nukeproof mega 290 elite carbon £3,700
It may be the cheapest bike on test, but the Mega 290 Elite Carbon still manages to deliver in terms of value, with a carbon fibre front triangle, impressive Michelin tyres, DT Swiss wheels, and dependable Shimano SLX gearing and four-piston brakes.
Nukeproof have designed this to be a ‘monster truck’ of a bike, with 160mm of travel, controlled via a four-bar back end and Fox DPX2 Performance shock. Up front, there’s a matching 170mm Fox 36 fork with GRIP damper and short 44mm offset. It may not be the most refined fork on the market, but it’s capable and comfortable for the most part.
The Mega 290 has the longest chainstays of any bike on test, at 450mm. Our medium also boasts a 455mm reach and a slack 64-degree head angle. On the trail, it seems
Nukeproof have delivered on their promise. Drop your heels, lean back and the Mega 290 will eagerly soak up everything you stick in front of it.
Suspension balance does require a little effort to find – we ran a little more sag on the fork than normal, which helped sync front and rear – but once you’re comfortable, the Nukeproof feels agile and easy to flick about. At the rear, there’s a reasonable level of support, but push hard through the pedals in high-load turns and you’ll find yourself sitting at the deep end of the shock’s mid-stroke. Still, you soon adapt to this, and can really make the most of the plush rear end when the going gets rough, just sitting back and pummelling through.
While the chainstays are lengthy, we still managed to manual the Mega 290 without having to yank on the bar too hard. Coupled with the long reach, they put you in a good position between the wheels, though we’d fit an even shorter stem to shift weight a little further back on steeper sections of trail. On the climbs, it isn’t one of the most efficient machines on test, with a fair bit of bob when you’re hammering the pedals. You’ll want to use the shock’s lever to firm things up.
It feels like more of a mini downhill bike than a long-travel trail bike on mellower, more sedate trails, but get the Mega 290 pointed down something wild and it’ll save your backside more than once.
Solid frame and build kit help to deliver a surefooted and well-priced big-hitter