Very first Trip: 2022 Nukeproof Megawatt – a Mega With a Motor

There are three various versions, with prices ranging from $5,499.99 to $7,499.99 USD. All 3 have aluminum frames and use Shimano’s latest EP8 motor. Whilst the base product helps make do with a 504Wh battery, the other two have 630Wh to play with.
Frame Particulars

Nukeproof just managed to make home for a compact water bottle in between the portly downtube and shock, which is a excellent point in my guide. You will find one more pair of bosses beneath the top rated tube for extra storage.

The cables are routed by the headset – some thing we’re viewing far more usually currently. I am not certain I like the notion of owning to slightly consider apart the headset to set up cables (as if interior cable and brake routing was not adequate of a faff). It isn’t going to rattle however.

The battery can be quickly set up and taken off by the base of the down tube.

Suspension

The Megawatt’s suspension intently resembles the meat-powered Mega, and that’s no bad factor. Whilst the leverage curve on older versions of the Mega had a significant leverage ratio in the center of the journey, producing a lot of mid-journey wallow, the new Mega and Megawatt share a much more progressive layout, so the suspension stiffness (relative to the shock) raises all over the journey. The Megawatt is somewhat a lot more progressive than the non-motorized Mega, with 21% change in leverage ratio from start off to end, in comparison to 17% for the regular bike.

With the Float X2 shock, this gives the Megawatt a incredibly supple starting to the stroke with aid setting up smoothly immediately after sag.

Anti-squat is slightly on the lessen facet, though this is standard for an ebike. It has just less than 100% anti-squat at sag in the 50-tooth gear but reduce values in the more compact sprockets, dropping to all-around 50% in the 10t cog. That usually means if you stamp on the pedals it will bob a tiny, but it stays level when the motor is performing most of the work. That is mainly because the motor has a relatively regular power output, whilst pedaling electric power arrives and goes with every quarter-change of the cranks, ensuing in the suspension compressing with each electricity-stroke.

The vertically-aligned upper hyperlink tends to make for comparatively high anti-rise values close to the start off of the vacation, which means the bike will sit a very little deeper into its journey underneath braking when compared to some Horst-website link layouts with a horizontal rocker ink.

Geometry and Sizing

The Megawatt’s five dimensions assortment goes from 435mm achieve in compact to 515mm in XXL, with nice and regular 20mm gaps in-in between. The stack peak on the XXL (which I tested) is taller than most bikes, which tends to make for an even roomier cockpit than the 515mm achieve would suggest since it will increase the unfold a little.

The chainstays are quite limited for an eMTB, at 442mm in all measurements.The efficient seat angle is claimed to be 77.5-levels in the modest and medium, mounting to 78-levels in the larger sized sizes. My XXL take a look at bike actions in at 77.9-degrees at my pedaling top. The head angle is claimed to be 64-degrees, though I evaluate my take a look at bicycle at 63.7-degrees. A very little deviation from the geometry chart is wholly ordinary when measuring bikes, and all the other measurements are true to what the chart suggests.

Talking of measurements, some of Nukeproof’s push material claims the rear travel is 170mm, but the kinematic charts they deliver go up to 165mm. By compressing the suspension entirely with a ratchet strap, I measured the vertical journey from total top rated-out to bottom-out at 165mm, though the usable journey is far more like 160mm from in which the unloaded shock obviously reaches equilibrium without having forcing it to leading-out. I have calculated the journey on a ton of bikes in this way and it is usual for the genuine-planet vacation to below-produce like this.

Products, Specs and Selling prices

Megawatt Comp – £4,999.99 / €5,999.99 / $5,499.99

Megawatt Elite – £5,999.99 / €7,199.99 / $6,599.99
Megawatt Factory – £6,999.99 / €8,199.99 / $7,499.99
The Factory model I have on take a look at takes advantage of a Fox 38 fork with the E-bicycle damper tune. That’s really marginally lighter compression damping selection than the common fork. The shock works by using Fox’s gentle compression tune too, with a medium rebound selection. It is really awesome to see Maxxis’ DoubleDown tires from the off, and I was pleasantly stunned by the XT four-pot brakes on this specific check bicycle, which are fairly much absolutely free of the wandering bite position challenge Shimano brakes can display screen.
Experience Impressions

I am not heading to defeat close to the bush: Nukeproof have knocked this just one out of the park. At 24.6Kg, it is really definitely not the lightest, but it would not really feel like a lump when you are riding. The rather limited chainstays make it appreciably less complicated to select up the front to hop or handbook about hurdles than a lot of lighter e-bikes with extended stays. But in contrast to some standard bikes with limited chainstays, you will find a good deal of bodyweight on the entrance tire to keep it gripping on flat turns without obtaining to lean on the bar. Add to that the incredibly active suspension, which I’ve setup really mild on compression and rebound damping, and the bicycle feels specifically energetic and energetic as e-bikes go.

What impresses most is the traction. The bicycle settles into its early vacation incredibly conveniently, sagging beneath its have bodyweight, and will get going at the slightest contact. That makes it come to feel stuck to the ground and actually surefooted on these small bump, lower-grip situations. Nonetheless even with 30% sag, there’s loads to force against later on in the journey.

The other factor I like is the fit. At 190cm (6’3″), i am in-concerning the XL and XXL on Nukeproof’s chart, but the XXL fits me really well. There is a lot of space to move about to set body weight where by it is desired but, as I mentioned, it does not demand a mindful hard work to retain the entrance tire loaded even on flat or off-camber turns. I could do with the handlebar a contact greater, but that could be preset with a handlebar swap.

Inspite of that, I felt definitely at ease receiving up to speed on tough and steep trails from the initially experience. People to start with impressions have only developed as I’ve ridden it much more and far more. In all places from quickly bicycle park terrain to awkward tech, I have felt snug and confident on it. It’s secure and floor-hugging, but however reasonably simple to soar, hop and maneuver close to the tighter bits of path. I have experienced to operate the tires 1-2psi firmer than other e-bikes in my lose with the very same tire spec simply because I have been pushing this just one a bit tougher.
On steep climbs, the suspension does squat noticeably into its vacation, but the steep efficient seat angle would make it easy to preserve the front wheel from lifting no matter. And while a 29″ wheel would be even greater when using up rocky ways, the suspension remains pretty supple under electrical power which helps make it straightforward to retain traction on technological climbs.

Whilst all e-bikes climb fairly perfectly, numerous of them continue to have awkward dealing with and suspension attributes which mean the descents can feel compromised. This is the initially eMTB I have ridden which descends virtually as well as a typical bike. It truly is distinctive, of system: there’s no hiding the further pounds on a tight rut keep track of or janky rock segment, but on the other hand the bodyweight boosts balance and traction on significant-pace terrain. Nukeproof have the Megawatt’s suspension and geometry labored out so properly that it capitalizes on that steadiness devoid of experience dead or awkward on slower velocity terrain. Not bad for a to start with attempt.