Mountain Bike Action tested Scale LTD
Ever since Scott burst back onto the mountain bike scene in 2004, they've gone full-throttle in the develop¬ment of innovative frame materials and suspension design. The line of Scale cross-country race bikes features nine models ranging in price from $970 to $8450. The Scale LTD is their most elite model, and Scott's way of saying, "If money is no object, look no further for your race bike."
WEIGHING IN
The Scale LTD's carbon fiber frame is made using Scott's proven CR1 technology. The 2008 models (all the Scales) get a claimed weight savings from a new tube treatment called NET (Naked External Tubeset). The NET finish removes the cosmetic weave pattern (a finish used on almost all carbon fiber components because riders expect it, not because it adds strength).
The Scale LTD features an integrated seatpost like the post found on the high-end Scott Addict road bikes. The integrated seatpost saves weight, but the primary goal is an engineered seat tube, designed for lateral rigidity and com¬pliance that may not be attainable with a standard seat tube and seatpost design.
Another sleek component is the one-piece Scott Pilot SL handlebar/stem combo. The LTD spares no expense when it comes to carbon fiber sexiness. The beautiful carbon Truvativ Noir cranks scream for attention, and the air-sprung DT Swiss XRC 100 fork has carbon lowers and a remote lockout.
Disappearing act: Weighing just 19.3 pounds, the Scale LTD dis¬appears beneath you. And, the aggressive tread of the 2.2-inch Continental Mountain King tires is ideal for cornering on loose and sandy terrain.
READY TO RACE
It's rare that we get worked up about a hardtail race bike. The Scale LTD is an exception. Simply building the bike was a bit of an adventure with seldom-seen components and of course, the inte¬grated seatpost.
Ergonomics: The 22.8-inch top tube and 73.5-degree seat angle keeps riders centered on the bike, making it versatile for descending or long stints in the sad¬dle. Simply shift your weight with a slight forward bias, and the Scale LTD's geometry puts you in a classic and rela¬tively aggressive position for attacking climbs. The Scott Pilot SL 110-millime¬ter stem and handlebar combo with a five-degree rise is ideal for this platform, and the 23.6-inch width, while narrow for trail riding, is just wide enough for descending stability.
Pedaling: The only thing you'd expect from an $8450, sub-20-pound hardtail (other than perhaps an emerald-trimmed saddle) is for it to accel¬erate like "Jungle Jim" Liberman's GTO Funny Car. And that it does. This acceleration seems to be the core strength of this bike. It is amazing. The integrated seat mast is reinforced to have more rigidity and less flex than a traditional carbon post. In the saddle, you experience no wasted effort putting power to the pedals, and the mix of Shimano's XTR and SRAM's X.0 drivetrain components join forces for crisp shifting. The X.0 triggers offer distinct shifts that give you confidence to stand up and sprint while popping through the gears. The 2.2-inch Continental Mountain King tires have a more aggressive design, with more significant side knobs and center tread than found on most cross-country rigs. The Mountain Kings are right on the money for most trails in the U.S., except perhaps the hardpack nature of the Southwest. Swapping to a tire like the 2.1-inch Continental Speed King would be a good choice for racers desiring faster- rolling rear rubber.
Climbing: One would think pedal¬ing and climbing go hand-in-hand, but that's not always true. Geometry makes the difference. The 71-degree head angle is standard for a cross- country race bike; however, the 16.5- inch chainstays tuck the rear wheel tip under the pilot, and that really forces the rear wheel to dig in and drive the Scale uphill. The DT Swiss fork has a remote lockout lever for extended climbs and occasional sprinting out of the saddle. We rarely used this feature, because while climbing in the saddle and hammering in the saddle, the fork showed minimal suspension move¬ment.
Braking: The interesting spec choice for the Scale LTD wasn't the Magura Marta SL brakes with carbon fiber levers, but the seven- inch front rotor and the six-inch rear. Many mountain bike manufacturers might cheat on shaving weight by running a four-inch rotor in the rear wheel (occasionally the front as well), but the Scale LTD proves it's meant to be ridden aggressively on the downhill. The seven-inch rotor gives a lot of bite, really allows the pilot to control speed before entering corners, and lets the rear wheel roll through unruly terrain. Staying off the brakes in technical sections means less skidding and improved handling.
Cornering: As we mentioned before, the Continental Mountain King tire has a prominent tread, ideal for loose and rocky or soft terrain. We found the combination of 35psi in the rear and 32 in the front gave us sufficient trac¬tion when leaning the bike over at speed. The traditional 71- degree head angle makes the tightest switchbacks possible, and the nearly four inches of fork travel means experienced riders can confidently weight the front end in technical corners for maximum traction.
Technical: Four inches of fork travel has become the norm for elite cross-country bikes, both hardtails and full- suspension. The Scale LTD was the first bike we've tested with the DT Swiss XRC 100 fork. It was stable while spinning in the saddle and repeatedly took harsh hits at speed without bottoming.
The LTD's Ritchey 28-spoke wheels look exactly like Shimano's XTR hoops and survived our testing process without any major dings or dents. For an ultra-light cross- country racing build, the Scale LTD's components held up impressively.
NOT SO FAST
The Scale's trail performance was top-shelf, but there were a few setup quirks. The DT Swiss fork was chosen for its featherweight reputation, but the remote lockout was finicky, and the rubber covering on the remote thumb levers came off on the first ride. On some climbs, the lock¬out worked as claimed, but often to lock out the fork we'd have to hold the lever in the lockout position with our thumb, even after trying the suggested troubleshooting remedy.
The integrated seat mast has to be cut to get your ideal fit. We would put that monkey on the bike shop's back, because if they goof, it is their problem, not yours. Scott advises measuring your saddle height, then cutting it a quarter of an inch longer than that to be safe, and trimming it down a little more from there if necessary. The adjustable seat mast gives some leeway, but cut the mast too short and you then have an $8450 bike that will never fit you correctly.
OVER THE LIMIT
Obviously, the $8450 Scale LTD is an unrealistic purchase for most cyclists (that's why Scott offers nine other Scale models). Even if you can swing a "sky's the.limit" budget, how will you feel the first time a guy on a single-speed rides by on a climb? Are you really going to be a lot faster on the Scale LTD than, say, on the $2899, 23-pound Scale 30 that has a fork with a lockout that works? We would have to say that you will not be $5551 faster.
The smartest thing Scott did was to use the LTD to show off their race-bike-making capabilities and at the same time spec eight other down-to-earth versions.
Integration technology: The Scale LTD has a couple of high-zoot features that are shared technology from Scott's elite road race bike. The handlebar stem combo is optimized for light weight and stiffness while the integrated seat mast includes an adjustable top cap that allows some adjustment.
