The Scott Spark 20 features a carbon frame, XT/SLX drivetrain, RockShox SID RL3 with 120mm of travel, and out back you have the DT Swiss Nude 2.
Just before Christmas we took delievery of this Scott Spark 20 for Review in issue 46 of Spoke. We did a brief profile on the Spark back here after the Sheppard Industries launch but this has been our first chance to get a leg over the refined Scott Spark.
Although the intent is clear with lightweight build and competition-focused components (wheels, forks, tyres) it still has underlying characteristics that go to the essence of mountain biking—carving singletrack with a smile on your dial. A slightly slacker head angle, low bottom bracket, and smart component choice has created a bike that relishes a wide variety of disciplines; not just XC/marathon races it’s targeted at.
Although I’m only a few rides in, I’m already a bit smitten with a bike I wouldn’t normally consider for my style of riding. Its lighter weight means I can ride faster for longer, and although it’s no point-and-shoot machine, it is surprisingly composed in all conditions. In these early days I’m having a lot of fun with the Spark.
Scott has also introduced a little removable flip chip style bottom linkage on the shock (like on the Genuis LT); flipping lowers the BB by 8mm and slackens the head angle by half a degree.
Just in case you didn't know if your head tube was tapered or not, Scott decided to write on it for you. Oh and internal cable routing is choice!
Scott say that putting the brake inside the rear triangle enables them to make a stiffer and more compliant rear end.
Out of the box Scott almost got it right; the stem is perfect, the bars pretty close to perfect (not bad for house brand stuff) but the brakes as per usual were jammed up againt the grips. One day we won't have to change them...
XT brakes. Nuff said. Oh that other thing changes travel from 120 to 85mm and then locks it out completley as well.
