In an age where people think more is better, the scout race is a break from the status quo. Nukeproof’s all mountain hardtail sports aggressive geometry that you’d find on a five-inch bike but with the nostalgic, childhood feel of your first mountain bike, if you’re over 25 years old that is.
THE TECH
Yes, hardtails still have technology. The Race is Nukeproof’s lower price build and aside from the build shares all the same materials and design as the Comp model above it. Made from custom hydro-formed 6061 T6 aluminum, the Scout was incredibly stiff and responsive. ISCG 05 tabs, a tapered head tube, 12 x142 mm rear axle and 73 mm bottom bracket shell cater to riders looking to ride this thing hard.
Geometry on the Scout blends quick precision with stability. The 66-degree head angle and 16.73-inch chainstays work great with the 13-inch bottom bracket height to instill confi dence and make this bike balanced in a variety of terrain conditions.
Spec is also well planned for a bike in this genre. While some concessions were made for price, Nukeproof was smart enough to know good hubs (Novatec), grippy Schwalbe Hans Dampf tires and a Shimano drivetrain and brakes were not places to skimp. The SLX rear mech and Deore 10-speed shifters worked well and we were once again blown away by the power and performance of the Deore brakes. Most of the bolt-ons were Nukeproof’s own and while they may not be the lightest, they certainly work well. The Rock Shox Sektor GRL fork packs 150 mm of bump-eating travel and while a Pike would make the spec sound better, we really were pleased with the Sektor and quite impressed as a matter of fact.
THE RIDE
Much like hopping on a BMX bike after months away, pedaling away from the parking lot on the Scout felt unnatural and strange for the fi rst few minutes. Once that fi rst wheelie was popped however, our test riders lost 15 years of age and felt a bit of nostalgia. The balance point on the Scout is damn near perfect. Wheelies and manuals came effortlessly as we pedaled down the trail.
As we mentioned before, one of the things we really noticed on this bike was the stiffness. Anyone who’s spent time on a hardtail knows that the smallest undulations in terrain can make for quick gains in speed once technique is perfected and a stiff chassis only helps shoot you out the bottom. We selected a size medium (15-in) for our testing but with our riders being between 5’10” and six-foot, we wished we’d ordered a large on longer rides since the seat post just didn’t give us enough height. On the fl ipside, it worked great for training purposes as it forced us to stand up a lot on the climbs.
After resting our tired muscles at the top we dropped the post and sprinted into just about every descent and felt like heroes as we could pump, pop and pull this little bike any which way we wanted. In Bend, Oregon this bike has proved to be incredibly fun on fl ow or jump trails like Whoops. Being able to maintain speed and effortlessly pop jumps has made it a real crowd pleaser. The Scout combines the old-school hardtail feel with modern-day geometry nicely.
OVERALL
We found this bike ideal for those who live in areas with lots of smoother, fl owy trails full of features or jumps. Conversely, the geometry and build on this bike are stout enough that if you’re a masochist and looking for a relatively inexpensive bike to beat the crap out of in bad conditions or to hone your skills, the Scout is ready and able. Our last reason for recommending this bike is that hardtails are excellent training bikes. Much like we believe riders who learned on hardtails have more fi nesse and better line choices, ditching your squishy bike and spending a few rides a month on a hardtail will keep you smooth, and have you reevaluating line selections. It was really noticeable when apexes in corners were made smoothly or brakes were used improperly. With just a few rides on the Scout we were much faster on both the hardtail and our suspension bikes thanks to the focus and refi nements made while riding the Scout. After the amount of fun we had on this bike, we’d like to offer fair warning to our readers that you will be seeing more all-mountain hardtail reviews to come. If you’ve got the funds, you won’t be sorry. Rattle them bones!
FRAME: T6 Hydro formed Aluminum
FORK: Rock Shox Sektor GRL; 150 mm
SHOCK: N/A
BRAKES: Shimano Deore; 180 mm
HANDLEBAR: Nukeproof Warhead; 760 mm
HEADSET: Nukeproof 44-56
SADDLE: Nukeproof Trail
SEATPOST: Nukeproof Warhead Inline; 31.6
SHIFTERS: Shimano Deore; 10s
STEM: Nukeproof Warhead
HUBS: Novatec
RIMS: WTB SX23
TIRES: Schwalbe Hans Dampf; 27.5 x 2.35”
BOTTOM BRACKET: Shimano
CASSETTE: Shimano HG62
CRANKS: Shimano Deore; 175; 38-26t
DERAILLEUR: Shimano SLX; 10s
WEIGHT: 28-lbs
SIZES: S, M (tested), L, XL
