Spotted: Prototype Scott Gambler

May 10, 2014 at 11:47
by Mike Kazimer  
prototype Scott Gambler

With the third round of the World Cup heading to Fort William in a month's time, many teams are using this weekend's British Downhill Series race to try new equipment in preparation for the big show. We spotted Brendan Fairclough taking practice laps aboard a Scott Gambler that, from a distance, looks similar to the bike he's been riding, but a closer examination reveals a number of changes to the frame design. The Floating Linkage suspension configuration remains, but the rear shock is now mounted much lower on the seat tube, and the seat tube itself looks to be at a slacker angle than the previous version. There is also more room around the linkage assembly itself, suggesting that Scott may have gone with a shorter shock than the 10.5" X 3.5" one previously spec'd. The rear swingarm's shape has been altered slightly as well, no doubt to make it better fit the 27.5" wheels the bike is outfitted with. As far as the bike's geometry goes, Scott wasn't willing to comment, but we doubt the head angle would get any slacker than the 62 degree angle it was already at. If anything, slightly steeper would make sense given the bike's larger wheel size.


Old Gambler vs new Scott Gambler
Spot the differences? The prototype is on the left, a 2013 model is on the right.

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97 Comments
  • 216 10
 One is blue, the other is greeny yellow.






What? Someone had to say it.
  • 7 0
 You're right !!
  • 15 4
 Yes they look similar at first glance but if you actually look at the two frames, they did change quite a bit.
  • 21 1
 New one comes with pair of brendawg legs. Hope it comes with red pants.
  • 5 1
 Yawn, they look *essentially* the same, with one pivot point change, but so what. *cue all the pseudo-engineer comments claiming "how it's going to make such a huge difference". Big deal.
  • 7 6
 Yeah, yawn, pivot placement doesn't matter at all. It is just the difference between a suspension system not working at all and being a top level DH bike.
  • 6 1
 I didn't realise the previous design didn't work at all. Wow, sure am glad I read your comment.
  • 4 3
 Lol, mtbrider 71, shut up man. Your comment totally exaggerates redrook's point and then criticizes it, which is retarded. That pivot placement has certainly not made the different that you imply (unless you are actually saying the first design didn't work at all and the new one is top level). Pivot placement in general is very important, but the difference above is not all that significant a change and frankly they both look almost identical at a glance. Anyone saying different is just looking for an excuse to try and sound like an expert.
  • 4 3
 How insightful mtbrider71, that's not at all exactly the type of comment redrook was talking about!

Oh Scott Bikes, how could you have been so stupid to design a bike that was not "working at all" (to quote mtbrider71)! Well done, moving that pivot point a couple of inches now means you have a "top level DH bike". Kudos Scott!
  • 4 4
 When did I ever state that this specific pivot point change made a non-working design to a top level DH bike? Oh right, I never did. I am saying in general pivot placement makes the real difference. redrook implied that because there is just one pivot point change it is pointless to post the new design. This isn't true at all. If you have ever designed a suspension set up or even played around on the Linkage program you would realize how big of a difference a small change in pivot placement can make.
You don't have to be an expert to understand the simple concept.
  • 4 0
 I implied nothing of the sort, I was talking about this specific pivot point change, then you started talking about pivot points in general. YOU sir, are the one who went off topic. You don't have to be an expert to grasp this.
  • 4 0
 mmtbrider71 He was talking about this specific point change (obviously). In no way did he even come close to suggesting any generalization about pivot placement not mattering. You are in the wrong, get over it.
  • 1 1
 "Yawn, they look *essentially* the same, with one pivot point change, but so what."

"redrook implied that because there is just one pivot point change it is pointless to post the new design. This isn't true at all. If you have ever designed a suspension set up or even played around on the Linkage program you would realize how big of a difference a small change in pivot placement can make."
  • 1 1
 cheeselord do you just follow redrook around defending his arguments hahaha? Looking at your profile it looks like that is about all you do.Maybe redrook has two accounts?
  • 1 0
 Well I didn't read it that way, I think you were just looking to disagree with someone to sound like an expert (like a typical PB troller). And yeah you got me, I'm actually from Scotland, *facepalm*, I just pretend to be from BC. Though to be fair I'm actually in Van now, not in Golden. It's not hard to follow someone's posts moron.
  • 104 3
 One is making the other one cheaper? Big Grin
  • 10 53
flag c4mtb (May 10, 2014 at 14:28) (Below Threshold)
 it looks the same...
  • 19 9
 Are you blind????

Look at the top tube where it meets the seat post

Look at the linkage
  • 12 42
flag c4mtb (May 10, 2014 at 14:52) (Below Threshold)
 clearly there a some minute changes, but they look very similar, sort of like the giant glory, small changes that make it better and better over the years.
  • 31 2
 stop now^^
  • 8 3
 those small changes make the difference
  • 4 1
 The Mountain Bart's point seems valid. Every year the "new technology" outdates the prior years, but really it just means they've done some design/development work since the last one.
  • 3 3
 Mountain bike in looking like mountain bike shocker!!! I was expecting it to be disc shaped or maybe an orb.
  • 5 2
 Shut up Gilmarques, you don't have a clue what differences they've made. And I very much doubt you, or anyone else here, would notice the difference given a blind test.
  • 6 1
 Ah give 'em a break rbeach, they're only parroting what they've read on pinkbike adverts, sorry "articles".
  • 66 6
 "I think it might be better if they crammed even more linkage in"
  • 11 18
flag bikeshreddermtb (May 10, 2014 at 14:43) (Below Threshold)
 why cant they keep the linkages simple. Simplicity works fine
  • 11 3
 I will only be complete after adding 6-7 more linkages to that shock.. lol..
  • 7 1
 One word: patents.
  • 22 6
 more linkages= more bearings= more problems
  • 27 1
 Yo dawg, I heard you like linkages.
  • 8 2
 Or better impact distribution through the platform...
  • 5 0
 While I agree there's a lot of linkages. But the problem isn't linkages it's bearings. And from what I can see there's only 4 bearings (one side of the frame 8 total) which is average or less then most, eg. Giant = 4, Trek = 5, demo = 4,
  • 22 1
 in fact it only has two links. Lots of bikes have 2 links: The vpp used by santa cruz and intense, the maestro used by giant and many others.
As they are crossed it looks messy but actually its quite simple
  • 16 0
 finally someone who understands! @nehuen93, IT HAS 2 LINKAGES!!!!! Yes just 2!
  • 7 8
 it still looks like a fugly mess. .
  • 4 3
 more bearings = less stress on bearings = less problems with bearings?
thats my thought.
  • 4 1
 simple mechanical things will always outlast complicated mechanical things.
  • 10 1
 IT HAS THE SAME NUMBER OF BEARINGS AS A 4-BAR. i.e. trek session, kona operator - bikes with "simple" suspension.
  • 8 2
 Not many people has the wisdom to see simplicity. They see simple stuff complicated, same applies to their life.
  • 2 2
 Actually if you count the shock bushings it has more pivots. If you don't count them then you shouldn't on the session either, and it still has more.
  • 2 7
flag dmadness (May 11, 2014 at 18:46) (Below Threshold)
 it looks Fugly... and maxlombardy here gets the trophy here, Its not hard to see that this is a mechanical mess of parts, the only way it could be more retarded ( IMO of course ) is if you somehow managed to work a pull shock into that mess, maybe then you could add more into the cluster Salute
  • 1 0
 Cartridge bearings just go every so often. Nothing to do about but replace them.
  • 44 5
 So let me get this straight: the mid-size wheels are also called 27.5, 650b and Prototype?
  • 10 0
 Scott slightly bigger wheels .. boom boom !
  • 1 0
 And a 9.5 instead of 10.5 shock
  • 2 0
 ahhh really? i loved how they had that long stroke shock.
  • 16 7
 Who manufactures with the most linkage wins! It's single pivot, can you guys make it more complicated?
  • 7 3
 You read my thougts. Single pivot complicated. Orange does the same with less parts!
  • 6 0
 I think the Evil Undead might win for the most parts in the linkage. Might...
  • 2 0
 Actually the evil isnt a lot more complicated, it too is a single pivot with a two link push system. Which there are a lot of bikes like that, the Transition, morewood, vendeta, older Turners, the Prototype Dimondback, older commencals, the Nukeproofs, and even the top 5 Motocross manufactures all use single pivots with 2 links to push the shock.and even more im sure im forgetting.
  • 6 0
 Its the same design motorcycles have been running for over 25 years, it works. Theres a reason the whole mx industry has been using this design for almost 3 decades.
  • 1 0
 Interesting point. And here I thought it was an overly complicated looking solution to the single pivot.
  • 3 2
 maybe good to get the rear shock more down towards the BB. My guess. Pretty big difference in my mind on those two. (never rode "the old one" though). Proto looks better, we´ll see what they think of it, in couple of weeks. Think i go with Glory though. Big Grin
  • 1 0
 That's 1 seriously kinked seat tube. I guess that allowed a lower standover, a beefier seat stay bridge, perhaps shorter chainstays and/or more clearance. Cable/hose routing is a lot cleaner. Downtube looks shorter by the BB. Nice work on a redesign.

I like the DW Delta system better, but I wonder how this contends vs other similar single pivots like Foes.
  • 4 0
 I JUST BOUGHT THE OTHER ONE!!!!
  • 5 2
 That's the kitty's Tities
  • 3 0
 I thought the gamblers could already fit 650B? or am i wrong?
  • 1 0
 Nope you're right. In fact they were already using 650b's at the 2012 Worlds in Leogang
  • 4 0
 I think this one is just more 650b geometry friendly
  • 4 1
 What a good looking SLUTT
  • 2 0
 So stoked to get one of these under way!!
  • 3 1
 The Left One Looks Way lighter?
  • 2 0
 Lower c.o.g makes sense. Still a good looking bike too.
  • 1 1
 Jajajaj stop show prototipe, we feel sorry for our old 2013-2014 bikes.

I start to enjoy something and the factory decide to show me the 2015 models and his prototipes Frown
  • 2 1
 great scott, they've made another downhill bike with 27.5 inch wheels. isn't that a revelation.
  • 1 0
 new frame looks alot lighter hopefully they will release a full carbon one though
  • 1 1
 It's a complicated single pivot with a bunch of bearings and bushings and whatever else.

Who cares?

How does it ride? Actually, not theoretically.
  • 1 0
 it ride nice.....actually
  • 1 0
 Downtube mount needed for straight seat tube. seat tubes like that are so 2003.....
  • 1 0
 looks good, refined, but knowing its most likely built around 650b really makes me not care much
  • 1 0
 Why so much trouble to adjust leverage? Otherwise it is still a single pivot.
  • 1 0
 o man Fairclough flow.........
  • 2 0
 mind blowing stuff...
  • 6 5
 Frame connection under the seat post seems a little... snappy
  • 14 1
 Well if it survives Brendog riding it at Fort Bill I think it'll be alright pretty much anywhere
  • 1 0
 Scott would say compact. It probably makes the whole rear end feel a lot stiffer.
  • 1 1
 rear triangle is new.....upper link is inverted....I have the one on the right
  • 1 0
 yeah they ditched the gusset on the underside of the top tube-seat tube
  • 5 3
 He snapped one at the Rampage Big Grin And why the hell is this a brand new prototype stuff? Just a facelifted Gambler...
  • 3 2
 good! i have bought a 2014 gambler :/
  • 1 0
 Since when is putting a shorter shock a better idea?
  • 1 0
 ....... just finished paying off my 2014 gambler.
  • 1 2
 Just going to throw my two cents in here, I am not sure on how that linkage works but it looks like all the force will be going to one point....i can see that failing :-/
  • 1 0
 dude, do you even bearings?
  • 4 3
 Woooooow...
  • 1 0
 nice single pivot
  • 2 1
 nice piece of art...
  • 1 2
 One is a single pivot. The other is a single pivot. Both have overly complicated linkages.
  • 3 4
 still no carbon? come on scott
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