Conclusion
Not got enough time to read this test in its entirety? Well, we can probably sum it up for you in just one sentence. The Scott Spark RC is efficient while the Santa Cruz Blur XC is comfortable. Obviously that’s a gross oversimplification as there’s a lot more going on with these two XC race bikes, but it also captures the essence of both in a simple heuristic.
For short-track races the Scott Spark RC has a distinct advantage, most noticeably on the climbs. There’s a real directness and sense of purpose to the Scott that the Santa Cruz lacks.
Stretch the event over the course of a week, however, and the added comfort of the Santa Cruz Blur XC could pay dividends in terms of reduced fatigue. And when your reactions are not razor sharp, the more forgiving ride of the Blur will smooth out your mistakes more readily.
That constant bobbing of the rear suspension could mess with your head though. So even though we’re not 100 per cent convinced that a firmer suspension response would be any faster, if you think it’s slower, chances are you will be slower. Because racing is just as much about the mental approach as physical preparation and bike performance.
The quality level of suspension components on each bike also played a part in this test. So while the Select + SID on the Scott is only one tier removed from the flagship SID SL Ultimate on the Santa Cruz, it’s not as plush or as composed, even though the 35mm chassis adds a lot of stiffness.
Obviously this disparity in damping performance is reflected in the price of both bikes. So if you want Ultimate performance and the ability to fine tune the compression damping on the rear shock, the Scott Spark WC AXS Evo at £8,699 is the one to get.
We set both of the bikes up with the same amount of suspension sag: 20 per cent on the fork with the rider in the attack position, 25 per cent on the shock with the rider seated. Interestingly we never used full travel on either bike, even though we rode trails that really taxed them. Given that the bikes are so light, it’s almost as if the suspension components have safety bumpers built in to them to stop them bottoming out and transmitting all of that force into the lightweight frames.
If you’re considering either of these bikes you need to ask yourself if your primary focus really is XC racing. If it’s just another string to your bow and you want an ultra-light bike to race on but also like shredding trails with your mates for fun, then the Santa Cruz Blur XC could be a better choice as its plusher suspension makes it a more active and engaging ride. We can’t wait to try the longer travel TR version.
Both brands bill these bikes as ultimate XC race weapons and that’s how we judged them. And in that respect, all other things being equal, the Scott Spark RC will get you to the finish line ahead of the Santa Cruz Blur XC every time.