It’s official, the Scalp now has a successor in the shape of this Pulse.

Team CRC/Nukeproof have already put the Pulse through its paces at a few smaller races, but this weekend will see its first outing at a World Cup. Despite the complete name change it seems that this new frame is best looked at as a refinement of the Scalp rather than a complete redesign. As you can see below there’s definitely a strong resemblance between the two.

So what’s changed then? Well the construction has to be a key change. The scalp was made from off the shelf tubing whereas the Pulse has custom triple butted hydroformed tubing which Nukeproof claims improves the frames strength to weight ratio. The new tubing is also noticeably more ‘square’. Personally I think it makes the frame look more aggressive, and I like that. The swingarm has also been constructed differently and slimmed down to reduce unsprung weight. There are now less welds and despite being lighter than before the new construction method means that it is stronger than before.

Apart from the old ‘lighter, stiffer, stronger’ stuff there have also been several other tweaks. The geometry has been refined and you now got a longer front end along with a slightly shorter back end. In the interests of fine tuning the rear end is also now adjustable by 10mm. The overall suspension design remains largely unchanged, but after feedback from riders they have tinkered with it slightly. Like I said before, it’s more of an evolution rather than a revolution, but in our eyes that’s no bad thing because the Scalp was already a great bike and if they’ve got the subtle changes right then it could be awesome. Only time will tell…

Here you can see the new dropout arrangement which gives the adjustable chainstay length. Simply flip the chips around and you have 10mm of adjustment. Note that there are also two pairs of holes for mounting the rear brake. This is so that the brake is always perfectly aligned in either setting.

This shot gives you a better idea of the profile of the new custom tubing.

A whilst square might be the new round, it also seems like shock cradles in the downtube are the new ‘must have’.

Two forged pieces which are then welded together make up the heart of the new lighter but stronger rear end.

There’s no doubting that when built up like this the Pulse just looks even more menacing.

Want one? Well I suppose you might want to know how much one is going to set you back. And the definite answer to that is still to be finalised but the current figures being banded about are around £1799.99 with a Vivid shock, or £1999.99 with a Cane Creek Double Barrel. That is a bit more than the Scalp, but we still reckon it’s very competitively priced.

And here’s the official press release…

Nukeproof Pulse Downhill Race Frame Launch

After much anticipation and online speculation we’re pleased to finally release details of the Nukeproof Pulse, our next generation downhill race frame.

The evolution of our highly regarded Nukeproof Scalp, the Pulse is the product of two seasons of tweaking, tuning, testing and valuable rider input from Team CRC/Nukeproof. The outcome? A premium performance frame which combines updated geometry and enhanced design features for a hugely improved ride dynamic, ready to take on the best in the world.

The Pulse is a pure-bred race animal with superb durability and an instinct for winning firmly planted in its DNA. Built using T6 6061 aluminium with custom triple butted hydroformed tubing for a perfectly balanced strength to weight combination, the Pulse also boasts an adjustable chainstay option courtesy of our ‘Style Fit’ system. Whatever the hill throws at you, we have the weapon to match it – allowing you to alter the wheelbase by 10mm depending on the type of track you’re riding, your height or riding style (long setting = 445mm, short setting = 435mm). This bike will perform above and beyond your expectations on any terrain.

It’s all about the detail

Our engineers designed the Pulse with a view to improving every individual part, from tubing and bearings to cable guides and pinch bolts refining each one as they went. Working alongside our Team Mechanics, we’ve made the Pulse not only functional and dependable from a rider’s perspective, but we’ve designed it specifically to be easily serviceable, with improved bolt and shock access too.

The detail’s in the ride

At the beating heart of the Pulse is an instinctive platform that’s been fine-tuned to take on the world’s highest, fastest, steepest and most gnarly trails – pushing you to ride on the edge of what’s possible. We’ve refined the linkage to increase stiffness, resulting in a more stable bike and a smoother suspension feel throughout the stroke of the shock. We’ve also slimmed down the swingarm significantly, minimising the unsprung weight and improving square edge bump compliance without compromising strength. Our Split Forge System allows us to utilise the material properties of the frame to provide a stronger yet lighter yoke while reducing the number of welds, allowing a larger area to disperse any loads and forces applied.

Specs:

– T6 6061 Aluminium Frame construction

– Custom Triple Butted Hydro-formed tubing

– Adjustable Chain Stay Length

– Enclosed 1-Piece linkage

– 1.5” Headtube

– 215mm-210mm travel

– 150mmX12mm rear axle

– 83mm BB Shell

– ISCG 05

– Shock Length 240X76mm

– Chain Stay – 435mm/445mm

– BB Height +17mm

– Head Angle – 63 degrees

– Weight – TBC

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www.nukeproof.com

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