Scott Genius 730 A 27.5" trail bike that can handle all-mountain riding
A 27.5" trail bike that can handle all-mountain riding
The latest trend
to hit the mountain biking world is the new 27.5" wheel size. If you believe the buzz, it's the answer to all your 26" and 29" wheel woes. The 27.5" wheels (or 650b, as they’re sometimes called) deliver a lower front end than a 29" wheel on a comparable size of frame. They also get around the issue of the suspension interfering with the front derailleur, which can make it challenging to design a long-travel 29er frame. The other big benefit is a wheel size that is supposed to roll over roots and rocks better than 26" hoops.
Scott launched its 27.5" bikes for the 2013 model year. I had the chance to test the Genius 730, the third bike in the four-model Genius line. The custom-butted aluminum 6061 frame features 150 mm of rear travel via Scott’s U-Mono Link system, an adjustable bottom-bracket height and a 142x12-mm rear axle.
The 730 comes with a Fox 34 Talas Evolution ctd Air fork with 120 mm or 150 mm of travel; Scott's DT Nude2 rear shock with lock/traction/descend (ltd) modes; Shimano slx and XT components; assorted (handlebar, seatpost, rims) Syncros parts; and Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.25" tires. A size large bike without pedals weighed in at 30.7 lb.
ltd applies to both the shock and fork, which are controlled via the handlebarmounted Twinloc lever. Push the main lever once to put the shock in traction mode, and a second time to lock out both the shock and fork. Push the secondary lever to go back to descend mode. It’s a great feature, and got a lot of use during the test.
This particular Genius was put through its paces on Vancouver’s North Shore and saw plenty of technical, rooty, rocky trails with built structures, sustained descents and tight turns. In most places, that would be considered all-mountain riding, but around here it's referred to as Shore XC. The Genius was right at home in that environment.
Most rides on the Shore start with some sort of pedal uphill and the Genius managed rooty, technical climbs very well. The rear suspension did bob somewhat in the middle ring, but it didn’t affect ride quality adversely. Switching to traction mode virtually eliminated the issue.
Once I hit the singletrack, the handling on the 730 was agile and the bike manoeuvred quickly and confidently. The 46.6" wheelbase was long enough to provide stability without making tight corners difficult. The head tube angle was nearly spot on. The 27.5" wheels cruised through the type of trail debris that tends to throw you off your line on a 26" bike, and it was easy to carry speed on rough sections.
The Genius really shone on the descents. It was solid in high-speed corners and steep ladder bridges were a piece of cake, as were loose, rocky lines. Staying off the brakes and letting the Genius run quickly became standard procedure. I found myself hitting familiar sections of trail with more speed than normal.
There's a lot to like about the Genius 730. It may be marketed as a trail bike, but it was totally at home in the all-mountain situations on the Shore. The esthetics of the bike are undeniable, while all of the components performed admirably. I was a little disappointed not to see a height-adjustable post come with the bike given the $ 4,000 price tag, but the cable-routing options for one are brilliant.
The big question with the Genius has to be, are the mid-size wheels all they're cracked up to be? Well, they definitely roll better than 26" wheels, allow for 150 mm of rear-wheel travel and keep the front end lower. If those things – along with a quality spec and excellent ride characteristics – are must haves for your next long-travel bike, the Scott Genius is worth a serious look.