The middle Ramp Control mode actually performs pretty much the same function as the external lever that was used on the shock body on the previous Genius and Ransom. That is a very big change about twice as much as what youd expect from a traditional flip chip, whilst maintaining the rest of the bikes geometry. The rear end is much firmer and more responsive, giving the Spark RC a similarly tight and energetic feel as the short travel Trek Supercaliber. Using the 2.4in Wide Trail casing, these are a perfect match for 30mm wide rims, providing a nice high volume profile with fantastic damping qualities and noticeably more grip than the skinnier versions. I know a lot of bikes say you're able to run the chip how ever you want with either wheel size but scott really only mentions running it in the high position if you're switching to 27.5. It allows you to quickly and easily adapt the suspension on-the-fly, with settings that are optimised for climbing and descending. tires offer little grip and puncture protection. How spritely is the bike, how agile is it through corners, how much fun is it in tight sections and how quickly can it change direction?, Is the bike stable at high speeds? Stem Syncros FL2.0 50 mm - Lively & light-footed ride quality - Headset cable routing With its bright orange paint job, futuristic one-piece Syncros Hixon cockpit and the deep Syncros Revelstoke carbon wheels, it looks as fast as a speeding bullet. It looks mean too. Both models feature 120mm of rear wheel travel, but there are some key differences between them. Out of the bikes that compete directly with the new Scott Genius, its the Trek Fuel EX that weve been riding the most recently. Thedynamic seat angle feels even steeper when you select the Traction Control mode, putting your hips further over the BB when youre heading uphill. The FIT4 damper isnt as tuneable, and its less composed on more violent impacts, but once bedded in its offered great sensitivity and comfort. The TwinLoc system continues to offer useful fingertip control of the suspension, with the middle Traction Control mode providing a firm platform for sprinting uphill and speeding along smoother sections of trail. Those would be the black or double-black-diamond tracks in a bike park. If the climb is smoother, flipping the TracLoc lever into the Climb mode closes off the compression damping. One minor annoyance with the fork is that Scott, being a lover of Torx hardware, has replaced the standard 6mm pinch bolt in favour of a T25 version. At 12.84 kg, the SCOTT Genius 900 Tuned is the second lightest bike on test and in combination with the fast-rolling tires, aggressive riding position and TwinLoc system, the bike flies uphill! North Bergen, NJ Map & Directions - MapQuest To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that. If you detest remotes, this bike simply wont be for you. However, experienced riders can have a lot of fun even with unbalanced bikes., How sensitive is the suspension over small bumps? The seat angle is over two degrees steeper than the old frame, moving to 77. SM (low, high), MD (low, high), LG (low, high), XL (low, high). You've been subscribed to our newsletter. What Is a Flip Chip If youre willing to take advantage of the TwinLoc remote, the Genius offers proper trail-tuning adaptability that allows it to descend with an incredibly plush and floaty ride quality, while offering dynamic support and pedal clearance on the climbs. On top of that, Trek gives you in-frame storage, guided internal cable routing and a threaded BB. It eventually ends up at the headset, where the polystyrene foam causes an annoying squeak on every hard compression. The new Genius encourages a more calm and calculated attack on technical climbs How do you define a contemporary trail bike? Shimanos finned brake pads rattled away in the callipers, which can be partially solved by spreading out the pad springs, or by replacing the pads entirely with a non-finned variety. Electronic fantasies aside, it is worth noting that you dont have to run the TwinLoc remote or the Nude shock on the Genius. Scott updated the Genius suspension with a Virtual 4 Link design and integrated a trunnion-mounted shock in an upsidedown orientation. The Spark 910 comes fitted with a 130mm travel Fox 34 Performance Elite fork, which weighed in at 1,720g with a chopped steerer tube and the Kabolt thru-axle. Web2.5D and 3D Packaging. The magic word is TwinLoc: the levers on the handlebar let you simultaneously adjust the shock and the fork between Open, Traction and Lockout mode, making for an enormously efficient bike. You only get 20mm of spacers underneath the stem however, which does limit adjustability. Through little holes and compressions, the Scott feels playful and poppy. Speaking of performance, the SRAM X01 AXS derailleur delivers impressively crisp and direct shifting, but the more affordable and heavier SRAM GX cassette doesnt fit the weight-optimised picture. While you dont get Nino Schurters power with the SCOTT Genius 950, what you do get is one of the most efficient trail bikes in its class. Explore, search and compare thousands of the worlds best mountain bikes here on Mountain Bike Database. - VLK Virtual 4 Link rear suspension design - Scott TwinLoc TSP system provides three suspension modes (Lockout, Traction Control, Descend) for shock and fork via handlebar-mounted remote - Rear, - Sine Suspension System- Geometry adjustable via flip chip in upper link- Internal cable routing- Can be switched to 125mm or 150mm rear travel with conversion kit- Compatible with mixed/Mullet, It's 2020 people. Our souped-up Spark RC accelerates faster, both off the start line and during mid-race overtaking manoeuvres. Have a suggestion? Fast, fleet-footed and efficient those who want to speed along flowy singletrack and gravel roads need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. We interpret XC more like the Americans do: big back-country rides instead of a marathon or XC World Cup with the ultimate in lightweight construction! Thats something youll need to pay close attention to if you wanted to upgrade to a bigger travel dropper. It lets riders change the headtube/seattube angles and bottom bracket height via eccentric (offset, two-position) hardware located on the upper rocker arm. The SCOTT Genius 950 is a good all-rounder, showing its strengths particularly on the climbs and on fast, flowing trails. The suspension stays active enough to allow the tyres to drive for grip, but because it also increases compression damping on both the shock and fork, theres noticeably more feedback on square-edge hits. The theme of integration extends up to the cockpit on the new Scott Genius. While it is impressively engineered, the Scott Genius isnt the quietest bike. To access the shock and its adjustments, youll find a large plastic hatch underneath the downtube. That continues to be the case on the new Genius. This fork still uses 34mm diameter stanchions, but features a narrower chassis that is optimised for its 100-120mm travel range. If a bike is unbalanced, the rider has to work hard to weight the front wheel to generate enough grip. When trails were interspersed with rough or techy situations, I was inclined to leave the bike wide open and rely on its improved kinematics to maintain efficient power output. Along with its hollowed and stepped lowers, the result is a weight reduction of over 200g. Those are the six major differences between the Scott Spark RC and the regular Spark, though there are some further areas for tweaking if youre searching out the raciest possible setup. The adjustable head angle is a brilliant feature, and we like that the shock is hidden away from the elements. The low bottom bracket ensures that the rider feels very integrated with the bike. If the bike does bob in the Open mode, you can put an end to that by shifting the suspension into Traction mode. This allows Scott to spec a fork damper that prioritises adjustability and big-hit control over having a lockout. The Tech Behind the ALL-NEW GENIUS | Scott The BB is 5mm lower to the ground, and the chainstays are a fraction longer. The Float X Nude in the Genius ST is even more supportive thanks to its larger bottom-out bumper. You can see the detailed specs and prices on all of those models down at the bottom of this review. - Tight rear tyre clearance Tires MAXXIS Rekon 2.6. It refers to both simple and technical climbs. Cornering, the SCOTT is balanced and direct, ducking and weaving through tight trails with ease. Here well be taking you through all of the new tech, as well as our experience of testing the brand new Scott Genius. - Stealthy frame design hides shock from the elements As with the Spark, the Scott Genius features a nifty sag indicator thats built into the rocker link. Shock FOX FLOAT EVOL Performance 150 mm While the functionality of the Nude shock is shared across the lineup, our Spark 910 test bike came equipped with the Fox Nude 5T shock. In comparison, the regular Genius is the faster and more efficient option for all-round riding. Flip Chip on a Levo 2019 (flip While the TwinLoc remote is about as well designed as a three-lever system can be, itd be nice if the suspension levers were able to sit a little further outboard, as its currently a bit more of a reach than Id like. Also designed for technical trail riding, the Fuel EX has a little less travel with a 150mm fork and 140mm at the rear. Theres also some play in the rear thru-axle lever, which I ended up removing after the first couple of rides. Your email address will not be published. Ergonomics aside, its the TwinLoc concept itself that will be the main downside of the Scott Spark RC for certain riders.