How does it compare? The Propain Sprindrift and the Nukeproof Giga both fall into that 'pedalable big bike' category.
Both bikes have steep seat tube angles, but when it comes to overall pedalling efficiency the Spindrift takes the point – there's no need for a climb switch on the Spindrift's shock, while it's a nice feature to have on the Giga for those long logging road slogs. Speaking of seat tubes, the Giga's is much shorter than the Spindrift's, which makes it easier to fit a longer travel dropper post.
On the descents, I got along well with the sizing of both bikes, which makes sense considering that both have a 475mm reach and 445mm chainstays, a ratio that I've found to work well for my 5'11” height. Neither company offers size-specific chainstays, though, so the balance may be a little difference for shorter or taller riders. The Giga is available in a wider range of sizes than the Spindrift, S-XXL vs M-XL for the 29” version.
The overall geometry figures are fairly similar, but with different suspension layouts and a 63.5-degree head angle on the Giga vs a 64.5-degree head angle on the Spindrift that do feel different on the trail. The Spindrift's handling is a touch quicker on more rolling terrain, while the Giga really comes alive on steeper trails.
Both bikes deal with rough, chunky tracks extremely well, with enough ramp up to keep from using all that travel too quickly. There's no clear winner in this match-up – riders who place a high priority on an efficient-feeling suspension design will be well suited by the Propain, and those who want something slacker and slightly more at home on really steep trails will likely enjoy the Giga. At the end of the day, neither bike will hold its rider back on rowdy trails.
As far as value goes, it's possible to get a good parts spec at a fairly reasonable price on either model thanks to the companies' consumer direct sales models, but the final price will vary depending on your location. In the US, the Giga is a great deal at $5,500, and the Spindrift is still not readily available. In Europe, the Spindrift is a good value, and the Giga's sticker price increases significantly thanks to Brexit.
"great bike if you can get one."
Need a little update, next drop of Giga’s due late June
Kazimir, don't hurt yourself making an effort on this lol
Side note; my wife said the Suez Canal issue has really put a delay on everything, and she emphasized the word 'everything'
Edit: well, @Nukeproofinternational there you have it! did you pad the shipping times - no hate comms - just a comment about how messy port times are...
Sorry,perhaps I have overseen IT: which size did You Ride?
Except now I read it was all a myth? Oh well...
I probably should’ve tried to get the giga.
how the bike behaved
I have a doubt to use a lirik ultimate or a zeb R I have both forks available
people could help me @Nukeproofinternational
But the bigger question is who represents Clarkson, Hamster and May?
www.pinkbike.com/u/Patsplit/album/2021-Nukeproof-Giga
Just curious because I've got a Giga on order, and I'm a little nervous about routing the rear brake cable
As NP state the higher progression setting is for a coil shock I'm tempted to try it but being trunnion mounted + bearing my old EXT will need a costly conversion before I do it.
It is an amazing bike though and by far the most capable single crown bike I've ridden.
Tyres hook up well but need higher than preferred pressures to keep sidewalls from folding.
At 74kg I have been running 240psi for 25% Sag at the rear which I feel holds the bike up better on big hits & compressions.
Must be a real headache to get that other port on there.
....and the Spindrift sticker price increases significantly thanks to Brexit- if you live in England. Nothing good has come from Brexit.
Monster trucks can fuggin pirouette in place too, they’d have no problem with any switchback ever.
We watch a lot of Monster Jam in this house.
Not sure I’ve ever seen anyone get it right. It’s embarrassing and it needs to stop. Immediately
Count me as impaired - that was my first impression (IE it looks like a Santa Cruz). I doubt any consumer cares, as long as there's availability.
So far the Nukeproof is my leader after a few days of looking, we'll see when I have to pull the trigger. Love the site!!!
If you live in Bellingham (where Mike reviewed the bike), the total sales tax (comprising state, county, and city sales taxes) would add 8.7% to the quoted price.
I like 27.5" wheels but only in the back.
Why no mullet options?
Also 29" rear wheels are too big for bikes with travel over 160mm and reach under 450mm. Mullet is the obvious way to go in such cases.
(In a PB video just last week I heard "29 inch wheels for the win!" from someone after clearing an obstacle. I instantly thought, "Oh, that sucks that they feel they couldn't have done it on a smaller wheel". Then I went for a ride and kept thinking as I worked my way though many fun rocky rooty trail sections, "Why would someone want to just effectively smooth all of this out with a big wheel, or a motor? That's f*cking boring.")
The difference is i don't think 29" front wheels limit maneuvrebility at all, because they don't restrict body movement on the bike. They do require more anticipation for turning in, but that's just "learning to ride" and putting effort in like you said.
Meanwhile 29" rear wheels immensely restrict body movement on the bike, in particular for riders under 1.80m . Some people don't even realize this because they just grown accustomed to letting the bike do all the work and don't move much(like @pablo-b ), but if they went to a bmx track they would instantly see how much 29" wheels restrict movement, and when you look at the pros you see them hitting their ass all the f*cking time because they're obvioulsy moving their weight around and working the bike to it's maximum potential in order to go fast.
That's not the effort I meant. One of the major reasonings for big wheels is that they roll over things easier. But what if I don't want to just roll over everything? What if I want to have to look at the trail, figure things out, work at it? With huge wheels I don't have to do that, and in fact maybe can't because the big wheel won't fit or carries enough momentum to just blow through unless I brake excessively hard (and then maybe skid and piss off Christina).
A bunch of people like to talk about underbiking to make things sketchier and "boring"* trails more interesting, but it's always in reference to suspension travel. How about being overbiked just by wheel-size? If 29ers are so awesome at going over shit and adding forgiveness via extra traction and momentum, why doesn't anyone spout off about how cool it is to underbike at the wheels in the name of making it more sketchy/interesting? Levy says he puts shitty tires on 29er to make it "sketchy", and some how that's "cooler" than just riding "allegedly-way-sketchier-than-29ers" 26 or 27.5 wheels.
("If you're bored, then you must be boring too" -Piebald, Just a Simple Plan)
I belive the idea of cutting on suspension instead of wheel size comes from the fact that big wheels mute the chatter of the trail while keeping the bike very responsive to big body movements.
Meanwhile using suspension to deal with the chatter many times results in a sluggish bike.
Dialing in low speed damping is how you handle keeping big body movements responsive, not removing suspension. With less suspension, especially with the goal of making it more sketchy (while also muting the trail with the big wheels? Odd combo), then at some point when you accidentally smack it into something big and the whole bike's balance is upset, you're going to get very big body movements right down to the ground.
Accelerating those big wheels doesn't result in a more sluggish bike? Its ok, you can say you don't care about that, or for you it's worth the tradeoff, but you have to admit that for every statement that it helps rollover\muting, there exists the counter statement that there is also more to accelerate. That's just physics.
I don't think I've ever seen a UK/Aus/NZ reviewer mention it, its been a gripe of mine for a while. Even external bikes it can end up looking a mess if its not catered for.
I've been put off Santa Cruz for this reason. I beleive spesh give you holes for both.
"and moderately long chainstays" - pretty damn long for the Small size
Yeah nah - sticky and grippy are not quite the same thing and I would rate Gum-X over MaxxGrip for overall grip, wear and rolling resistance any day of the week.
Important point in future comparison of those bikes: availability IRL.
I've got a 180mm one up on my '21 slash, and that's all the post it can fit in the M/L frame size due to the seat tube angle and the trek seat tube kink/pivot placement. I've got some post showing above the seat tube collar, but it's not enough for my leg length that I could go to a 210mm one up dropper and shim it down to 190mm travel with the appropriate insertion and correct length from BB to saddle.
It's a balance. I think you're right though, if the rest of the frame angles are good, cap it at 450mm and call it a day.
"Giga Factory." coincidence, or intentional power play on the part of Nukeproof?
Long live the long travel 29er!!!!
But I have to ask: why is a carbon frame viewed as necessary?
I knew there were supply chain issues, but I didn't know we were rationing parts.
@bishopsmike where you at !?
btw someone mentioned in an other article sometime last week of changing the Shimano mineral oil to Putoline HRC 2.5 w that fixes that bite point
Interesting !
C'mon RM (and Pivot): you make some of THE best riding bikes on the planet, bar none. Hire a graphic design team as amazing as your engineering teams!)
So you're saying it doesn't but it does
Con: Derailleur chain system