SCOTT Spark 710 Review
For years, there’s been one name dominating the XC World Cup events, and that’s Nino Schurter on board his Spark 700. But can the podium-dominating bike cut an equally fine figure in the hands of us amateurs? We’ve pitted the slightly more wallet-friendly SCOTT Spark 710 against the competition.
Our test bike looks just as fly as Nino’s workhorse, and we spot that SCOTT have clearly exploited our invitation to customize the bike in the same way that a dealer could for a customer. The cockpit isn’t stock, the tyres are grippier, there’s a dropper post, plus an upgrade from a 2x to a 1x drivetrain. These all make perfect sense to us, and we wouldn’t hesitate in recommending these to everyone buying this bike.
On a medium-sized Spark, our 180 cm rider had quite a compact and neutral riding position. Instead of a left gear shifter, there’s the TwinLoc lever on the underside of the bars to switch the suspension through its three settings (open, traction, lockout). It’s easy to reach, and you’re likely to use it pretty regularly as you hit climbs. In traction mode the rear end (now with 80 mm travel) feels much firmer and more efficient, quickly stepping up the pace while keeping in close contact with the ground.
The 120 mm travel on the FOX suspension is definitely capable, but it doesn’t quite nail the comfort that you’d expect from that sort of travel. Both the fork and the shock are firmly tuned, and provide masses of feedback from the ground. Thanks to the slack 68.3° head angle, short 60 mm stem, and wide 740 mm bars, the bike is easy to steer and hits steep downhills with precision. As it’s compact (with a reach of 422 mm) and has short 433 mm chainstays, you’ll get that lively, agile ride that you’d expect.
Details of the SCOTT Spark 710
Specification of the SCOTT Spark 710
- Fork: FOX 32 Float Performance Elite Air 120 mm
- Shock: FOX Nude
- Drivetrain: Shimano XT
- Brakes: Shimano XT
- Seatpost: Syncros FL 1.5 / RockShox Reverb
- Stem: Syncros FL 1.5 60 mm
- Handlebar: Syncros FL 1.5 T-Bar 720 mm
- Tyres: Schwalbe Rocket Ron 2,25″
- Wheelsize: 27.5″
- Wheels: Syncros XR 2.0
- Weight: 11.76 kg
- Price: € 4,499
Conclusion
Out of the box, the SCOTT Spark 710 is a purebred XC bike, and it only takes some minimal investments to make a massive impact on its descending. Considering you’re shelling out 4,499 € to begin with, there should be budget left over. It already has the agility, so it’s basically there!
Strengths
- Great handling
- Super-efficient thanks to the TwinLoc
Weaknesses
- Firm suspension
- Front wheel doesn’t always stay planted on steep climbs
More information can be found on the SCOTT Website.
[/emaillocker]About the XC Bike Group Test 2016
Just outside the sprawl of Barcelona, we took out the test fleet onto the varied trails, confronting them with everything from frighteningly steep climbs to challenging descents. All of this occurred with the backdrop and climate of the Mediterranean Sea – and despite it being February, the conditions couldn’t have been better. The test team consisted of four riders, each with their own nuances when it comes to mountain biking, but all with years of experience when it comes to testing bikes.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: XC Bikes Group Test 2016
All bikes in test: Canyon Lux CF 9.9 Race | Giant Anthem SX Advanced | Pivot Mach 4 Carbon | ROSE THRILL HILL 3 27,5″ 2016 | ROTWILD R.R2 FS 29 Evo | SCOTT Spark 710 | Specialized Epic Elite Carbon 29 World Cup | Trek Top Fuel 9.8 SL
Words & Photos: Christoph Bayer