First Look Scott Spark 900 Ultimate
Ripping on Swiss trails with a do-it-all machine
With cowbells ringing all around me, I steadily tapped away on the pedals holding a small gap to the rider in front of me. Once we crested the long alpine climb, it was time to dive into the shaded singletrack for a fast technical descent. No, I wasn’t in the middle of an enduro stage. Those cowbells weren’t rung by fans. They dangled on actual cows, which I had to avoid on occasion. I was, however, riding an area known for its races: Lenzerheide, Switzerland. My job was to try some of Scott’s new 2017 mountain bikes.
Nestled in the Alps, 140 km southeast of Zurich, Lenzerheide is a small alpine village that plays host to the uci mountain bike World Cup each year. With so much climbing and variation in terrain, it’s the perfect venue for top-level competition as well as testing new bikes. After a short introduction to the new models, I was shown to a room filled with test machines. It took me a while to decide which bike I wanted to spend the most time on. There was the new Spark RC and Scale: the bikes that converted world champion Nino Schurter to 29" wheels, and helped him to win the 2016 world championships. There was also a redesigned plus-size range including the Scale Plus hardtail and 130-mm plus-size Spark. Most models come with either 29" or 27.5" wheels. It was the Spark 900 Ultimate 120 mm that I ended up putting my pedals on. With 10-mm more travel than the RC model and a slacker geometry, the 120-mm Spark seemed to be the bike that could do it all, so I figured I would see how it would fare on the alpine trails in Lenzerheide.
The 2017 Spark has seen a number of refinements over the previous generation. Scott’s hmx carbon was used to help improve layout patterns and remove material where it wasn’t needed. One of the most obvious changes is to the suspension design. Instead of a top-tube-mount single-pivot style, Scott has opted to use a four-bar style linkage, which includes a new two-piece rocker link. This setup enables the Fox custom-designed Nude shock to work with Scott’s new trunnion shock mount. The trunnion mount allows for a wider mounting position, increasing frame stiffness and allowing Scott to shave significant weight from the top tube of the bike. The rear triangle of the Spark was another place Scott made big changes. Previously, the Spark’s rear was made of 18 components; now, there are only three.
Quite possibly my favourite change to the Spark, and something I hope we see a lot more of from other manufacturers, is the 1-by specific frame. That’s right, you read correctly: there is no option for a front derailleur on this bike. Well, you can buy several models that come with a front mech, but you will be adding weight and sacrificing some performance. By eliminating the need for a front-derailleur mount and second chainring, Scott can fine-tune the frame and offer a wider BB stance, improving balance and handling as well as shaving weight. With new drivetrain options including the massive gear range offered by the spec’d sram X01 Eagle group, there is really no need for two chainrings up front. The Eagle cassette comes with a massive 50-tooth cog that, when paired with the 32-tooth front ring, gives you almost the same range as 2-by drivetrains with smaller cassettes.
While the Spark 120 mm is an efficient and speedy bike, it’s not the best choice for a race. If you’re a cross country racer, Scott offers the Spark RC and Scale, which are better suited for ripping toward a finish line. If you are an enduro racer, the 130-mm travel plussize Spark would be a better choice. So where does that put the Spark 120 mm? Well, right in the middle, which is why I chose it. When ascending steep climbs, I could use the Twinlock remote to firm up both front and rear suspension giving me great pedalling efficiency. Then when things got technical, I could simply flip the switch and have some travel to soak up bumps and maintain traction. Even with the new slackened geometry, I found it easy to keep the front wheel planted and pointed where I wanted to go.
It’s easy to see why Switzerland produces such good mountain bikers. The singletrack in Lenzerheide was relentless, littered with exposed roots and with some of the tightest switchbacks I have encountered. Scott is based out of Switzerland and had all of these features in mind when its designers were at the drawing board for the Spark. The 120 mm of travel handled all but the biggest roots and bumps with ease. I was never bounced or bucked off my line when things got rough and steep. The slackened headtube angle also really helps to give you confidence steering when things get steep.
I rode several different trails while testing the Spark 120 mm. From climbing fire roads fully locked out and on the rivet to descending steep, rooted and technical singletrack where I dropped the post and was on the brakes, I saw some great sections of Lenzerheide. As nice as the scenery and trails were, it was the bike that impressed me the most. It didn’t seem
“As nice as the scenery and trails were, it was the bike that impressed me the most.”
heavy or cumbersome on the climbs. On the descents it didn’t feel light and bounce away from my line. Sure I wasn’t beating people on the plus-size bikes to the bottom of descents, but I wasn’t far behind. I also wasn’t beating people on the Scale to the top of climbs, but I wasn’t getting dropped either. The Spark 120 mm might not be the fastest on an XC course or the first to the bottom of a DH track, but it is certainly the bike you can be confident on doing both. Scott has done a great job with the Spark 120 mm. The company has made a true multi-purpose, Swiss Army knife of a bike.