First MTB Choice, Scott Spark Or Scale, Help?
Discussion
Ok so I have never owned a MTB before, I have an entry level road bike for the moment which has got me back into cycling....that is doing fine for the time being (will be replaced eventually) and now that I'm working in the industry I NEED a mountain bike, not to fussed about getting one this year (and no spare cash), so it will be spring before I buy.
Now, I can get Scott and Felt bikes through work at a substantial discount, so much that I can afford to buy something nice without it costing the earth, so it makes sense to buy a good bike rather than buy cheap and want to upgrade straight away. I'm set on a Scott really as they are better value for money (taking into account the discount I get).
The genius models are out of my league....way to pricy and not for a beginner I dont think (as nice as they are), so then we have the Scale and Spark models, Now I'm going to avoid Carbon Fibre as it's my first MTB so will get dropped at some point, I feel alloy is better for a beginner (I dont want to have to worry about breaking it) and also you get a better level of equipment at a lower price point.
So That leads me to the 40's as you can see below.
Scale 40 (Hardtail)
Alloy Frame
Reba SL Fork
Deore XT/slx Groupset
Spark 40
Alloy Frame
Recon SL/DTM210 Air Shock
Deore XT/slx groupset
Works out that the Spark is going to cost me a couple of hundred more, but seems more versatile, cons are it loses the Reba down to a recon (would see if i could pay the difference) and you add 900g
I think the benefits outweight the disadvantages
As for what sort of riding I do, well I live 10 mins from north wales, so trail centres and mabye some more All mountain stuff once I get into things, this is why the Spark seems the better bet, the Scale is really a lightweight XC racer which is not what I will be doing.
The other thing is I could probably squeeze into the bottom Genius, the 60....but it's a fairly low spec.
What do you lot think?
Now, I can get Scott and Felt bikes through work at a substantial discount, so much that I can afford to buy something nice without it costing the earth, so it makes sense to buy a good bike rather than buy cheap and want to upgrade straight away. I'm set on a Scott really as they are better value for money (taking into account the discount I get).
The genius models are out of my league....way to pricy and not for a beginner I dont think (as nice as they are), so then we have the Scale and Spark models, Now I'm going to avoid Carbon Fibre as it's my first MTB so will get dropped at some point, I feel alloy is better for a beginner (I dont want to have to worry about breaking it) and also you get a better level of equipment at a lower price point.
So That leads me to the 40's as you can see below.
Scale 40 (Hardtail)
Alloy Frame
Reba SL Fork
Deore XT/slx Groupset
Spark 40
Alloy Frame
Recon SL/DTM210 Air Shock
Deore XT/slx groupset
Works out that the Spark is going to cost me a couple of hundred more, but seems more versatile, cons are it loses the Reba down to a recon (would see if i could pay the difference) and you add 900g
I think the benefits outweight the disadvantages
As for what sort of riding I do, well I live 10 mins from north wales, so trail centres and mabye some more All mountain stuff once I get into things, this is why the Spark seems the better bet, the Scale is really a lightweight XC racer which is not what I will be doing.
The other thing is I could probably squeeze into the bottom Genius, the 60....but it's a fairly low spec.
What do you lot think?
My other half has done pretty much every trail at the north wales centres on her scott scale 50. Dont let anyone tell you you "need" full suspension. Obviously its very nice if you can afford the extra outlay but it wont stop you riding any trail. If you leanr to ride on a hardtail and then get a full sus you will go even quicker as you will have learnt how to pick lines rather than crash straight through stuff cbecause the suspension sorts it all out for you.
you dont need a full suspension bike to enjoy north wales!! in fact the scale would probably be my choice. its super light, fast and really well specced. both are xc orientated bikes, you wont get away with much "freeride" stuff with the spark, dont think that because its full sus its capable of the really rough stuff, the suspension setup is designed for constant small "hits" and generating traction rather than big drops and shock absorption..
Seems to be a majority for the Hardtail.....am going to borrow a few friends bikes (Hardtail and full suspension) to try, and then I will make a decision once we get the bikes in, our first Scott order arrives sometime in jan I believe, so I can make a choice then.
Thanks for the advice guys.
Thanks for the advice guys.
Had a chat to the Scott rep the other day, Nick Craig! And he agreed that the spark would be a more "Fun" bike to ride over the hardtail perhaps not build my technical skills as quickly but more rewarding. He races an RC version and raves about it, Weighed less than my (cheap) road bike!
After all it's only 110mm at the back, so not huge travel, not even up with 5in trail bikes like the felt virtue (my other option) and the lockout is easy to use.
The only thing is the spec is a tad below what I wanted, A reba and the nude shock on an alloy frame would have been nice, but the don't do that one, Im thinking a Recon and DT Swiss M210 is more than good enough for a beginner, and I could go for an upgrade sometime down the line. Or change it for the dream Spark 20 in a year or 2.
Shame you can't up the spec a bit when buying. But I may be able to sort that out for a few extra ££, they should do the alloy frame, reba and the nude shock with full XT, about £2k would probably be right.
After all it's only 110mm at the back, so not huge travel, not even up with 5in trail bikes like the felt virtue (my other option) and the lockout is easy to use.
The only thing is the spec is a tad below what I wanted, A reba and the nude shock on an alloy frame would have been nice, but the don't do that one, Im thinking a Recon and DT Swiss M210 is more than good enough for a beginner, and I could go for an upgrade sometime down the line. Or change it for the dream Spark 20 in a year or 2.
Shame you can't up the spec a bit when buying. But I may be able to sort that out for a few extra ££, they should do the alloy frame, reba and the nude shock with full XT, about £2k would probably be right.
Have to disagree with the expert there. The hardtail will be more fun. It looks a better bike than the Full Suss. You will learn more stuff on the hardtail. The Full Suss isnt a great full suss and so will always feel a bit clunky in comparison to the hardtail.
The Full Suss will be more comfortable on bone shaking down hill stuff.
The Full Suss will be more comfortable on bone shaking down hill stuff.
Matthew I had a similar choice to make 6 mths ago but within the specialized range. In the end I opted for a well spec'd hardtail and never looked back - I think its called a stumpjumper comp.
Mates that I go out with both use Full sussers and one of them is right up behind me down our favourite trails (surrey hills) because he is simply flying over all the bumps. But guess whos having more fun! Its worth pointing out that the front shocks are so tremendous these days they simply gobble up 90% of the terrain. Maybe one way to look at it is the remaining 10% is your fun factor, otherwise gobbled up by a rear shock on a full sus....
Hardtail all the way !
Mates that I go out with both use Full sussers and one of them is right up behind me down our favourite trails (surrey hills) because he is simply flying over all the bumps. But guess whos having more fun! Its worth pointing out that the front shocks are so tremendous these days they simply gobble up 90% of the terrain. Maybe one way to look at it is the remaining 10% is your fun factor, otherwise gobbled up by a rear shock on a full sus....
Hardtail all the way !
Well the majority of the bikes are here, no 40 models but the ones above and below them....and well the hardtail is the winner I think, the Scale 40
One thing I will be doing is upgrading the SLX front mech and shifters to Deore XT, a slightly pointless excercise but I would like full XT, shouldnt cost much at all really at trade price
Now just got to hold out for the winter (saving for a car first)
One thing I will be doing is upgrading the SLX front mech and shifters to Deore XT, a slightly pointless excercise but I would like full XT, shouldnt cost much at all really at trade price
Now just got to hold out for the winter (saving for a car first)
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