CONTINUOUS TEST PERFORMANCE:
2,727 kilometres | 55,436 metres in altitude
My first contact with the Genius LT was during a test for the freeride magazine in Finale Ligure, where I was there as a test rider. I liked the concept of the bike straight away. A lot of suspension travel at only 12.5 kilos and three different suspension modes, quickly operated from the handlebars. I live in the Munich area, and my home circuit is anything but a double-black-diamond trail. So it was with mixed feelings that I put the "one-bike-for-everything" vehicle to the endurance test. But the very first tour showed that the disadvantages were surprisingly minor. On tours with 1000 metres of asphalt ascent like in Latsch and subsequent trail enjoyment, the Scott is fully in its element. With bikes that feel like all pedalling energy is wasted, 1000-metre climbs can be a real pain.
However, there is no question of torture when climbing with the Genius LT. You feel more like you're on a sporty all-mountain bike than a 170-millimetre enduro bike. The extremely slim weight and the suspension set to climb mode via the Twinloc lever ensure impeccable propulsion. There's really nothing to criticise here. Downhill, the Scott is confident and smooth. The low weight is also reflected here in the very light-footed, agile handling. The suspension is potent, but lacks a little sensitivity. The compression damping of the suspension elements is also quite high in the open position and prevents unwanted suspension movements. As a result, the bike feels sporty and firm, but transmits hard impacts to the rider. The Scott developers eliminated this shortcoming in the subsequent model generation with the Fox 36 and a different shock setup. The stiffness of the frame is not particularly high, even if this is not noticeable in practice. However, the flex in the rear end is problematic, causing even the Schwalbe Rock Razor to rub against the chainstays when cornering.
ConclusionDespite the long suspension travel, the bike is surprisingly versatile and absolutely suitable for touring. The only thing that tarnishes the overall picture is the rear end, which is ground down by the tyre.
Functionality 6 out of 6 points
Durability 3 out of 6 points
TUNING
- 300 km: Tyre change - The Schwalbe Rock Razor on the rear wheel rolled excellently, but reached its limit too quickly downhill. Depending on the route and the weather, I switched to a Hans Dampf.
DEFECTS
- 786,1485, 1996, 2655 km: Changed brake pads - All that shuttling leaves its mark. The pads of the Shimano XTR brakes last a maximum of 700 kilometres.
- 2655 km: Twinloc lever defectivet - The lever no longer locks because the catch is worn. Replace with a new lever.
RELATIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
THE TESTER
Wolfgang Watzke, BIKE test rider and photographer 37 years/1.85 m/78 kg
Driver profile As a pleasure enduro rider, Wolfi likes to pick the trail sultanas out of the cake and often rides in excellent enduro regions. Whether with shuttle support or by muscle power.
Favourite areas Latsch, Finale Ligure, Hometrails at the Ammersee
WHAT THE READERS SAY
- Unfortunately I have a constant cracking noise in the bottom bracket area. Bottom bracket has already been replaced, bolts of the joints tightened, greased. Unfortunately without success. Sebastian K., Facebook
- The bikes don't ride badly. They also keep up well in the DH area. Marco R., Facebook
- I have a 710 from 2014 and the screws and the joint on the shock were the cause of the cracking. I greased and cleaned everything and that was it. Mario R.
, Facebook
