Nukeproof
Reactor 290 Factory
Medium
Kraken Blue

Purchasing Steps from BikeCo.com (The Bike Company)

Place Your Deposit
Our team will contact you to go over common questions including common part swaps / upgrades, tuning considerations, initial setup requirements, etc.
Your bike will be built and setup for you including delivery documentation to help you better understand and fine tune the bike’s performance.

Remainder of balance is due at pickup or prior to shipment.
Delivery consultation on-site or available by phone / video conference goes over FAQ on a new MTB or eMTB highlighting common questions on suspension setup, bedding brakes, bolt checks, cockpit and seating fit, etc.
Our team will follow up several times after delivery to help you better understand minute adjustments. And of course we’re always available by phone, email or chat!

Availability Definitions:

IN-STOCK and Available Now!
Typically ready for pickup or shipment within 2-4 business days.
Custom components may change this window (we will advise).

AVAILABLE: Secure this Bike
Shows in-stock at the vendor (stock updated as often as possible).
Order is processed & shipped to BikeCo (typically 3-7 working days), built by BikeCo (usually on the day the product lands at BikeCo) for pickup or shipment.

PRE-ORDER: Due 1st week of XXX
Part of a inbound BikeCo order or shows available in this time window.
May be later or earlier than predicted depending on product availability.
Bike is due at vendor, will be quality checked, processed and shipped. (typically 3-14 business days) Built by BikeCo for delivery.

When you buy a bike from BikeCo.com you’re not getting simply a forwarded box.

Our team goes through quality control checks, builds, tunes and provides a base setup for each bike. This allows us a better chance to find the rare mechanical warranty issue, to ensure that the linkage and bearings are properly setup.

A suspension setup guide is provided and our team will begin working with you to ensure as your riding develops with your new bike suspension settings, cockpit setup, tire pressures, etc are addressed to keep you progressing.

Since we build every bike we can also offer part swaps and upgrades our competition simply cannot!

Looking for different tires? Brakes? Cockpit or Seating? Not a problem. Our team is happy to help you. Chat with our sales team about during and after purchase incentives on riding gear and accessories as well!

Your new bike typically will arrive with an absolute minimum of work required to get you on the trails. Usually this involves installing the handlebars, adjusting the headset and mounting the front and rear wheel. It’s that easy – and if you have questions you have access to the sales team and a variety of videos from BikeCo.com to help you.

Questions? No problem. Hit us up.

Reactor 290 Suspension Details

Nukeproof Reactor 290 Linkage

The Reactor 290 features multi-link suspension. Spring support is transferred through a rocker (or bell crank, or pivot – whatever you like) link to the seatstays which applies the support against the input from the rear wheel.

This creates several angles of interest which mechanically control what percentage of the spring rate is transferred to the wheel.

At each pivot point the spring support is transferred along the linkage the angle of that input dictates the percentage of the spring rate that is resisting the input. Quick example: a spring with a 300 lb output  at a 90 degree applied angle will apply 300 lbs. As the angle changes the percentage changes based on the sin of the new angle. Sin of 90 = 1, sin of 80 (10 degrees more acute) = .9848, sin of 100 (10 degrees more obtuse) is also .9848.

The leverage ratio of these pivots also factors in – but for this let’s look at the Reactor 290’s concept and not completely reverse engineer the design.

This suspension model was build with the flip chip setup with the pivot in the more “forward” position (which would produce the slacker headtube and taller bottom bracket configuration).

At full extension the Reactors’s rear suspension sits with the shock to crank link about 75 degrees and the seatstay link to bell crank linkage is obtuse around 116 degrees.

As the suspension sits into sag (illustrated at 30%) the shock to bell crank link becomes increasingly obtuse (angle increases) while the seatstay linkage angle becomes more acute (angle is decreasing).
Spring to linkage 87, linkage to seatstay 98.

Shown at compression the shock to link sits at approximately 117 degrees and the seatstay to link more acute – sitting about 62 degrees.

When you combine these angles you find extension at 191, sag at 185 and compressed at 179. This means as the suspension is compressing the upper linkage is generating a slightly rising mechanical advantage (the spring is applying at closer and closer to 1:1 as the sine is adjusted).

Going a step further let’s look at the lower pivot point and how it helps interpret the spring and ground force balance.

The illustrations show a combination of 90 degrees to the ground to the chainstay pivot and then the angle between the chainstay and seatstay. For ease we’re going to combine them.

At Extension its about 124 degrees, at Sag closer to 119 and Compressed around 110 degrees. Since these factors are closing towards 90 degrees (or 1:1) the mechanical advantage is also rising on the lower pivot assembly.

Above you see the factors classically graphed.

The blue line represents the spring to link and link to seatstay combined angles. Note that unlike the larger travel Mega the arc continues down through its stroke. This means the the mechanical advantage is continuing to rise during compression.

The green graph shows the angular change for the lower pivot between the ground vertical and seat stay. Like the upper arc it continues a steady decline.

Below is a reinterpreted version of this graph that might be easier to grasp the rising / falling concept (inverted from previous)

Both the arcs illustrate rising mechanics with a relatively small diameter arch compared to longer travel Nukeproof bikes we’ve mapped.

Combining all the angles (disregarding the lever differences) it makes sense to see increasing mechanical advantage (since both linkage points are increasing).

Let’s invert the graph for a more intuitive view of the concept.

Above we’ll show the combined angles reinterpreted to help with more “logical” rising and falling comparison.

The Reactor’s 130mm design’s increasing mechanical angular advantage helps produce a vibrant, poppy bike. Looking at the arc from the Sag point the suspension is designed to allow good small bump compliance while the increasing advantage helps the shock provide support deeper in the travel.

Let’s compare the Reactor and the larger travel Mega’s combined angle advantage for an example of how different travel bikes feature various accommodations for tuning.

Let’s reinterpret the graph a bit logging 30% sag as the reference so we can better illustrate the comparative arcs plotted together.

Both the 130mm travel Reactor and the 160mm travel Mega have falling rates of mechanical angular advantage in droop travel (from sag to completely extended). In fact the combined angles are extremely close.

Sag: Reactor ~ 304 and Mega ~306

At Extension the numbers are similar as well: Reactor ~ 315 and Mega ~318.

When compressed the variance is greater with the Reactor ~ 289 and the Mega ~298.

When we review the arcs a lot of the suspension’s personality and its interaction with the damper can be seen.

Note on the Mega with it’s longer travel, longer shock and longer pivot lengths the mechanical advantage rate is rising until approximately 70% of the stroke or so. Then it starts to dip back down.

Compare this to the smaller travel and “poppier” riding 130mm Reactor. Droop travel shows near parallel advantage and rise when charted. However as the bike sits deeper than sag the mechanical advantage illustrates two major personality differences.

First, it continues to rise for the entity of its length and second it rises at a greater rate per mm of travel.

This generates a more, I’ll say lively response from the fully compressed shock. Which, balanced with the lower travel, since you’d be using “full” travel in smaller terrain than on the larger bike makes sense.

Now to tune this Nukeproof has provided the best shocks on the market.

The larger travel Mega also features the more robust Float X2 shock with high an low speed compression as well as volume spacing. This gives riders range to tune “against” the mechanical drop near the end of the stroke for mom pop or support deeper into the travel.

On the 130mm Reactor the FOX Float X is spec’d with low speed compression as well as volume tuning options. For riders looking for the ultimate “plush” air suspension setup on the Reactor chat with our team about a BikeCo Pro Tune on the Float X. Using proprietary oil weights, unbeatable bleed techniques as well as (well – let’s say 7 secret herbs and spices right?) our team can fine tune the suspension’s performance for your size, riding style, terrain, ground speeds and setup.

I highly recommend the BikeCo Pro Tune on the X2 as well as the improved bleed and oil flow create a notably more consistent feel through travel and heat ranges.

What does this all mean?

Back to the Nukeproof Reactor specifics!

The Reactor’s suspension is designed to balance a plush pedaling platform with increasing support deeper in the shock’s stroke for more “pop” (or returned energy to the bike). This means as you pump the trail the Reactor will help you actively accelerate as the suspension absorbs and reapplies is energies.

Looking a little deeper you’ll see the instant center intersections illustrated extending from the linkage to seatstay and chainstay. Now there are A LOT of concepts around about the perfect fit for this and this isn’t a suspension thesis. What I will say is that having the instant center arcing near the bottom bracket, where the majority of your weight is loaded downhill TENDS (if the rest of the design is doing what it should!) to produce bikes that are easy to “drive” from your feet during direction changes, or planting them back down, etc.

The Instant Center on the Reactor varies from near the chainstay pivot at full extension to forward and slightly lower than the center of the bottom bracket at compression.

On the Mega the instant center travels from ahead of the bottom bracket and slightly above the chainstay pivot much further forward and down comparatively.

Both bikes ride as expected for their class – so I’m going to leave that data uninterpreted at the moment – but figured readers might enjoy a little more data that our suspension team takes into account.

Overall the Reactor’s suspension is what you’d expect on an aggressive trail bike. The Float X damper gives riders more tuning capacity than the lighter DPS option would as well as a bit more heat capacity.

The design and shock spec lends itself to heavier from down-country through into enduro trails. Lighter than average riders will find the Reactor comfortable and confident in larger terrain for the class, but might consider Pro Tune or damper options if spec’ing a down-country or trail endurance type bike.

Too Much? Too Soon? Well, when you buy from BikeCo.com you don’t have to be a suspension setup expert. We are. And we take the initial deliver as well as setup adjustments as clients acclimatize to their bikes very seriously. Our team will help you with initial setup tips and be in touch to talk you through fine tuning and changes as your ground speeds increase! Learn more about the advantage of buying from The Bike Company in Lake Forest CA below.

Advantages of Buying from BikeCo.com

There are notable advantages to purchasing your new eMTB or MTB from The Bike Company (BikeCo.com).

Since 1999 sport to race level MTB, and eMTB as it came about, is all we’ve done. We strive to bring the best products across a wide range of price points to our clients. You’re not going to see “almost” bits here – what we carry are the proven best in MTB parts. No nonsense, no guessing. If we carry it we will ride it from bikes to riding gear to maintenance bits and tools – it’s here because it deserves to be.

Possibly more valuable to our clients is the level of after sales support and access to fine tune suspension, cockpit setup, tire choices, etc.

We take great pride in helping our clients improve their riding experiences. When you take delivery of a new bike, or suspension from BikeCo.com our team will be reaching out after delivery to go over performance and answer any setup questions you might have. Totally new to the sport? Don’t worry: our team will ask leading questions to help us understand what you’re feeling on trail and what settings might help tune your bike to perfection.

Want to take your bike’s performance to the next level? Chat with our team about BikeCo Pro Tune Suspension!

Reactor 290 Fork Travel Options

Stock from Nukeproof: 150mm

The Nukeproof Reactor 290 is spec’d with a 150mm fork from the factory.  This provides the 65 degree headtube angle across all sizes from Small – XX-Large in the Rail flip chip setting and 65.5 in the Trail setting.

140mm Option

Most riders will gravitate to the 150mm fork option, however, if you’re looking for the lightest or quickest handling Nukeproof Reactor the 140mm fork option would be an option. Weight wise you’re likely looking at a wash when you have taller bars on the bike (to make up for the height drop) but the steeper headtube angle would reduce the bike’s trail and advance its handling personality in quick or tight (really tight though to be honest) sections.

Air Spring & Volume Spacers

The FOX 36 provides riders a range of setup options using air spring as well as volume spacers.

Suggested sag is 15% for a firm feel and 20% for a plush fork.

Volume Spacers

The 150mm FOX 36 is factory spec’d with 2 volume spacers (bike manufacturers may or may not change this). The 150mm fork can carry a maximum of 7 volume spacers.

Do not install more volume spacers than the FOX advises. Installing more than the maximum volume spacers will result in  product damage and potential for injuries, etc.

FOX 36 Factory Tuning Guide

Want to learn more about the FOX forks? Check out there FOX 36 Factory Tuning Guide Here (opens in new tab)

Or, simply webchat, email or call BikeCo for insight on which fork is right for your riding style and aspirations.

FOX GRIP2: High & Low Rebound

The GRIP2 damper provides both Low (LSR) and High (HSR) rebound controls.

The addition of the High Speed or HSR control provides increased rebound control to account for the higher PSI produced by aggressive or heavier riders.

Typically riders will adjust LSR, Low Speed Rebound, to suit riding style and taste and refer to FOX’s guide for the appropriate HSR, High Speed Rebound, pairing.

FOX GRIP2 Compression Controls

The FOX GRIP2 damper provides Low and High speed compression controls to fine tune support.

Compression circuits hydraulically damp (or slow) the fork’s input assisting the air spring in providing appropriate mid-stroke and bottom out feel.

Low Speed Compression helps provide mid-stroke support. This allows a bike to ride taller in the travel in cornering while resisting brake dive, rider weight shift and other slow shaft speed inputs.

High Speed Compression works to fine tune bottom out feel as well as other high shaft speed inputs also known as square edge bumps. Example: if you sprint straight into a curb you’re likely to engage the High Speed Compression even if you’re not using full travel. This is due to the speed of the shaft moving oil to compensate for the hit.

Air Spring & Volume Spacers

The Nukeproof Reactor 290 uses a 210x50mm shock.

The spec’d Fox Float Factory X is the most popular based on its wide variety of setup options.

SAG is adjusted by PSI – typically Trail/Enduro riding styles gravitate to 25-30% sag. This would measure about 15mm for a plush setup.

Volume Spacers

Volume spacing provides fine tuning options to support the air spring.

By adding volume spacers, thus reducing the volume, you increase the air spring’s ramp rate for improved bottom out support and pop.

Conversely removing volume spacers produces a more linear feel as the air has more volume during shock compression per mm of travel.

Do not install more volume spacers than the FOX advises. Installing more than the maximum volume spacers will result in  product damage and potential for injuries, etc.

FOX Factory X Rebound Controls

Below is the rebound adjustment on the FOX Factory Float X

The Factory Float X features a low speed rebound control.

Some Rebound Setup Basics:
Typically higher ground speed means a faster rebound setting.
Heavier riders will use higher rebound settings to better control the increased PSI on the shock’s piston.
Your Rebound Settings will likely change as you progress – this is normal!

One of the advantages working with BikeCo.com is a resource to help you stay on top of your settings. We love to stay in contact with our clients and help them fine tune suspension, wheels, tires and cockpits as their riding progresses.

FOX Factory Float X Compression Controls

The Float X provides an on-the-fly switch as well as low speed compression controls.

You can see the compression control positioning on the Float X below.

The FOX Factory Float X provides 2 compression controls.

The blue dial above offers 11 clicks of low speed compression control. The low speed compression will help riders fine tune available support into corners or terrain. Paired with volume spacing riders can also adjust bottom out compression and feel for a more progressive, poppy, shock.

PSI / Spring Rate

MTB suspension must accommodate a wide range of rider weight. To achieve this nearly all forks and rear shocks use an adjustable air spring.

By varying air pressure riders set a desired sag, or percentage of travel that the bike “sits into” under neutral loading.

Modifying this sag percentage will change small bump compliance as well as bottom out characteristics.

Learning how to Pre-Charge your suspension pump will help you make finite adjustments to sag.

Typically 15% sag is for a firm setup and 20% sag is considered plush.

Air Spring Fine Tuning Control(s): Volume Spacers & Compression

Volume Spacers
Air springs ramp rate, sometimes called Spring Rate, is based on how air compresses in the containment cylinder. As the air is compressed the PSI increases according to the decreasing volume of the containment. This is done via non-compressible volume spacers in the air chamber.

Compression.
Hydraulic damping assists air spring providing support in mid-stroke and bottom out.

Opposing Control: Rebound.
Higher spring rate will drive the suspension back to neutral with more force than a lower spring rate. To keep the bike from skipping across trail rebound damping is utilized.

Volume Tuning

As suspension compresses (travel reduces) a piston moves closer to the end of a sealed container. By decreasing the volume of the container the PSI pushing back on the piston is increased.

By adding or removing non-compressible volume spacers riders modify the air spring’s ramp rate which directly changes the amount of support and bottom out feel of the fork or shock.

By removing volume spacers a rider increases the available volume in the suspension. The larger volume compresses less per mm of travel resulting in a lower PSI per mm of travel. This creates less support and is utilizes more travel.

Adding volume spacers decreases the available volume. With less air volume the PSI per mm of travel increases providing more support and greater resistance to bottom out.

Opposing Control: Rebound.
Rebound may need to be adjusted for volume tuning depending on how drastic of a PSI change is being tuned in or out of the suspension.

“Helping” Control: Compression.
Compression provides additional support and bottom out resistance.

Compression

Compression controls provide damping to slow suspension travel as a load is applied and the suspension is compressed. (easy one right?)

When riders have found sag and volume spacing preferences compression controls provide minute adjustments to dial in performance. Adding compression provides more support allowing the suspension to ride taller in its travel which is important when dialing in a bike’s personality in corners, etc.

With too little compression a bike will sit deep in the travel. This compromises cornering and braking force resistance. Headtube angle, bottom bracket height, front to rear weight bias, etc are modified as a bike goes through its travel. Maintaining control of the use of travel is paramount for good performance.

Since compression hydraulically slows the suspension’s use of travel it therefor lowers the air spring’s PSI. Properly setting compression controls will help ease the load on the rebound system by controlling the air spring’s push back onto the rebound circuit.

Too much compression will cause a bike to feel harsh and not use appropriate amounts of travel.

Generally, compression settings are fine tuned after sag and volume spacing have riders “in the ballpark.”

Low speed compression controls mid-stroke as well as support in cornering and against brake dive.

High speed compression helps with bottom out and high shaft speed inputs.

3 positions switches are a type of compression circuit with Open the most plush, Mid providing some additional support and Firm for climbing. If you climb in firm remember to put it back to plush for the downhill or you’re in for a potentially rough ride.

Rebound

Rebound damping controls a suspension’s shaft speed returning to a neutral position. Or, how fast the air spring pushes back as the load changes.

More rebound damping slows the suspension by decreasing the amount of fluid allowed to pass through the hydraulic design.

Less rebound damping allows the suspension to return faster with less hydraulic restriction on the damper.

Rebound setting is based on weight, ground speed, terrain and aggression. Setting the rebound properly means finding the right frequency or feel for your riding.

If your rebound is too fast, or doesn’t have enough clicks of rebound, the bike will tend to skip and suffer poor small bump compliance.

When the rebound is too slow, or you have too many clicks of rebound, the suspension may “pack up” creating a harsh ride as each bump uses progressively more travel forcing the suspension deeper into the travel, which will have higher spring rates.

Opposing: Air Spring PSI / Spring Rate.

“Helping” Control: Low & High Speed Rebound.

Some suspension is designed with 2 rebound circuits. The High Speed Rebound circuit is designed to provide additional control resisting increased PSI late in suspension travel.

Typically High Speed Rebound settings are used as the Low Speed Rebound controls edge towards closed. Example: you might not use any clicks of High Speed Rebound until you reach “X” clicks on the low speed.

Nukeproof Reactor 290 Factory Spec:

Frame:
Nukeproof Reactor 290 Carbon, 130mm Travel

Fork:
Fox Float 36 Factory Kashima 150mm, 44mm offset, 29”, 110×15

Shock:
Fox Factory Float X 210x50mm

Wheels:
DT Swiss XM1700 Spline 30

Front Tires:
Maxxis Assegai 29×2.5″ 3C MaxxGrip EXO+

Rear Tires:
Maxxis Dissector 29×2.4″ MaxxTerra EXO+

Brakes:
Shimano XT M8120 4 piston

Brake Rotors:
Shimano 203mm Front / 180mm Rear

Cranks:
Shimano XT M8100 170mm, 32t

Chain Guide:
N/A

Rear Derailleur:
Shimano XT M8100 SGS

Shift Lever:
Shimano XT M8100 12sp

Cassette:
Shimano Deore M6100-12 10-51t

Chain:
Shimano XT M8100 12sp

Headset:
Nukeproof 44-56 IITS

Grips:
Nukeproof Sam Hill Signature

Handlebar:
Nukeproof Horizon V2
S/M = 12mm Rise 780mm Wide
L/XL/XXL = 25mm Rise 800mm Wide

Stem:
Nukeproof Horizon 45mm

Seatpost:
BikeYoke Divine Stealth with Brand-X Remote
S: 125mm, M: 160mm, L-XXL: 185mm

Saddle:
Nukeproof Black

Reactor 290 Factory Build Frequent Swaps

Below are some common swaps for the Nukeproof Reactor 290 Factory Complete

Reactor 290 Factory Build Frequent Swaps

Common swaps:

Faster Tires: Assegai / Dissector is an aggressive choice! Looking for a more common Trail / Light Enduro setup? Maybe DHF Front, DHR II rear, DHF front and rear or DHF front and Aggressor rear? We’ve got you.

Brakes: Magura and TRP are the most common changes here. Magura has more modulation while the Shimano come on a bit stronger. Riders who like Modulation may gravitate to the revised Hope 4 options which bring notably more power to the Hope lineup. TRP brakes are gaining traction for riders who like the Shimano feel but may want a touch more modulation from the longer brake lever.

Wheels: Onyx silent hubs, Chris King hubs, and Industry Nine are at home on a build at this level. We work with a range of carbon rims to allow you to fine tune rim width and stiffness as well. Wheels are a BIG part of a bike’s personality so chat with our team to get it right the first time!

Cockpit: If you have a cockpit you like let’s get it on the bike. Or upgrade to a carbon bar or 35mm combination to find tune your build.

Seating: Like cockpit, if you have a saddle or seatpost you love its a common change across all the builds.

SRAM Wireless Shifting: Upgrade to wireless shifting at time of purchase.