Scott has launched the latest generation of its Spark RC, a bike that doubles down on the hidden-shock concept that first divided opinion when the previous model arrived in 2021.
On paper, the changes are what you would expect from a modern World Cup XC bike. The new Spark RC sticks with 120 mm of travel, drops frame weight, and adopts slacker, more adjustable geometry.
Driving the updates behind the new Spark RC is a change in philosophy about what contributes to speed from Scott's design team. Rather than chasing outright frame stiffness or the lowest possible weight above all else, the new bike has been designed to hit a sweet spot, aiming to blend traction, composure, and control with pedalling efficiency and weight reduction.
Alex Hunt
In many ways, the Spark RC reflects the changing demands of modern XC racing, where outright efficiency is no longer the sole measure of speed.
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