Nukeproof Reactor 290 Carbon - anyone ride one?

I’d probably go for a Bird Aether 9 over the Reactor - although they’re similar kinds of bike. Having had an Aether 7 it climbed pretty nicely and the 9 is meant to be similar. They also have some on offer at the moment I believe.

That said if the Reactor was a decent price I’d still buy one of those too.

Also consider the Norco Optic if there are any good prices on those as it’s a similar kind of thing - plus the Privateer 141 if you’re more at the tech / gnar end of trail bikes.

I've got a Reactor 290 AL. Think it climbs fine, but haven't got a lot to compare it to. It climbs better that a 2012 Commencal Meta AM, but not as good as a mk2 Cotic Solaris!!!!

Sorry, not very helpful I know....

I built up a 2021 Al 290 and it’s a great bike. Climbs fine but like ads I don’t have loads to compare it with but absolutely no issues at all when heading up hill. A really fun bike and the super deluxe ultimate shock is amazingly smooth.
I have also tried an aether 9 and didn’t really like it. Back end felt too short and generally felt like a short travel enduro bike rather than the fun all round trail bike feel of the reactor. But I know lots of people like their aethers.

Just for reference, the Carbon Reactor is £1250 with the new ‘23 RS Super Deluxe
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/nukeproof-reactor-290-carbon-frame-rockshox-shock-1

An imperfect 9c is about £1500 and 9a £1700. So it’s a fair wedge between these 3

Seem similar on paper and specs wise. Can’t find any reviews that directly compare. The Aether 9s seem to have a huge reach for the size

Bloody hell, that's a bargain!

Wow that’s stupid cheap. Get one bought in that case!

Depends if you're used to modern steep seat angles (which the Reactor doesn't have). You'll miss the steep seat angle if you've had one before, if your current bike has similar seat angle to Reactor.. ignorance is bliss 👍

That’s a bargain price! I got one of their purple 297s in the sale now the EXT mega is cheaper too. My mega climbs ok but my other bike for comparison is the Orbea Rise 😂

Today was a semi-expensive day

<div class="bbp-reply-content">

Depends if you’re used to modern steep seat angles (which the Reactor doesn’t have). You’ll miss the steep seat angle if you’ve had one before, if your current bike has similar seat angle to Reactor.. ignorance is bliss 👍

</div>
Looked at this deal last week - the 75deg STA was the only negative we could see, but given it was to replace Mrs a11y's 2013 SC Tallboy LTc... ignorance would've indeed been bliss! (went a different, more modern direction rather than this though).

all this proves to me is just how much ALL of the other brands out there are ripping us off.....these bikes are full carbon (who cares what layup it is, no one gives a shit as long as its carbon and has lifetime warranty)

they can afford to sell them at RRP much much much less than any other brand out there, the quality doesn't look any different than my transition, if anything in some respects they are a bit ahead of the curve with better chainstay protection and downtube protection and UDH etc

ok so its obviously coming with a few new models hence the flash sales, but even still the RRP alone is half that of a yeti, its insane

i will seriously look at nukeproof when i do come swap my frame, i know a bloke who has a option of all manner of bikes/brands working at a shop and he always goes back to a nukeproof.....

A friend has one and likes it, I don't know if he pops in here anymore though.

Teal colour is very nice. Whack a -2deg headset in there, slam the saddle forward and you'll have a great bike I reckon.

My main trail bike is similar in geometry and I've done the same. I have other MTBs with steeper seat tubes but it's not as crucial as some other angles IME.

Which colour did you buy?

I went with black, but it was the only one in my size (medium).

Suffering a bit of buyer’s remorse, but it’ll pass.

Had have a plan yesterday to combine my two bikes into one (Airdrop Edit and On One Scandal). I was looking at the Aether 9, but this came along and pushed me over the edge.

Morning folks

Think I jumped the gun on this one.

Been looking more into the reviews and I think I bought the wrong bike.

Already shipped but probably won’t even open the box before she goes back…ah well

Why the wrong bike? Mines awesome. Might be slightly better climbers out there's but mine is a proper grin inducing trail bike. Love it!

Tbh the main thing is the climbing…I’m crap on the descents so it’s all I have.

I can't say I've noticed mine being crap at climbing. But as I said earlier I can't compare it anything modern.

Once Wiggle/crc have sold out of these you'll sell it for what you paid, even slightly used. Depends if you can get over the nagging doubt for a while to give it a fair test the though. If you don't you would, probably best sending it back.

Im well happy with mine though!

Edit: Saying that thought, I'd probably swap it for a Vitus Escarpe. And if I had the money, I'd buy a transition spur!

Ah I know what you mean…not great, not terrible.

I don’t trust my selling ability, so loosing £2.99 on the return postage is a bargain.

Also your edit confirms my fears that there are better bikes out there.

Yeah caveat on mine is I paid £1700 for the full bike in November 21, so can't really grumble!

I bought a carbon frame earlier this year (the one with the Fox Float X).

It's a bit of a spare parts/PSA build (mainly XT, 150mm Lyriks). Not ridden it in anger yet, but having ragged it on a few local trails while setting up the suspension (Shockwiz PSA) it's felt lovely. Really plush on the downs and climbs absolutely fine (my legs being the limiting factor).

My other bike is a Banshee Phantom which has a slightly steeper seat tube, and a P7 which is slacker. Can't say I really notice a difference when it comes to seat tube angles.

Not sure how close the Teal is in person, but an upside is that it looks very similar to a Yeti SB130.

A quick look on eBay shows quite a few Reactor 290 frames at £1k - so I think you would lose a bit when reselling.

I can’t believe the reactor would be that much worse than say an Aether 9 - they’re both 4 bar 130mm travel bikes. I guess the seat tube angle could make a difference - as could the shock tube and chainstay length.

Consistently reviews say the Reactor is a bit sluggish uphill though and often described as the ‘downhillers trail bike’.

My Aether 7 climbed ok - would say it was more efficient than my alloy sentinel v2 on fireroad drags and smooth stuff - but the sentinel digs out more outright grip on steep and tech stuff. I don’t know if it’s the suspension setup or more grip from 29er tyres vs 650b ones. Both bikes run on air to start with then switched to coil. Prefer coil as it always feels like there’s more to push against in corners / rollers.

Geometry / riding position has way more of an influence on climbing than differing suspension designs. But... 4-bars with slack seat angles really are prone to bobbing, which is fine if you're a lockout/climb switch kinda person (which I am tbh) andor you dial on loads of rebound to quell the bob (which will make the suspension perform worse everywhere else!)

I was tempted by a reactor frame in the sale too but was put off a bit by the climbing performance in reviews.
I then spotted the canyon sale and just ordered a Spectral 125 CF7 for around £2450 all up and delivered.
Decent spec too, full carbon, Pike select+ forks, GX eagle groupset, code RS brakes, DT wheels, 200mm dropper......
Hoping its going to be a ripper, I was undecided between a down country bike or a mid travel trail/enduro, hopefully it'll do both.

That’s Canyon is in no way a downcountey bike - neither is the reactor, aether or optic.

They’re most like trail bike suspension travel with enduro bike geometry. I love that sort of thing tbh - ymmv

Edit: Saying that thought, I’d probably swap it for a Vitus Escarpe.

Tell me more. I'm trying to decide between the two.

OP did you buy the Reactor in the end?
Any good?

Just think it'd be the better bike for me really. The Reactor is probably a bit more hardcore DH than the Escarpe. Vitus probably a better climber. Vitus might be a bit lighter as well.

Could be totally wrong though 🤷...

I do love my Reactor though and not planning on getting rid.

I bought one of their cheap Vitus frame and I'm pretty sure it's got completely the wrong damping tune and air can on there for the frame. Those frames are pretty linear, and originally came with medium damping and 2 tokens (so I assume a progressive shock suits it best) the one I bought had a linear air can, no tokens, and a light linear compression tune. Sorting the tokens is easy, getting the shims revalved and a new aircan much less so. Just rode awful, like it was falling through the travel all the time, especially on any compressions approaching jumps etc.

Went round in circles on this, bought an Aether 9a in the end.

I didn’t get a reactor in the end, no. I was actually coming from an Aether 9 which I never really got on with. The lack of options to demo one, and middling feedback on climbing put me off a bit.