Nukeproof Pulse
In a short space of time Nukeproof have assembled some very good bicycles. They feature good angles, an unbeatable component specification, a solid price with a good paint job and visual…
From Dirt Issue 134 – April 2013
Words by Steve Jones. Photo by Ben Winder.
As a package the new Nukeproof Pulse comes laced with similar quality Sram kit that graced the earlier Scalp model that is also still available. That being X0 derailleur/gears, RockShox BoXXer R2C2, Avid Code brakes, a mix of Nukeproof’s own components in bar, stem and seatpost, and then at the very heart, the mighty Cane Creek Double Barrel shock.
The similarities to their first version continue in angles, and apart from the wheelbase this bike features very close geometry numbers. With a 48.6” wheelbase, a 17.5” chainstay and 14.2” bottom bracket these figures are similar to say an Extra Large Santa Cruz V10, except that the Nukeproof is only available in three sizes, this being the biggest. I believe the X Large Santa Cruz is a good size for a 6ft rider out of the box.
Pricing on the Pulse is good, although it is roughly five hundred pounds more than last years Scalp, still it’s a fair bit cheaper than most aluminium bikes of this spec – you’d have to go Canyon Torque or YT Tues to get anything less expensive for equivalent componentry build. Weight wise the Pulse came in a shade over 40lb.
So what’s new about this bike over the first incarnation, the still available Scalp. “Pretty much everything”, says Martin Astley from Hotlines, UK distributor. “The linkage has been re–engineered to be stiffer and easier to service and access by the user. The suspension rate has changed slightly to make the bike more active and supple in the initial stroke, otherwise the actual suspension action is similar. In the longer chainstay setting (445mm) the bike also has slightly more travel than the Scalp (215mm in the long setting, 210mm in short). The swing arm on the Pulse is much lighter than the Scalp too minimising un–sprung weight.”
At six foot tall, and with several days of riding this size large Pulse under my belt, on some of the Worlds most demanding terrain down in San Romollo, I still feel some way off getting my weight centralized on this bike. This could be down to a number of factors including the damping and the interrelationship of geometry figures up front. Or it’s simply that it’s too small for me. Having said that, static geometry on the Pulse seems reasonably good. Out in Italy I also rode the new RockShox Vivid shocks but really need to ride the production bike with Cane Creek to get another perspective.
Price: £3999.99
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