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thinking of getting a hardtail again and really like the look of these. any experience of them? I currently have a 160 mm 'enduro' / trail bike for everything but want something for local less technical stuff and just messing about on rides with kids etc. thinking it may be a sort of similar bike (albeit a hardtail!)….but perhaps more fun on the less technical stuff.
One of the guys I ride with had a Scout 290 for a while and thought it was fantastic. Looked great in stealth black and looked like it absolutely railed corners.
When I was looking for a hardtail I decided I wanted it to be different to my full suss - which is full on enduro LLS - a Bird Aeris 145Lt (170f/160r travel).
So I looked for something modern but not LLS and it’s hilarious for mucking about on.
66 degree head angle / 425mm chainstays / average seat angle / medium sort of reach (it’s at least 40mm shorter than the Bird). It manuals and pops amazingly and rails corners / berms. On longer / rockier rides it can be hard work (I’ve got bulged lower discs in my back) so that’s where the Bird is used more.
As a pair of bikes they cover most angles nicely. The hardtail is a Vitus Sentier vrx+ frame I got in a sale and built up with 140mm Pikes / a DT wheelset I had / gx 11 speed etc.
Surprised you haven't got any replies, this place is usually quite hardtail friendly… I can't add much except that they look ace and I'm sure that you will not be disappointed.
Haven't owned one but did a few testrides... It's a bit short of reach imo, though the seat tube is pretty short so I didn't have any issues sizing up to a large, and for me well on the excessive side of stiff, very much like my old Mmmbop. But otherwise it's a really nice setup. I got a bigwig instead, which is an incredible lump of a thing, the frame weighs damn nearly as much as my Remedy 29, but takesa bit of that choppiness out of the rear
(obviously just my opinion; some people love a stiff hardtail)
I have a 2016 27.5. Put a 2 degree angleset on it straight away.
Geo is good, nice and modern. No weird surprises with cable routing or standards or anything. Standover nice and low.
Climbs and pedals better than I expected, is very light. Descending is good but it seems to be very very stiff. I've only ridden steel modern geo hardtails (p7, Ragley) and it's much harder work than them.
I've got a 2017 275 with 160mm forks.
Bloody ace - climbs well and descends well.
As others have said it's a bit harsh but bigger volume tyres can help with that.
I have a nukeproof scout 290 2018 and it's great fun. It looks great, climbs well and is surprisingly capable on the descents. I'd say go for it.
2016 290 in large here - I'm 5'10" and a bit with long legs. Fits very well, but I swapped the 50mm stem to a 35mm as I felt a bit too stretched on climbs (note long legs = short body). I believe the newer versions are a bit more compliant on the rear, but don't know if they changed the geometry much. I ride it in the same way as my BMC Trailfox (150mm f/r) and it gets me into a bit of trouble with only 130mm on the front, but very capable. Big rear tyre with an insert would help get rid of those nagging feelings of whacking into stuff at full sus speeds. I use mine when the weather's rubbish or when I'm out with my boys. Or just for a change. Lots of bikes similar, but the Scout does seem good value.
Bit of a stealth ad, but my large 290 is for sale in the classifieds now,
Ace bike but I never really used it
P7s are mint and might fit your bill.
I keep thinking a reasonably rad-angled 29er hardtail might be about ideal for do-it-all-fullness and I have researched the scout 290 a bit.
Not ridden one 🙁 but from what I read the 2018 frame was tweaked for a less stiff/harsh backend, in case this helps you in your search!
Blake from GMBN has just completed Megavalanche on the Scout. Came 144th, first hardtail. All on YouTube, not a bad demo.
I had a 2016 scout 290 pro fir a couple of years. Enjoyed it, a good all rounder. Deffinetly stiff but not a problem for me as it was my fun in the woods bike. Stable and planted descending and climbed pretty well, held a line and didn't wander about. I agree it's not the longest bike, I'm 6ft on a large and sometimes felt like putting a slightly longer stem on it. The fact I didn't shows it was ok for most things. There good bikes, definitely one to at least consider.
Does anyone know when the 2020 Nukeproofs are due out? I've been looking at a scout 290 comp and most places seem pretty much out of stock now
yeah I am thinking it looks good. don't know whether to go medium or large. Im 5'10 with (I think!!) normal reach / legs. I ride a medium YT Capra....and that seems good.
sat on a medium Scout and it seemed fine. Not sure whether a Large would seem too big.
One of my pals Mike bought the 29er Scout about 6 months ago, mainly as he couldn’t justify the Mojo Geometron G1 that I ride and he tried and lusted after big time. (520 reach)
He's 6'2 and definitely needed the Scout XL.
Yeah, its a different bike for sure, but does have a decent reach and is a far far better shape than his old Kon Caldera (yeah, he makes me last).
It's revitalised his enthusiasm for riding and he's not asked for another go on mine. Good sign? I Think so.
For the budget it does seem a good hardtail choice.
Better front tyre needed soon, as he gets faster.
Not helpful (sorry) but a lot of bikes that I’d consider in the category too that are also worth checking out.