SCOTT GENIUS 900 TUNED
£6,999 Lighter and more versatile than ever
The latest iteration of Scott’s Genius trail bike, unveiled in 2017, looks and feels like a totally di!erent beast to its predecessor.
The frame
That’s because Scott have done away with the old single-pivot rear end and moved to a four-bar Horst Link suspension design. Just like on the shorter-travel Spark, they’ve also flipped the shock (a new metric unit) so it anchors just above the bulging BB junction. Scott claim the 150mm (5.9in) of rear travel is now delivered with more support through the mid stroke and extra progression.
They’ve carried over their ‘TwinLoc’ system, which lets you toggle between three suspension settings (‘descend’, ‘traction control’ and ‘lockout’) on both the fork and shock simultaneously, via a bar-mounted remote lever. A flip chip on the shock mount means the Genius can accept 29in or 650b+ wheels, with enough tyre clearance for 2.6in or 2.8in rubber, respectively. With 29x2.6in Schwalbe Nobby Nics in place and the bike in its ‘low’ geometry setting, the medium Genius o!ers up a reach
of 440mm, a head angle of 64.8 degrees and a BB height of 345mm.
The kit
At just shy of £7,000, it’s no surprise that the 900 Tuned is dripping in some drool-worthy kit, including a Fox 36 FIT4 Factory fork. That said, we were a little disappointed with the tyres. Nobby Nics are OK all-rounders, but Scott have opted to spec the ‘ADDIX SpeedGrip’ compound at both ends. This fastrolling rubber mix was fine at the rear for the most part, but we’d have preferred a softer, grippier compound up front, tougher sidewalls and, ideally, a more pronounced tread (Schwalbe’s Magic Mary Apex ADDIX Soft would’ve been a better choice).
The ride
For a 150mm-travel bike, the 900 Tuned is seriously light (12.68kg, medium), and that’s noticeable as soon as you start turning the pedals. There’s a zip and sprightliness to the ride that makes getting up to speed seem e!ortless. To make things even more e"cient when tackling lengthy climbs, you can flick the TwinLoc remote and firm the suspension up.
The back end feels supportive and progressive, matching the Fox 36 fork nicely to deliver an incredibly well-balanced feel, front to rear. This boosts that sprightliness and nimbleness further, especially when popping from turn to turn. While the suspension is supple over smaller hits, there’s enough progression towards the end of the shock stroke to handle some big thumps. The travel feels more e"cient than plush, though. Pair this with the frame sti!ness, progressive back end and low weight, and it doesn’t always feel like you have 150mm on tap.
While the 900 Tuned’s geometry and suspension balance ensure it isn’t one for backing down at pace, it’s here where you hit the limits of the tyres pretty quickly. Some tackier, more robust rubber would make the Genius feel more planted, without dulling its agility and liveliness.
One last thing to note is that the bike comes with a one-piece Syncros bar and stem. This has a low 12mm rise, which won’t suit everyone, and neither will its shape – we’d prefer to be able to roll the bar forward more. While it’s light, sti! and comfy for the most part, we missed the adjustment of a traditional set-up.
Gobsmackingly expensive, but a seriously fun, versatile and lively ride, deserving of better tyres