Issue #030, Review - November 10, 2017

Nukeproof Mega 275 RS Review

Sam Hill is superhuman! He not only secured the overall victory of the Enduro World Series on the brand-new Nukeproof Mega 275 RS, but also secured 6th on it in the Downhill World Championship in Cairns, Australia. But how fast can mere mortals ride this bike?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: Let’s go Racing! – The 10 fastest enduro bikes in test

The new Nukeproof Mega 275 Carbon RS makes a potent first impression: the boxy carbon main frame and burly aluminium rear triangle look aggressive, presented entirely in black. With the fourth generation of the Mega, Nukeproof uses 170/165 mm suspension travel, combined with 27.5″ wheels and a modern, long (470 mm reach in size L) and slack (65° head angle) geometry. The components of this stealthy bike leave nothing to be desired: a RockShox Lyrik RCT3 suspension fork, a SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain, and light DT Swiss XM 1501 rims with an internal width of 30 mm. All this delivered at a price of € 4,200! The look of the angular Nukeproof Neutron stem is a matter of taste, but there is nothing to complain about regarding the cockpit dimensions (50 mm stem / 780 mm bars).

The key word for the Nukeproof Mega 275 RS is balance… in many respects. The first thing you’ll notice is the extremely comfortable sitting position. Thanks to the steep 75.8° seat tube angle, you can sit comfortably and well centered. The saddle can be mounted centrally on its rails without giving the impression that you’re sitting back over the rear wheel. The bike climbs efficiently in spite of the heavy MAXXIS Double Down tires. Once you lower the 170 mm (!) long Reverb dropper post and sprint into a stage, the Mega willingly marches forward and accelerates explosively. The weight distribution through turns is also great. Riding the bike you’re positioned centrally, always having enough weight on the front wheel.

The Mega is very precise, pleasantly agile, but not as playful as other bikes in this comparison. The suspension too is well balanced. The rear linkage works with a defined action, providing a lot of feedback and progression – although it isn’t as plush as the best we tested, becoming a little skittish in rock gardens. Unless by chance your name is Sam Hill, you will lose ground here with the Mega. All in all, the overall package is very coherent, which also underlines the consistency of Hill at the EWS.

The Nukeproof Mega 275 RS in Detail

Fork RockShox Lyrik RCT3 170 mm
Rear shock RockShox Super Deluxe RC3 165 mm
Brakes* SRAM Code R
Drivetrain SRAM X01 Eagle
Seat post RockShox Reverb Stealth
Stem Nukeproof Neutron AM
Handlebar Nukeproof Horizon Carbon
Tires Maxxis Highroller II
Wheels Dt Swiss EX 1501 Spline One
Price € 4,200

The geometry of the Nukeproof Mega 275 RS

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	381 mm	420 mm	458 mm	508 mm
Top tube	560 mm	585 mm	622 mm	668 mm
Head angle	65°	65°	65°	65°
Seat angle	75.5°	75.5°	75.5°	75.5°
Chainstay	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm
BB Drop	10 mm	10 mm	10 mm	10 mm
Wheelbase	1162	1187	1226	1273
Reach	410 mm	435 mm	470 mm	515 mm
Stack	591 mm	591 mm	600 mm	604 mm
Wheelsize	27.5″	27.5″	27.5″	27.5″

Conclusion

The Nukeproof Mega 275 RS is an excellent enduro bike that scores high with its balanced and predictable handling. It climbs willingly and rides through turns like it’s on rails. For high speeds and in very rough sections, however, it requires a strong rider.