NUKEPROOF MEGAWATT 297 FACTORY ALLOY
Nukeproof’s Mega just got a simple but electrifying makeover
Kilowatt, Terawatt, Gigawatt and Megawatt. All units of power, but only one of them is the new e-bike from Nukeproof. With no Tera or Kilo bikes in the current Nukeproof range, that just leaves the Mega and the Giga platforms that can be powered up. One look at the Giga and it’s obvious that the low-slung suspension layout precludes it from accepting a motor, making the Mega the obvious platform on which to develop Nukeproof’s first e-bike.
Built around Shimano’s compact
EP8 motor and 630Wh battery, the Megawatt really is a plug and play version of the current Mega – the full alloy frame using the same four-bar suspension design to deliver 170mm of plush, controlled travel.
The Factory version even shares a lot of the same components as the equivalent Mega too, including staples like the Bikeyoke dropper, Shimano XT brakes, Nukeproof Horizon cockpit,
Fox Factory suspension and DT Swiss wheels. Even the colour is the same artichoke green. All top quality, proven kit then.
That’s not to say the build kits are identical though. With the EP8 motor pumping out 85Nm of torque on a bike that weighs 24.37kg in size L, some aspects of the build kit have been beefed up. Anyone that’s ridden an e-bike for any length of time already knows it’s the wheels that take a beating, so the Megawatt comes with DT Swiss Hybrid H1700 wheels as standard. There’s also a switch from Michelin to Maxxis rubber, where the tougher and heavier Doubledown casings are used to reduce the risk of punctures and further protect the rims.
And while Nukeproof produces the Mega, Giga and Reactor in both 29in and 27.5in options, the Megawatt splits the difference with mixed wheel sizes on one bike. It doesn’t mix tyre sizes though, so unlike a lot of mullet e-bikes that run a 29x2.5in tyre up front with a 27.5x2.8in out back, the Megawatt has 2.5in tyres front and rear. The reason for this is three fold. Maxxis doesn’t currently offer a 2.8in tyre in the Double Down casing and the 2.5in tyre offers a less floaty ride, especially when cornering hard. Also limiting the max tyre width to 2.6in helps keep the chainstay length in check.
One look at the geometry on the Megawatt and it is crystal clear that cornering hard is exactly what it was designed for. With relatively short 442mm stays and a low 338mm BB height the Megawatt snaps in and out of turns with surprising ease for a big bike. With the ground-hugging BB you do need to be more precise when setting up the rear suspension though, as running it too soft will have you constantly clipping pedals. Too much sag also impacts its climbing ability, as it puts too much of