Spotted: Nukeproof's New Enduro Bike Finally Has Room for a Water Bottle - EWS Zermatt 2020

Aug 27, 2020 at 11:40
by Daniel Sapp  
Nukeproof

Even at a race with closed off pits and limited access for fans there will always be eyes keen to discover anything new, like Elliott Heap's race bike, spotted hanging out in the Nukeproof pits.

Nukeproof
Nukeproof

The rear of the bike bears a strong resemblance to the current Mega, but the front triangle is completely redesigned. The shock position has been moved higher up in the frame and sports a new link. Frame tubing shapes are straighter, with the seatpost and top-tube junction being smoothly joined together. The top tube has a mount on the underside to hold a tube or tools, and best of all, there's room for a water bottle inside the front triangle. Yes, there are surely other important design notes about the kinematics, travel amount, etc... but we'll need to wait a little longer for those details.

We've reached out to Nukeproof for more information and will have our eyes out on the track this weekend to see if the bike makes an appearance under Elliott Heap.

Nukeproof
Nukeproof
Sam Hill's Mega 290 from last year(left) and Heap's new bike (right).


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173 Comments
  • 336 1
 Bloody sneaky bugger taking a pic of my vessel!!
  • 13 1
 Mullet @elliott611 ?? Smile
  • 23 2
 Unable to find picture of your dong in the article. Way to lead us on!
  • 19 0
 Yeah mate she’s a mullet ????????
  • 4 0
 @elliott611:
How do I get one. Take my money now! I want one before they are sold out like everything else is????
  • 5 0
 Might of seen one of these rare animals lurking in the Perth hills on the weekend
  • 1 0
 @elliott611: is it really a mullet and will the production version be a mullet too?! Please tell me all the secrets about this bike.
  • 2 0
 What is it mate, a Mega, a Reactor, a "yet to be named"? Smile
  • 1 1
 @mybaben: mega
  • 3 0
 @willbe19: just be as fast as sam hill or Elliott Heap and they even pay you to ride it.
  • 1 1
 @vandenr2: you sure it's the mega dude...
I've heard of new frame being released but dunno if I should be the one to announce it ...??
  • 1 2
 @vandenr2: No, my guess is not. They just completely rebuilt the Mega 290 for 2020. I can't see them throwing all the molds and tooling away after just one year. that's a lot of money. I'm guessing a new model...
  • 1 0
 @mybaben: could be a mullet specific bike like the specialized status. Same idea.
  • 1 0
 @OliOliOli: I’m from the same town as the man who’s testing it. It’s the new Mega. Can’t wait to see what specs they build them with
  • 1 0
 @mybaben: I know what you mean.... but it’s the new mega.
  • 2 0
 @vandenr2: Wow, that's interesting! Cheers.
  • 132 1
 The sight of a bike hanging from the saddle of a lowered Reverb is traumatizing.
  • 4 6
 Except its an AXS reverb so it has the vent valve to quickly fix the squish
  • 1 1
 really scary
  • 8 2
 @wilbersk: lol quickly...you have to take off the saddle. although im sure this one has less issues
  • 8 2
 Im sure its fully lowered but sagged Big Grin
  • 5 0
 @wilbersk: So does the new C1 Reverb
  • 7 0
 @housem8d: You don't have to remove the saddle on axs. Just pull the post out, hit the axs button to go into service mode and do the vent valve and in seconds it is done!
  • 14 2
 @MrDiamondDave: So they copied bike yoke and still made it less usable?
  • 1 0
 @MrDiamondDave: what about the c1 peasant version?
  • 47 6
 I like it a lot i know its minor, but i cant stand the triangle between the seat tube and top tube on a lot of modern bikes
  • 32 0
 But they make great portage handles.
  • 4 1
 Agreed--the only thing I never liked about the v3 Commencals!
  • 9 4
 My Guerilla Gravity just has a dimple there instead and I really like it.
  • 51 0
 @mixmastamikal: I also love the little dimples above the rear end
  • 1 1
 Agreed. Always thought it looked like an afterthought.
  • 2 1
 @neimbc: in fairness, i've seen a few people store a tube there too.. so i guess thats useful.
but i still prefer frames without it
  • 2 4
 And they only exist to make seat tubes longer.... ugly and counter productive
  • 12 0
 Maybe you can't stand it, but it does enough standing on its own against forces. That branching is the basic solution to lower the top tube. Diverging from it means more weight for the same function, for the sake of aesthetics. Or probably in this case, just a higher top tube (which also explains the room for the water bottle).
  • 2 3
 I never noticed, but I agree wholeheartedly-aesthetics are important, and intuitively it looks like poor function, which never looks appealing.
  • 2 0
 @DavidGuerra: I can't argue with that!
  • 14 0
 To me, the way downtubes extend straight forward from the BB before curving up toward the head tube (Yeti's do this too) vs. the straight downtube on the previous model is unfortunate. Looks like they've got a sagging gut.
  • 1 0
 ????@DavidGuerra:
  • 4 0
 @Bobadeebob: nah, they exist to make stand over lower.
  • 4 1
 @mattbrown9: I’m with you buddy. Can’t stand 1’ of flat in front of the BB and/or pregnant downtubes.
  • 7 6
 The retardation here is unbelievable.

"I don't care how well it works, I want it to look pretty."

But now it has room for a water bottle...

"I don't want a water bottle anymore, I WAN IT TO WOOK PWITTY!"
  • 1 0
 @excavator666: Found the CRC exex
  • 2 0
 *exec, goddamit
  • 2 0
 We can't keep trying to disguise our feelings like this anymore @Ozziefish Xx
  • 25 0
 Hey guys can anyone confirm that those are indeed Michelin tires? Thanks.
  • 2 0
 You're gonna have to do some real digging to find the answer to that one. We may never know!
  • 7 1
 Hard to tell. I sure wish they would put even BIGGER writing on the side wth MORE yellow.
  • 1 0
 No, if you look close at the front wheel you can it’s a Michel Ad
  • 23 9
 Looks very much like the nukeproof designers were big fans of the Yeti SB150 ????
  • 19 8
 I don’t believe this. Putting a water bottle in the front triangle of a bike cannot be done without making the suspension worthless. Just ask Nicolai.
  • 46 2
 BuT iTs ThE bOtTlE mAnUfAcTuReRs JoB tO pUt WaTeR oN yOuR bIkE
  • 7 2
 @wibblywobbly : did Nicolai really claim this?
  • 8 0
 @FloImSchnee: yes
  • 16 0
 @brianpark: nicolai are right. It makes far more sense easier to mould a polypropylene bottle to fit a frame, than to engineer a whole frame (which has far more variables to optimise for- suspension loads, geometry, kinematics etc) around a plastic bottle
  • 5 0
 Canyon gets it www.canyon.com/en-gb/gear/accessories/bottle-cages-and-bottles/bottle-cages/canyon-eject-hydration-system/166965.html
  • 3 0
 @FloImSchnee: Chris Porter said it actually...
  • 4 0
 From their perspective, making bikes out of straight aluminium tubes and using their suspension design, its probably true.
Not a fan of the "udder" moulded into this new nukeproof frame to accept the bottle, looks ugly to my eyes.
  • 5 3
 Funny that there are bikes with bottles out there that ride better than Nicolai. They might want to rethink their engineering team.
  • 4 0
 @IluvRIDING: hm, go ahead, which bikes?
  • 5 0
 If their engineering doctrine would suffer a significant impact by having to accommodate a water bottle inside the front triangle (I'm no implying there would be such an impact or not, being devil's advocate here) then I'd say there's a case for not having the mounts.
My issue with them is:
- the tone they put out the message about this topic, either directly or through their spokespersons
- not even willing to put mounts under the down tube. It's (way) less than ideal, but at least recognises that some potential costumers don't like either water bladders or to jury rigging bottle cage mounts on a 3K frame
  • 18 6
 Santaproof ?
  • 3 4
 my thoughts exactly
  • 5 4
 looks very similar to my nomad 3
  • 10 0
 2021- The year every bike with curvy tubes went arrow straight. I'm all for it
  • 2 0
 I don't know, I like a little curve in my tubes, that being said... I like this new Mega better than the old one.
  • 10 0
 I love the straight tubes
  • 10 0
 Yellow bikes are fastest. Fact.
  • 9 0
 Mega and Reactor love child
  • 2 2
 I'm leaning toward a Mega and Dissent love child.....if the info I heard is true ????
  • 2 2
 @mustang-sally: Yes this is true, there will be a mega / dissent love child but it wont be a mega.
  • 6 0
 I don't know why anyone cares so much about bottle holders.. I just fill the frame with water and insert a long straw through the internal cable routing holes
  • 7 0
 For sale 2020 mega with no bottle n small wheels $17.00
  • 7 2
 better make it a bottle of hand sanitiser then. gotta keep those hands clean.
  • 1 0
 Wonder if the new triangle is a response to the new 38/ZEB forks having different axle-crown measurements.Curious how much the standover height has suffered though.

Also, I REALLY hope they fix the akward sizing gap in their lineup (currently the large has 15mm more reach than the medium, and 45mm less than the XL).

And glad to see the room for a bottle. Its a minor thing, but would rather have it than not.
  • 5 0
 biggest century upgrade: bottle on frame
  • 6 1
 Looks like a Hightower LT
  • 3 0
 In the EWS-GMBN video that just came out you can get a good look of the bike with Pagey onboard. It looks long...Megalong. It Towers over the Zermatt
  • 1 0
 Can confirm are long, but these guys don't use this new school sizing.. And.. These trails are for shortish bikes.. Shitloads of skinny single-track switchbacks with rocks.. Como esa izquierda maldita de pondas, 20x. Wink saludos!
  • 1 0
 Son of a... I pushed "new bike day" back for like 2 years waiting to see if mullets were gonna take off. Gave in and bought a Mega 290rs two months ago. Stoked on the bike, but damn, should have held out a little longer.
  • 11 1
 It still doesn't look like mullet bikes are going take off... There are some options out there, but outside of the DH world I'd be willing to bet that matched wheels remain the norm.
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer: The Scott Ransom is a good mullet alternative. It’s got a decent sized flip chip, an the BB in 29 mode is normally quite high riding. I liked my Sentinel v1 in mullet mode, an then upgraded to the Ransom. Overall, a nice handling bike in mullet form.
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer: IMO, mullets don't make much sense outside of very long travel bikes or modifying old bikes. Kona could get the chainstays of the last generation Process 153 29er down to 425mm, so most bikes might as well have 29s on both ends, or be full 27.5.

That said, I haven't ridden a mullet before, so maybe the feel is difficult to replicate.
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer: Those who prefer a 27.5 over a 29er often say they want a more playful bike, I wonder if a mullet is more on the playful side or more on the wagon side of things.
A playful mullet could help mullet take off, those looking for efficiency over playfulness would rather have a full 29er.
  • 1 2
 @Will-narayan: I never get this “playful” thing with respect to wheel sizes. My last 2 trial bikes were a 27.5 Bronson and 29 Process 111... the Process was waaaaay more playful.
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer: Mullet bikes will take off. We have not seen much publicized innovation this year because of lack of racing. Lots of manufactures are on this - we will see how far it goes. After riding for a full year now I have noticed lots of benefits to mullet bikes.
  • 1 0
 I think the only reason mullets haven't fully taken off yet is because the UCI only recently allowed professional racers to have mixed wheel sizes. I think you'll see in the coming years more experimentation with it and more bikes engineering and technology purpose built for two wheel sizes as opposed to just slapping on a larger or smaller wheel on a frame not designed for it. That said, I imagine that like most everything it will be a personal preference thing. There are characteristics that various wheel sizes' physics will dictate, and I just think it may become a personal preference thing to run a mullet or matched wheels. Until those 32 inch wheels come out that is.
  • 3 1
 Agreed. Looks a lot better than the current Mega. Finally a straight top tube! Actually the looks remind me more of their current trail bike.
  • 3 0
 Do you think they added the water bottle mount to enable Sam Hill to cool down his competitors as they try to catch-up?
  • 13 0
 probably to put himself out when he catches on fire from too much badass speed
  • 4 0
 The mega has always had space for a bottle!!
  • 3 2
 It’s definitely leaning towards the SB150 with the frame shape at the BB and also the shock position in the frame. We may even get a Cascade link for it tomorrow?
  • 2 0
 Did they increase standover just to have enough space to add a water bottle?
  • 3 0
 getting schwifty.
  • 3 2
 Well they’ve been raising prices steadily, so I guess it’s fitting they made it look like an switch infinity-less Yeti
  • 2 0
 Looks nice. Now just scale the logo WAAAY the F back.
  • 2 0
 Can't they just drink from the cow ponds?
  • 1 0
 Looks like the V3 Nomad. I just bought a fucking fezzari now i want this depending on the geometry
  • 1 0
 so now we have santa cruz, specialized, transition and now nukeproof in the "straight tubes look sexy" club
  • 1 0
 For those interested it's already possible to fit a 750ml bottle in a Mega size L - aluminium!
  • 1 0
 @elliott611 That needs to be in a shop in Saddleworth for local demo loops Wink Wink sick as f%$£
  • 1 0
 I wonder what the Scout will look like.
  • 1 0
 Finnaly bottle cage, now i can die peacefully.
  • 1 0
 Is this a 29er? Didn't they just update the 29er frame last year?
  • 1 0
 Elliot has been on a mullet, but I'd say this is likely to be across the range (27,29 and mixed) to address complaints of no bottle mount.
  • 1 0
 @melonhead1145:

Hmm, are other manufacturers creating one frame for all 3 wheel combos? I thought that didn't work so well with geo changes. The most I have heard is being able to change between both 27 and 29 f/r like on the Scott ransom.
  • 3 0
 I was on a Mega 290 last year and a Capra 29 with a 275 rear wheel this year. I was discussing with my mate the other day about which I liked better, and I mentioned that I think next year they will release a Mega Mullet as stock. A Mega Mullet would be my ideal bike.

Carbon front, alloy rear. Bottle cage mount. A slightly shorter back end, 435-440mm, and a flip chip to enable a 29 or 275 rear wheel with corrected geometry. That would be the one bike to rule them all.

@nukeproofinternational please do this!
  • 2 0
 @jaame: just curious how tall are you?
  • 2 0
 @jaame:

Lets say flip chips for the chainstay length, while we're wishing. I'd be fine with 435-450mm or so. As a tallerish rider (6'1"), I'm not really interested in short fixed length chainstays for this sort of bike.

Also, hoping for an AL version of the new bike, or a price in carbon that I could possibly even afford Smile .
  • 2 6
flag eugenux (Aug 27, 2020 at 13:09) (Below Threshold)
 2 months ago(when they've launched the sepecial edition reactor - the black one with silver decals -), right here in the comments section, @nukeproofinternational repeatedly mentioned that, and I quote, "the mega have just been updated and we don't have in plan changing it"; well, 2 months later...; I'll be looking for the appologise in my message box. Thx.
  • 1 0
 @ashmtb85: I am 6’/183 tall. I had a large mega 290 and the sizing in the front triangle was spot on. Back end at 450 I thought was a little too long. I would prefer a bit shorter like the large Capra at 435.

Flip chips in the dropouts that also corrected geometry would be a great option. It should be easy enough to do, not sure how it would work with the brake mount though. They would probably have to use an IS mount with two sets of holes like the old Wilson 26” had.
  • 1 0
 @eugenux: haha I actually recall something like that being said
  • 1 0
 @jaame: Did the mullet setup on the Capra work well? Do you recommend it? I was just thinking about it the other day, wondering if using the higher BB position would be enough for it not to be too low with a 27.5 rear wheel.
  • 1 0
 @eugenux: Your 'quote' isn't actually a quote, what was said was "The Mega 290 was updated last year and 275 the year before. Seems to do ok winning the EWS in the hands of Mr Hill and in current Media tests." Nowhere did they say (at all, never mind repeatedly) they don't have plans in changing it.

How many bike brands do you know tell everyone there will be changes to a current bike 5-6 months before it might be available to the general public? What would happen to sales of the current model if they did that?
  • 3 0
 @DavidGuerra: I believe the geometry is the same in 29/29/low as it is in 29/27/high.
I absolutely recommend at least trying it.
Better for jumps, better for corners and general tomfoolery.
Definitely worse than 29/29 for trail rides and uphills. You couldn’t ask for a more fun bike on jump trails and steep shit than the mullet though. If you already have a Capra 29 just borrow a wheel off someone and give it a try!
  • 2 0
 @jaame: Cool, I might try that, yes.
  • 1 0
 @jaame: the front triangle was an alloy on the first pic, a carbon on the second one.
  • 2 0
 @eugenux: who says this is a new mega? The article never states that it's a mega, just that it has resembling features to a mega which isn't surprising given all of the bikes using a similar architecture....

Looks like a reactorLT.... A re-mega? A Megactor? Hmm....
  • 2 0
 @themop:

How about a...

Fusion?

Could be a mullet bike as well.
  • 1 0
 @ocnlogan:

Whatever it is, if it is at least as good as my reactor it will be a blast. And, as I have reached the (my)limits on black trails with the reactor and after a sprained ankle, I think it is time to get back to a bigger bike for DH/enduro type trails. The 130mm of the reactor + my obviously lack of skill are not a good match when venturing too far out into the big enduro/dh trails. Something bigger is needed.
  • 3 0
 @themop: I've heard that there's a new model being released in 2021 which is gunna sit between the Mega and Dissent, a Mega and Dissent love child perhaps! But I don't know any more than that. Whatever it is, it looks sick! Maybe I should have waited before buying a 2020 Mega frame, haha!
  • 1 0
 @jaame: I concur with you post entirely. Capra 29 as a mullet is a great park bike. BB height in mullet/ high is +/- 1mm from 29/29 low. 29/29 high is better for trail riding though.
  • 7 0
 @eugenux: Typically, when you begin with "and I quote" you continue with words the other party actually said.
  • 2 0
 @mustang-sally: I bought my mega second hand and sold it six months later for almost the same money. They hold their value really well over here, I had about ten people all wanting to look at it on the same weekend. Three made appointments and the first guy who saw it, bought it. I think if you decide to change, you’ll do ok selling the Mega.
  • 1 0
 @jaame: @mustang-sally plus, the mega won't change for 2021 so that's gonna help the depreciation from the sellers perspective....
  • 1 0
 @jaame: Agreed, the Mega's do hold their value and they are super popular on our little island. I started looking at a new Mega to replace my old 2012 Mega AM back in October, but working away, cash, and then covid meant the secondhand market for 2019 Mega's disappeared as they all got snapped up by fat blokes who wanted to learn to ride again, haha! I had to settle for a Mega 275 AL frame, which took ages to find with quite a few local dealers basically seeming uninterested to help. In the end I picked a frame up from Bike Active north of London to custom spec. It's still not built yet as waiting for parts to become available again. At this rate, the new bikes will be released before its built, haha! My old bike sold in less than 24 hours!
  • 1 0
 @eugenux: keep checking your box all you want
  • 1 1
 What about @jessemelamed ‘s ride? That thing looks awesome. And it’s not a slayer, is it?
  • 1 0
 It's a no so super-secret new iteration of the instinct.
  • 2 0
 The new Altitude 29. 170f/160r
  • 1 0
 @SimbaandHiggins: it’s a sweet looking bike. Jesse and Rocky has a nice shot posted on their Instagram accounts. I wanted to look at it again, and they had taken it down...
I’m also curious about updates on Trek’s Slash and Remedy since Trek’s pricing has gotten fairly decent...
  • 7 0
 sooooon!
  • 3 2
 Looks like my 2017 Nomad!
  • 2 0
 Gwon El!
  • 2 0
 YT be like: IMPOSSIBLE
  • 1 0
 Hopefully modern seattube angle @77+
  • 2 1
 Looks Like a 2016 Santa Cruz Nomad
  • 1 0
 Nukeproof Nice bike the worst website
  • 1 0
 Ah mango yellow reminds me of my old stumpy ht back in the day.
  • 1 1
 Logs into chain reaction. Gets exited, then the dreaded " not in stock" . for every gaddam thing they sell...
  • 1 0
 Old one : new one = sabre : zweihander.
  • 1 0
 Seems so strange that did not make room for a water bottle before now?
  • 1 0
 Here is a better shot of it

www.pinkbike.com/photo/19298994
  • 1 1
 Used to have one of these in 2013
  • 1 0
 Looks like a yeti sb150
  • 1 0
 Carbon, Huge.
  • 2 2
 Forget the bottle, looks like it’ll hold a battery
  • 1 1
 Haha, you are not wrong, it looks like an ebike frame but has the motor taken out
  • 1 0
 Looks mega
  • 1 2
 What’s the point if there is a room for a bottle cage but not for a bottle???
  • 2 1
 Looks like a sb150
  • 2 0
 Mega 150 then?

The line-up will look: scout, reactor ST(125-130), reactor(130-140/150), new bike(150-160/170?), mega(160-170/180)
Or
scout, reactor ST, reactor(130-140/150), mega(160-170/180), new bike(170-180/190?)

Both options seem strange from a range point of view; IMO, 80% chances are that this new bike is the Mega replacement(or update).
  • 1 0
 so much fucking want
  • 1 0
 Looks nice!
  • 1 0
 Buying it.
  • 1 2
 Looks like a Yeti but without the expensive and breakage prone switch infinity. Does it come in turquise?
  • 1 2
 It will be called NukeProof Giga 290RS
  • 4 5
 Nukeproof Hightower.
  • 1 0
 I get the downvotes but I also get your point.
It does have the santa Cruz/Cannondale/specialized flavor.

But that said it looks pretty awesome. Call me shallow but while I was sometimes tempted by the mega from a functional point of view, I could never get past the looks. This new whatever it is looks nice.
  • 2 4
 *Full test review dropping tomorrow
  • 1 0
 Meta Am29 or Mega Mullet!
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