Considering I was moving down from a 2014 Pulse, the most noticeable thing about the Mega was the effortless speed it carries over obstacles and open sections; the weight that many reviewers have mentioned seems unnoticeable. Personally, I love the look of the Mega and the reassuring feel of its bulk on the trails - it's certainly no xc whippet, but the confidence it inspires on the downhill sections more than makes up for this.
Positives:
-Value for money - With Sram's top-of-the-line x01 11 speed transmission there seems to be a gear for every eventuality with seamless shifting.
- Reverb - Although a dropper post seems to have become a must-have for all enduro bikes, the reverb has still transformed the bike, allowing you to go from a climb into attacking a downhill section without even pausing.
- Suspension - The amazing reviews for the Pike's speak for themselves and are wholly deserved, while the monarch is a relatively simple shock to set up that provides a brilliant platform.
- Easily available replacement parts - Chainreaction and other sites stock a huge amount of Nukeproof spares which makes any bearing / hanger issues easy (and cheap) to rectify.
-Nukeproof AM wheelset - An absolutely brilliant wheelset which has stood up to much abuse. Bearing replacements are dirt cheap, and their slightly higher weight is a small price to pay for reliable performance. My clumsy riding and heavy weight have taken a toll on them a year in, which is admirable (particularly when I purchased a whole replacement rear wheel for £40 on eBay).
- Confidence inspiring - This really does feel like a lightweight dh bike and has been more than a match for the many UK tracks I have ridden it on. If you're looking to snatch seconds and make podium's, a dh bike is still your best bet, but the agility of the nukeproof is astounding and the only time I wanted more travel was in the most vicious rock gardens.
Negatives:
- Weight - At 31.8lb's, it's a figure that makes some riders anxious. You can easily fettle with the build weight with a few simple changes (like making the tubeless-ready wheels tubeless and getting some carbon bars).
- Avid Guide Brakes - They didn't seem up to the challenge of stopping my 100 kilos very efficiently. A 203mm ice tech rotor helped this problem up front (180mm standard) but they're still not as effective as I would like. However, the modulation and overall feel of the brakes is good, and they may well be a brilliant choice for lighter riders.
- Nukeproof finishing kit - I don't know whether it's brand snobbery, or performance-based, but I find that I have replaced much of the finishing kit over the past year. Odi grips provide additional comfort, and the carbon bars provided a better feel up front that stopped pesky trail-vibrations.
-Nukeproof Saddle - This may be me being a 100 kilo ape, but I bent the saddle irreparably within a couple of rides. Fortunately, an SDG replacement has provided me with no further issues.
Overall it's a brilliant bike that I would happily recommend to anyone - I have no intention of parting with mine in the foreseeable future. Although Nukeproof radically changed their frame design for 2016 (meaning these older shapes lose some value) it is undeniably superior to my riding capabilities. It's fast when the course gets rough, admirably agile, and not too bad on the uphill sections either.
