Scott Genius fans will have to get used to a new look. The 2013 Genius clearly stands out from the old one, with the top-mounted shock and softer lines bringing it visually closer to the Spark marathon bike. All in all, the new Genius looks more modern. The facts: Compared to the original Genius, the new model has gained a lot of stiffness, but has also put on hip fat. Almost 70 Nm per degree can now cope with heavier riders and tougher use than its predecessor. The 710 model has a carbon main frame with an aluminium rear triangle, resulting in a chassis weight of 2.9 kilos. This makes it 530 grams heavier than the super-light predecessor and 600 grams heavier than the full carbon version (test of the pre-series bike in BIKE 10/12). The 2013 version also outweighs its predecessor in terms of fork and wheels by a good 300 grams each. Where is the progress? Calm down: Scott has eliminated all the weaknesses of the old model on the suspension, integrated clever detail solutions and also simplified the annoying tuning with the new shock.
On the trail, the qualities of the new Genius quickly become clear: Thanks to the increased stiffness, the Genius 710 is much smoother, plus the slightly larger wheels, the 34 mm fork and a wheelbase that is four centimetres longer - this means the bike handles like a board at high speeds, can be steered very precisely and delivers top traction on climbs. Anyone expecting a super-soft suspension to match this will be surprised by the firm setup. As already written in BIKE 10/12: The Genius 710 is not a Genius LT replacement. But don't get the wrong impression: Downhill, the predecessor doesn't see any land - this is not only due to the stiffness, the 2012 Genius also lacks the thick tyres, the dropper post and the wide handlebars. On the other hand, the 2012 beats the newcomer when changing direction quickly, is faster and feels incredibly nimble in direct comparison. You can just feel the two-kilo difference. The old model is now more marathon and less all-mountain than ever, while the new model caters to the All Mountain 2.0 target group. As with Cube, it's worth taking a look at the 29-inch model, the Genius 910 - in our opinion, this has an even wider range of applications.
