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Nukeproof Mega - opinions

131 posts & 57 voices | Started 9 months ago by philjunior | Latest reply from curnsie

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philjunior - Member

Thinking of saving up for a new bike*. I've been a bit tempted by the Nukeproof Mega, just wondering, anyone got any opinions?

Looking for something tough that's a bit less punishing and a bit faster down hill than my current (hardtail) big hills bike, perhaps doing the odd DH on it (which I'd be too slow for on the HT), and I don't want anything that's gonna break or take loads of looking after - want to spend my time riding the thing.

So, anyone got one/broken one/delighted with one/want to suggest an alternative at a similar price?

Oh and what's the warranty on it?

*or just bumping it onto the credit card.

Posted 9 months ago #
muddydwarf - Member

I don't know how much you are looking at spending, but i believe the Mega is £800 on a frame only deal?
You may have parts to swap over but if not it could get a little expensive.

I have a Marin Wolf Ridge 6.8 (2009) and Winstanleys bikes are selling one for £1309.99 down from £2399. Its a great bike, just an idea like.

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/18135/Marin_Wolfridge_68_Bike_2009

Posted 9 months ago #
steezysix - Member

I'm in pretty much the same position as you - got one on preorder and just going to transfer all the parts from my hardtail over when it arrives. I'm only going to need a headset and bb on top of the frame. November can't come round quick enough! Though as the previous post says, if you haven't got all the parts you need to build it up, it might be cheaper to get a deal on a complete bike.

Posted 9 months ago #
cumbrianmonkey - Member

I've had mine built for about 2 weeks now and absolutely love it.Swapped all the bits from my hardtail over, except I obviously needed a new rear wheel so bought a pair. It felt like "my" bike after about 3 rides. It climbs really well sat down but took a little getting used to balance point wise when I had to stand up an punch it up something (I'm running a 1x9 gearing) but I put that down to my hardtail having a shorter rear end. I'm well used to it now though. Descent wise it's really quick, it's easy to find yourself doing familiar descents a lot quicker than you normally do on a hardtail and before you know it corners come up really quick if you have a concentration lapse! It kind of descends nearly as quick as my DH bike but is a lot more lively/twitchy. I haven't been down an actual DH track yet but I'm taking it to Fort Bill in a few weeks so we'll find out how it gets on there. Sorry for rambling a bit but I'm quite pleased with it as you may have guessed. If there is one downside it's a little heavy at 36lbs but that's the build and not the frame. Having said that I have ridden it probably 10 days out of the last 14 and wouldn't say it feels heavy to ride.

Posted 9 months ago #
cplater1 - Member

Another post that is pushing me closer and closer to buying one! In my case all I need is the frame, forks and headset.

Posted 9 months ago #
philjunior - Member

Yeah I'll be keeping my eyes out for a deal on a complete bike, although I'm sure I can get a bit of a deal on parts from my LBS, even if I end up going for just about all new stuff. They may have to forgive me for getting the odd bit online too. I could take some stuff from a current bike, but considering I'd need new forks and wheels anyway I'd end up with loads of bits lying about, and all the bits on the bike it would be replacing are seriously old...

Kind of started thinking about it as a less expensive alternative to an Orange Alpine 160, i.e. simple suspension setup but with the "right" geometry. 36lbs sounds about right for the sort of build I'd probably end up with on it.

Oh, couple more things - I'll be wanting plenty of tyre clearance. How is it for that? Are demos available anywhere?

Posted 9 months ago #
jedi - Member

i must try one i think although it looks the same as my bottlerocket

Posted 9 months ago #
cumbrianmonkey - Member

I'm currently running a 2.5 minion on the back and its got plenty of room. Thinking of dropping it down to a 2.35 as it's pretty much had it on the grip front. Thought it was fine till it started raining the other day-scary...
most of the demos seem to be mediums which was good as that was the size I thought I wanted. This is where I got mine from and they have a demo and one silver med frame left https://twelve50bikes.com/shop/NukeProof-Mega-AM-Frame-inc-Rockshox-Monarch-/120
I was also in here the other day and they have a medium demo bike and both black and silver frames in medium, http://yatxp.mhcqu.servertrust.com/Nukeproof_Mega_Frame_Medium_p/gcnmfs.htm

Posted 9 months ago #
boxxer7 - Member

I've had mine for about a month now and I love mine too, as mentioned above it climbs really well even with big forks and a short stem, it descends even better. It is pritty long for a am bike with a short cockpit (50mm stem on mine) the back end is very stiff so it doesn't flex about. The suspension link seems to work really well.

However......mine hasn't been with out it's problems, first problem was the rear axle had a completely different thread to the drop out! All sorted with a tap and die set (bought a 2nd drop out to double check). Next problem is the shock, my monarch has no damping at all. It's gone back under warranty still waiting for it to come back. And the third problem I seem to have a creek but I'm not 100% sure that it is definitely the frame, although I have spoke to someone with a similar problem.

Would I buy another?

Yes definitely it's an absoloute hoot to ride!

HTH

Dave.

Posted 9 months ago #
Johnny Panic - Member

cumbrianmonkey

I obviously needed a new rear wheel

Was that just because your old one couldn't take the 12mm axle, or for some other reason?

Posted 9 months ago #
cumbrianmonkey - Member

both really, I was running an older Hope bulb hub and so would've needed to change the axle so I could use the 12mm and my rim was pretty goosed tbh. So I did a bit of bloke style justification and came to the conclusion that new wheels were the answer. I'll sell my old 20mm front one on a pro2 hub and sell my old rear hub on its own. Or maybe I'll keep them for when I build my hardtail back up eventually. All dependent on the outcome of my credit card statement. Just got back from the alps 3 weeks ago and it's my daughters birthday in 2 weeks. It could be one of "those" months. I just hope she appreciates a 20mm front wheel wrapped in pretty paper.

Posted 9 months ago #
Blower - Member

jedi - Member

i must try one i think although it looks the same as my bottlerocket

yeah cant see it being any better,mint frames them..

i've have a Mega frame sat here for a couple of weeks now which will be built up in the next week or so,pretty much started from scratch on my build though

Posted 9 months ago #
climbingkev - Member

Get one!

Built mine up for £600 less than an Alpine 160 would've cost, (and it's better spec'd throughout IMHO) it's significantly lighter and (having ridden both) is better, especially on the ups! Ploughs down anything, even in my incapable hands.

Built with Lyrik Coil U-Turns 1.5" (£400 @ CRC)
Hope Pro3 SPAM's with Flows (£330 @ Winstanleys)
SLX Double Chainset
XT Everything else
Nuke Proof Head Set and finishing kit

Under £2.4k all in.

Posted 9 months ago #
Gary_C - Member

Any reports of any broken frames yet, & if so what was the warranty service like ?

Posted 9 months ago #
Skyline-GTR - Member

Fantastic bike. I swapped my Orange 5 AM for one (sold and bought)
It's lighter, pedals better and is stiffer.
When I throw it into a corner it comes out bang on the right line I want.
The Orange can kinda skip a bit if it's rough and loose. I used to like that about the Orange, but it's slower.
When the Mega gets loose, you're on it big time cause it just eats bumps.

Posted 9 months ago #
mildred - Member

Next problem is the shock, my monarch has no damping at all. It's gone back under warranty still waiting for it to come back.

That's normal for a Monarch (rebound, at least).

Posted 9 months ago #
Hob Nob - Member

One of the guys I ride with has one, so I stole a ride on it. I didn't really like it, but I couldn't tell you why. Maybe it's not a bike you can just jump on and ride as you normally would straight away, and maybe the rear shock had something to do with it (gash). It somehow makes an RP23 feel half decent, which is an achievement.

Not impressed with the quality either. He had 2 frames before one of acceptable standard!

The first had some sort of funky crack in the headtube inbetween the TT/DT tube welds, and the second had a headtube that was so over-machined, the headset cups just fell out. Nice. The crack issue would also appear he is not the only one to experience this either...

At that point, I think i'd have asked for my money back, but he has stuck with it. I think he is regretting it now, with those issues, the crap shock and the ballache he had to go through to get an acceptable frame doesn't bode well for potential warranty issues. I can see why it's cheap.

As for it being light, it must be in the build - as the frame is heavier than both the Alpine 160 & the 5.

Posted 9 months ago #
hungry monkey - Member

the only 2 i know of, here in the alps, have both snapped in the same place on the chainstay.
assume they've been replaced under warranty...

Posted 9 months ago #
julioflo - Member

philjunior - sorry to hijack thread, but if you are after a frame only of that type/travel size...I have a Specialized Pitch frame going cheap over on the classifieds....may suit your needs and save you some cash...

Posted 9 months ago #
flow - Member

A lot of new bike syndrome on this thread

Posted 9 months ago #
Marin_Maketh_The_Man - Member

Hungry Monkey,

Both chainstays snapped at the same time by any chance?

Posted 9 months ago #
jam bo - Member

Interesting. It was on my option list for if my five ever dies. Doesn't sound like it's living up to the initial hype...

Posted 9 months ago #
jedi - Member

36lbs is quite heavier than i expected. my bottlerocket is 34lbs and heavy

Posted 9 months ago #
jam bo - Member

I know people with DH race bikes less than 36lbs...

Posted 9 months ago #
jedi - Member

specialised had a problem with sx's breaking at the chainstay a while back too. maybe they beefing them up on newer models?

Posted 9 months ago #
jam bo - Member

Wasn't that down to ham fisted riders landing drops on the brakes. Loaded up the chainstays and snapped them...

Posted 9 months ago #
jedi - Member

Posted 9 months ago #
toys19 - Member

jam bo does that mean ham fisted riders only ride specialised sx's?

Posted 9 months ago #
hungry monkey - Member

Marin_Maketh_The_Man - within 24hrs. same day, i think!

one was only 3 weeks old...

Posted 9 months ago #
jam bo - Member

toys19 - Member
jam bo does that mean ham fisted riders only ride specialised sx's?

I never snapped mine...

Posted 9 months ago #
GW - Member

34lb sounds a pretty light build to me for a 9lb+ frame jedi

Posted 9 months ago #
supertacky - Member

Better lighter frames on the market although price point seems about right.

Its your choice - you get what you pay for.

I rode a friends a couple of weeks ago for a full day at Innerleithen
. The build was around the xt mark with 1x10 gearing. I found it average uphill and pretty good on the downs. Cockpit felt short with a 75mm stem (I'm 6ft and it was a medium.)

Paint and welds look cheap which is why I said above that you get what you pay for.

Posted 9 months ago #
ART - Member

Early days on mine, but am really liking it. Small frame, weighs all in at about 30lbs, but not built up particularly light as everything came off my heckler, and I'm not that bothered about weight in the scheme of things. Welds look sound, nothing wrong with the paint (I've got the silver one), monarch shock is doing what it ought to (I had a PUSHED RP23 on the single pivot for comparison). It's short, but so am I, so it's good to be able to get a bike with the right reach, but that has a longer wheel base. In terms of ride - what Skyline said up there ^^^. It pedals surprisingly well, is stiff, very stable on the downs, and the more I ride it the better it gets.

Posted 9 months ago #
big_scot_nanny - Member

I got one and equipped it with stuff mostly off of here (inc the frame itself) as a mainly gravity rig (I live in CH and have loved big alpine stuff this year). But it is a really good pedaller, remarkably so uphill, so possible to use as an all day bike as well, even with this build. Only thing is the very slack head angle is a bit of bugger to get over obstacles on the way up.

Now, rest of opinions have to be put in context of being complete mince at riding. But it is a very interesting ride. My big full sus 29er is a real sit back and let the bike do the work kind of ride, but this thing is a different animal entirely.

It's a beast!

The harder you work it, the better it gets. There are going to be many fun days with this bike and I am enjoying getting to know it. Hope it doesn't snap. I'm 6'4" and 19st, so it may be tested a bit. Pic is with reverb in down position, as I don't think my fragile ego can stand the slagging if you see it with the post up!

Posted 9 months ago #
stevomcd - Member

I was chatting to someone hanging around with a very broken Mega the other day. Both chainstays had snapped at the weld. A degree in mechanical engineering aside, I'm not any great expert on welding, but it looked really poor - no penetration at all, like the chainstays were only held on by the weld filler.

He also said something about being out with a group which included 5 other Megas and 5 of the 6 had failed in the same way, but I'm going to put a BIG disclaimer on that as he wasn't a Brit and we might not have been understanding each other correctly.

Posted 9 months ago #

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