Defying the perception that full-fat e-bikes can't be fun and playful, the olive-green Nukeproof Megawatt 297 Factory was a worthy winner of our 2022 E-bike of the Year test. It's now available in navy-blue 2023 trim, but it doesn't look like anything has changed apart from the colour.
THE FRAME
The Megawatt uses the same four-bar 'V4' suspension layout as the brand's racewinning Mega enduro bike, with down tubemounted shock, top tube swinglink and Horst-link chainstay pivot. This provides 170mm of progressive travel. The aluminium frame shows plenty of attention to detail, from integrated chain-slap protection to an accessory mount and down tube bottle mount, plus internally-routed cables, directed through the headset. A Shimano STEPS EP8 motor provides the pedalling assistance, powered by a 630Wh battery, stored within the chunky down tube.
Geometry-wise, the reach isn't super-long (475mm, large) and the chainstays and wheelbase are relatively compact for an e-bike, too, at 442mm and 1,264mm, while it feels like the 349mm bottom bracket height could be lower. The 78-degree seat tube angle is seriously steep, though, while the head angle is a slack 64 degrees.
This story is from the January 2023 edition of Mountain Biking UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2023 edition of Mountain Biking UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BIKETEST BACKCOUNTRY HARDTAILS
We see whether carbon fibre or steel, big-name value or boutique attention to detail comes out on top on the trails
NUKEPROOF MEGAWATT CARBON 297 RS
The original Megawatt proved itself almost instantly, winning our inaugural E-Bike of the Year award in 2022.
CALIBRE LINE T3 29
£1,100 (with £5 GO Outdoors card) Cost-effective proper' mountain bike
FIRST RIDES
STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS
ROUTES QUICK BLASTS
Facing shorter days and inclement weather, Max finds three satisfying routes that show it doesn't have to be an all-day ride or nothing
GRIME TIME
EXPERT WORKSHOP ADVICE
TRAILCREW HAVOK BIKEPARK
A hand-cut, rider-built bike park, Havok reopened earlier this year at a new site in West Yorkshire and is still expanding
From dust it did rise
Steve Thomas traces the birth of British mountain biking, from 'tracker bikes' to Muddy Fox
THROW DOWN THE CAUNTLET
In our final challenge of the series, we see if e-bikes really are as good at climbing as they're cracked up to be, as we tackle Antur Stiniog back to front
THE RIDER OFF YEAR' 23
THE BIG REVEAL! You voted in your thousands - now meet our winners...