Do the big 29er wheels turn the Spark into a new bike? The wheels alone certainly don't. That's why the Scott engineers have redesigned the model from scratch after five years and eliminated all the points of criticism that have automatically arisen over the years through comparison with more recent designs. The newly developed carbon frame is significantly stiffer than before, thanks to the butted head tube, thru-axle, solid pivot points and optimised tube shapes. A new bridge between the seat stays, for example, makes the rear triangle noticeably more stable. Scott states a frame weight of 1890 grams with shock, but we have not yet checked this on the pre-production test bike. However, the total weight of less than eleven kilos indicates consistent lightweight construction.
The fact that the bike's stiffness has improved so much is already evident from the first few metres of the test ride. During the two and a half hours of speedy singletrail hunting with race legend Thomas Frischknecht, the bike didn't have any weaknesses - and the BIKE tester hid his as well as possible. The riding position is perfectly suited to the range of use, and the suspension is impressive thanks to its adjustability from the handlebars. Even if it's only for a few metres, it's always worth adapting the suspension to the terrain. The new compression adjustment of the fork fits into the concept, the traction mode on the damper is easier to ride than before and the difference is noticeable. However, the Twentyniner-Spark has no comfort to give away. It feels firmer than the 100 millimetres in combination with the large wheels would suggest. The 26er-Spark with 120 mm suspension travel rides much more comfortably in direct comparison. An interesting frame detail is the geometry adjustment, with which the bottom bracket height (8 mm) and steering angle (0.5 degrees) can be changed. This works well on the Twentyniner, allowing the steering behaviour to be trimmed from sluggish to agile - depending on what the terrain demands. Probably no other bike in this class is more versatile.
ConclusionTop marathon fully with many functions and adjustment options. The evolution of the Spark is noticeable!
PLUS Low weight, adjustable chassis, handling characteristics
MINUS Seat post retractability
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