After a successful season of racing and testing underneath Sam Hill, Nukeproof's new Mega 275 Carbon is now available for the masses. The bike was originally conceived four years ago, but Nukeproof took their time during the development process, experimenting with different layups in order to achieve the blend of stiffness and light weight that's expected from a carbon frame aimed at taking on the Enduro World Series. The result is a frame that's 320 grams lighter than the aluminum version, a very respectable weight savings, especially considering that that swingarm is still aluminum.
Nukeproof Mega 275 RS Details• Intended use: all-mountain / enduro
• Carbon front triangle
• Wheelsize: 27.5"
• 65° head angle
• 165mm travel, 170mm fork
• Threaded bottom bracket
• Price: RS: $5200 USD, Factory: $4,800, frame only: $2,450
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
•
www.nukeproof.com The Mega 275 Carbon has 165mm of rear travel that's delivered via a Horst Link suspension design, and it now uses metric shock spacing, with wider mounting hardware at the front of the shock compared to the previous alloy version in order to add stiffness and increase its resistance to side loading. The frame is also 1x specific – ditching the front derailleur allowed Nukeproof to stiffen up the bottom bracket area by increasing the space between the main pivot bearings.
The Mega is designed to work well with either an air or coil shock, although all of the stock models come with an air shock. In addition to the switch to Boost spacing, the bike's geometry has been tweaked slightly, with longer head tubes and an increased reach on the large and extra-large sizes.
Fans of aluminum don't need to worry - there are still two aluminum Mega 275 models in the lineup, with the same geometry, Boost spacing, and metric shock as the new carbon version.
GeometryFirst RideI was able to get in one long lap aboard the Mega 275 Carbon, beginning on Whistler's Top of the World trail and continuing the descent on the rooty, dusty, and always entertaining trails located just outside of the Whistler Bike Park. What struck me most about the bike was how energetic it felt, especially for a 160mm enduro bike. There's a snappiness to its handling that makes it easy to pump through rollers and double up sections of trail when necessary, with plenty of cushion for plowing through the rough stuff. There wasn't much sustained climbing on that initial ride, but on short, punchy ascents the Mega responded well, with crisp acelleration even during hard, out of the saddle efforts.
It's easy to see how the Mega 275 Carbon would do well as a race bike, even if your last name isn't Hill – it manages to feel burly and lively, a combination of traits that should help it shine on a wide variety of terrain. Of course, I would have liked to see room to mount a water bottle inside the front triangle, but at first glance there's not much else to gripe about – the bike is well appointed, with a 170mm RockShox Lyrik RCT3, SRAM Code brakes, and a 12-speed Eagle drivetrain. We'll work on getting one in for a long term review in order to see how it handles a Pacific Northwest fall / winter.
There's no carbon version of the Mega 290 – at least not yet – but the 150mm big wheeler also received slightly updated geometry, along with a 160mm fork up front, Boost spacing, and a metric shock for 2018. There are three complete models, the Mega 290 Comp ($2750 USD), the Pro ($3800), and the top-of-the line Factory model for $4,300.
Geometry
If carbon frames are an environmental issue, not "feel good about yourself for not owning/ producing one" then I vote for hyper massive mass suicide or at least sterilization.
Hey, in last few months, how many times have you heard someone whining about prices of bikes? Have you maybe bought a bike part with best price to performance ratio? What hubs do you run? CK, Hope or Shimano, Sram? Are your rims made by a company subject to strict environmental regulations? That California and their environmental regulations! Drives entrepreneurs to Texas!
want to fix the world? Fix your own life first.
Also if someone can find what to do with the batteries from my earth saving hybrid that be great too.
Thanks
But in saying that I just hopped aboard my first ever Carbon frame and well.... I f*cking get it now, it's different for all the right reasons. In saying that if you aren't in the financial position to own a carbon frame Alloy is fine and I am glad to see companies still offer both.
No one should feel pressured to buy and own a carbon frame bike... But to say it's not worth it I will now say isn't true.
bicycletimesmag.com/trek-recycles-70000-lbs-carbon-fiber-first-year
I personally would love to see technology get to a point where recycled carbon is being used to make components like stems and what not... I know this probabaly won't happen but hey I can dream.
At the end of the article they do say "Have an old carbon bike or parts? Don't throw them away. Send us a note at carbonrecycling@trekbikes.com to learn more about how you can give your bike a second life."
www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/story/second_life
Completely different. I know garbage over here goes to a landfill or recycling center. Sure, it may never degrade, but at least it's cemented in the land, not floating in the ocean for fish and birds to choke on like the waste from your carbon bike.
Have you changed any parts to keep the weight down as you are running bigger tires and I assume much heavier tires than what comes stock on the bike.
Can I ask which bikes you rode the alloy and then the carbon?
The only value I see in that article from Pole is: hey, care for the planet, some folks just toss sht into the ocean. I can only hope that people connect the dots and don't buy the cheapest sht they can on each occasion. Because cheap price means terrible crap, always.
And different feel - people love to believe in such things, like magical steel, titanium or carbon. I am sure you can tell the difference, but it has a marginal influence on your ride. Most of the time this is just a way to justify purchase of a pricey toy. Is it bad? Not really, most of us work/steal really hard and just need to relax, make yourself an award. But this does not change the fact that this is a pricey toy (and of course this is not really constrained to carbon).
"...want to fix the world? Fix your own life first..."
totale agree with what you said but not using a carbon bike could be a start. I doubt that anyone, except professionals, can justify using a carbon bike, rims, bar . . . but it´s with bikes like with life in general. We buy what we want and not what we really need. And thats the real reason of "ocean fill" the greed for the new, shiny stuff....
Nothing is easy, as simple as that. I am 100% sure my carbon frame made in Poland has done less damage to the environment than a cheap BMX frame on CRC.
The difference in reach between Medium and Large is now quite a big jump from 435 to 470 which may put a lof of people inbetween sizes (I ride a 450 reach and couldnt go up to 470 so would need to drop down to 435) - It would have been good to see medium go up +10mm too.
Aside from that, they look great, spec is good and pricing seems very competitive too - Look like they are onto a winner, Sams results wont do any harm either!
Maybe the moulds got signed off earlier for the Medium frame for Sam to test and it was too expensive to change at this late a date so they just updated the larger sizes?
Pinarello make a road frame with 10 or 15mm of rear travel - and no pivot all in the carbon flex!
i am considering the 2018. but i really need a water bottle , and i am used to ride with a 1 liter one inside my large patrol
Surely though, 100 grams dropped from the 'un-sprung' side of the coin would result in a better ride? A lighter front triangle = a negative effect to the un-sprung/ sprung ratio.
Make the front triangle from aluminium and build the rear from carbon fibre = better un-sprung/ sprung ratio!
@bd4e1
Really interesting this. I am 194cm myself.
Would you even consider the XL to be rideable?
I have a Large Mega 2012 and sure, it is not that roomy with its 435mm reach, but still not cramped. But a reach on 515 is just beyond my imagination.
I think its a matter of trying things to see how you get on - they definately have guys your height in mind when they designed the XL, there are not many taller guys out there!
For instance, Mega 290 XL has a 515mm reach and a 678mm ETT, while, as the best example of a f*****up geometry, SC Hightower LT XXL has a 498mm reach and a 692mm ETT. Mind you, that is at a stack height! The real, optimal pedaling position for tall riders is at a much greater saddle height and the thus the real distance between the saddle and bars is greater still.
You are right though, peanuts money.
That looks terrible - A picture of the smaller size on the same thread looks pretty decent, in the larger size with a long seatpost the seated position is awful, it must feel like you are pushing forwards on the pedals when seated climbing.
Anyway, can always size down if the frame has a suitably long seat tube.
I went size down too for my current bike (Reign), but for my next bike I would probably have to go two sizes down and for my height I'll have to use superlong seatpost and that's not very visually appealing.
I am sure if cost was no object they would have stuck an extra size in and included an XXL but these things will sell out before they are even physically in the warehouse - they wont need to worry about what sells best as the whole lot will be gone long before the end of 2018.
So if the product matrix went something like this:
S: 410mm (2017 model: 410mm; delta=0), Al only;
M: 435mm (2017 model: 435mm; delta=0), Al only;
MRace: 450mm, CF only;
L: 470mm (2017 model: 460mm; delta=10mm), Al only;
LRace: 490mm, CF only;
XL: 515mm (2017 model: 480mm, delta=35mm), Al only;
@Nukeproofinternational would have created 6 frame sizes (4 in aluminium, 2 in carbon fibre) per wheel size, with these tweener "Medium/Large Race" frames being spot on both geometry and material-wise. It simply makes sense having a race spec. bike with a bit longer and lighter frame.
I'm sure their biggest marketing machine would not give a single f*** about that 1.5 additional centimeter.
Anyways, too late for that now. Maybe Orbea could pull the similar thing off when they make aluminium Rallons i.e. insert two sizes in between S/M and L, L and XL, with an additional size above XL?
We know it will go downhill well but what about uphill for those of us who do all day rides that involve climbing to the top!
Why would you pay the extra for the RS over the Factory?
I call BS on this statement. They were still trying to figure out which "standard" they will honor, in order to have a bike which wouldn't be outdated 30 seconds after its introduction to the press.
You just need to get a new shock tune (unless you are a really really big guy or so obese you are outside of what the shock is capable of handling in which case it sounds like a coil with huge spring rate for you) on a modern bike and you will probably be OK - early 2000's was a long time ago....
Could it be you were making a point based on a perfectly legitimate personal opinion? Or are you a pinkbike engineer and have no right to comment too? Maybe you are a 'real' engineer?
mrblackmorescorner.blogspot.com.es/2017/11/devinci-spartan-2018-vs-lapierre-spicy.html
No super long reach for Sam - A few pro riders I know of wont do the whole long reach thing because they insist on a 50mm stem to keep weight on the front wheel, not sure if thats the same with Sam but I am sure he knows what he likes by now.
thanks for info
Great job on the new bikes, I am eyeing up the fox equipped 275 for 2018.
That price is unbelievable! I got a Tracer 2 from Fanatic bikes in 2012 that had an X9 build zero carbon and no dropper post for that same price. That wobbles my mind.
Mega 275 RS Carbon
4.200 €
Mega 275 Factory Carbon
3.850 €
Mega 275 Pro
3.100 €
Mega 275 Comp
2.200 €
Mega 290 Factory
3.500€
Mega 290 Pro
3.100€
Mega 290 Comp
2.200€
Framesets: 2100€ Carbon / 1500€ Alloy
www.chainreactioncycles.com/hr/en/nukeproof-mega-275-pro-bike-2018/rp-prod159399
www.chainreactioncycles.com/hr/en/s?q=nukeproof%2b2018&cat=direct
Mega 275 RS Carbon £4,599.99
Mega 275 Factory Carbon £4,199.99
Mega 275 Pro Alloy £3,349.99
Mega 275 Comp £2,399.99
Mega 290 Factory Alloy £3,799.99
Mega 290 Pro Alloy £3,349.99
Mega 290 Comp £2,399.99
Read more at www.mbr.co.uk/news/2018-nukeproof-mega-365540#tt7vY3b5kIxy1I6g.99
just saying crc got em too