[Closed] Orange Alpine 160 vs Nukeproof Mega

I own an Alpine and have ridden a Mega (although not on anything serious). The Mega is certainly a lot easier to pedal but felt too light and sketchy to me. It would undoubtedly be a better bike for all day rides with nothing too extreme thrown in but it didn't feel like it would be very nice on anything technical or for getting airborne.

I think the one I rode was probably a size too small for me but was set up for someone of an approximately equal weight.

I wouldn't get rid of my Alpine for a Mega, but then I have a charge duster for all day, less extreme stuff. The Alpine is specifically for when I know i'm going to be giving it a bit of a beating.

FWIW I am really impressed with my Alpine. As already mentioned it doesn't pedal anywhere near as well as a Mega but I am surprised at how well it does pedal for what it is. I don't think there is anything I wouldn't do on it that I would have done on my old Nicolai UFO ST (which weighed about twice as much and was basically a downhill bike).

Cheers

Mike

Ridden both, own a Mega. As said above the Mega pedals far better, especially on the ups. However, I find it way better on the downs, as always its personal preference and I built my Mega for me, i.e. there's plenty of things I'd have changed on the Alpine, bars, tyres etc. The Mega needs to be hammered before you start to feel the real advantages. So with my limited skill set that's pretty much out of control speed wise, but it always feels planted and I usually get away with it (fingers crossed). I do light downhill on it amongst those on the big bikes and I've never felt the bike was the limiting factor. I also hired a Demo 8 on an uplift day in Queenstown and would have been happy, although not as fast perhaps on the Mega. The Mega does have a long wheel base and can feel tight in switch backs although I tend to notice this less, the steeper things get.

HTH

Kev

I had an 09 Alpine and now have a mega.I nearly bought another alpine but glad i went for the mega instead.

The mega is quite a bit lighter,pedals a LOT better than the alpine and is just as capable on the downs as the alpine,as said above,the harder you push it the better it is.I also find it handles tight twist singletrack better than the alpine too.Its a hell of a good bike for the price.

I've a Mega and only very briefly rode an Alpine. The mega felt much lighter and therefore faster up. In fact, I've never find it much different from my older 125mm trailbike which it replaced regarding climbing. The Alpine was a more patient affair to get uphill. The mega felt it had more 'pop' about it when heading down, but it's my bike so setup right for me.

As with any bike, it really comes down to how you like to ride as they're all pretty good nowadays. I struggled with the weight of the Alpine I rode, I'm not the strongest and it was built bombproof.

Are you sure you will be able to save money by selling your current bike? The cheapest way if often to be happy with what you've got and ride it harder.

Cant comment on the alpine,but i thought the mega was a brilliant bike,although too much travel in the end for me was set up like a bomb with rc3 55 ti 170s ,the thing was like a turbo charged landrover,seen a 2010 five at a bargain price so sold mega,got my five and had spare cash,happydays

thanks for the comments guys.

Have you any thoughts on the 2012 giant reign 1?

Cheers