![]() ![]() A stubbier stem would likely improve responsiveness easily and cheaply, though.The annual drool-on-carbon show that is the Bible of Bike Tests is soon to launch, and with it, several dozen reviews of bikes most of us will never be able to afford. In fact, the 60mm stem and shorter fork offset combine to dull the steering to the point I’d prefer a more reactive feel. The 930 isn’t quite as flicky, urgent and feisty as the way lighter Intense Sniper, which was also on test. Climbing traction is excellent with the suspension run wide open, improving to exceptional in the TwinLoc system’s middle setting. Pedalling is dialled, with crank cycles so smooth that the power delivery feels a bit like using an oval chainring (minus the ‘flat spots’ they can bring when stomping hard). Treating it too roughly reveals that the chassis is a bit less stiff and solid though, especially up front. Add this sensation to the extra composure from the slacker 67-degree(ish) head angle and low bottom bracket, and the ride feel gets close to that of many 140mm trail bikes. While tight and supportive-feeling, the Fox Nude shock lets the bike float over bigger bumps so fluidly that it’s easy to wonder if the engineers got their sums wrong and there’s more rear bounce than the claimed 120mm. ![]() Get lairy and the rear end absorbs landings and impacts smoothly, so even on off-piste trails the Spark’s got your back. The 930’s geometry and silky suspension deliver the confidence to hit big jumps from the off. Scott Spark 930 ride impressionsĪttaching the trunnion-mounted Fox Nude shock upside-down lets Scott package it extremely cleanly in a down tube ‘cradle’. In fairness, though, the next Spark up addresses these issues and is still a good price. While the 12-speed NX Eagle drivetrain has good range, SRAM’s cranks can flex under hard loads and the NX cassette is a noticeable weight on the rear wheel. Shimano’s MT501 brakes are lower-tier offerings, and heavy too, but have sorted power and lever feel. The Maxxis Rekon tyres are the dual- (rather than triple) compound version and roll fast, but lack friction on damp surfaces compared to something like a Forekaster, which was also on test. They spin well though, likely due to the freer, cup-and-cone bearings in their Shimano hubs. Scott’s in-house brand Syncros provides the wheels, which are a bit soft when turning hard. One click of the lever increases low-speed compression support at the back, while another opens up the damping at both ends. In the firmest of the three TwinLoc settings it completely locks out, along with the rear shock. Scott has specced the shorter-offset version (44mm) to increase ‘trail’, which acts as a steering stabiliser. Mick KirkmanĪ FIT GRIP-damped Fox 34 fork delivers good traction. A tiny chain-retention device adds extra security to the 1×12 SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain. ![]()
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