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With around 130 millimetres of suspension travel and modern geometry, a trail bike can be used for a maximum range of applications. The trail bike version of the Scott Spark is based on the same framework platform as Nino Schurter's World Cup weapon RCwith the damper integrated in the bottom bracket area. While the rear suspension travel is identical (factory specification 120 millimetres), only a ten millimetre longer fork is used. As a result, Scott has to make virtually no compromises in terms of geometry in order to create two bikes from one platform. The seat angle is sufficiently steep at 76.2 degrees and the reach is long enough at 468 millimetres. The 66 degree head angle also fits perfectly into this trail bike environment, and despite the 130 mm fork, the bottom bracket is low enough for a pleasantly low centre of gravity. Not only are you nicely integrated into the bike, but the low front end also gives you a propulsion-orientated pedalling position with plenty of pressure on the front wheel. The close relationship to the Spark RC becomes clear here.
Although the typical Scott Twinloc lever, with which the fork and shock can be operated simultaneously, is jammed on the handlebars, we were able to spare our thumbs - the rear suspension remains surprisingly smooth even in the open position and generates the best propulsion. The wheels with the harmonious trail tyres (Schwalbe Wicked Will) also get going easily and make the Scott a fast ride. Downhill, the rear suspension impresses with its sensitivity and good absorption capacity, even if the extremely stiff frame only allows a little lateral flex. Our test rig elicited 131 millimetres of travel from the rear. All the testers criticised the narrow handlebars, which are cranked far back. A change here would significantly improve the handling.
Test summary of the Scott Spark 920
The Scott Spark combines sportiness and downhill performance like no other trail bike in this comparison test and thus confidently secures the test victory.
Technical data Scott Spark 920 - model year 2022
General information
- Price: 4699 Euro >> available here
- Frame material: carbon/aluminium
- Frame size: S / M / L / XL (tested L/49 cm)
- Info: www.scott-sports.com
BIKE measured values
- Weight without pedals: 12.86 kg
- Suspension travel: 131/130 mm
- Frame weight without shock: 2312 g
- Weight of wheels: 4535 g
- Handlebar width: 760 mm
Equipment
- Fork: Fox 34 Float Performance Remote
- Shock: Fox Nude DPS
- Crank: Sram GX Eagle
- Gear system: Sram GX Eagle 1 x 12
- Gear ratio / bandwidth: 32; 10-52 / 520 %
- Brake system / Disc (front / rear): Shimano SLX BR-M 7120 / 180 mm / 180 mm
- Telescopic post / stroke / Ø: Syncros Duncan Dro. 2.0 / 150 mm / 31.6 mm
- Wheels: Syncros Silverton 2.0
- Tyres: Schwalbe Wicked Will Evo Addix Soft / Speedgrip Superrace TLE 29 x 2.40
You can conveniently download the results of the complete comparison test of the seven trail bikes around 4500 euros from BIKE 5/2022 as a PDF below the article. The test report costs 1.99 euros.
We tested the Scott Spark against these 7 trail bikes
- Transition Spur Carbon GX (Reference bike, 5799 euros)
- Cannondale Scalpel SE2
- Canyon Neuron CF9 SL
- Cube Stereo HPC-SLT29
- Scott Spark 920
- Trek Top Fuel 8
- YT Izzo Core 3
Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has a price. In return, we guarantee independence and objectivity. This applies in particular to the tests in BIKE. We don't pay for them, but the opposite is the case: we charge for them, namely tens of thousands of euros every year.
