There are few brands in cycling with as long and successful a history of MTB racing as SCOTT. We have been at the forefront of off-road bike racing for over 20 years, and we are constantly willing to go further, do better and to push boundaries. Every step leads to another building a solid base from which SCOTT’s design teams can develop and create tomorrow’s inspiring products. We have equipped the winners of World Cup Overalls, World Championships and Olympic medals with best tools for their trades for ages. Nino Schurter, one of the most promising athletes for the Olympic podium in Rio is no exception.

When a new bike comes into existence, the process from initial designs to first tests and eventually competition is a multiple year genesis. For race bikes, consulting with the teams is the very first step. Design studies are the next step in the process. When first prototypes are approved by our R&D, the final 3D design process starts. Initial tests in our labs give us an idea of how stiff the frames will be. From there, we get prototypes to test. Once the results of the lab match our frame goals, our racers get to test the bikes out on the trails. From here, production is still a ways away. 

The most inspiring source for all development is our broad range of high level race teams. With World Champion Nino Schurter and the SCOTT-Odlo MTB Racing Team, SCOTT has some of the best Cross Country athletes in the world at its disposal. When it comes to designing new bikes, there is no better feedback than listening to the needs of World Cup racers. From all new concepts to little details, our riders come to us with high demands. With World Cup courses becoming more and more demanding, our riders need their bikes to become more and more capable, not only with regards to performance, but especially in terms of increased comfort. 

Looking at our latest iterations of the Scale and Spark, we indeed listened carefully. And both the new Scale and Spark are not only the lightest and stiffest in its class, but also provide better kinematics and better suspension. The Scale achieves this through an updated race geometry and SDS2 technology, while the Spark has an entirely new suspension platform. We delivered just exactly what it takes to win World Cup races.

With the new generation of Scale and Spark, we also felt the time had come to grow the family of RC bikes. The 2017 Racing Concept, or RC, collection of dedicated race bikes is comprised of the lightest SCOTT Mountain bikes ever built. With a weight of 849g, the Scale RC 700 SL frame sets a new benchmark for hardtail mountain bike frames. So does the Spark with its frame weight of only 1749g (incl. shock and hardware). All of the RC models are optimized for 1x drivetrain systems. Thanks to the Boost standard, all of our 1x-optimized RC frames are even stiffer than ever before. The new RC family consists of 34 high-end race-dedicated models. This selection features the lightest carbon composites utilized by SCOTT, and leaves nothing to be desired. The RC family includes all options – hardtail or full-suspension, and 27.5” or 29” wheel size geometry. All models come with 100mm travel.

What do you think about the new Scale?

The new Scale is not only incredibly light, but it also provides standing comfort in the rear triangle which is super important when riding technical descents. It saves me energy in both uphills and downhills. Another great achievement is the improved geometry- the Scale feels more confident in the front thanks to a more centered rider position on the bike and more agile in the back due to shorter chainstays.

And what's your opinion on the new Spark?

The new Spark is packed with race dedicated tech features, I couldn’t ask for a more race-optimized package. The new bike is not only unbelievably light and stiff, but it also pedals like a hardtail, I feel like the pedal efficiency is even better than on the old Spark. It really feels much more compact and easier to handle. What really suits my riding style is the much better kinematic of the new frame, which results in much better suspension. The bike is more sensitive at the beginning of travel but becomes more supportive from sag point onwards, with end stroke progression tuned for cross country riding.

Photography: Jochen Haar I Armin M. Küstenbrück I Martin Bissig