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Launched today! Introducing the all-new Nukeproof MegaWatt! Yes, that’s right Nukeproof have taken their World beating Mega Enduro bike and turbo-charged it with Shimano’s excellent Steps EP8 motor and today they’ve launched not one, but three new e-bikes – the Nukeproof MegaWatt 297 Comp, Elite and Factory models.
Given the huge amounts of development on E-MTB’s over the past few years and considering almost all major brands (and a lot of the smaller ones) now have a wide choice of e-mountain bikes in their range it was becoming rather noticeable that Nukeproof hadn’t yet joined the E-MTB party. Nukeproof have not brushed over this fact in their own product launch blurb, stating that they’re a brand who pride themselves on moving carefully from model iteration to model iteration making small incremental improvements as they do so.
Launched today! The Nukeproof MegaWatt is here!…
Waiting until they were confident that the market had matured and that the e-bike motors and battery lives were at a point where Nukeproof were happy to begin to develop their own E-MTB’s the brand began to develop their own bikes. But where to start? For them the answer was obvious – the iconic Nukeproof Mega – their multiple Enduro World Series winning bike; they took the opportunity to develop the new MagaWatt alongside the latest iteration of the Mega, ensuring that their E-MTBs retain all of the performance capabilities of the ‘acoustic’ Mega including its fantastic bike-handling and confident ride quality thanks to its progressive gravity-focused geometry and sensitive suspension configuration.
Nukeproof wanted to ensure that they worked the very best motor and battery partner from the world of E-MTBs and were confident that the Shimano Steps drive system and in particular their latest EP8 motor is more than capable of meeting the demands of aggressive, gravity-focused E-Mountain Biking; going back to our earlier comment regarding Nukeproof waiting for the E-MTB market to mature they felt that now was the time to jump in and work with Shimano knowing that they are able to not only provide leading-edge technology but also have the infrastructure in place to support bike retailers and customers alike when it comes to support during ownership.
Read our detailed product feature about the Shimano Steps EP8 Motor here.
All the fun of a conventional Mega with the added assistance of a powerful EP8 motor to get you back to the top…
You may have already noticed something quite distinctive about the new MegaWatt? Or perhaps the models names have given it away? Yes, that’s right, the MegaWatt is a ‘mullet’ bike – a mixed wheel size bike. This is a growing trend with more and more gravity-focused Enduro bikes featuring this sort of setup; it makes sense on an E-MTB too having a smaller, more compact rear end with shorter chainstays that can be easily manhandled through the tightest downhill singletrack turns while the larger front wheel rolls over rocks and roots more efficiently. There’s real merit too in the theory that the 27.5” wheel outback deals better with the extra forces put through it via the powerful Shimano motor.
All three MegaWatt models feature 170mm of plush rear suspension travel with shocks that have been tuned to balance out the extra forces incurred from the EP8 motor and additional weight of the E-MTB’s drive system; with some clever engineering this means that the bikes feel super supple at the top whilst being progressive and supportive through the entirety of their travel. Nukeproof make a point of explaining that they’ve tweaked the Anti Squat too so that the bike behaves as it should on the downhills before assisting you back to the top in an efficient rider-friendly way – remember, regardless of the motor you still have to pedal!
When it comes to the chassis Nukeproof have designed and constructed a hydroformed 6061 aluminium frame that mirrors the best aspects of its alloy Nukeproof Mega sibling but also features a one-piece cast bottom bracket shell engineered specifically to house the Shimano Steps EP8 motor. Housing the battery in the downtube Nukeproof have managed to engineer in strength and rigidity while still allowing easy access to the battery for charging or transporting. As we’ve already mentioned, the all-new MegaWatt is offered in three specifications Comp, Elite or Factory; the Factory and Elite models use a 630WH battery, while the Comp model uses a slightly smaller 504WH battery, all batteries are from Shimano.
The MegaWatt 297 Comp (RRP £4,999.99) features Shimano’s EP8 motor and a 504WH battery…
A Rockshox Zebb can handle the demands of aggressive, gravity-focused E-MTBing…
Rear shocks have been tuned to handle the extra forces encountered on an E-MTB…
Nukeproof did their homework, bided their time and went with Shimano for their E-MTB drive system…
The MegaWatt Comp features a Shimano Deore groupset…
That compact Shimano Steps EP8 motor sits nice and low, keeping your centre of gravity low and the bike feeling stable at speed…
The ‘297’ in the MegaWatt 297 model name is a clue – this is a mixed wheel size Enduro bike…
Long, low, slack. This may be an E-MTB but the MegaWatt is still very-much aimed at hardcore Enduro riding…
The MegaWatt is built for flat-out speed downhill and efficient pedalling assistance back to the top of your favourite run…
Ok, so we had to wait, but it was worth it! Nukeproof have carefully sat back and watched how the E-MTB market developed and took their time to consider how the technology available could be best used. It wasn’t all together surprising to see them then take that technology and apply it to one of the most successful and influential Enduro bikes on the scene – the Mega. The MegaWatt should be bags of fun – a Mega with an engine, designed to help you get even more time out of your riding; there’s no more need to stand around waiting for an uplift. Once you’ve blasted down your favourite black run just turn and burn back up the hill with the help of that powerful, efficient Shimano Steps EP8 motor.
The addition of that EP8 motor just means more time to shred!…
The all-new Nukeproof Megawatt e-bikes are available in-store and online now! Watch this space…
Written by Johnny Dodgin
Photos – Nukeproof’s own
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