Nukeproof Mega 290 v 297 anyone ridden them

For comparison
I own a Dissent 297, I tried the 290 and it was a big long bike, where as the smaller back end made a noticeable different being able to maneuver, for me any way.

Im watching this as it seems a very fun frame.

I’ve had a quick go on a 297 - seemed very plush. Had a 38 performance elite fork / ext Storia coil though so you can’t really get better suspension units than that.

Back to back with my full 29er sentinel I’d say the Mega felt a bit less manoeuvrable and less poppy / playful. But the mega has about a 25mm longer reach so it’s not that comparable I guess.

Sentinel is a 2022 alloy with a 160mm Lyrik ultimate / had a float x air shock on the back.

I reckon the mullet thing is good if you have shorter legs to avoid bum buzz on the back wheel - but whether it makes a lot of difference to the handling I’m not fully convinced yet.

I had an S6 Stumpy evo 528 reach and found it very hard to corner, put the mullet link on it and it was far easier to tip into corners and generally more fun, I felt faster on it because you could correct things a lot easier.
If I go mega it'll be going XL though, 495 reach as I don't want another massive bike.
I'm 6'3" by the way.
It's a shame it's not just a link to swop out on the mega but a full £700 rear end so got to make sure I go for the right one.
I want something more poppy and playful hence tempted to go 297, I think they are only 5mm shorter chainstay than the 290 though, but on an XL I don't want to go too short anyway.
I've been riding a reign e+ all summer in XL it's 500 reach and I've deceided I don't want anything longer than this now as it rides fantastic.
Borrowed a vitus e sommet in a large the other day and thought it was great fun been a bit smaller still.
I'm done with the trend for super long reach bikes, just no fun.

Those mega frames look mental cheap for what you get at CRC at the moment. Both carbon frames £1900 with either an ext or fast coil shock on there…

THose prices are so good it makes me wonder if a new version is imminent and this is the way to shift the remaining stock of current version. Not that it probably matters as its still a good bike even if they make a betterer version

Seems to be all frames apart from the 297 with EXT which is the one I want 🙄
290 with EXT is on sale though so can't be down to the shock cost.

I’d get it bought before they go out of stock. Geometry seems up to date and my mates 297 looks a really nice bike. The Fast coil is meant to be really decent I think - not quite ext but near enough. I’d be tempted with the purple 297 if I were buying now.

That’s the same price as my alloy sentinel with a float x late 2021. Mental.

I like the look of the white one with EXT, might buy the Fast one and return it if the white one hits the sale.

Bloody hell, just buy the Fast frame now at that price.

These special edition frames all have custom-tuned shocks so performance should be way ahead of most bikes anyway.

I've got a Storia mk3, it's great but it's not going to change your life. You obviously want a mullet so go for it.

I was shopping for a bike I'd buy that 297 with the Fast shock right now.

I've even found a fork for myself, I mean, for you www.merlincycles.com/rockshox-zeb-ultimate-debonair-boost-forks-29-265316.html

Yep I agree I'll hit the button tonight.
I've seen them forks too, about the best deal on them I've seen without farting about getting some from Europe and hoping you don't get robbed on import duties.

Good man, make sure you update the thread so we know you didn't miss out 😀

I've got that Zeb Ultimate. It's a fine fork but I'm not sure I'd pay that much again (that's what I paid in 2020), now the new one is out and apparently much refined.

Can you pick up a secondhand fork to get you rolling? (shout me if you fancy a recently serviced Lyrik BTW)

A while ago i bought a pr of Fox 38 forks on a psa here. Well ive now bought a Purple Mega 297 with Fast shock. Im very giddy as it will be hooefully the best suspended bike ive ever had. I have some tech4 v4s to go on it too.

It will be a slow build, or at least a delayed first ride as im currwntly recovering from 2x cranial surgery in Stoke neuro hospital after a couple of brain bleeds after a big OTB in Les Gets over the summer. Im hoping my consultant thinks mtb is still a good idea....

Ian

The purple one is the best-looking of the lot IMO

Enjoy

Im normally v conservative with bike colours, but with time on my hands this may well look like its been ridden through an anodised parts outlet!!

Im off to select value parts for a build...

Im very tempted by the Mega 290 with an EXT, I already have pretty much all the other parts I need to build it up, Lyrik Ultimates, Hope wheels & Brakes, Spare tyres, XO / GX Groupset. I could have a big plow / smasher of a bike for £2000 basically.

Plus its 360 day make your mind up policy!

I bought a mega 290 ext yesterday for my son for xmas. Hopefully I’ll have one excited boy this year!

I bought a mega 290 ext yesterday for my son for xmas. Hopefully I’ll have one excited boy this year!

best dad ever!!!!

I wish i had the spare monies for one, as it is a bargain at that price for a big rig. Although its a shame they havent discounted the Giga's in the same way.

I bought a mega 290 ext yesterday for my son for xmas. Hopefully I’ll have one excited boy this year

He bloody better be !

Nice job.

anyone looking for one of these frames, should check out Evo Cycles Sale.
Evo cycles
Some great prices on frames, forks ect:

Half price MRP ribbon coil forks...
30%off Mega frames in all the coil options

I bought a 290 back in spring and it's a great bike. The 297 wasn't offered all the way up the size range back then so there wasn't that option.

But those prices are great. The design has been the same for two seasons so might be some tweaks coming. They're really nicely put together and already invisiframed (near enough).

Any pics yet?

Om a fairly conservative guy (definatwly small c) and all my bikes seem to be a uniform black apart from my Shan in Gulf colours.

Anyway my sense of style and colours clashing is pretty poor. I hqve jist received a Mega 297 Carbon Fast Fenix in the amazing purple. It really is a fantastic colour. However i really have mo idea on what colours would work with it. I thought a Hope Evo crankset and chainring in silver would look good, but i really beed some help or i will just by anodised stuff that looks dreaful when fitted. I have some black tech4 v4 brakes already, but need helpnto not make it look a dogs dinner!

Thanks

Ian

Just go with black components and you can’t go wrong - none of this wild anodised colour nonsense that looks like you’ve crashed into a Hope showroom. I think if you have a dull colour frame a bit of colour is ok but if you have a decent colour frame then don’t ruin it. All silver bits would probably work too if you want to make it look a bit retro.

Thanks Joe. I see bikes that i really like but left to my own bevices i fear i would end up with an awful mess due to too much choice and not really knowing what works. Black sounds good!

Any pics yet?

my sons ext frame arrived Monday so I’m hoping to get it built up today/ tomorrow if I get time so should have some pics then.

I hqve jist received a Mega 297 Carbon Fast Fenix in the amazing purple. It really is a fantastic colour.

I was very tempted by this colour too, but not being able to see it in the flesh meant I was a little wary.

I went for the slightly boring black Fast Fenix version, but have some wheels with gold hubs to add a little sparkle.

@ lardman when i look at the nukeproof site and CRC etc they link to setup and spring rate table, but it seems to be for a 290 or 275 not the 297? I got a medium but at 84kg i feel the spring may be a bit light for me. How you getting on with spring rate?

Not pulled the trigger yet, I've been close but was waiting for the LBS to get back to me.......however the Gigas are now in sale too and LBS has offered me a cracking deal on a Giga EXT 290 frame.

Reading reviews I can't see any drawbacks to a giga over a mega, fairly equal climbing ability and only a pound heavier.

Now any thoughts on 290 v 297 giga, he will also throw in the 297 link so I can run either, only difference I can see is the 290 with the 297 link still has the 445 chainstay and not the 435 you get with a full new 297 back end.
However on an XL I'm thinking maybe not a bad thing anyway 🤔

This is tempting due to the fact I have a DT1501 29er wheelset which is a shame not to use.

For a bit of inspiration with the purple mega have a look at this giga in purple with silver bits

https://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/Innes-Graham-The-Road-to-EWS,40248/iceman2058,94

That purple is a beautiful colour

only difference I can see is the 290 with the 297 link still has the 445 chainstay and not the 435 you get with a full new 297 back end.
However on an XL I’m thinking maybe not a bad thing anyway

Probably a good thing on an XL yeah.

Do you have a preferred chainstay length anyway? Mine is 445-450mm and when I've swapped from 29 to 27 rear wheel but kept same CS length it's still been a big change handling. Basically, I think you still get the mullet benefits, I think.

Probably a good thing on an XL yeah.

Do you have a preferred chainstay length anyway? Mine is 445-450mm and when I’ve swapped from 29 to 27 rear wheel but kept same CS length it’s still been a big change handling. Basically, I think you still get the mullet benefits, I think.

Not really, I think I like short for pop and easy manual fun etc but sometimes it's not just chainstay.

My old Stumpy evo was an S6 with 448 stays and 528 reach......it was no fun!
Defo better ran with the mullet link though, I agree smaller rear wheel even with same chainstay does change the ride.

I have a mullet reign e+ with 454 chainstay and 500 reach and that has more pop than the Stumpy did, it feels incredibly well balanced and rides amazing, I'm not going above 500 each again.

Mostly built my sons Xmas present, just waiting for a couple of small bits.

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I quite like how it’s turned out mostly
Black and white. Should put a smile on his face in a month.

Should put a smile on his face in a month.

You'd bloody hope so. That shock sells for more than most teenagers' bikes. 😀

Did it come with the correct weight of spring for him?

Unfortunately not, nukeproof only send one spring out and you don’t get a choice of weight which is a bit poor, that’s one of the parts I’m waiting for to finish it for him.

Their springs ain't cheap I know, but that frame & shock was a hell of a bargain so swings and roundabouts.

One thing I'd say is, I've found I need a slightly lower spring rate on the Storia v3 vs. other coil shocks (including the Storia v2).

I think this is because of the hydraulic bottom out feature, which makes it more progressive.

So if he's on the cusp of two weights, I'd suggest going for the lighter one. Unless he's an absolute pinner obvs.

@breninbeener

when i look at the nukeproof site and CRC etc they link to setup and spring rate table, but it seems to be for a 290 or 275 not the 297? I got a medium but at 84kg i feel the spring may be a bit light for me. How you getting on with spring rate?

I got a little Spring chart with the frame, but as a 115kgs biffer i'm always at the end of the spring range. My spring settings are unlikely to help anyone i'm afraid.

I have used a 600lbs Ti Spring that came off my Spesh Enduro (now retired to the shed).
Seems to be about right, but i've only done a couple of rides with it so far. The bottom out resistance on the Fenix is great and matches the HBO on the Smashpot coil i have in the fork.

With the HBO capacity, front and rear, i'm happy to run my coils at the lighter end for my weight. Which is a good job, as i'm already on the last springs available for both. Flat landings are diving onto a big bed with 5 duvets on top.

I emailed Nukeproof and they told me that at 84kg then i need a 525lb spring. They told me that a fox spring will fit, so that maybe opens up some secondhand routes for springs.

Also that purple Giga posted above has the same mirror decals as my frame, so it will have plain black components, and maybe purple grips!

Ian

Downtime podcast did an extremely thorough episode on this precise subject. Included timed runs of the 3 versions of the bike in the hands of a pro, a coach and a weekend warrior.

If I remember rightly, 29er was fastest, mullet very close behind, 27er slowest by a reasonable margin. All(?) of the testers either thought the mullet felt faster or thought it was more fun, but the stopwatch said otherwise. Probably worth a listen if you can't decide.

Downtime podcast did an extremely thorough episode on this precise subject. Included timed runs of the 3 versions of the bike in the hands of a pro, a coach and a weekend warrior.

Hi Steve.....
Thanks, good info.
Hope you're all doing well in down there Bourg during this uncertain time?
Looking forward to being able to get out and ride with you again.

Lee.

@breninbeener

Whoa what's all this:

Black sounds good!

Now let me help this is the right answer:

Purple with yellow accents, do it. Even makes sense of the yellow Maxxis logo!

That right there is why purple bikes should always have Ohlins suspension! Also good luck getting yellow Maxxis logos unless you go to a shop and pay £62.99 each or whatever they are now. The last 2 pairs I've mail ordered have been OEM white.

Good work though people. I'm a bit jealous of all these new Mega's you're building.

Im afraid the Fast shock Mega and Kashima forks will have to do for now. Im afraid Ohlins eludes my budget at present. Im hooing i see some groupset or parts deals soon!

Whats the latest then? Anyone else clicked go?

Ive just clicked go on a Purple 297 Fast!!

@timc have you had your frame yet? Whats your build going to be?

Ian

Not Yet, LBS have been able to price match, so getting it from them.

to Start with I'm moving parts over from my Cotic Soda Max, so I'll need to get the fork travel changed & the rear wheel rebuilt.

Will be a XO / GX mix, Lyrik Ultimates, Hope hubs, Brakes etc, in the medium I fancy some grey Zebs for it, but will go with Lyriks to start, see how I get on.

Good work with LBS! That build sounds really nice!

might be down Brenin way over festive break to test it

Just ordered my Purple 297 Mega frame have all the parts but ordered some Unite cranks instead of the DMR AXE cranks I already have, as pedals & stem Burgtec Silver

Ooh i like those unites!

Hope frame is dispatched soon although waiting on couple parts

Genuinely, it doesn't make as much difference as people make out. My other half rode the 297 for about 8 months and then bought a 290 rear end. She slightly prefers the 290, particularly on faster / flatter stuff, but the difference really isn't night and day. I would say get the one that has the shock or colour you like best. Be aware though, they seem to eat bearings and the paint is absolutely garbage. Good bikes though!

Did any of you go to the trouble of weighing the frame before building up.

Mine is still in the box, so i can do when i get a mo. Im sure the CRC website giv3s the weight though.

Those weights can't be right, 8.4lbs for medium mega regardless of shock or wheel size, medium giga 8.55lbs regardless of options. I know the 2020 frame weights but they're a bit heavier now and you can roughly add 400/500g for the coil options.

When mine eventually turns up will weigh it, large purple mega with fast shock went to wrong depo yesterday now sitting at sorting hub!! Parcelforce muppets
Hey ho

I didn’t weight my Giga before building it.
But was surprised by how heavy the frame felt. Large/coil.

I only have an S-works stumpy to compare it to, but I’d say it felt a good deal heavier. Which, for me, is re-assuring.

sorry to drag this one up again, but how is everyone doing with their mega 297?

I am in the market for a 'cheap' enduro bike. Initially looking at the Vitus Sommet CR (2k all in), but spotted the 297 EXT frame at a rather tempting £1600, but am not sure about the mullet thing. I had a status before which i enjoyed, so its not so much the concept, more of the need to get a new rear wheel, tyre etc thats putting me off a little (i am on a budget after-all!).

Plus there arent any reviews of the 297 floating about.

So any feedback is appreciated!