Bicycles

First Impressions: Scott Scale 899

Details

Parent Category: Bicycles

Category: Scott

Published on Thursday, 16 September 2010 08:11

Written by Luca Salvatelli

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The new Scott Scale 899 sets a new record in the weight category, at least according to the statements that Scott refers to the weight of the frame size M version in matt carbon. The new frame brings a series of innovations in home Scott. New steer tube with tapered bearings and 1 inch 1/8 above and 1 inch and ½ below. New type of carbon used, Ultra High Modulus, which has been a successful front triangle very light. The rear stay is completely new and made in one piece. It’s designed to allow a high lateral stiffness and good vertical flexibility, to improve comfort and traction on uneven without limiting the transmission of power to the rear wheel. The vertical pipe has the integrated seat clamp and hosts the seatpost diameter of 34.9 mm. The BB30 bottom bracket is of type, while the cables run inside. Inside the wagon also mounting the rear brake caliper. All these changes have reduced frame weight of 70 grams, compared to the previous version, and improved stiffness between 10 and 15%, depending on your point of the frame. Four sizes available: S, M, L, XL. The cycling test was then assembled with the group adopted the complete SRAM XX, Ritchey WCS wheels and Schwalbe tires. Stem and handlebar are always Ritchey WCS, as the saddle. The fork is a RockShox XX. So assembled, in size M, the bike has a weight, detected with our instrumentation, of 8.8 kg, including heavy Shimano pedals you see in the picture weighing about 400 grams.

The road test

The short test that we could put the Scott Scale 899 was not very hard, considering the type of bike and its intended end use, but it was useful to understand the character of the bike and improvements. Just the weight that we observed with both pedals very heavy, a sign of the high potential of this frame. Movement is perceived in a very stiff bottom bracket and crankset a smooth and rigid. If the bracket is great for garnishing we would have expected a string of more smoothness and stiffness, but the level is really high. The new rear stay has good stiffness and well able to transfer power to the rear wheel. Jump in the traction is good, but we lacked the ability to deal with very high slope. Excellent smoothness of the wheels. Good comfort, at least in the way we performed. This aspect will be explored in a longer text, but there seems to be a critical aspect of the bike. The handling is excellent steering, with placement in corners and change direction fast. In high speed steering seems to be lighter, but is never lacking security. Remains a bike expert bikers who know how to manage rapid cycling, even at high speeds and on rough uneven funds, where you must hold the steering wheel firmly and steer the bike well, even with quick movements of the body. Here also, a more thorough test will clarify better the nature of the bike. Good smooth action of the group Sram XX, although well separated from the Shimano XTR, equal to the Japanese group gear changing and less (very little) accuracy in steps of relationship. The brakes, at least in the trial, showed a very adaptable and powerful braking. Excellent fork. In conclusion, apart from some small newly in the group adopted, certainly caused by a lack of set up, the new Scott Scale 899 we liked for high performance that has put on display. Not only is it a light bike, but has a very rigid frame and the geometric dimensions that prioritize speed in the entry of the curve. A fast and hard bike in the narrow paths, where it will be difficult to beat. More difficult to run at high speeds, but here we reserve different assessment with a more thorough test. The price of the frame kit should be around 1899 Euro, a very high price, justified by the technical content and performance, but above the competitors.