The Nukeproof Reactor 290 Carbon Elite: One Bike to do it all

A trail bike that thrives in technical terrain — both up and down. It’s the ultimate option for the rider looking for one bike to do it all.

From concept to design, the Reactor 290 Carbon is built from the ground up to be the ultimate aggressive trail bike. It’s an uncompromising build with a full-carbon frame and 29-inch wheels to maximize rolling efficiency and traction. Specced with a build that leans towards aggressive descending but with kinematics and geometry efficient enough to pedal big miles, it’s a go-anywhere and do-anything machine.

It’s a bike built for all-day epics in backcountry terrain — where a 2,000-foot climb will inevitably lead to a 2,000-foot descent and you need a bike that’ll handle both equally well.

How it Rides

The Reactor was built from the Nukeproof staff’s desire for a quiver-killer mountain bike that climbs well and descends without compromise.

Designed to be poppy, playful and wicked fast, the Reactor’s four-bar Horst link suspension system is supportive while climbing but an absolute hooligan on the descent. Solid mid-stroke support balanced with relatively modest anti-squat gives the Reactor an active rear end that’s shockingly supportive and efficient when pedaling uphill. Anti-squat reduces as you shift down the cassette and pick up speed, making the bike come alive on descents. Balanced anti-rise figures allow the Reactor some squat when braking hard, maintaining rider position and providing a good amount of pressure through the tire to ensure traction.

To optimize weight, strength and stiffness, the Reactor 290 Carbon is made of a full unidirectional carbon frame (including the rear triangle). We tailor the geometry based on wheel size, so this 29er version of the bike is optimized to take full advantage of the larger wheel’s rollover capabilities while still handling like a trail-slaying weapon.

All Reactor frames also feature a “flip chip,” which allows you to adjust the geometry from “Trail” to “Rail” mode. Trail balances optimized geometry for climbing and descending while the Rail mode emphasizes the downhill — dropping the bottom bracket 6mm and slackening the head tube angle by half a degree.

Whatever you’re in to, the Reactor will do it.

The Nukeproof Reactor 290 Carbon Elite Component Details

• Fox 36 Float Performance Elite Series fork & Float X Performance Elite Series shock
• Shimano SLX 12-speed drivetrain
• Shimano SLX 4-piston brakes
• Nukeproof Horizon V2 29-inch tubeless wheels
• Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5 front tire & Dissector 29x2.4 rear tire