New Scott Scale boasts a sub

Spark-inspired geometry and weight savings intended to make new Scott Scale RC a course favourite

This competition is now closed

By Nick Clark

Published: December 15, 2022 at 3:00 pm

The new Scott Scale cross-country bike prioritises lightness and efficiency with a new carbon layup and simplified construction.

The Scale is Scott's 100mm hardtail cross-country bike. The brand says it now has similar geometry to the full-suspension Spark, featuring a slacker head angle of 67.9 degrees compared to 69.5 degrees on the previous version.

Scott says frame weight has been reduced on all variants of the carbon frame. The highest-modulus HMX-SL frame is now claimed to be 32g lighter than the previous model, weighing in at 847g compared to 879g for a medium-sized frame.

All Scale RC frames now feature hollow rear dropouts and post-mounted brakes, which are said to assist in shedding weight, while adding to the clean design language.

The range starts at £2,999 for the Scale RC Team and tops out at £13,999 for the Scale RC SL. A women's-specific Contessa model will also be available.

Intrigued by how this bike rides? You can check out Alex Evans’ Scott Scale RC SL first ride review.

Scott says it has focused on balancing stiffness, strength and compliance rather than outright weight savings with the new Scale. The Scale RC frame is lighter across all layup variants according to Scott, with the HMF being 126g lighter at 1,013g, and the HMX 57g lighter at 912g, compared to the previous models.

Although minimal, small gains can add up at the sharp end of cross-country racing, where the Scale has been designed to help the likes of Nino Schurter and Kate Courtney to UCI World Cup success.

The frame is said to feature a higher proportion of higher-modulus carbon fibres in the head tube and bottom bracket, adding stiffness and efficiency.

A new hollow dropout construction enables the axle head to clamp against the inner surface of the dropout. This leaves the outside of the thru-axle to sit flush with the surface of the dropout.

Scott claims this shaves 7.5g and allows for a narrower rear-triangle construction.

In a move seen on many lightweight cross-country bikes, including the Specialized Epic Hardtail and the Cannondale Scalpel HT, the rear brake now uses post mounts. Scott says this is the lightest solution possible and saves another 14g.

Scott tells us a 37g saving is made by reducing the number of metal inserts used on the frame, instead employing polymer inserts for the chain guide, bottle cage inserts and cable ports.

The chain guide can be removed when not in use and replaced with what Scott calls a "smart plug", essentially a rubber grommet attached through the service door protecting the mount from the elements.

The brand says the bottle cage inserts can be plugged completely, leaving a flush finish on the down tube. They can also be replaced if you damage the thread, saving on expensive tapping or frame replacement.

A service door on the down tube allows for access to the interior of the frame without any need to remove the bottom bracket. Scott says this makes internal cable routing and frame maintenance much easier.

There also appears to be room to fit a small trail bar inside, although we don't know how accessible it would be.

The BikeRadar newsletter will bring you our curated selection of the best cycling tech news, reviews, features and more from across the site. Just enter your email address below to get started.

Thank you for signing up to the BikeRadar newsletter!

You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy.

Scott says the new geometry takes inspiration from its full-suspension Spark XC race bike, while keeping the familiar characteristics of a hardtail.

The brand says it has focused on making the Scale competitive on a range of course types.

All four sizes (from small to extra-large) feature a head tube angle of 67.9 degrees, which is slacker than the 69.5 degrees on the previous model.

The slacker head angle is said to provide more aggressive handling while descending, but it is not quite as extreme as the 67 degrees found on the Cannondale Scalpel HT.

Seat tube angles are kept virtually the same through the sizes at 75.4 degrees, which is 1.8 degrees steeper than the previous Scale. It appears this has been done to compensate for the slacker head angle when climbing.

The chainstay length remains the same as the previous model at 425mm across the range of frame sizes, with Scott not adopting proportional geometry on the Scale.

Digital Writer

Nick Clark is a digital writer for BikeRadar, focusing on all things mountain bikes. Having raced XC for most of his youth, he has a deep understanding of the sport and loves bounding around the UK to spectate at events. A mountain biker at heart, Nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest in North Wales. Nick also loves road cycling, where he has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in their host countries. Described as having a good engine in his racing days, it's now common to see Nick wheel-sucking on club rides and sprinting for town signs. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. Nick has built many of his bikes from the frame up and has a keen eye for technical detail. He is currently riding a YT Capra on the trails and a Focus Izalco Max for the road.

Order the Official Tour De France Race Guide 2023

Only £10.99 including FREE UK delivery

Subscribe to MBUK and get a pair of Crankbrothers Stamp 1 pedals as your welcome reward! Plus, save 25% off the subscription price!