When not shredding EWS tracks on the Nukeproof Mega enduro bike, Nukeproof team riders Christo Gallagher and Chris Hutchens can often be found hairing it through the woods on an altogether different breed of dirt bike. The Nukeproof Digger seems to be a useful winter training tool for these fellas, and now its back in a glorious gravel-dedicated GRX-fitted 2020 model. Let’s see what’s new for the gravel Digger.
2020 Nukeproof Digger
The geometry of the alloy frame Nukeproof Digger has remained unchanged since its inception in 2018, and for 2020 it is no different, with a 71.3° head angle and 74° seat tube angle. The bolt-through tapered full carbon fork also remains. Rear hub spacing sits at 12x142mm with 425mm chain stays, setting enough tyre clearance to run a 27.5″ semi-slick 2.1″ wide MTB tyre at most, 27.5″ road plus tyres (47c, as supplied), or 700c wheels with road tyres. The frame features rack mounts and the seat stay bridge is still removable, should you wish to fit a full rear mudguard. So what is new, if anything?
The groupset. The 2020 Nukeproof Digger gets a gravel-dedicated 1×11 groupset in the form of the long-awaited Shimano GRX. The Factory and Digger Comp get a wide range 11-42 cassette with RD-RX812 and RX810 Shadow Plus derailleur, respectively.
The Diggers get flat-mount Shimano GRX brakes with 160mm rotors, front and back; the budget option Comp version gets the RX-600 Levers with RX-400 calipers while the top-end Factory gets the RX-810 Levers with RX-810 calipers, with integrated remote for the 125mm drop BrandX Ascend internally-routed dropper post.
Both models are fitted with WTB Sendero 650b Road Plus tyres, seated onto WTB Serra wheels on the Comp, and upgraded DT Swiss G1800 Gravel wheels on the Factory model. Nukeproof have spec’d the Digger with wide 480/500mm drop handlebars to make the riding position more similar to mountain biking than road biking, while they are wrapped in cork-gel bar tape to take the edge off the trail chatter.
Completing the Nukeproof Digger builds is a Nukeproof Neutron saddle and Warhead headset. The Comp gets a Non Series 7 Degree upsweep stem, while the pricier Factory Digger is finished with a 6 degree upsweep ZIPP stem.
Geometry, Pricing & Availability
The Nukeproof Digger Factory build is priced at £1999.99 (~$2635), while the budget build Comp comes in at £1,499.99 (~$1976). Both are available as of now at Nukeproof retailers.
