The Spark 900 Premium comes stock with a Shimano XTR drivetrain, Fox 34 fork, Fox Transfer dropper post, and Syncros XR1.5 alloy wheels. It's a highly capable bike.

The Spark 900 Premium comes stock with a Shimano XTR drivetrain, Fox 34 fork, Fox Transfer dropper post, and Syncros XR1.5 alloy wheels. It's a highly capable bike.​

Perhaps the best test of a bike is to see how it performs when pushed past its point of intended use. At this past week's Scott Bikes global press launch in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, that moment of boundary crossing came near the end of the second day, when myself and few fellow journalists dropped into an expert-rated bike park trail that's a mix of high-banked flow, lippy tabletops, and occasional rooty-rocky chunder.

Underneath me was the revamped 2017 Scott Spark 900 Premium, a 2x Shimano XTR-equipped 120mm 29er with Fox Transfer dropper post that's designed to bridge the gap between racing and railing. I won't pretend it was the perfect bike for the occasion. I'm sure I could have gone faster on a slacked out all-mountain rig with 30mm more travel. But in this moment of challenging circumstance, the new Spark handled the situation with composed confidence, maintaining traction and control in the rough stuff, soaking up several short landings without complaint, and whipping in and out of turns with tight precision.

The bike's 67.2-degree headtube angle is a departure from race bikes of old, netting a more playful and stable ride.

The bike's 67.2-degree headtube angle is a departure from race bikes of old, netting a more playful and stable ride.​

Check back to Mtbr in the coming days for full details on the new Scott Scale, plus beta on three new helmets, and new lightweight components.

The big difference is that since the chairlift wasn't running that day, we had to conquer a near 1000-foot fire road climb to get to the entrance of the trail. And here the Spark was right at home, too. Thanks to a ~26-pound complete bike weight and new suspension layout that's more sensitive at the top of the stroke but more supportive past the sag point, the Spark zipped uphill with the ruthless efficiency you'd expect from a bike that's been Scott's dedicated full suspension XC racer since 2007.

The new Spark's change in suspension linkage set-up if the big news this year. Following a 24-month development process, Scott ditched the top-tube mounted shock design on the previous Spark for one that's mounted vertically, pivoting on what's called a trunnion mount near the bottom bracket. Gone is the slender swing link, replaced with a seat tube-mounted rocker that on the higher end bikes is made of carbon fiber.

The Trunnion mounted shock is actually offset slightly to the left, which allows for better frame tube shapes because they are straighter.

The Trunnion mounted shock is actually offset slightly to the left, which allows for better frame tube shapes because they are straighter.​

The driver behind the wholesale change was to better separate the frame's stiffness zone (lower half) from the comfort zone (upper half). Now instead of beefing up the top tube area to accommodate the shock linkage, the extra girth is relocated near the bottom bracket, an area that already requires stiffness to maximize power output. At the same time the kinked top tube has a sleeker, and purportedly more compliant shape. It all adds up to a more efficient structure. Or at least that's the idea.

"Feedback on the old Spark was that it had a lack of support at the top of the travel," conceded Joe Higgins, Scott's chief of mountain bike engineering. "We tried to fix that within the confines of the old set-up but it just didn't work."

The seat tube mounted rocker link is full composite on some of the new higher end Scott Spark models.

The seat tube mounted rocker link is full composite on some of the new higher end Scott Spark models.​

Instead with the new single-pivot rocker link design, Higgins says Scott was able to increase the leverage ratio early in the stroke, making it easier to compress the shock, which in turn means more small bump sensitivity. But thanks to a more consistent overall leverage ratio, the bike has more support from the sag point onwards, so you get good mid-stoke support and better bottom out resistance.

Continue to page 2 for more on the new Scott Spark »

Here's a cutaway look of the new bike's bottom bracket area and shock mount. We did notice that debris has a tendency to get caught down here.

Here's a cutaway look of the new bike's bottom bracket area and shock mount. We did notice that debris has a tendency to get caught down here.​

The aforementioned trunnion mount is also an interesting change. Because the shock body extends lower to a pair of mounting bolts (instead of the usual single bolt) Fox had more design space for the Spark-specific NUDE shock. That means for the same eye-to-eye length but up to 7mm more shock stroke. Standover height has also been lowered, and there is plenty of room for a water bottle cage.

Like just about every Scott mountain bike, the new Spark has a dual-lever, two-position TwinLoc system on the handlebars. Leave the lever alone and the suspension remains in full open descend mode. Toggle it half way to reach traction mode, which reduces travel by 20 percent. Or lock it out all together if you're hammering out of the saddle. The middle mode is most interesting. It closes one of the shock's two chambers, meaning less air spring volume, leading to less sag and a more agile feeling geometry.

With the Fox Transfer dropper post lever and rear derailleur shifter sharing bar space, it was easy to hit one when you were going for the other.

With the Fox Transfer dropper post lever and rear derailleur shifter sharing bar space, it was easy to hit one when you were going for the other.​

All that said, I honestly didn't feel the need to use TwinLoc very often. As long as I stayed seated when climbing there was almost no suspension bob. And on descents I preferred the more wide open feel, especially on that flow trail.

There's also the matter of the crowded (even confusing) cockpit. On the Scott Spark 900 Premium with its 2x set-up, the left side of the bars has front derailleur controls plus the pair of TwinLoc levers, and the right side hosts the rear derailleur shift levers and the Fox Transfer dropper post lever. The later two were set-up in almost the exact same vertical plane, which made it easy to hit one when you were targeting the other.

The new 29er Spark RC race bike of Olympic medal hopeful Nino Schurter. The reigning world champ had preferred 27.5 frames, but the new Spark's geo allows him to attain his very (very) low position.

The new 29er Spark RC race bike of Olympic medal hopeful Nino Schurter. The reigning world champ had preferred 27.5 frames, but the new Spark's geo allows him to attain his very (very) low position.​

After the ride I asked fellow camp attendee and longtime Scott pro racer (and Rio Olympics medal favorite) Nino Schurter how much he uses TwinLoc. "Hundreds of times per race," said the reigning world champion.

Schurter also revealed he's switching from 27.5 to 29ers moving forward, because the new Spark's frame geo (and a seriously slammed stem) allow him to achieve his preferred position.

Frames themselves come in lower priced alloy or three varieties of carbon fiber, standard HMF, higher-end HMX, or top-end wispy light HMX-SL, which heretofore had only been available on Scott road bikes.

You can almost hear the Sound of Music soundtrack.

You can almost hear the Sound of Music soundtrack.​

Claimed frame weight for a size medium RC 700 SL with shock and hardware is a super low 1749 grams. Claimed complete bike weight for that model is 21.6 pounds, while the RC 900 Ultimate comes in at 24 pounds, and both the 900 Premium and 700 Plus Tuned are 25.6 pounds. (All 700 series bikes are 27.5, while all 900s are 29ers.)

Continue to page 3 for more on the new Scott Spark »

SRAM's new Eagle 1x12 drivetrain is spec'd throughout the new Spark line, including on the top end 700 Plus Tuned bike that we tested for two days in Switzerland.

SRAM's new Eagle 1x12 drivetrain is spec'd throughout the new Spark line, including on the top end 700 Plus Tuned bike that we tested for two days in Switzerland.​

Other key changes include the elimination of chainstay pivots. Instead seatstays are kept thin in an effort to deliver subtle comfort-enhancing flex. Headtube angle is slacker at 67.2 degrees, the seat tube is steeper at 73.8 degrees, chainstays are shortened to 435mm, and boost hub spacing is used front and rear. This all falls in line with the current trend towards better control and playfulness. At the same time, Scott addressed fit by lengthening reach and lowering stack by 17mm each, and spec'ing some of the bikes with shorter 70mm stems.

It's a significant departure from race bikes of old, which typically kept you in an aggressive position via steep head angles that often resulted in twitchy steering, and could be downright scary in steep technical downhills.

The revelation was how much fun these chubby bikes can be. The Scott Spark Plus 700 Tuned climbed just fine, and really came alive on the descents.

The revelation was how much fun these chubby bikes can be. The Scott Spark Plus 700 Tuned climbed just fine, and really came alive on the descents.​

From a line-up standpoint, the Spark is now clearly divided into three segments. Spark RC (as in racing concept) have 100mm of travel front and rear and only come with 1x drivetrains. Standard Spark models are 120mm front and rear, and can be set-up 1x or 2x. And Spark Plus rigs (you knew that was coming) are 130mm up front, 120mm in the rear, also in 1x or 2x.

Scott took advantage of the drivetrain split, building what are essentially two different Spark frames. On the 1x-only set-ups, there is more clearance for the cranks and tires, and following the same idea as boost spacing, they increased overall chainstay size, bumping up stiffness.

Plenty of riding options around Lenzerheide.

Plenty of riding options around Lenzerheide.​

Meanwhile, the front derailleur-equipped bikes use a high direct mount point, which also means a wider pivot and larger diameter chainstays. Though, honestly with the availability and functionality of the new SRAM Eagle 1x12 drivetrains, it's hard to make a strong argument for needing a front derailleur anymore.

Spark RC and regular Sparks come in a variety of 27.5 and 29er builds. There are also seven women's specific Spark Contessa models in RC, standard, and plus trim, which brings the entire Spark line-up to 25 bikes.

Claimed weight on a size medium Spark Plus Tuned 700 is 25.6 pounds.

Claimed weight on a size medium Spark Plus Tuned 700 is 25.6 pounds.​

It's worth noting the Spark Plus comes in four builds, including the top end 700 Tuned Plus with a SRAM XX1 Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, SRAM Level brakes, a Fox 34 fork, Fox Transfer dropper post, and Maxxis Rekon 27.5x2.8" tires mounted on Syncros wheels that are 35mm internal.

Check back to Mtbr next week for a detailed first ride review of the new Scott Spark 700 Tuned Plus. Hint: We loved it.


Continue to page 4 for more on the new Scott Spark »

The RC stands for racing concept, a nod to Scott's long and continuing focus on making competition-ready bikes.

The RC stands for racing concept, a nod to Scott's long and continuing focus on making competition-ready bikes.​

Despite the U.S. market's ever increasing buzz around all things plus, Scott continues to view the Spark and the company itself as race focused first. The new bike has been the brand's dedicated full suspension competition machine since 2007, and PR and communication manager Jochen Haar says making it light and stiff was always the primary focus.

"Racing concept isn't just a slogan," said Haar. "It's what we stand for. We're 100 percent committed to competition."

The vertically mounted Fox NUDE shock is attached at the bottom using a Trunnion mount, which means for the same eye-to-eye length there is up to 7mm more shock stroke.

The vertically mounted Fox NUDE shock is attached at the bottom using a Trunnion mount, which means for the same eye-to-eye length there is up to 7mm more shock stroke.​

Weight savings abound on the new bike. While the old Spark rear triangle (with its pair of pivots) was made up of 18 individual parts. The new rear (now with no pivots) is just three pieces, saving a claimed 130 grams. The rocker linkage also cuts grams, especially on the upper end Sparks with a carbon rocker, which is 37 grams lighter than the alloy equivalent.

The Spark also employs a novel rear brake mount that's separate from the stays, and instead anchored to the chainstay and wheel axle. That in turns allows the seatstays to flex freely because of their fully tubular construction. Right next door to the brake mount is a new SW dropout where the derailleur hanger is sandwiched between a hollow tubular design that is said to increase stiffness and protect the frame in case of a rear mech impact.

These tube cross sections reveal how the Spark's rear brake mount is anchored to the chainstay, allowing for one continuous (and subtly flexing) seat stay.

These tube cross sections reveal how the Spark's rear brake mount is anchored to the chainstay, allowing for one continuous (and subtly flexing) seat stay.​

Finally, Scott has jumped on the integration train. There's a 25T torx wrench integrated into the rear thru-axle lever, and the Syncros stem accepts an integrated Garmin mount that places the head unit overtop of the stem, not vulnerably hanging over the bars like other head unit brackets.

Scott and its component brand Syncros are diving into the integration game. This new top cap is designed to hold a Garmin GPS head unit.

Scott and its component brand Syncros are diving into the integration game. This new top cap is designed to hold a Garmin GPS head unit.​

Cable routing is fully internal, frames are Di2 compatible, and some of the 1x RC models come with a built-in chain guide(23 grams) just for a little added insurance on race day. All the new Spark bikes will be showing up on shop floors in fall 2016. Pricing has not been set yet. For more information please visit www.scott-sports.com.