Optically, the "Spark 700 Plus Tuned" is a cracker. The slim frame and the 2.8 inch wide tires together make up the unusual but cool look. Scott has also hit the nail on the head in terms of color. With its bright blue and orange details, the bike clearly stands out from the crowd. The Spark Plus also impresses with the compact arrangement of the Fox Nude shock and the beautifully designed cable routing.

Although not heavy in relation to the dimensions, the wheels are the heaviest components on the Spark Plus. The Rekon Plus tires from Maxxis have stable carcasses with Exo-Protection. Despite this, they are relatively light at just under 800 grams per tire. The Rekons are supported on 35 millimeter wide Syncros "TR1.5 Plus" aluminium rims. These are designed to prevent the tires from folding away during powerful cornering despite low air pressure.

For shock absorption, Scott chooses first-class suspension elements from Fox: a "34 Float FIT4 Factory" at the front and the Scott-specific Nude shock with Trunnion Mount at the rear. Both are locked, hardened or opened simultaneously from the handlebars with Scott's new Twinlock lever. The lever for operating the new Fox Transfer dropper post is also located on the left. Both levers share the same clamp, which means that the arrangement fits so well that the levers do not interfere with the respective operation.

Experience the inner values

The main loop of the cross-country World Cup course is one of the test areas available. It has almost everything you need to get a meaningful picture of the Spark Plus. The approach to the track serves as a familiarization phase. Well, once you've found the right riding position, the familiarization phase is quickly forgotten. A positive signal, because after all, you want to ride and not study your bike.

After setting off, we hit the first trail with gusto. The "Spark 700 Plus Tuned" seems to be made for the naturally undulating, rooty terrain. It can be chased playfully over the slopes, skipping over roots and pushing the bike through the corners. The stiffness of the frame becomes noticeable here for the first time in the steering precision. On the gently sloping trail, fun is followed by exuberance and it's easy to take the wrong line if you don't know the trail well. The 2.8-inch wide tires and the 130 millimetres of travel at the front are very forgiving of the occasional carelessness.

The rear suspension works very sensitively in the upper part of the travel and is forgiving over two thirds of the stroke. After that, the suspension behaves progressively. This means that the bike offers the rider a lot of support when pushing out of corners or jumping over obstacles. According to Scott, the system is only progressive in the last quarter of the suspension travel - as mentioned, it feels a little earlier. Whether hard facts or subjective feelings - what counts is that the rear suspension feels good and the bike is fun to ride. The Fox 34 fork also does a great job and harmonizes well with the rear end.

From upper body workout to leg press

From the trail out onto the gravel path, where the World Cup riders grab their water bottles during the race, the Spark Plus accelerates. The speed increases rapidly and heavier gears are engaged every few seconds. It's straight on to the tarmac road and up to the highest point of the course - unfortunately not as fast as the pros would. However, the Spark Plus also makes great progress with less wattage input. The somewhat slower Plus tires make you feel the direct comparison with the lighter 29-inch wheel and tire combinations, but the fat tires roll surprisingly well up the road. Good to know, because this means that the Spark 700 Plus can be ridden uphill for longer without any problems.

The bike is also fun to pedal: every turn of the pedals is converted into propulsion almost without loss. The new Spark frame is so laterally stiff that the twisting is barely noticeable. Even when pedaling, it is noticeable that the shock hardly makes a sound even in downhill mode. This feature should be a real advantage when you are constantly alternating between descents and climbs - as here on the World Cup course. Whether this is the case remains to be seen.

At the end of the ascent, we head straight into the descent with a high pulse. Two bends, loose gravel in between and a nice root carpet afterwards delight the tester's heart. The bike is very smooth and thanks to its comfort, it allows you to lower your heart rate a little and keep your focus on the trail. We quickly leave the upcoming root carpet behind us - we didn't feel much of it. Despite its smooth ride, the subsequent hairpin bends can be mastered quickly and safely. We take the momentum with us on the upcoming climb across the meadow. The suspension elements remain open and, as expected, the rear end remains calm even when accelerating powerfully.

The slalom test

Plus tires and berms are not great friends according to the old feeling - a scepticism that soon changes. From an initial 1.1 bar, the tire pressure was reduced to just under 0.9 bar. The feeling is a little softer, but the tires still hold well on the rim. Even when we chase down the "Ochsner Sport Dual Slalom". A little more pressure feels better, however, and so the pressure is increased again to just below the initial value. The "Spark 700 Plus" reacts quickly to rapid changes of direction, but remains sufficiently stable in between.

Conclusion

The Scott "Spark 700 Plus Tuned" doesn't just fill a niche. At 11.65 kilograms, the lightest plus-fully combines cross-country genes with the plus feeling to create a new kind of trail experience. It is suitable for crisp after-work rides as well as long tours and does not shy away from technical and steep terrain. This bike is very well thought out and will make the hearts of detail-loving mountain bikers beat faster. There are no weaknesses to be found on this plus-size rocket. If you don't like plus-size tires, the Spark 700 or 900 offers the same frame and suspension benefits on 27.5 or 29-inch wheels.

www.scott-sports.com