Rarely has a bike been as polarizing as the new Scott Spark. As mentioned, it has great similarities with the Bold models. Primarily due to the suspension strut placed inside the frame and also due to the very similar design language. The model was developed by Scott engineers based on the Bold patents. The Spark is noticeably different in one respect: the rear triangle is not a four-link with Horst link, but a supported single-link. This saves pivot points and therefore weight, and the handling is also different.

The Scott Spark is available in 13 different versions, completely in carbon or aluminum or with a carbon front and aluminum rear triangle. The 900 Tuned AXS tested is the second most expensive and costs around CHF 10,000. The rear has 120 millimeters of travel and the front 13o millimeters. But which category does it fall into? Scott says: "Call it what you like. All we know is that it's a damn cool mountain bike."

The manufacturer highlights the following points:

- Integrated suspension technology and cable routing through the headset
- Lightest full-suspension 120 mm cross-country race bike
- Twin-Loc suspension system

Statement by: Maxime Revilloud, Scott Sports

Special features

• Damper integrated in the frame
• Operation of the chassis and telescopic seat post with triple remote
• One-piece stem/handlebar combo
• Steering angle adjustment by 0.6 degrees
• Cable routing through the stem
• All-in-one wrench with T25, T30 and 6 mm Allen key in the thru axle
• Sram Tyre Wiz tire pressure control

On the flat

The Spark is one of those bikes that takes no time to get used to. Get on and pedal away - with plenty of propulsion. The acceleration is impressive. When you get out of the saddle, the suspension hardens and you sprint as you would expect from a race bike. Tight and winding trails are really fun and the playful character is appealing. You quickly find yourself pushing your limits and pedaling harder and harder to gain even more speed. The suspension absorbs small and medium bumps without you noticing.

Up the mountain

The combination of low weight and good geometry really lets you rocket uphill. Some people will break their Strava times on this bike. Technical climbs are easy to master, the rear end follows well over obstacles. The higher the steps or roots are, the more pressure you need on the pedals. It climbs much better at speed. If you are very slow and have to master higher bumps, the rear end gets a little stuck on them.

The triple remote lever makes it possible to adjust the suspension fork and the rear in parallel by pressing it once. The middle platform stage is a matter of preference, locking the rear is an advantage on long asphalt climbs. Basically, the suspension is so good that adjustment is not absolutely necessary.

Downhill

On descents, you benefit from very precise steering behavior so that you always remain in control, even when riding fast and on demanding terrain.

Unfortunately, the performance of the rear end cannot keep up with the good handling characteristics. The linear rear suspension characteristic is pleasing and the bike feels like it has significantly more than 120 millimetres of travel. But if you hit a flat with a classic "huck to flat", the Fox Nude hits hard. Due to the system, the rear suspension hardens during sharp braking maneuvers, which is the downside of the single pivot, which in return shines with high sensitivity. On a very rough descent of around 425 meters in altitude without a break, the shock reached its limit. After around three quarters of the descent, the suspension's ability to absorb shocks diminished considerably, the rear end became unsettled and passed on the bumps. At the end of the trail, the rear shock was so hot that you could barely touch it. After a ten-minute break, everything was back to normal. There seems to be potential for optimization here. It should be noted that this problem only occurred on the one long run. No change was noticeable on descents of the same length with breaks or on more moderate terrain.

Conclusion

Even though the Scott Spark 900 Tuned AXS doesn't have a lot of travel, it's a "fat" bike. On the one hand because of the Bold system - which means "fat" in English - and on the other, the good riding qualities put a big grin on your face. It runs like clockwork and offers plenty of propulsion, and you can take big jumps in your stride. But there is still room for a little criticism: With such a high purchase price, you'd expect the gearshift to come from the top groupset and the hubs too, so they were a bit stingy. It is also to be hoped that an overheating rear shock will be a thing of the past in the future. Because everything else about the bike is really fat!

Recommendation

The telescopic seatpost is a little short at 125 millimetres; a 150 mm would certainly have fitted well on the size M frame. This gives you the extra legroom you need on rough trails. Because the bike only reaches its limits on downhill trails in the bike park.

Specifications

Geometry

All data here: Link

Manufacturer/distribution

www.scott-sports.com