Nukeproof has updated its Digger gravel bike, promising greater strength and a slacker head angle for backcountry riding. It has several details that make it suitable for bikepacking, too.
This might seem a mish-mash of ambitions, but Nukeproof says the intention of the Digger is to offer “something slightly different” to the majority of gravel bikes on the market.
Nukeproof says the Digger hasn’t been updated in a number of years. While it has now been “totally redesigned”, it shares a similar ethos to its predecessor, which blurred the boundaries between gravel and mountain biking.
“The Digger is designed as a do-it-all training bike, commuter bike and bike to just go out and explore,” says Nukeproof.
The bike is available in three models, with prices ranging from £1,799.99 / $1,899.99 to £2,399.99 / $2,599.99.
‘Soul of a mountain bike’
Nukeproof says the new Digger is designed and specced with the “soul of a mountain bike”, and much of the language used by Nukeproof taps into mountain bike territory.
The frame now has a slacker head tube angle to make the bike more “gravity focused” and the carbon fork on the two lower-specced models is said to smooth out “trail chatter”.
This isn’t too surprising given Nukeproof’s prestige as a mountain bike brand. It recently won BikeRadar’s 2022 Bike of the Year enduro bike category with the Nukeproof Giga 297 Carbon Elite and our inaugural electric mountain bike crown with the Nukeproof Megawatt 297 Factory.
But it does show how the Digger is aimed quite clearly at the more ‘aggressive’ end of the gravel spectrum.
As well as having a slacker head tube angle, Nukeproof says the Digger’s aluminium frame has been redesigned to make it stronger and more reliable on “back country epics”.
The reach of the bike has been increased by 20mm across all sizes. Nukeproof says this allows riders to fit the bike with short stems, improving control in corners and keeping the Digger more like a mountain bike.
The top two models in the current range are fitted with dropper posts, which are becoming more popular on gravel bikes. Nukeproof says the Digger takes a 31.6mm dropper post to benefit from the wide variety of available mountain bike dropper posts.
If the Digger’s gravel-cum-mountain-bike intentions weren’t clear enough, the top-specced model comes fitted with a RockShox XPLR suspension fork with 30mm of travel.
The driveside chainstay has a protector to prevent damage and noise from chain slap.
The Digger comes with 1× drivetrains from SRAM or Shimano and has 700c wheels, but Nukeproof says it can be fitted with 650b wheels.
The bike can fit gravel bike tyres up to 45mm in width, according to Nukeproof. This is relatively conservative compared to some other more aggressive gravel bikes released in recent months. For instance, the Ridley Kanzo Adventure, which similarly lifts heavily from the world of mountain bikes, can fit 2.1in mountain bike tyres and the new 3T Exploro can fit 61mm tyres.
Increased usability
Despite its 'mountain bike soul', Nukeproof has brought bikepacking and all-round practicality within the Digger’s reach.
The new bike has pannier and rack mounts as well as mudguard mounts.
Nukeproof has also dotted the frame with top tube mounts for a Bento box-style bag and there are mounting points on the lower-tier models’ carbon forks.
Nukeproof Digger geometry
| | Small | Medium | Large | Extra large |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach (mm) | 384.78 | 399.15 | 423.71 | 438.02 |
| Stack (mm) | 553.71 | 572.54 | 591.57 | 610.36 |
| Effective top tube length (mm) | 560 | 580 | 610 | 630 |
| Seat tube length (mm) | 460 | 480 | 500 | 520 |
| Seat tube angle (degrees) | 72.41 | 72.41 | 72.41 | 72.41 |
| Head tube length (mm) | 130 | 150 | 170 | 190 |
| Head tube angle (degrees) | 67.41 | 67.41 | 67.41 | 67.41 |
| Chainstay length (mm) | 430 | 430 | 430 | 430 |
| Front centre (mm) | 641.93 | 663.63 | 695.3 | 717.01 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 1,065.27 | 1,087.01 | 1,118.73 | 1,140.47 |
| Bottom bracket drop (mm) | 58.44 | 58.67 | 58.99 | 59.2 |
| Bottom bracket height, 650b (mm) | 279.75 | 279.75 | 279.75 | 279.75 |
| Bottom bracket height, 700c (mm) | 288.5 | 288.5 | 288.5 | 288.5 |
| Stand over height, 650b (mm) | 729.66 | 748.79 | 767.46 | 786.34 |
| Stand over height, 700c (mm) | 738.42 | 757.54 | 776.21 | 795.09 |
| Suspension travel (mm) | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Trail (mm) | 99.17 | 98.96 | 98.61 | 98.48 |
| Fork offset (mm) | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 |
| Maximum seatpost insertion (mm) | 240 | 260 | 280 | 300 |
Nukeproof Digger specs and prices
The Nukeproof Digger is available in three models, in sizes XS to XL.
The three models share the same frame, but the top-specced model has a RockShox XPLR suspension fork and the lower-tiered models have carbon forks.
The models come with either SRAM Rival or Shimano GRX drivetrain and brakes.
Pricing starts at £1,699.99 / $2,199.99 and goes up to £2,799.99 / $3,699.99
Nukeproof Digger RS
- Frameset: Nukeproof Digger V3 aluminium frame with RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR fork
- Brakes: SRAM Rival
- Drivetrain: SRAM Rival 1
- Seatpost: Brand X Ascend Internal 125mm dropper post
- Wheels: DT Swiss GR1600 Spline 25, 700c
- Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Bite 700×45mm, Addix Speed Grip
- Handlebars: Non-Series aluminium in 460mm (S, M, L) or 500mm (XL)
- Price: £2,999.99 / €3,699.99 / $3,399.99 / AU$5,199.99
Nukeproof Digger Factory
- Frameset: Nukeproof Digger V3 aluminium frame and carbon fork
- Brakes: Shimano GRX
- Drivetrain: Shimano GRX
- Seatpost: Brand X Ascend Internal 125mm dropper post
- Wheels: DT Swiss GR1600 Spline 25, 700c
- Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Bite 700×45mm, Addix Speed Grip
- Handlebars: Non-Series aluminium in 460mm (S, M, L) or 500mm (XL)
- Price: £2,399.99 / €2,899.99 / $2,599.99 / AU$4,199.99
Nukeproof Digger Comp
- Frameset: Nukeproof Digger V3 aluminium frame and carbon fork
- Brakes: Shimano GRX
- Drivetrain: Shimano GRX
- Seatpost: Nukeproof Neutron inline
- Wheels: Nukeproof Neutron V2 hubs with STI25 CS rims
- Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Bite 700×45mm, Addix Speed Grip
- Handlebars: Non-Series aluminium in 460mm (S, M, L) or 500mm (XL)
- Price: £1,799.99 / €2,199.99 / $1,899.99 / AU$3,199.99
