Nukeproof’s formidable yet sometimes overlooked Mega TR has always been a great bike for those looking to explore new trails and have fun on the way. For 2015, it retains the hard-hitting edge we’ve come to love, but gets aesthetic refinements and an updated spec that should unlock even more of its potential. We hit the trails on the top-of-the-range Mega TR Pro at its launch in Spain to find out for ourselves.
Frame and equipment: stout and superbly specced
Beneath the TR Pro’s matt black finish is a stout, hydroformed 6061-T6 alloy tubeset, beefed up with a 142x12mm rear end and a straight 44mm head tube that’ll take a tapered-steerer fork. Nukeproof’s Erosion Link suspension system dishes out a comfortably progressive 130mm (5.1in) of travel, and neat cable routing, ISCG-05 tabs and room for a bottle cage round things off nicely.
A mix of SRAM’s superb X01 and X1 kit takes care of stop/go duties
While the TR shares its silhouette with the longer-travel Mega AM, its lighter tubing adds a touch more versatility. The 67-degree head angle delivers a good balance of cornering agility and descending stability, the sloping top tube provides ample standover room and the steep 73.5-degree seat angle helps maintain front wheel grip when climbing.
The Pro sits at the top of the three-bike Mega TR range with a spec to match, including a mix of SRAM’s superb X01 and X1 transmission kit and Guide RS brakes, Schwalbe’s Magic Mary and Rock Razor combo on tubeless-ready rims, a 125mm RockShox Reverb Stealth post, 50mm stem and 760mm bar. Suspension duties are handled by a 150mm (5.9in) travel RockShox Revelation up front and a custom-tuned Monarch RT3 DebonAir shock in the rear.
Ride and handling: hungry for long-travel territory
The first thing we noticed about the Mega TR was the comfy ride position – for our 5ft 10in tester, the large frame was a near perfect fit. Taller riders may struggle though, because the XL size is only 27mm longer. The next thing that becomes obvious is that, while climbing isn’t where the TR really shines, the 32t chainring and wide-range 10-42t cassette, steep seat angle and harder compound rear rubber certainly help proceedings.
Well-considered kit makes the Mega TR a reasonable climber, but it's always itching to feel the pull of gravity
It’s when you aim the TR downhill that it purrs into life though. This is a bike that begs to be launched off and into the kind of terrain you’d normally only tackle on a longer-travel bike. But when the gradient begins to flatten and these bigger-hitters become too much bike for the task at hand, the TR’s shorter travel and snappier geometry help keep things lively and fun.
The Schwalbe combination and Monarch DebonAir shock ensure it remains composed, no matter what you throw at it, while the Guide brakes, wide bar and short stem provide masses of control, making this a seriously fun ride.
This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
via BikeRadar.com http://ift.tt/1FtjxNa
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