Scott says this configuration creates stronger, stiffer force distribution from the suspension into the widest, stiffest part of the frame at the bottom bracket. The result is a shock completely protected from the elements – no mud sprayed on or UV-light exposure to its sensitive slider & seals – yet still easily accessible with a large access port under the downtube for easy shock adjustment. …and a unique 3-piece, splined rocker arm drives the shock inside, while connecting to the seatstays outside through a set of oversized, extra-sealed pivot bearings. The whole setup works simply by shifting the trunnion mount shock into the frame where the unsprung weight of the shock can move a bit lower (that’s also why Scott inverts the shocks)… Bold is still independently developing new bikes (new models expected this fall!), and Scott developed this new Spark completely separate of Bold. Linkage ratios and shock curves have been tweaked in the new design, but it’s still the same race-proven suspension.įor several years Scott had already been trying to figure out how to integrate the shock lower and inside their frame for improved performance & protection, and uncovering fellow Swiss bike maker Bold’s integrated suspension solution (and patent) spurred Scott to bring the small brand into their bigger company. But the layout is the same proven high single-pivot with seatstay flex just in front of the rear axle and a linkage-driven vertical (upside down) shock. Sure, there’s 20% more travel and you can’t see the shock. The first thing to know about the new integrated suspension is that as dramatic as it may look, it’s really not as different as it seems. So now, on top of Nino’s extra travel, comes slacker geometry and the new frame integration… Integrated suspension with Bold hidden shock In fact, it seems he’s already been secretly racing for two seasons with custom links & shocks in his previous Spark to give him 120mm of rear wheel travel, and with SID forks bumped up to 115mm as early as his 2019 World Championship win. But behind the scenes, Nino had been asking for more travel to tackle ever-tougher XCO courses. Why change a winning formula, when Nino has already won a lot on the previous Spark? He rode the last generation to 2016 rainbow stripes a week after it debuted, then World Champion titles again in 2017, 2018 & 2019 (plus five 2nd places this season). Scott, photo by Daniel GeigerĪdapting the same proven integrated shock layout from Bold’s longer travel all-mountain & enduro bikes, the newly integrated Spark promises to be every bit the race-ready bike Nino Schurter has proven it to be over the last decade, but now with longer travel, slacker geometry, a stiffer frame, and more deep integration to go faster on the more technically demanding race tracks.Īnd while the pros race on the lighter 120/120mm Scott Spark RC ( above), there’s a slightly longer 120/130mm Scott Spark 900 trail bike for rocketing up and down your local singletrack. Two years after buying Bold into the Scott family, there’s an all-new Scott Spark cross-country mountain bike ready for its World Cup racing debut this coming weekend.
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