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Trying To Choose a Scott Mountain Bike
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Hi everyone,
Could you please help me as to what "Scott Sports" Mountain Bike to get. Following are the criteria I am trying to meet:
PRICE (AUD) (RRP): $2500-$4500
SUSPENSION: Back and front, fully adjustable with the handle-bar adjusters
I will be riding on a mixed terrain, however I think about 60% of the time I will be riding on trails, and the rest on more rough stuff (rocks, jumps, logs, etc.).
If you can give me any advice it would be very much appreciated!!!
Thanks for your time!!!
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i myself was also looking at a scott for racing on, i was hunting around the adverts when i came accross an xt-xtr spec carbon giant xtc for less than 3k.
i highly reccomend paying the guys at cycle buzz cannington a visit and seeing what they have got for you. after further research, my xtc's rrp came in some 2k cheaper than the quivalent scott scale...
Hi Todd,
I've got a 2011 Scott Scale 40 26" with some mods for off-road and a 2013 Scott Metrix 10 for the trainer and occasional road ride. They are both beautifully built bikes, but the only reason I have them is because I purchased both near new, but at massive discounts off RRP. I would gladly buy another Scott should the need arise, but I'd need to convince myself I was managing to get it at a great price. You can get much better bang for your buck with a Giant, Trek and several other mainstream brands.
Maybe look at the previous year's model as I've often noticed worthwhile discounts on run out stock at Scott dealers. Bike Exchange will give you a good clue. Based on the spec sheets though you'd want to at least go for 2013 if 2014 is not in budget. I recall a larger difference (improvements) from 2012 to 2013 than from 2013 to 2014.
As to which Scott would be a good one to get if you do continue down that path, I can say with the benefit of hindsight as a weekend hack, the Scale is not the bike I should have purchased. I should have gone for the Spark (or a different brand) to get some rear end compliance. I suspect the Spark may be OK for you. Dual suspension, very capable, XC to Trail focused and a reasonable weight. Just have to decide on your preferred wheel size.
If I were to change brands I'd probably go for a Trek Fuel. Maybe a Superfly FS, but I think the Fuel is more appropriate for my clumsy riding. The good thing about the Trek range is that they have the Remedy if you want more travel than the Fuel, but don't want or need something with an Enduro/light gravity focus like the Slash. The Scott range jumps from Spark straight to Genius.
The 2014 Genius looks like a very nice piece of kit in either standard or long travel, but from what I've read and seen in video reviews the more gravity in your riding, the better. More an AM or Enduro focused bike. I have not ridden one, but I have read and heard that with the rear shock fully open it has bugger all pedalling platform, but with it fully closed it's quite harsh. Some people rave about the combined lockout mechanism and others say its a PITA as you need to be constantly fiddling with it to get the most out of the bike.
FWIW, I'm about 185cm tall and about 100kgs fat and subject to test rides, my next bike will probably be a 650b. Especially if it's a Scott.
Get the newest model Genius (with the Fox rear shock rather than the DT) in whichever wheel size you prefer. They're awesome bikes with a great ride quality. There's a few price points to choose from too so you ought to find one to suit your budget.
Scott duallies are horrible, for some reason they have a love for running tiny pivot bearings and bolts. I tried to steer a friend away from a Genius LT but he wouldn't listen, his bike now sports a couple of nice dings from when the shock bolt snapped after landing a jump, an exciting thing to have happen on a pull shock bike.
For some reason the Voltage has always been fairly solid but I was chatting to a friend the other day and he said on one model of 2014 Scotts( can't remember the model) they are doing shock bushings under warranty(I think)on pretty much every one they sell as they don't last a year. My old LBS dropped Scott because of similar problems with tiny pivots.
I'm not really one to bag out a brand and most brands will have something good enough but I'm not a Scott fan.
Im riding the latest genius 940 with a few mods that's suit me . I was on a spark 950 which is more race orientated now I want fun and bomb down more I moved up to a Genius wish I given it a go years ago I wont turn back now , it rides the same as the spark but you get to go harder downhill .
Hi, I own a 2013 scott spark 920 and have also tried the 2014 genius 740 and 940, all are great bikes which will go up, down, over and around pretty much anything on the wa trails (rider ability notwithstanding).
Without knowing too much about how you ride and skill level I would recommend the genius over the spark. The genius can be set up as a pretty aggressive/forgiving downhiller but with a flick of the switch change to the efficient racing machine you may want on linking trails or when not riding technical stuff.
The spark is fast but is definitely less forgiving downhill, this may well suit your riding style but you may also spend some time replacing pinch flats or undenting rims until you get used to it. I chose to buy the spark due to getting a great deal rather than any indication of my skill level!
Couple of other things with the Scott's, the remote lock out settings are worth getting used to, particularly the traction and descend modes, they will make a difference to times if you are interested in strava etc. Also the later models (2014 on) have the fox rear shock rather than the dt swiss used on the 2013 models, this is a good thing as the dt swiss stuff is/was an absolute pig to get hold of, this changed my dually to a hard tail for some time whilst waiting for parts, fox are much more available!
Hope this helps!
Everyone,
Firstly, thankyou very much for all your fast and highly informative responses!!!
Secondly, I have talked to some people and read up some more about Scott's and a number of people ended up recommending me to get a Giant. The Giant models they suggested were the "Anthem" or the "Trance". I am more inclined to go with the "Trance". What is everyone's thought on this?
Lastly, has anyone ever heard of, been to or bought off Cottesloe Cycles? They seem to have good prices.
Thanks again for your responses and I look forward to hearing from you!!!
Todd
Great bike, perfect trail bike for a different variety of terrain. I have rode 4hr xc races to thredbos cannonball dh run on it. $3500 new. Just converted it to 1x10 with a oneup 42,tooth rear cog 32 front I can go anywhere.
Hi Todd, yes, the trance is the better option for an all round bikes. If you ride with a group and they mostly have xc bikes, then go with the anthem, but if you still have a fear of OTB s then go trance or if the people you ride with have that sort of bike.
Giant back their warranties far better than Scott. The last model of anthem in alu had some frame cracking issues in certain sizes but the offending weakness has now been redesigned on the 27.5 model, so should no longer be a risk.
I tried giant anthem and trance both 650b and 29er. In my cases, as my game improves, less travel I prefer. Of course, extra travel in pocket always is good in tough terrain.
Anyway, the best vale is trance advanced x1 because of carbon front frame. I think u can get a brand new for $3.5k rrp. Usually u can bring it down to $3.2k With a shock pump. The frame has lift time warranty subject to a lot of conditions.
Don't get me wrong. I like scott as well. You need to demo both. Hope helps.
An anthem is fine for tracks with obstacles similar to Manly Dam. If you want to jump a bit further then I would go for a trance.
Yeah, they are the Nukeproof dealer and they have a sister shop at Carine.I'm in Newcastle but have bought some items from them and haven't had a problem, pretty helpful over the phone.
Not sure if you've checked out the website but they have some pretty crazy deals on old models, I was tempted by the 2013 Merida Big 99s.
This thread began by asking about a Scott, and the current ones are far better than the previous versions. As for a Giant, well, they're good but frankly, a bit dull and require lots of customising from stock to get a nice ride unless one buys a dearer model than the described budget...
So, as an alternative, go to your Scott dealer and consider an Avanti. They ought to have them as it's the same importer. There are various models with 27.5 wheels and others that are 29ers. They're very good, keenly priced and look good too.
No matter what bike you buy at any time in your life, do not buy based on price. It would suck to end up with a bargain yet be not quite happy with feel, comfort or whatever, and I've seen this way to often. Remember, the bike is for you, the expense is about you and the satisfaction is about you. Taking a cheap option just cheapens the whole experience and I'd reckon you value yourself a bit more than that. You work hard in your job right? Well, reward yourself, and buy the bike that you want. Go with your gut...
If you're interested in the Spark 920 and feel like a bit of a drive, Breakaway Cycles in Morriset have a demo bike. Dallas (owner of the bike shop) is really helpful and spent a lot of time talking to me about the Scotts and Giants, since he is also a Giant dealer. It's only 20 minutes from his shop to Awaba where you can take the demo for a spin. I'm happy with mine. He might have a Giant demo bike there too, I'm not sure. I rode an Anthem 29er before buying the Scott, and the Scott felt a lot better in my opinion. The lockout is great too!
If its a spark you are after I have one in my shed that hasnt had a lot of kms on it , most parts were taken off the bike when it was being used like crankset , shifters , brakes set and wheels and put back on at least 2 months ago and it will be going at a good price in a few weeks its a 2013 model bought at the end of last year or around August , September.
From mountain bike action magazine
http://mbaction.com/home-page/face-off-scott-gen...
Sorry Everyone, but I bought a bike Last Saturday... thanks for all your advice, but I just gave a GT Sensor a ride for fun and fell in love with it. it is so agile and eats the bumps!!! absolutely love it!!!!!
Once again Thanks for all you guys help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks,
Todd
Well done - hope you're happy with it.
Much better choice, well done!
I still have the Scott spark for sale if anybody is interested ?
Hi,
Do you still have the Scott Spark for sale?
If so can you send me photos and an indication of what you want for it?
Kind rgds
K.
Hi Keiran it's Bails . It been a long time mate . I had a beer with your brother a couple of weeks ago . Welcome to nobmob, pity your on the other side of the country . Give me a call if your over here . Sorry I can't help with a Scott bike , I'm on a Trek
B
Bike was sold a few weeks ago I took it off the classified after it was sold .
A bit heavier than an xc bike, but a great trail bike with good spec, leave it in 140mm front and ride up and down trails all day or run it in 160mm front and bomb n jump all you like, they are currently going for $2800 I think,imo its better to have too much bike than not enough( regardless of brand), so many people iI talk to on a trail say they got their first xc mtb and have out grown it and wanna do bigger more fun stuff, only to sell it 12 months later and get half their money back,then drop another coupla grand on something bigger/ better, as most people progress and get fitter,and more skill, they wanna try different things, jumps, logs, ttfs,that kinda stuff, try and get a bike that's gunna be good at lots of different stuff the mtb trail with throw at you, good luck, its an exciting choice!!!