We’re just off the phone with Nuke Proof’s top design whizz, who gave us the low down on this innovative new 4X bike that’ll be piloted by Lukas Mechura on the World Cup circuit. Lukas rode for Team Chain Reaction Cycles last year (where he podiumed at Fort William) and this year will ride for Team CRC/Nuke Proof.
Lukas is a big lad at over six foot, so his signature frame comes in XL and it has been built to be a Four Cross bike first, rather than being an adapted dirt jump bike. This means the frame is longer than a dirt jump bike for better stability on the 4X courses. To cope with the immense pedalling forces going through the bike, it comes with a 135mm Maxle back end to match the short travel 80mm Fox 831s up front. At the head tube end, there is the new 44mm internal diameter oversize headtube – this means that it can take 1 1/8th internal, or external cups, or a 1.5in external lower cup, with a regular 1 1/8th internal top cup. (This proto has a regular 1.5in headtube.)
There will be a production version available in September – or rather two of them:
One will be as you see here, in a 135mm Maxle rear – in Small, Med/Large and Xtra Lukas sizes.
There will also be a version with replaceable dropouts, allowing rear QR, rear 135mm Maxle or the new Syntace 142mm bolt-thru dropouts.
Other clever features include the downtube logos being printed on the underside of helicopter tape. (So re-taping a scuffed up frame gives you new decals at the same time), the frame will take 2.5in tyres and has ISCG mounts as standard, with no provision for a front mech. As well as Team Issue Yellow, it’ll come in black and Spangle Black too…
Number fans take note: 67.5° head tube angle, static with an 80mm fork. And the price for the frame? “Under £300” according to early calculations…
Comments (19)
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that looks really nice, and a bargain if under £300 🙂
I meant to say that that frame has a 1.5in headtube, but production will have a 44mm ID tube instead.
I think it needs more stickers. Too subtle for my liking.
nice headtube
its good that they have the superstar pedals on it 😉
“We’re just off the phone with Nuke Proof’s top design whizz”
No name eh. Must be the shy, retiring type.
That’s the chap – prefers to let the product do the talking – that sort of fellow… 🙂
Nice chainring/chainstay clearance going on there.
My word that’s beautiful!
‘Other clever features include the downtube logos being printed on the underside of helicopter tape. (So re-taping a scuffed up frame gives you new decals at the same time)’
I thought all bike transfers/decals/stickers are essentially an image printed on the underside of sticky tape. Or am I missing something?
Did you ask Brant when those full sus frames are due? 🙂
‘I thought all bike transfers/decals/stickers are essentially an image printed on the underside of sticky tape. Or am I missing something?’
They’re often skinny transfers which are lacquered over, or just applied to the top coat of the paint. These _should_ be equivalent to sticking helicopter tape to the downtube, over existing stickers, so a scuff shouldn’t affect the look of the decals and replacement will effectively give you a new look.
Podium is a noun, not a verb.
Grumblegrumblegrammarnazigrumblegrumble.
An interesting debate, Capt Flashheart
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/magazine/07FOB-onlanguage-t.html
🙂
Poor timing, Brant. How on Earth am I supposed to buy a Ragley when you come up with this beauty?
£300 is a bargain and its nuclear proof, so it will still be around when only cockroachs enhabit the earth.
I will start saving for one of these, love it in yellow and it will look sweet in black with yellow nukeproof wheels.
Those forks aren’t 831’s there marzers, aren’t they?
OOO and no front brake, brave!
>Those forks aren’t 831’s there marzers, aren’t they?
Duh. I knew I should have written a press release and not just chatted on the phone. My mistake not Chipps’ though.
OOO and no front brake, brave!
And the back brake is on the right hand – scary!