Just by removing the pressure we were able to access through the window of the vertical tube to retighten it. Scott managed to make the newest Spark more capable downhill without sacrificing any uphill performance. You wont be shown this message again :). Copyright 2022 ENDURO Mountainbike Magazine.
The shock is accessible through a small opening in the down tube. Now, your left-hand controls both the front and rear suspension, as well as your dropper. spark rc cup bike scott suspension mountain sizing chart The only terrain on which the Spark struggled were old school trails. I only managed to test it around the shop. The new Syncros Fraser iC bar and stem combo routes all the cables heading to the rear of the bike through the top headset bearing. You just cant see most of it now. spark axs rc scott issue bike mountain team mtb xc suspension tredz Actually I think you are right between sizes with majority of XC fullsussers nowadays.
And we say "rolling tyres" because despite their generous 2.4" balloon, the Maxxis Rekon Race tyres roll very well. 2022 TdFF: How Do Women Cyclists Pee During Races? And at the same time, with this new headset design, Scott offers the possibility of mounting cups that vary the steering angle by +/-6 with respect to the 67.2 that the frame has as standard. According to SCOTT, the shock is still adequately ventilated and doesnt overheat. And so, by way of introduction, we have to say that we noticed much more of the former than the latter.
Probably not. We also have a small rubber cap on the seat tube from which we can check and reposition the o-ring on the shock absorber to see how much travel we are using. All of my Scotts including my 2018 RC 900SL have been large. Weight weenies will fall in love with the super-light Syncros Silverton SL2 wheelset, where the rim, hub-shell and spokes are all moulded into one piece. The aim was to lower the centre of gravity as much as possible, thereby improving the bike's handling and stability. Words: Peter Walker Photos: Peter Walker, Daniel Geiger. The Spark RC range consists of 7 models, plus a women's specific model. But, yes, the cables. There are also builds using the alloy/carbon frame and full alloy bikes that start at $2,800. Rivers of ink flowed even before its presentation. On downhills when the road surface is good, the bike allows us to reach very high speeds and in the curves we notice a grip that seems improper for road tyres like the ones on the bike. sl The radical-looking frame pushes integration, geometry, and travel on a cross-country bike to new extremes. With the top-spec Spark 900 Tuned AXS youll get an integrated SRAM TyreWiz pressure sensor as standard, which allows for quick and easy pressure readings. Youre definitely between sizes, as a large is 460mm, so a decent jump. Impressum. In the many days that we have enjoyed it, there has not been the slightest creak or noise from the movement of the cables. This time were giving you the chance to win a pair of snazzy Shimano ME7 shoes courtesy of Freewheel. You are using a browser that does not support javascript. But today's geometries are the opposite, they are just as good for fighting for World Cup victories as they are for enjoying MTB without competitive pretensions. Its easy to recommend his bike to anyone who wants to race cross-country or marathon mountain bike races.
We have to say that we like this new version of the control less than the previous one in terms of ergonomics, although it may just be a lack of habit. and finally implemented them on thor own Spark range. Any idea what 2022 models are going to bring that I may miss out on ? Unfortunately, the long seat tube restricts the freedom of movement and causes the saddle to get in your way, regardless of whether youre riding in a straight line or carving through corners. However, at this point, there is no compelling reason to use a press-fit BB when releasing a new frame.
Our conclusion is that the extra travel of the new Spark 2022 is there for when things get really serious. My last 2 xc bikes a Cannondale Scalpel and Rocky Mountain Element were both large but possibly right on the edge of being too big. Anyone rode either back-to-back for comparison (rather than just reviewing size charts?). This, along with the new geometry, means that on descents with the new Scott Spark 2022 we really feel that our capabilities have increased. Truflo Mini Shock Pump review: twofer bargain or double trouble? I'm 6'1" on a 2018 Spark RC 900 WC and went with a Large. Here you can choose between a HMX-SL, HMX, HMF frame, Hybrid (HMF frame with alloy swingarm) or full alloy frame. This operation is done with a torque spanner, but we were also able to check that in case of need it can be accessed with the key of the rear lock. Im right at 6 with about a 32 imseam. When it comes to high speed, we've already talked about its benefits, and in addition to its geometry and suspension, we have a great Rock Shox Sid Select fork with 35 bars whose stiffness gives us extra safety and control. Pick it up tomorrow. This also changes the dynamic geometry of the Spark, which results in a higher bottom bracket and steeper seat and head angle. At the bottom of the down tube there is a large window that opens easily without any tools. If you like old-school geometry, then a medium would be fine. At 6'1" you're on the bubble and can go either way depending on your preference. Across all sizes, the extremely high seat tube restricts the freedom of movement, especially when assuming the attack position (540 mm for size XL, 490 mm for size L). Also be aware that an all-new Spark is set to be launched for MY22. The Rocky loves technical but not such a good speedy climbing machine. The new Scott Spark 2022 has a steering angle of 67.2, with the particularity that Scott, taking advantage of the oversized head tube, has designed cups that can vary this angle by +/-6.
I mostly used the middle lockout setting on fast bits of singletrack where I would need to brake hard and then sprint out of corners. Im just above 6'1 and trying to decide between a L and an XL, If youre not first youre last"- Ricky Bobby. While the bar doesnt run any of its many cables internally, once they get to the stem, the shift, brake, and suspension control cables are routed through an oversized upper headset cup and into the front triangle. The fact that hes a trained paramedic gives his colleagues reassurance out on the trails. But additionally, TwinLoc also adds a middle setting where the fork is firmed up, while rear shock travel is reduced to 80mm. So if thats going to be similar size to 2021 Spark then medium may be better. And this is good news even for the amateur biker, as competition bikes used to be uncomfortable and nervous, and for the less experienced amateur they could be difficult to ride. Having the cables enter the head tube just a few centimeters lower would avoid having to cut and re-install your brake lines next time you want to replace a headset bearing. The theme of integration continues up front with an all-new Syncros cockpit. tredz All of this with just a push of a thumb. scott frame spark rc discontinued Bold Cycles was known for exactly one thing, their hidden rear shock bike. Mine was an XL and due to the slack seat tube, I really had to lean over the front end to keep it down. Right from the start we were already looking for varied terrain to see how this new geometry affects us and, above all, how the increase in travel to 120mm on both wheels feels. Migue A. You have to be very careful when handling the bike, as the levers hit the top tube squarely. This expert, screw-driver-flexing two wheeled-whizz has many envy-inducing characteristics, including a background in motocross, several EWS race plates to his name, and more than 150 recorded days at Whistler Bike Park. With pedals, our test bike weighed in at 24lbs, which is a little under half a pound heavier than claimed by Scott. vtt Some aspects of this site may not work as intended. All Spark models rely on SCOTTs proprietary Twinloc system, which controls the fork and shock simultaneously, regardless of the suspension brand. Mountain bike Scott, meanwhile, has decided that it was time for cross-country bikes to progress. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. However complex the bike and however steep the trail, hes probably already nailed it, twice. SCOTTs beefed-up XC racer combines 130 mm travel at the front with 120 mm out back and features a fully integrated shock and super-clean look. We have had the chance to test the new Scott Spark RC Team Issue AXS for several weeks and to try it out on all terrains. If you want to go bigger, the FOX 34 fork allows for rotors up to 230 mm. Taking advantage of the fusion with Bold, SCOTT borrowed some of the clever features, developed them further. The 20mm of extra travel and the slacker headtube actually got me into trouble a few times because I was simply underestimating how fast I was heading into a corner. 2021 model sounds great with 110mm front fork.
Highlights From the 2022 Tour de France Femmes, 7 Best Kickstands To Prop Up Any Type of Bicycle. OTOH I have a Plasma which I love. The area is oversized and, with the help of plastic parts that adapt to the shape of the stem, allow the cables under the stem to enter the inside of the head tube. For those on more of a budget, there is a full alloy frameset (3290g) as well. Although fitted as standard on this model it comes with neutral cups that do not vary the angle. spark quantit freeridebikes appsolute
This often felt like an exaggeration on more traditional cross-country race bikes with steeper head tube angles, long stems, and short top tubes, but it felt natural on the Spark. So far we havent had to call him by his alias Sani Peter, so heres hoping he keeps it right side up for the rest of his time here! Our Spark 900 test bike in size XL with 130 mm front travel has 500 mm reach and 627 mm stack height, which makes for a rather low front and thus ensures a sporty pedalling position. You could fit on a medium with an 80mm stem with 15mm riser bars with 9* sweep depending on width. On fire roads or smooth doubletrack, the fully locked-out Spark climbed as well as a fully rigid bike. Any idea what 2022 models are going to bring that I may miss out on ? In theory, both provide some performance gains but at the expense of end-user serviceability. Geometry Geeks. All cables are neatly routed under the handlebars and disappear into the frame through a special stem developed specifically for the Spark. As the name suggests, our Spark 900 Tuned AXS test bike comes equipped with a wireless 12-speed SRAM X01 AXS drivetrain, which is controlled by a SRAM GX AXS rocker paddle.
Scott quite intentionally built the Spark with a lot of tire clearance. Find another? Oh, and he can do it all on skinny tyres too. All spec variants and the frameset should be available for testing at SCOTT dealerships from mid July and ready for delivery from October 2021. Maybe even a large! Find bikes that match your geometry criteria. The result is a race bike that simultaneously looks cleaner, and more complicated, at the same time. Mountain bike, advice on training and maintenance of your bike, mechanics, interviews Harley Davidson releases its first eBike for sale, Christopher Blevins surprises everyone and becomes the first ever XCC World Champion, Sina Frei wins the first Short Track World Championship in a sprint, Roglic crashes and Nielsen wins his second stage in this Vuelta, Roglic wins and Eiking keeps the red jersey, France becomes 2021 Team Relay World Champion in Val di Sole, Shock absorber: Rock Shox Nude 5 RL3 Trunnion 120-80-Lockout, Bearing race: Sram DUB PF92 MTB Wide / Shell 41x92mm, Handlebar: Syncros Fraser 1.5 XC Alloy 740mm, Saddle: Syncros Belcarra Regular 1.5 titanium rails, Headset: Syncros-Acros Angle adjust & cable routing system, Tyres: Maxxis Rekon Race 29x2,4 Tubeless Ready / EXO. Will versatility add up to a useful tool? This allowed us to see first hand how easy it is to access it. Perhaps we came with the idea that we would notice too many concessions to comfort due to those 120mm of travel. It's been great for me. Agree ?? On the bigger frame sizes L and XL, a dropper with more travel would offer more freedom of movement but then again, the long seat tube is an issue. The steeper seat tube angle centered me right over the bottom bracket for efficient power transfer when seated. In essence, they are redefining what we can expect from XCO racing bikes going forward. I think an XL would also work but harder to maneuver. When pedalling you only hear the sound of the tyres on the ground. To adjust the sag there is a guide next to the linkage joint which makes the operation extremely simple. The downhills on the new circuits are really technical and vertiginous and the bikes have adapted to this. Im 6ft, 95th percentile for back length so quite short legs.. Enter the 4th generation Spark RC, Scotts newest edition of its race-proven cross country platform. A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. On other occasions we have already talked about the Sram GX AXS groupset that the Team Issue mounts in its entirety. It is a cross-country race bike through and through, but its also one that can just as easily be enjoyed as a fast trail bike. Essentially flatter, tighter, bits of trail built when the 26 wheel still reigned supreme. Im a long legged 58 and find a medium Scott Scale (same geo, near as dammit) perfect, but certainly wouldnt want to go bigger. As soon as you swing your leg over the saddle, the elegant SCOTT Spark 900 Tuned AXS reveals its XC roots. It's a joy to ride on trails, and when we pick up the speed a little, it feels incredibly poised and confident. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, The Best Brake Cable Kits for DIY Maintenance, The 7 Best Bottom Brackets for Upgrading Your Ride, Best Bike Fenders to Keep You and Your Ride Clean, 8 Best Bike Stems for Upgrading Your Ride, Save Big on Rainy-Day Cycling Gear at Amazon Now, The 14 Best Bike Lights for Every Kind of Ride. The latter is also connected to the FOX Nude 5T Factory shock. If you do so, however, youll be able to negotiate narrow and steep switchbacks without any problems. Takeaway: The all-new, fourth-generation Scott Spark gives a peek at where cross-country race bikes are heading over the next few years. Moreover, the low and central position allows for a lower center of gravity. Beate Kubitz Classic Ride Print #117 Duddon Valley, Beate Kubitz Classic Ride Print #124 Isle Of Wight, Premier Partners for Singletrack issues & exclusive subscriber perks, Metcheck MTB Weather Forecasts At A Glance. With its fully integrated shock and super clean look, the SCOTT Spark 900 Tuned AXS 2022 is a real eye-catcher and thanks to the TwinLoc system and super low system weight it flies up the hill like a bambi on speed. When it comes to guiding consumers, Peter cut his teeth at Vancouvers oldest bike shop and now puts pen to paper on the daily translating this know-how into our editorial plan. Scott calls this setup Integrated Suspension Technology, which has a few obvious benefits, and drawbacks. Im 5 9 but reasonably long limbs. Medium looked a bit extreme with saddle a bi back and 80mm stem. The Spark was just ahead of the mainstream trend for longer bikes, as such its not really all that long in reach. Will go and try it at the store. If you like the site, can we ask a favor? I used to have an Spark RC and for a 100mm xc bike, it was very capable on typical red/black stuff. And that travel is there, but the Spark is a performance focused bike and even with the TwinLoc in open mode there is no excessive sway when pedalling hard. In Descend mode, the SCOTT Spark can exploit its full downhill potential. The Traction Control mode changes the dynamic geometry of the Spark only to a limited extent which means that you still have to actively shift your weight forward to keep the front wheel tracking. Cant wait to get it.
To top it off in terms of small improvements we find a new chainstay protector with a knurling that makes it very quiet and a new removable lever on the rear lock that now includes three keys in one, T25, T30 and 6mm allen, with which we can adjust almost everything on this bike.
Bicycling participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. These changes are in line with current trends in mountain bike geometry for bikes prioritizing downhill speed and handling while remaining efficient climbers. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The chainstays at the front are joined together to form a solid piece that fits into a recess in the frame, giving the impression of maximum solidity. The bike was quite literally changing my perception of descending speed. All of this looks very tidy and clean, but it does have a major downside. If that's an actual not pants inseam you have a normal to shorter torso for your height. I ride a large
29ered 700 plus] 900 tuned with a 125mm post 170mm cranks and a good 50mm of extra seat post exposed. All frames feature a flex-pivot rear end. I generally skipped the middle suspension mode and went straight to fully open on steep, loose, and more technical climbs. The new Spark 2022 will be available in four frame sizes, S to XL. Last Saturday I tested a Spark RC WC 2020 in L and felt perfect for me. But can it shred its way back down into the valley just as fast as it blasts up the hill?
But having the shock absorber inside the frame also offers other benefits, such as complete protection from dust, mud and dirt. I've had XL and Large frames and I just prefer a bit smaller than a bit bigger. Despite my initial misgivings about the shock, it does not appear to be any harder to live with than an externally mounted shock. The new Spark will make a fantastic mountain bike for riders who enjoy the steep climbs and techy descents but, don't want to deal with the weight of a longer travel trail bike.