1ST IMPRESSION
also worth noting that the difference in ride height between the progressive 80mm ‘Traction’ setting and the 125mm travel ‘Open’ setting is obvious in terms of angle of attack on climbs and out of turns too.
No, the 125mm travel isn’t a misprint. Yes, Scott claims 120mm of travel, but actual vertical axle movement is 5mm more. That’s a lot by XC standards but it syncs really well with the 120mm-travel SID Select+ fork. Not just in numbers but in feel too. On the open setting, the Spark is not the plushest deeper into the travel in pure trail terms, but consistency is impressive. Also, with the ability to firm up the suspension feel with the Twinloc remote, you can also run the shock softer than you normally would, gaining excellent traction and sensitivity under power while giving the bike a more pronounced Jekyll and Hyde feel when you toggle between settings.
HOW IT RIDES
The vibe of the Spark RC is definitely predatory, rather than playful, but the 740mm flat bar and short 100mm drop
Fox Transfer SL post didn’t hold me back significantly on red (and old-school black) grade descents and off-piste singletrack. I even rode the notoriously savage Ard Rock Enduro course on the Spark with only a tyre switch, just to prove that point.
Yes, the triple-lever remote looks untidy on the otherwise super-clean frame/front end, but I only accidentally hit the dropper remote twice in several months of riding while trying to swap between suspension modes. And while the Twinloc set-up means there’s no independent compression adjustment on the shock, spring pressure and rebound are easy to adjust underneath the sealed belly door.
A rubber-plugged window on the frame also lets you check travel, and there’s a sag set-up protractor on the external part of the non drive-side linkage. The fact the shock is completely sealed bodes well for a long life too.
That said, after several months of abuse, the linkages have started creaking a lot and the press-fit bottom bracket is a potential longevity limiter, unless you keep a close eye on it.
Unsurprisingly, such a distinctive bike definitely isn’t for everyone. The Twinloc remote and cables will be an eyesore for some and add weight and extra operator brain load. So while the multi-mode suspension efficiency and stiffness are a gift to analytical racers, the clipped feel lacks warmth and playfulness compared to flexier bikes in the category. It’s not the lightest 120mm-travel ‘trailish’ geometry frame either, as Specialized’s suped-up Epic Evo is lighter than the pure race Epic. Then there’s the all-in-one cockpit that limits adjustability and the tall seat tube that limits longer-stroke dropper post options as well. You may not want a bike that people mistake for an e-bike either. But if that sort of athletic and aesthetic vibe appeals, then the Spark RC World Cup is definitely the bike to beat on the track, and surprisingly rapid and confident on tougher trails too.
HIGHS
Seriously fast, efficient and controlled up, along and down. Unique Scott remote suspension control with excellent front/rear balance, headangle adjustable headset as standard. Full wireless, ready-to-race XC spec at a really good price.
LOWS
Fixed position bar/stem with lots of cables, multiple lever/mode suspension is a love/hate aspect. Not as good as the Spark 900 series for down-country duties.