FAST BIKE FRIDAY – SCOTT SPARK RC TEAM ISSUE AXS

This week for our Fast Bike Friday feature we’re celebrating the launch of Scott bikes at Wheelbase! Yes, if you haven’t already heard we are now proud stockists of cutting-edge Swiss bike brand Scott, available to buy at our Wheelbase Lake District and Wheelbase Yorkshire stores and of course available to order online, shipping direct to you ready to ride anywhere in the UK. For our very first ‘Fast Bike’ from Scott we’re taking a detailed look at the super-stylish, innovative Scott Spark RC Team Issue AXS full-suspension cross-country mountain bike with its unique internal rear shock and progressive geometry; a bike that has already garnered a considerable amount of attention from the cycling industry press and wider mountain bike community thanks to that original suspension configuration.

Scott UK have a whole fleet of the all-new 2022 Spark RC Team Issue AXS bikes available for staff training with their retailers and upcoming demo events with the public around the UK. Josh, Scott’s Northern Area Sales Manager (and super-fit racer) joined us recently at Wheelbase Lake District on a beautiful, sunny evening to run through the technical aspects of the Spark RC Team Issue AXS bike and to ride with us on some of our best local trails so that we could all get a real feel for this new bike. Needless to say I was particularly excited to ride this full-suspension cross-country mountain bike after all of the recent industry chat around it…

There’s been a lot of industry chat about the Scott Spark RC, with its unique internal shock configuration so I was excited to get a ride on one myself.

 

As some of you may already know, the Scott Spark has been around for a number of years and has slowly evolved over that time to become more and more capable when it comes to handling the demands of modern cross country racing. It’s worth pointing out just how technical cross country courses have become in the past few years, with sections becoming more and more difficult to ride cleanly without crashing out. If you need more convincing watch the replay of the recent Tokyo Olympics Mountain Bike Race, it was possibly the most technically-demanding course that racers have ever encountered, with elements of the course influencing the final outcome of the race. Riders now spend as much of their training time focused on their technical riding skills as they do on their fitness; staying in sync with this evolution the best bike brands are also pushing the boundaries when it comes to their bikes ability to handle this more aggressive form of riding, the all-new Scott Spark is a great example of this evolution.

When it comes to real-world testing and product development Scott have the perfect setup with the Scott-Sram MTB Racing team pushing the limits of their bikes at the highest level of international racing. Multiple World Champion, World Cup winner and Olympic Champion Nino Schurter has been onboard Scott bikes for almost the entirety of his racing career and has made a significant contribution to the evolution of the Scott Spark over the years; known for his remarkable bike-handling skills a rider like Nino was bound to push the boundaries of what a full-suspension cross-country mountain bike could do and the all-new Scott Spark with its internal shock is the culmination of that long-term relationship. The Spark is now faster than ever before both up AND downhill with increased suspension travel and more progressive geometry.

At the heart of the new Spark RC Team Issue AXS is Scott’s patented integrated suspension system and its the internal shock configuration that has got everyone talking. As well as looking super-clean this integrated shock platform has allowed Scott to refine the bike’s suspension characteristics without sacrificing weight; the placement of the internal shock and the position/increased size of the bearings help eliminate unwanted lateral movement as the shock goes through its compression making the bike stiffer and more responsive when you stomp down on the pedals. This integrated suspension technology also helped Scott to  engineer frames with considerably lower shock placement to help lower the center of gravity for a bike that feels more stable at speed and handles better in all riding scenarios.

With some very clever Swiss engineering Scott have integrated the rear shock inside the carbon frame while improving on suspension efficiency.

 

Another benefit of this new fully-integrated rear suspension platform is the increase in protection from the elements for the rear shock and all of its moving parts. This benefit can’t be understated here in the UK where riding conditions are typically wet and muddy almost all year round; the longevity of the shock’s seals and the suspension platform’s internally-located bearings is greatly improved with this setup.

The location of the internal RockShox rear shock is low down in the frame for a stable centre of gravity and is completely protected from the elements.

 

Previous incarnations of the Scott Spark have featured a single-pivot suspension layout and the all-new Scott Spark continues with this efficient configuration. This super-light carbon fibre frame features a simple but very effective flex pivot in the seat stay and is a neat design solution that enables just the right amount of rear wheel travel without adding unwanted weight through some very sophisticated carbon layup designed to continuously flex.

The Spark RC features a single pivot suspension configuration which relies on a flex pivot in the seat stay.

 

The Scott brand is well-known for its Swiss precision engineering and innovative design solutions; when it comes to the construction of the Spark’s chassis Scott have approached it with the mindset that the frame should be considered as two significant areas, with the lower half being the stiffer load-bearing portion of the frame designed to be laterally stiff under pedaling input and able to accommodate the forces generated by the internal suspension platform. In contrast the upper portion of the frame features a more forgiving, lighter carbon fibre layup to help keep the Spark as light as possible while providing a little compliance to help keep you feeling fresher for longer.

The structure of the Spark RC chassis can be considered as two separate structures with the lower portion being the stiffer stress-bearing section.

 

So what about access to that illusive internal rear shock? Well, it couldn’t be any easier. Scott have included a simple hatch that is easy to remove and refit by hand with no need for any tools and when the hatch is fitted it forms a secure seal from the elements. Once you’ve removed the hatch you’ll be able to adjust rebound, compression and shock pressure; you can also access the cable that activates Scott’s TwinLoc Suspension System (more on that later).

On the underside of the downtube there’s an easy-to-remove panel that reveals the internal shock.

 

Adjustments to the rear shock’s air pressure can be made quickly and easily via the access cavity in the downtube.

 

Setting the sag to suit your weight is important for getting the most out of your suspension, this indicator makes things easier.

 

If the outer sag indicator isn’t enough for you then the frame’s small rubber bung can removed quickly to allow you to check the shock itself.

 

For the past twenty or so years conventional full-suspension cross country mountain bikes have featured 100mm of front and rear suspension travel. More recently we’ve seen bikes with 120mm of travel creeping into racing due to the technical demands of modern xc courses; Scott are leading the way here with the Spark rear shock and suspension fork both offering 120mm of plush travel.

Stowed away inside that sleek-looking carbon frame is a RockShox NUDE 5 RL3 Trunnion rear shock; this is a Scott custom model with travel / geometry adjustment and 3 different modes – Lockout, Traction Control and Descend – moving between total lockout, 80mm of travel and 120mm of travel. To complement the internal rear shock Scott have spec’d a RockShox SID Select RL3 Air Custom Charger fork with a 3-mode damper and a remote lockout. With their rich racing heritage and focus on being as fast and efficient uphill as they are downhill Scott’s full-suspension mountain bikes have featured their innovative Twinloc setup for many years, the all-new Spark is no different and it brings some real benefits to how the bike performs over mixed terrain.

Scott have matched that plush rear suspension with a lightweight RockShox SID Select RL3 fork providing 120mm of travel.

 

The Scott Twinloc system is designed to allow you to control the frame, fork and shock as one complete system; I could really feel the benefit of this on our Lake District ride where the terrain varied from long, smooth gravel sections to technical rocky climbs and very loose, steep, rocky descents taken at high speeds. Playing around with the Twinloc I was able to move from fully-locked out on the road and gravel climbs to 80mm of travel on technical rocky climbs where that extra traction but minimal suspension travel was required, to fully-open with 120mm of travel for the high-speed rocky descents. This really was as close as I’ve come to a mountain bike that can do it all – climbing like a super-light hardtail race bike and flying downhill like a capable modern trail bike; it was efficient and confidence-inspiring in equal measure.

So without getting overly technical how does the Twinloc work? Well, a bike with 120mm of suspension travel, correctly set up has more sag than a bike with 80mm of travel. It’s that extra travel that transforms this bike from an efficient cross-country racing machine into a capable trail-focused bike but that greater amount of sag for 120mm will have an adverse effect on the Spark’s geometry and climbing performance. Twinloc cleverly manages the sag effect so that this isn’t an issue and it doesn’t just increase low-speed compression to help gain pedaling efficiency, it also changes the spring curve to dynamically change the geometry of the bike so that it sits higher and maintains a steep seat angle for more effective climbing.

Scott’s brilliant TwinLoc system allows you to toggle between fully-locked-out, 80mm or 120mm of suspension travel.

 

As I mentioned earlier, the Scott Spark RC Team Issue AXS features the type of modern, progressive geometry which has started to filter its way into cross country mountain bikes; the angles may not impress a full-on trail or Enduro rider but these new, slightly more relaxed angles and longer top tube lengths are a step in the right direction when it comes to a mountain bike that is more stable at speed and can handle steep, technical descents. Scott haven’t stopped there though, realising the importance of being able to fine tune your own bike geometry they have configured the headtube, headset and stem to allow you to change the head angle from 67.3° to a more relaxed 66.1°. This can be done without cutting cables or bleeding brakes, simply disassemble the bar, rotate the two headset cups 180° and reassemble.

The Scott Spark’s headset angle can be adjusted with the minimum of fuss.

The Scott engineers were clearly on a roll with their fully integrated, internal rear shock so didn’t stop there; the spark RC Team Issue AXS also features an integrated stem which neatly routes the rear brake hose and rear shock lockout cable through the stem, headset and into the frame. The cable and hose continue through the frame for a clean, uncluttered look and with SRAM’s wireless GX Eagle AXS groupset too there’s a really satisfying lack of visible cables on this bike. It’s worth pointing out too that the Spark is ready to take a dropper seat post with routing neatly through the frame; so although this particular model of Spark doesn’t include a dropper, fitting one should be pretty quick and easy.

The Scott Spark RC features an integrated stem that routs the rear brake hose and shock lockout cable through the stem, headset and into the frame.

 

Riding the Scott Spark RC Team Issue AXS was a dream, the suspension platform was super-versatile, being nice and active on the downhills while providing ample traction on the climbs without any unwanted bob; changing between the three suspension settings via the Twinloc became intuitive very quickly allowing me to focus solely on the trail ahead. That user-friendly feel was further enhanced by the SRAM wireless GX Eagle AXS groupset, another brilliant system that takes away a lot of the thought process for when and where exactly to change gear; why do I say this? Because with a wireless, electronic groupset any of the potential for fluffed gear changes under pressure that might be encountered with a mechanical system are all but eliminated.

The Scott Spark RC Team Issue features SRAM’s excellent GX Eagle AXS wireless groupset.

 

Each gear change from the AXS rocker controller on the right of the handlebars was instantaneous with every gear selection being crisp and precise. Incidentally you can custom tune the controller to best suit you; in fact mid-ride I decided that I’d prefer the two buttons to swap their function so that the larger button shifted up the cassette and the smaller button shifted down the cassette; no problem, my ride-buddy Jack had the App on his smartphone and in less than a minute had changed the configuration, brilliant!

A SRAM GX Eagle AXS 12-speed wireless rocker controller selects each gear instantaneously.

 

SRAM’s GX Eagle DUB chainset sports a narrow / wide 32T chainring to keep your chain securely located.

 

That 32T chainring upfront is matched with a wide ratio 10-52T cassette to give you a huge range of gears to overcome any terrain.

 

When I pointed the Scott Spark RC Team Issue AXS bike downhill on some of the faster, rocky trails that are synonymous with the Lake District I all-but-floated through sections that would normally have me riding on the very edge of control on my own cross-country mountain bike. That extra speed felt great, but sharp changes of direction and the ability to scrub off speed quickly and effectively to negotiate tighter, more technical sections were still required. Thankfully Scott have spec’d the Spark with powerful Shimano XT M8100 disc brakes and nice large rotors to regain control in an instant; there’s a 160mm rotor on the rear and a larger 180mm rotor upfront.

Shimano XT M8100 Disc brakes give you all the braking power required to slow this super-fast bike down.

 

That Swiss engineering excellence shows itself all over the Spark, from the obvious aspects like the internal rear shock to smaller elements that are no-less well-considered and make a difference to how much you enjoy your time on the bike. In a nod to the potential frustrations of having to carry multiple tools for all of the different bolts and fittings on a modern mountain bike Scott have included a new version of their rear axle tool. The Spark’s axle tool features a T25, T30 and 6 Allen Key all in one, allowing you to adjust all of the Spark’s pivot hardware and nearly everything else there is to adjust on the bike.

There’s no more complaining about not having the right sized tool  – this removeable rear axle tool features a T25, T30 and 6mm allen all in one.

 

With the rear axle tool you can adjust everything on the fly.

 

Scott have made a big statement with the all-new Spark; with its unique internal shock, increased suspension travel from the usual 100mm to 120mm, more progressive geometry and all the versatility of their Twinloc system they have produced a race-winning cross country bike that excels on the climbs, providing instant acceleration and amazing levels of traction on loose terrain. When you point the bike downhill and flick the lever from 80mm of travel to 120mm of travel the Spark instantly transforms into a capable, confidence-inspiring trail bike; we don’t have to go far from the Wheelbase HQ office here in the Lake District to find really challenging terrain and I’m pleased to say that this bike can handle it well. It’s worth noting that Scott also offer the Spark 900 with 130mm of travel upfront, so if you’re less focused on racing and more focused on big days out in the hills then there’s that option too; in fact there’s a whole stable of Scott Sparks available with multiple specifications to suit you and your riding aspirations. We’re proud to now be Scott stockists and look forward to helping you find the right Spark for you.

With suspension travel set to 80mm the Spark RC climbed brilliantly; then after switching to 120mm for the descents it became a rowdy trail bike!

 

The Scott Spark RC Team Issue AXS is a fantastically efficient cross-country mountain bike that just happens to ride like a capable trail bike.

 

Full Specification:

• Frame: Spark RC Carbon HMF Integrated Suspension Technology Flex Pivot / Adjustable head angle Syncros Cable Integration System BB92 / UDH Interface / 12x148mm with 55mm Chainline
• Fork: RockShox SID Select RL3 Air Custom Charger 3-Mode Damper 15x110mm Maxle Stealth / 44mm offset / Tapered steerer Lockout / Reb. Adj. / 120mm travel
• Rear Shock: RockShox NUDE 5 RL3 Trunnion SCOTT custom w. travel / geo adj. 3 modes: Lockout-Traction Control-Descend Debon Air / Reb. Adj./ Travel 120-80-Lockout /
• T165X45mm
• Remote System : SCOTT TwinLoc 2 Technology 3 Suspension modes
• Shifters: SRAM GX Eagle AXS Rocker Controller
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle AXS / 12 Speed Wireless Electronic Shift System
• Cassette : SRAM XG1275 / 10-52 T
• Chainset: SRAM GX Eagle DUB 55mm CL / 32T
• Bottom Bracket : SRAM DUB PF 92 MTB Wide / shell 41x92mm
• Brakes: Shimano XT M8100 Disc
• Rotors: Shimano SM-RT76 / 6 Bolt / 180/F and 160/R
• Wheelset: Front – Syncros Silverton 2.0-30 6 Bolt 15x110mm / 30mm Tubeless ready rim / 28H
• Wheelset: Rear – Syncros Silverton 2.0-30 6 Bolt 12x148mm / 30mm Tubeless ready rim / 28H / XD Driver / Syncros Axle /Removable Lever 6mm Allen, T30 and T25 Tools
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Rekon Race / 29×2.4″ / 120TPI Foldable Bead Tubeless Ready / EXO
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Rekon Race / 29×2.4″ / 120TPI Foldable Bead Tubeless Ready / EXO
• Stem: Syncros XC 1.5 Syncros Cable Integration System -12° rise / 7050 Alloy / 31.8mm / 1 1/8″
• Headset: Syncros – Acros Angle adjust & Cable Routing HS System with +/-0.6° head angle adjustment ZS56/28.6 – ZS56/40 MTB
• Handlebar: Syncros Fraser 1.5 XC Alloy 7075 D.B. Flat Bar / 8° / 740mm
• Grips: Syncros Pro lock-on grips
• Seat Post: Syncros Duncan 1.5 / 10mm offset 31.6x400mm
• Saddle: Syncros Belcarra Regular 1.5 Titanium rails

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

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