First ride: Scott’s reimagined Spark line

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CRESTED BUTTE, Colorado (VN) — Remember those “choose your adventure” books that let you change the story by making decisions at key plot moments? Heading to Crested Butte, Colorado for the launch of Scott’s revamped Spark line was sort of like that: Decide what kind of trails you want to ride, and choose your Spark. Scott didn’t just update last year’s version of its XC-oriented full-suspension bike. It instead created an entire Spark quiver, from XC-inspired race bikes to more trail-friendly rides. And the results were impressive.

While each bike in the line has its own personality, they share a major change to the rear suspension: It’s a rocker link design, and unlike previous Spark iterations, the rear shock is not mounted to the top tube. Instead, it sits between the rocker link and the bottom bracket, and the shock is upside down. Zack Vestal, Scott’s U.S. bike marketing manager, says this design completely changes the suspension kinematics. “Essentially, mechanical forces work against the shock. The leverage ratio on the new Spark changes as the rear wheel moves through the travel,” he says. “There’s high leverage that makes the Spark more sensitive in the early part of the shock’s travel. In the mid stroke, the leverage decreases, so you get more support. At the end of the stroke, it goes a bit higher again to give the bike that bottomless feel.”

That’s possible in part because of the rocker link design, but also because rear shocks have simply become better, more sensitive to small bumps and more consistent through the stroke. “If you think back five years,” Vestal says, “air cans were different. Damping wasn’t sophisticated. We’re taking advantage of better rear shock technology.”

The rear triangle is also pivotless at the rear axle. That should stiffen the rear end, and it also eliminates several components from the overall structure, thereby reducing weight by up to 130 grams, according to Scott.

All new Spark models get Boost spacing, which allows for shorter chain stays, which is particularly important on 29ers: Shorter chain stays generally equal quicker handling, and also allow the rider to center his weight over the rear wheel for more confident handling.

Now it’s time for you to “choose your adventure.” Click on each link to see my first ride thoughts.

Today, you’re shredding:

A) An all-day singletrack adventure with tons of climbing and fast descending B) The XC race course C) Two hours of chunder after work with a little climbing and some rough descents

All-day singletrack

It’s amazing how much the 29er platform has changed in just the last few seasons, and the Spark 900 Ultimate exemplifies much of what is going right with big wheels today. It’s still …

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