth, legend, and 2018 Garbanzo DH winner: Sam Hill.


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Crankworx Nukeproof Sam Hill


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155 Comments
  • 98 4
 27.5 ain't dead.
  • 121 17
 @DH-Angel: nope, just you.
  • 47 5
 27.5 will never die, getting sideways is better than going straight fast
  • 15 0
 Viva la 27.5!
  • 10 6
 @Jackson900: Ya cuz kirt Voreis isn't going sideways on his 29...Amongst all the other crazy shit he does!
  • 7 1
 Can't believe the rear is 200 mm, is it just me or does that rear shock look huge. Either way Hill killed it, any chance of him popping up at the world champs?????!!!!
  • 3 1
 @fecalmaster: not unless he rides atleast one uci dh race this year. last year he said it was his last world champs, that's why he did the fort William's race
  • 2 4
 No one ever said it was
  • 6 1
 Over on Vital the rumour is Nukeproof are pulling out of DH if this is anything to go by they should get back on the DH bandwagon with some new riders
  • 1 2
 Man I would love to see Hill battle it out seeing what he just didn't. WC put my man on!
  • 5 0
 Top 3 at MSA on 27 would tend to show that it definitely ain't dead. Especially being as MSA is a course where 29ers should excel
  • 4 11
flag fecalmaster (Aug 16, 2018 at 4:35) (Below Threshold)
 29erds can kiss someone's ass,,, seriously whoever makes it down first wins. #wheelsizematters?
  • 3 12
flag mollow (Aug 16, 2018 at 7:50) (Below Threshold)
 @IllestT: yeah, what a surprise, 3 riders under 5'6" on 27.5 wheels. Meanwhile 60% of the top ten was on 29ers, the overall has been won on 29ers one race before the end of the season and Gwinn will f*cking smash everybody on a 29er. Keep believing your own lies!
  • 5 1
 @Jackson900: 27.5 will never die because the bike industry admittedly made it for marketing reasons.
  • 3 0
 Jesus i hope not i just made to move from 26
  • 62 5
 No idler-pulley setup... It's a wonder that Sam can even ride it down the hill! #idlersohotrightnow
  • 3 6
 No idler no high pivot
  • 27 5
 The last paragraph perfectly sums up the 29er vs. 27.5 argument. It all come down to personal preference. Coming from a manufacturer, that says a lot.
  • 55 3
 I'm 6'5" and like 27.5. Raced both, timed both, and am faster on 27.5 probably because I like it.
I get the height argument but we tall folk also are long limbed with a high center of gravity, making straights easier and corners harder (generally, comparitively).
So ya that's my opinion thank you all for not asking for it.
  • 9 6
 The last paragraph says the choice is based off rider height, not personal preference.
  • 6 3
 @Rubberelli: it’s implied, hence the line “gravitate towards.” He’s not saying the either bike is just for shorter or taller riders.
  • 1 0
 Or that one is “faster,” than the other
  • 2 3
 @mkotowski1: A five foot rider can buy an XL if they choose, but they will probably gravitate to a small. For this new bike, it will be only available in 27.5 in S, as he seems to indicate.
  • 5 0
 @Jimmy0: try a mixer..now that bikes have 75+ seat angles..29front/275 rear
  • 2 1
 @jrocksdh: 2020 demo8. You heard it here first
  • 7 0
 @Rubberelli: Sam Hill is 5 foot 9 and is riding the 27.5, don’t think the 27.5 is only going to come In size S
  • 10 0
 @Jimmy0: I'm 6.6 and I ride whatever the hell I want. I'm not a racer so I don't give a single f*ck as long as it makes me happy!
  • 1 1
 @mkotowski1: based on what he said, I bet that the 29 is only available in L and XL.
  • 6 1
 I'm 7.5" and race a 21" front and 19"rear on my YZ450F. Bet I can run your car over with the 29er hanging off the back.
  • 1 0
 @Jimmy0: UCI mandates both wheels should have the same diameter.
  • 1 0
 @southoftheborder: Luckily I don't live or ride by any mandates, money means nothing when you have a stethoscope up your ass.
  • 1 0
 @jrocksdh: UCI rule preventing mix matched wheels prevents it hitting the World Cup just yet.
  • 1 1
 @bizutch: which also prevents any bike maker from developing one if they have a WC team they spinsor. You can do it yourself, but you would slacken the HA and raise the BB, so maybe less than ideal.
  • 1 0
 @Rubberelli: yep, many are now doing it. Bikes have long reaches, low bb, and steep seat angles so mixers are working great.
  • 1 0
 @fecalmaster: UCI WC riders usually have to.
  • 1 0
 @jrocksdh: i have a 26/27.5 DH bike. But it would be more stable if it was lower, where it belongs. Jumps good though.
  • 1 1
 @southoftheborder: My days of UCI leashing are well over, I'll ride a 20" up front with a 29erd in the back.
  • 19 3
 Sam Hill on Instagram: "Blew some cobwebs off the dh bike today and managed to win the garbo dh"

Pinkbike: "Sam Hill took the win in the Garbanzo DH on a [new] prototype Nukeproof, a bike he'd only ridden once before."

Damn, cobwebs must develop fast in his garage! Razz
  • 54 0
 They've got real spiders in Australia.
  • 2 2
 That frame looks like it's seen a few rounds before. Not new. Prob a test mule Sam's had for a while now, seeing as he's their best tester.....
  • 3 1
 @atrokz: Did you read the part where they said he'd only ridden it once before? I even quoted it in my comment so it should be very easy to read...
  • 1 3
 @BaeckerX1: yes it was very easy to read, thanks. Did you also read your own quote where you quote him on IG? wouldn't surprise me if he had it a while is my point. It's not out of the realm of reality.
  • 1 1
 He didn't mean blow the cobwebs off that particular bike, just dh bikes in general.
  • 1 1
 If it is a prototype, the engineers and testers at Nukeproof probably had a fair few runs on this bike before it even reached Sam Hill. You want to be sure the bike is at least half decent before you waste his time.
  • 1 0
 @wk3984: Thank you very much Captain Obvious. It was a joke.
  • 1 0
 @BaeckerX1: I think we should all get angry about something we know 0 about and start downvoting eachother like it maters like a bunch of idiots.
  • 1 0
 @atrokz: I agree. Maybe you should have just left the comment alone (which was a joke by the way) instead of contributing your contrary 2 cents and then defending yourself trying to be right. Ha. Razz
  • 1 0
 @BaeckerX1: I just gave 2 cents about test rigs being old before being seeing by public. It was merely an opinion people decided to be dicks about. But hey, par for the course on PB. I should know since Ive been here since day 1.
  • 1 0
 @atrokz: No offense, but your comment was the one that sounded like you were being a dick, replying to an obvious JOKE with a know-it-all comment (which was pure speculation, by the way). That's what you're not getting. You should just think about it and not get so defensive. At this point, the post is 16 days old and you're still complaining about it. Just move on and live your life. Smile I seriously don't understand people on the internet.
  • 1 1
 @BaeckerX1: the only reason Im replying is because you keep brining it up. I dont care if you thought a harmless comment was being a dick. Just shows how much of an a*shole you are. f*ck off and go ride a bike. Done.
  • 1 1
 @atrokz: Wow. Talk about having to have the last word. Read your comment again and look who is being immature. Haha. You are something else man.
  • 1 0
 @BaeckerX1: you're still here yapping? Talk about irony of getting that last word in ya wanker. Cue out of touch comment...
  • 1 0
 Have a nice life.
  • 2 0
 Oh look, I just snatched the last word in this discussion. I trust you can both live with that.
  • 16 2
 Is it to late to add Sam to the Australian World Champs team?
  • 3 0
 Yeah, l was wondering if his garbanzo entry was about that.
  • 5 0
 Might be getting the prototype sorted for next season, do a few world cups, then have a crack at the worlds in MSA where he has done well in the past.
  • 3 0
 @qldmtb: It would be epic to see him take another worlds win! Fingers crossed that your right!
  • 3 0
 He rode DH worlds in Cairns last year and finished 6th. On his enduro bike!
  • 1 0
 @bicycle019: I thought that was pretty funny seeing him sit on the hot seat most of the race
  • 13 1
 New name options:
Fallout
Aftershock
Garry
Isotope
Mutant
7195635.k5w11
  • 8 0
 I'd call it the Marcello
  • 5 1
 Hill-Arious. Yeah I'm no marketing genious.
  • 28 2
 Keep them coming...
  • 6 1
 @Nukeproofinternational:

Some more names -

Rad-iator/Radiator
Flash
Giga (as in -ton, bigger than the Mega)
Ground Zero
Minuteman
PU/94
  • 14 1
 Nukeproof Fridge. Indiana has already been testing a prototype
  • 34 1
 Chergnarbyl
  • 1 1
 @Nukeproofinternational: the hulk
  • 1 6
flag nlibot33 (Aug 15, 2018 at 17:07) (Below Threshold)
 I think the bike should be called Nukeproof Swift ???????? @Nukeproofinternational:
  • 14 1
 Nukeproof Kim
  • 1 1
 @schnellmann: Giga
  • 12 0
 100% would ride a bike called Gary.
  • 2 1
 Cockroach (dont actually tho)
  • 4 0
 Nukeproof Geiger Wink
  • 2 0
 @Nukeproofinternational: The Fusion, The Emission
  • 3 1
 Session
  • 1 0
 @Nukeproofinternational: Nukeproof Fission
  • 1 0
 @Nukeproofinternational: Reactor, EMP, Missile
  • 2 0
 Funkashima
  • 5 0
 Kimdonald
  • 1 0
 guiness
  • 4 0
 @Nukeproofinternational:

The

G.O.T.F.T.C - (get of the track mate)
  • 1 2
 @harrybrottman: He doesn’t say mate.
  • 1 0
 @T-Bot: watch that insta vid again... def says 'get off the track mate' .... MMMMaaate : )
  • 4 0
 @Nukeproofinternational: asking the public for a name, you know you're gonna end up with Nukey McProofface or something
  • 1 0
 @dmanvan23: he says muppet
  • 1 0
 Spin Collider
  • 2 1
 @mollow: lol... would be hilarious if he did.. will ask him next time he is home... I did think he said mate... being aussie and all it is like in-built... although muppet is a go to word at the present..... haha.....
  • 1 0
 @dmanvan23: yeah nah, speaking as an Aussie who has had a similar thing happen, it definitely wasn’t mate!
  • 1 0
 @dmanvan23: Muppets an old school word haha nah yeah on that one. Your on smoko
  • 12 0
 I WANT THOSE TIRES. C'mon Bibendum - kick down.
  • 4 0
 Michelin DH 22's, available in spring 2026.
  • 1 0
 Upon further inspection: Looks like a MM, but with much better sidewalls I'm sure.
  • 6 0
 i like that it uses the super deluxe coil with a ballbearing on the rocker eyelet. but it seems that in the cad drawing they went with the standard bushings. just keep the ball bearing, if it works now why go away. runs more smoothly than the normal bushing.
  • 1 0
 Isn't the linkage the same and will take both shocks?
  • 1 0
 @emptybox: not exactely sure, maybe needs more space or something. but would be good if it works out.
  • 1 3
 Best to design your frame around a cheaper option, than to raise your prices for low end builds because you wanted a bearing eyelet
  • 3 0
 @westagil: bearing takes a little more space, but both will fit. Same dealing as the Nomad 4, lower end builds have bushings while the linkage is still compatible with a bearing eyelet.
  • 10 0
 Sam f*ckin Hill
  • 3 1
 Sam F'in Hill.
  • 5 0
 I love what nukeprkof puts out, but their bikes are never available when I'm in the market for a new bike. At least not the particular model I want. This is looking promising
  • 25 2
 hello my name is sergey nukeprkof would u like to buy beautiful bmw 4 door sedan? never wreck before, you dont need to see carfax. i assure you, car is clean
  • 6 0
 But...but...it's only got 27.5 wheels, flat pedals and no idler wheel. How can this possibly be?
  • 2 0
 27.5 + flat pedals = steez
And that must be what won him the race
  • 3 0
 What I got out of the last paragraph: there's two sides to every coin, so we are going to offer two wheel sizes. People who obsess about either one & who are overly vocal about it, will gravitate towards being a douchebag. Btw, huge congrats to Sam!! "I'm gonna ride this bike a little & see if I can grab a win tomorrow".
  • 7 1
 Sam Hill could win on a huffy with a photographer blocking his line.
  • 5 0
 Can i fit a plus sized tire on the 29er? GMBN said plus tires are the fastest.
  • 5 0
 dont know much about racing or anything, but this sam dude seems chill
  • 1 0
 Chill off the bike, mad man on the bike. And that's what makes him so sick!
  • 3 0
 Finally someone talking sense about wheel size, larger riders will tend to go with 29, just personal preference and sizing
  • 2 0
 "According to Nukeproof, they're able to hit the weight goals they want with aluminum and don't see any need to go with carbon, at least not yet. "

Hell yeah!!!
  • 1 0
 I've been waiting patiently and it's still almost a year out for the production model. I hope I make it til then. I vote for Highline as a name.
  • 2 0
 Sam Winning Hill! Or when your testrides are faster then most peoples race runs... oh well... everybodies...
  • 3 0
 27.5, flats, and anything else ain’t dead under sam hill ahah
  • 3 0
 I'd love to see what he'd do on a 26" Scalp...
  • 3 0
 Forget the bike, tell us more about those tires!
  • 1 0
 Does anyone know what program they use to design this bike and other bikes? AutoCad Inventor?
  • 2 0
 Maybe it's autodesk fusion... I'd tried sketching rocker arms in fusion before.
  • 1 0
 @pijong77: okay thanks
  • 2 0
 2019 UCI Downhill World Cup Champion: Sam Hill
  • 2 0
 pfff 27.5 .... 26 front/24 rear!)
  • 1 0
 Hopefully this new rear suspension design won't have similar design flaws as the current Pulse does.
  • 2 0
 Which are... ?
I’m intrigued
  • 2 1
 @jibb: Front and rear triangle colliding during bottom out of rear suspension causing the frame to crack in one spot.
  • 1 0
 @Hetman64: That’s awful! Is that down to worn bearings/bushings, mismatched shock, poor design or bad quality control?
  • 2 1
 @jibb: I have heard several people saying that the shock is too short so it's most likely that. If it was literally couple mm longer there would be no problem. I'm on my second frame with this issue and trying to sort it out through warranty again.
  • 1 0
 @Nukeproofinternational:

Some more names:

2:1 (2 runs, 1 win)
Ride Me
RMLYDLF (Ride me like you did last friday) lol
  • 1 0
 They need to name it the “Nuke Five One” because that thing looks virtually identical to an Intense 951 =o
  • 2 1
 One question? will it make me ride like Sam Hill?
  • 21 0
 It's kind of like being invisible as a kid, it definitely works as long as no one is around to see and you believe hard enough.
  • 2 0
 Flats all day
  • 1 0
 Looks better than a similar Nomad
  • 1 0
 Meh , no idler pulley,small wheels , obviously a slow bike;-)
  • 1 0
 Does Sam's seat look crazy high in the last pic?
  • 2 0
 About in line with the stem and tilted a little back, perfect IMO
  • 1 0
 I love the new Pulse.....jealous of Sam's linkage!
  • 1 0
 I didn't see the field, was he up against stiff competition?
  • 2 2
 That’s a hot bike for a hot rider! Chyeah Sam
  • 2 2
 Looks like an Iron Horse.
  • 2 1
 Oh yeah! Now I see it... No really some one needs to pry that brand away from Dorel and resurrect it with a proper business model this time.
  • 1 1
 I was hoping for two linkage rockers top and bottom with a solid rear triangle when I first looked, that old Sunday DW linkage look.

@energetik Yes they do! Can you imagine the Sunday with updated manufacturing methods and geometry? Or a Yakuza? Iron Horse in their prime had the most lust worthy bikes.
  • 1 1
 @LoganKM1982: You liked the Yakuza? Respectfully disagree
  • 1 0
 guiness
  • 1 0
 It's perfect.
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