In 2017 the Scale, Scott’s impressive range of lightweight hardtails, will again be available in both 27.5 and 29” wheel sizes. While the upper-mid end of the range, the 930/730 and the 935/735 carbon models will have plenty of interest for serious marathon and XCO racers, it’s the newer models at the top of the Scott Scale range – the WC and 910/710 builds – where we’ve seen the most serious R&D this year. This is yet another reason why the hardtail is not dead.
As an Olympic year, and with the likes of Nino Schurter and Jenny Rissveds pushing the bikes to the limit, it was important that Scott delivered something refined and precise. Thankfully, they’re a Swiss brand.
Both the WC and the 910/710 are completely new models for 2017. The most noticeable changes lie in the Boost thru axles, which allow for increased wheel stiffness and tyre clearance, as well as shorter chainstays for stiffer performance and improved handling. The wheel base is a little longer, and the seat angle is also steeper, to allow for aggressive climbing in the seat. Scott have also made their top frame 1x specific.
The top Scale frames have moved to Boost spacing, allowing for more tyre clearance, stiffer wheels and sharper handling.
Where frame technology is concerned, Scott have left no stone unturned. Their ‘EvoLap’ and ‘SDS2’ technology combine different high-end carbon fibres to achieve high tensile strength and stiffness, while different tube shapes allow specific areas of the frame to flex for comfort in rough terrain without sacrificing any efficiency. The idea being both the chain and seat stays, and the seat post (and seat tube to a lesser extent) can flex to improve your ride comfort – and hopefully overall speed.
The Boost through axle also aids with rear wheel stiffness, and the new dropout system means the rear brake mount and derailleur hanger effectively mount from it – which lets the thin seat stays do the best job they can to offer some damping.
A lot of thought has gone into the layup of the carbon fibre, to allow for ride compliance.
Scott claim their ‘HMX’ frame is a 20% improvement on stiffness-to-weight and a 21% improvement on comfort compared with last year’s top-of-the line Scale frame material – all this with a weight saving of 199 grams. The Scale World Cup HMX frame tips the scales at just 849 grams – they’ve claimed this is the lightest production hardtail frame on the market – but we’re still yet to see what other brands like Specialized and Giant have unveiled for their 2017 hardtails.
The internal cable routing is a bit easier than on previous models, with larger ports to adapt to your setup.
The World Cup (WC) model features all the most up-to-date bling you’d expect on a bike built for the rider for whom money is no object, but performance and weight-saving is everything. The WC is 1-by compatible only, and comes specced with SRAM’s new 12-speed Eagle drivetrain providing a whopping 10-50 gear range (700s have a 34t chainring, 900s a 32t). Instead of a front derailleur, the bike is equipped with a neat little Scott chain guide to prevent any race-messing chain drops.
The custom chain guide is perfect insurance against a dropped chain.
Other notable features on the Scott Scale WC are a 100mm RockShox Sid RL Air fork (Boost) with Motion Control DNA, Sram XO1 trigger shifters, and Shimano XTR M9000 brakes (180mm front, 160mm rear) with Icetech rotors.
The latest RockShox lock out lever has a cheap look, but feels excellent.
When the Scott Scale isn’t a Scott Scale
So what if you like those top models, but your budget lines up better with an alloy model? Do you get the same features? In short – no. As the 900/700 for the WC and 910/710 share the same geometry and frame design (but not the same grade of carbon fibre), the models further down move back to the older geometry. So if you want the longer top tubes, slightly taller BB height, steeper seat angle and shorter chain stays of the new Scale – you’ll need to invest in a top model.
Perhaps a little more versatile for the marathon racer, not to mention a little easier on the wallet, the Scott Scale 910/710 has been completely redesigned for 2017. Also featuring Boost thru axles for added stiffness and handling performance, the 910/710 has been built with Scott’s ‘HMF’ carbon fibre, with a 79 gram weight saving on last year’s model. The frame has the new geometry, and sure it’s not the 849g frame, but with Boost spacing along with updated handling it will ride as a new hardtail should, and the 2×11 XT setup can easily be converted to a 1×11 setup if your riding and racing demands that.
Need some more details? Head to Scott Sports for pricing specific for your region.