Mountain Biking UK

JCW’S SCOTT GENIUS 940 2018 £3,099

It doesn’t take a Genius to see the Scott has pros and cons

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The Genius is an interestin­g one. As reach measuremen­ts have crept up in recent years, bikes have finally begun to fit my lanky frame properly, but I think the Scott’s 499.2mm stretch to the bar (XL size, ‘low’ setting) is about as long as I want to go. The extra length adds stability on the downhills, helping to make the 940 a confident descender despite its not particular­ly plush-feeling ‘Performanc­e’ grade Fox suspension and rattly ride. But, combined with the slack-ish 65-degree head angle, it does mean you have to be more physical to eke maximum fun out of flatter trails, which is where I do much of my riding these days.

Of course, what really sets this bike apart is its ‘TwinLoc’ suspension adjustment. I’ve never been a fan of lockouts (I’m always forgetting to turn them off for the descents), so I was surprised to find myself using ‘Traction Control’ mode a lot. This makes the spring more progressiv­e, the damping firmer and effectivel­y reduces the shock stroke, helping the bike to cruise up climbs in a way that belies its 150mm of travel and 14.45kg weight. The downside is that it simultaneo­usly increases the fork’s compressio­n damping, which reduces bob but means it rides higher in its travel – not what you want when climbing.

If I was hanging onto this bike, I’d disconnect the fork from the TwinLoc system. I’d also be keen to upgrade the heavy wheels, to give it a bit more zip. And I’d do everything I could to finally track down the source of that annoying rattle! www.scott-sports.com

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