SEAN’S NUKEPROOF SCOUT 290 PRO
Sean’s out of time, so is it hardtail fail or Scout’s honour?
£2,449.99 / 29in / nukeproof.com
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What attracted you to the Nukeproof? As a long-standing hardtail aficionado with a taste for steel frames, I felt that a full year on an aluminium bike might change my opinion of the lesser material. The Scout seemed to fit the bill and while the cheaper 290 Comp was top of my shortlist, availability was an issue. So when Nukeproof offered to bump me up to the 290 Pro instead – with a longer 140mm-travel Rockshox Lyrik fork and a higher spec all round – I jumped at the chance.
WHY IT’S HERE Sean addresses the hardtail imbalance in our longtermer fleet
Did you change anything straightaway? This flagship model is very well appointed so I didn’t expect to switch out anything immediately. Grips are a personal preference though, and after one ride I swapped them out for a pair of Deity Knuckledusters. The NP Sam
Hill signature grips run a lockring at each end and I find the outer collar digs into my hand, causing discomfort.
Was the bike easy to set up?
As you’d expect with a hardtail, set-up was simple. I inflated the 2.5/2.4in tyres (set up tubeless from stock) to 23psi (F) and 25psi (R) and stuck with those pressures for the test period. The set-up chart on the Lyrik fork indicated 90psi, which felt a touch soft so I logged on to the Rockshox Trailhead app for a more in-depth approach. This suggested 105psi, which resulted in more front-end support and an improved riding position.
How did it ride?
The Scout has a very forgiving ride, no doubt helped by the large-volume 3C compound Maxxis tyres, but it retains a direct and purposeful feel, holding its line in the rough. With well-executed cable routing and good chainstay protection, it is noticeably quiet too. For a trail hardtail, it excels on rooty technical climbs, as well as on hardcharging descents. It’s only weakness is flowing singletrack, where the ride can feel a little lackluster.
Did anything break or wear out?
The only component I had an issue with was the right-hand SLX brake lever. The lever blade broke clean off in a low-speed crash and had me heading straight back home to source a replacement. With component availability at an all-time low, my immediate thought was to transplant a Deore brake from another bike. But seeing as the Scout’s SLX shifter is
HIGHS
■ Faultless reliability over the full year of abuse. ■ Compliant and quiet ride quality.
■ Premium-spec Maxxis tyres enhance comfort.
LOWS
■ Overly tall seat tube limits standover and dropper post options.
■ Slightly dated geometry and fit, mostly seat tube height.
■ Sorry Mr Hill, but your signature grips are not to my taste.
an I-spec integrated model, it needs a compatible brake lever to mate to. Fortunately, I found a replacement online and was up and running within 48 hours.
If you could change one thing about your longtermer what would it be?
The long 510mm seat tube was my main bugbear. At 6ft 2in with a short inseam, the stock 170mm dropper at full extension gives me a saddle height that’s a touch too high – even with the post fully inserted into the frame. OK, so this size XL is the largest Scout frame available and while taller riders may not raise this as an issue, they’ll probably find the Scout’s short head tube a compromise. Ideally, a 480mm seat tube with a 170mm or longer post would be perfect for me as this would let me slam the saddle out of the way but allow for a perfect climbing height at full extension.
Would you buy this bike?
Well, the Scout did win me over and even convinced me that an aluminium frame can give a smooth and forgiving ride, especially when teamed up with larger-volume tyres. And while I’d certainly consider this flagship Pro model a solid investment, the cheaper Comp is much better value, so that’s the one I’d actually buy.