mountain bikes: Test: Scott Spark 720 Plus – Olympic champion on a broad footing

Scott Spark 720 Plus - Frame and Geometry

For many years, the Scott Spark stood for the spearhead of what was technically possible in the XC area. It still does - after all, Nino Schurter drove the Scott Spark RC to Olympic gold last year in Rio - but the Spark's box has been generously expanded for the 2017 model year. What was once a cross-country specialist has now become an entire MTB platform that offers a wide variety of options from XC to marathons to trail bikes.

Of course, we chose one of the trail bikes for our test, the Scott Spark 720 Plus – as the name suggests, the model variant is equipped with plus tires, among other things. But first, a few words about the basic technical data: The bright yellow frame of our test bike is made of aluminum and is perfectly finished. Paint quality, cable routing, welds - everything is well thought out and at a consistently extremely high level.

120mm of travel in the rear meets 130mm at the front, with Boost axles you are also prepared for the future and get a better chain line in connection with the wide plus tires. A special feature of many Scott MTBs is the TwinLoc system, with which the handlebar remote can be used not only to change the characteristics of the compression stage, as with other systems, but also the suspension travel itself in three stages - both front and rear. Although the new lever is significantly more ergonomic and smaller than its predecessor, the system is of course still associated with more cable clutter and a slightly fuller handlebar.

The geometry of the Scott Spark 720 Plus is in the healthy midfield of our test. You don't do extreme, crazy things, but you still consistently rely on modern developments and trends. This gives you a slack steering angle and a steep seat angle, a fairly long reach and short chainstays. So we should expect balanced handling uphill and downhill and a fairly relaxed seating position overall.

Scott Spark 720 Plus Features

The Scott Spark 3.499 Plus costs €720 - in addition to the high-quality aluminum frame, you get a solid and well thought-out equipment overall, which, however, has to do without a lot of bling bling and without big highlights. For the drive, a SRAM GX drive with a chain ring was chosen – very welcome on a trail bike, especially because there are already enough levers attached to the handlebars due to the TwinLoc remote. The choice fell on 30 teeth for the chainring – in view of the largest sprocket of 42 teeth at the rear and the slightly heavier plus tires, it takes a lot of fat in the legs to get up steep climbs.

The chassis from FOX, consisting of the NUDE damper in the rear that is specially tailored to the frame and TwinLoc and the FOX 34 Float Performance fork with 130mm in the front, is appropriate for the price and reliably does a good job. The brakes come from Shimano - although the M615 is a rather cheap variant from the Deore group, in our experience it is hardly inferior to its more expensive counterparts - apart from a few grams more weight.

The dropper post is really high-quality: The FOX Transfer is one of the best dropper posts currently available - the low operating forces and the very pleasant feedback are particularly convincing. The Syncros wheels make a good impression. Although they are not particularly lightweight, the rims are nice and wide and the structure is even and stable.

Scott Spark 720 Plus - On the trail

With a Spark from Scott, you expect a nimble cross-country bike. The model that we received for the test confuses pigeonholed thinkers. The frame could also be a marathon bike, the fat tires point in a completely different direction.

In bright yellow with beautiful details, the Spark 720 Plus shows that it comes from a good family. There is nothing to complain about in terms of processing. Our testers would only have liked to see one or the other part placed on a cheaper bike. But that doesn't detract from the function at all, everything is in the green here. The 1×11 gearshift is sufficient for sporty bikers, but you have to pedal hard to drive the Spark up the mountain with the fat tires. A smaller chainring might have been the better choice for many. The Spark 720 Plus provides good traction. The seating position is balanced, the bike feels quite handy, despite thick rollers and little air pressure. The chassis, which is not too lush and not too soft, but is tuned just right, contributes to this. Sensitive enough at the beginning, with sufficient final progression. In addition, the front and rear can be adjusted with a lever. Scott calls the system, which is used on some fullys, TwinLoc.

There are three levels: Completely open, tight set-up (especially the rear is immobilized) and almost completely blocked. This led to divided views during the test drives. The system was partly well received, the function is also noticeable and the operation is quickly understood. Others found it unnecessary "bells and whistles" and thought a good rear end didn't need that. The cockpit is already a bit packed with it. So it's a matter of taste whether you want TwinLoc or not. It works quite well though. Components such as the gearshift and the brakes are also beyond reproach. Even if you can imagine more on a bike in this price range with an aluminum frame than a Sram GX or a fairly cheap Shimano brake. The shifting does its job confidently and the brakes always bring the load to a safe standstill. The Fox Dropper Post meets all expectations and we like it. The wheels with the Syncros label, which come from Formula, are not a highlight either, but they are optically and technically completely in order and reliable. The cockpit, which is good overall, also comes from Syncros, it would be even more convincing with a few millimeters more width and one or the other less lever. An essential part of the concept are the Plus tires. The choice fell on Maxxis Rekon in different rubber compounds, which turns out to be good. Soft at the front for lots of grip, harder at the back so it rolls well. The 2.8 width finds more friends with us than 3.0 or even wider variants. Grip is always there and you like to let the suspension work on the descents.