First Look: All New 2022 Scott Spark - The Next Generation of Integration
Olympic years often mean new XC bikes as brands pull out all the stops to give their racers the most advanced tool for arguably the biggest prize in cross-country racing.
The Spark, now in its fourth generation, was initially launched in 2008. Since then its won several World Championships, a pile of World Cups and even Olympic golds.
With that in mind, Scott introduces the all-new, completely redesigned Spark product range. The range includes the RC race bike, the 900 trail bike, and the Contessa, as ridden by Kate Courtney This bike immediately looks very different from its predecessor, but that's not to say it doesn't look like anything else.
The Spark, now in its fourth generation, was initially launched in 2008. Since then its won several World Championships, a pile of World Cups and even Olympic golds.
With that in mind, Scott introduces the all-new, completely redesigned Spark product range. The range includes the RC race bike, the 900 trail bike, and the Contessa, as ridden by Kate Courtney This bike immediately looks very different from its predecessor, but that's not to say it doesn't look like anything else.
It's an obvious nod to Bold Cycles, a Swiss company Scott bought a majority stake of in May 2019. While this may well share some of the same design cues as the Bold, it's an all-new bike that incorporates them.
The 900 is a trail focused version of the Spark
There is also the Contessa.
New Shock Mounting
The derivative nature of this design from Bold, which was a very recognisable design, plus the racing heritage of the Spark lineage means this bike has a lot to live up to. So, what's new? Well, let us start with the elephant in the room.
The shock, which is driven by a single pivot layout that uses a flex pivot, is hidden entirely within the frame. Scott are confident, however, that they've managed to incorporate the shock in such a way that's it's not just easy to work on but also to live with. The bike comes with easily removable covers should you need to take the shock out the frame as well as a sag indicator to help you achieve your best setup without having to reach for the tools. The frame bearings also have an additional seal to ward off dirt and grime.
There is an entry port to access the hardware and a sag indicator.
The removable shock cover.
The setup, which Scott refer to as Integrated Suspension Technology, not only allows for extra room in the front triangle for two water bottles but also, Scott claim, yields performance gains by allowing the weight of the shock and its associated hardware to sit lower within the frame, which then in turn reduces the height of the center of gravity. They also say that this setup is also laterally stiffer thanks to the trunnion mount as well as larger bearings in the seat tube pivot.
Scott decided to treat the frame into halves, the lighter section and the lower part, which is reinforced to keep the center of gravity lower while also ensuring a stiff platform for the suspension.
Scott wanted to keep a similar pedaling position between the RC, which is the all out race bike, and the 900, which is more trail friendly. They wanted both bikes to have the same feel and acceleration, but also to build two different bikes that could both make good on their intentions. To do this the frames have a built in angle-adjust headset. This means you can combine the slacker setting with a longer fork on the 900 or run something shorter and steeper for XC racing.
Geometry
The two iterations of the Spark, the RC and the 900, share the same frame, but thanks to the headset adjustment can both have head angles to suit their intention while leaving many of their other dimensions relatively unchanged. For instance, the RC has a head angle of 67.2 degrees and a seat tube angle that is around 76.4 (+/- 0.5 depending on the size). The 900, the trail bike which has a 10mm longer fork, has a head angle of 65.8 and a seat tube angle that is merely 0.2 slacker. The wheelbase does grow marginally on the 900, and the amount that it grows is dependent on the size, but for a size large there is a 15mm change. Everything else stays largely unchanged. The adjustment of the headset can be achieved without the removal of any cables or anything needing to be re-bled. I commend this approach.
The RC, the XC race bike.
The 900, the trail bike.
New Integrated Handlebar and Twinloc
Bar
Bar
The new bike comes with a new integrated bar and stem from Syncros - the Fraser iC Combo. The bar was designed to be used in conjunction with the bike. The idea is that the cables can flow underneath the bar and around the sides of the stem before disappearing down the edges of the head tube. The bars and stem also feature multiple options for ultra-sleek mounting options for a GPS or lights. There is also quite a nice rear axle assembly that doubles up as a multi-tool.
Three's a crowd. Twinlock plus a dropper certainly gives designers a challenge but I think Scott make a good fist of it.
Models and Availability
The alloy Spark 950, 960 and 970 will have the same features as their carbon siblings, but at a lower cost.
The entry level alloy Spark 970 and the mid-range carbon Spark 940.
The Spark RC, which is only available in carbon has racing firmly in its sights. This is the entry level Comp build.
For more information please visit the RC product page or the 900 product page on Scott's website
The all-new Spark product range will be available for sale starting in September/October.
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One that everyone can improve upon.
Good for the customer, may even be good for the companies.
Like the USB of bike tech. the Universal mech hanger is a good start.
I think @OriginalDonk deserves some marketing $$ right there!
Looks nothing like one...
I wish ebikes looked this good though.
This ^^^.
(=the MAJOR serious downside is that is most absolutely DOES have that pregnant down tube junction / e-bike vibe. No doubt.)
Could the spark take a pinion gearbox?
I wonder why every bike doesn’t have an $800 dropper.
"don't expect this announcement to mean we will see a hidden shock Scott any time soon"
I guess 2 years is not "any time soon."
- I’m looking forward to the next thing Scott is adamant won’t be happening!
Scott: Here's the aluminium version that looks identical
Me: wtf - seriously impressive - and cheaper too, how is that even possible!
Scott made the aluminum bike look amazing though
Kudos to them for pulling it off, this honestly moves the bike game forward; just like Cannon with the Lefty, back in the day...
HMX-SL: 1,807g
HMX: 1,990g
HMF: 2,150g
There is one mixed carbon fibre and alloy model:
HMF mainframe and 6011 alloy swing arm: 2,590g
And there is one full 6011 alloy frame:
Alloy SL 6011: 2,990g
That’s a pound and a half difference, in freedom units, between the cheapest carbon and the aluminum version.
Do they want us to grow a second thumb on the left hand?
I'm guessing their is a fair overlap of people who truly demand a remote lockout and people who run a power meter. I'm going to get with my electrical engineer friend and see if we can make an ANT+ (or whatever the latest power meter standard is) remote electric lockout. All it will do will be to listen to your power meter, and if you're putting out power over a certain threshold (tunable via an app or something) it locks out your suspension. Thats it. No $3,000 Live Valve system or $600 wireless remote button. Just listen to ANT+ and lockout. I bet I could manufacture it for under $100, and sell it for $300.
Nope. You need an inclinometer too. I put out some of my highest peak watts on DH sections, and definitely don’t want to be surprise locked out then.
It wouldn't have to be even a power meter, just a simple ANT+ or BT cadence sensor: If the system reads any significant cadence for a second or more => lockout.
Yes
The latter is 98% Bold...
www.boldcycles.com/shop/bikes
Industrial Design is the beautiful balance between engineering integration, user experience and s*x appeal.
@Afterschoolsports is actually speaking of that and I believe is saying it right that the new Spark has the right amount of stunning engineering behind a clean nice looking skin, plus cool user-friendly features.
its a bold that's had a facelift and a bit of ergonomic / production engineering , industrial design ...if that means shit we cant get round the patent lets buy the company then put our design language on it your probably correct.
I will maintain though, that is the only time it ever happened to me. And there's a difference between mocking a stranger's bike to their face and mocking a stranger's mildly sociopathic behaviour behind their back. Everyone has the option to be kind, but not everyone has the option to own an expensive bike.
...do we call it the spork?
I dropped 100g off my seatpost and could actually notice the difference (granted it's higher up), so I'm still left to wonder how this set-up brings enough advantage to be more valuable than the weight loss that was presumably left on the table.
www.schwalbe.com/WICKED-WILL-WICKED-WILL
Also, I'm not sure how much I'd like to have three levers stacked like that; I think I would mix up which one I needed to use.
The first reply from bbcopeland: No.
The bike had serious issues with the carbon frame pretty much straight from the box, which only got worse. Scott claimed it was ‘crash damage’ on a totally new bike and refused to do anything other than offering to charge for a carbon ‘repair’ before stopping replying to any correspondence.
I have a Scott HT but would never ever deal with them after what I’ve seen recently. My friend has an 11k € paperweight at this point.
www.mtb-news.de/news/scott-spark-2022-test
Frame weight including shock and mounting hardware 1870g in size M.
"There is also quite a nice rear axle assembly that doubles up as a multi-tool."
Beautiful. I need to get one of those ASAP! It’s named after me after all.
- sincerely
Scott Sparks
May 23rd 2019 - SCOTT
2021 Scott: Hold my beer.
Funny, I remember seeing Nino on the podium, not his bike.
that's certainly a first!
i can't help but wonder what the fatigue life of that is...
Do love the geometry!!!!
nice design, did they buy BOLD or what? edit: just read the other comments, never mind!
This bike is incredible and hopefully it rips!
(same with some other recent bikes -- e.g. latest Specialized Enduro)
I would’ve thought that with your massive amount of free time you spend writing your “blogs” and crying on the Internet you would’ve looked that up.
Why don’t you go back to accusing Vali Höll of being a nazi.... or thinking that the Austrian flag and coat of arms is a nazi symbol... we are all laughing at you, thanks for being the running joke of pinkbike.
Why are you so obsessed with me? Do you think about me every night of your life? Lmfao.
I've challenged you to come up with one sentence in the YTrash blog that isn't true, but you obviously can't do that so you just continue to make up desperate lies.
But what about the cable touting up front? With a setup like this, how do you know your cables aren’t silently sawing away at your steerer tube?
At least doublecrowndick can fantasize about a battery in that chunky downtube.
(although TBH I think you make a good point)
Specialized S-Works Epic EVO – 1,659g
Orbea Oiz OMX – 1,740g
Scott Spark RC HMX SL (OLD) – 1,799g
Specialized S-Works Epic – 1,869g
Scott Spark RC HMX SL (NEW) – 1,870g
Cannondale Scalpel Hi-Mod – 1,910g
Trek Supercaliber – 1,933g
Santa Cruz Blur 4 – 1,933g
Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 29 – 1,983g
Canyon Lux CF SLX – 1,922g
Merida Ninety-Six RC – 2,064g
Certanly not the cheapest ride out there, but not too crazy for what you get.
Are the long travel bikes comming in this design?
I'm not saying that what they've done is not okay or fair, but I think everyone expects more from a big company like Scott. Buying small companies and taking profit of their designs and technology is a really miserable way of developing a new bicycle. Is this the way to follow over the next few years? I really hope it's not!
Give us a good trail and enduro bike that people will actually want to be seen on, slacker, steeper, a proper suspension setup and NO TWINLOCK.
at least the DH and XC bike is good
www.boldcycles.com/?fbclid=IwAR24-dOmwBmWHT_yal5HBevXKxzofzAwg9XI-VHs98FWUwH1uHLKcEzLIg0
From looking at Kate Courtney’s instagram though, it looks like the size S still only has one mount :-/
Setting up for a turn?
She is looking right but front wheel is perfectly straight, bike is not leaned at all. She is in the easiest gear and looks to be hanging off the left side with her weight slightly back.
Is it an optical illusion?
This bike looks like a remote control without screen.
Well done.
Unfortunately, Scott does not sell this to customers, would have been a nice option for the high-end model
Just saying that IMO Scott missed a point here by not offering a fully integrated solution for AXS and the AXS remote, maybe even cleaner than the stuff we see on their pro bikes...
www.bike-magazin.de/mtb_news/mtb_neuheiten/scott-spark-neu-2022
120mm bikes are not just for xc ... no , i don't say the d***country word. just that a *big* shock and a 140/160 fork should fit this thing quite well.
hope it's not so BOLD question?