Not too long ago, the thought of a hidden rear shock on a mountain bike was little more than a pipe dream, an idea thrown around after a few post ride beers. The thought of a sleek, clean looking dual-suspension bike that hides a giant air can or coil spring was always an intriguing idea. It just seemed too daunting from a design perspective. Enter Bold Cycles. The Switzerland-based company figured out the concealed shock design and was consequently purchased by Scott. Shortly after the Scott Spark was born, leading a whole new line of XC and trail bikes featuring a hidden rear shock.
Scott Spark 910: More than what it hides
The hidden rear shock on the Spark might be the first thing you notice, but there are a host of features and innovations that shouldn’t be overshadowed by the fancy carbon work. Most notable is Scott’s TwinLoc remote system. While I do prefer a bike where you can set the suspension up and forget about it until it loses air or needs service, that really doesn’t take advantage of all the bells and whistles that today’s modern shocks and forks offer.
With TwinLoc, the Spark delivers three distinct suspension modes at your finger or, rather, thumb tip. The firmest climb setting essentially locks out the rear shock and firms up the fork for maximum efficiency. The traction mode limits the rear shock to 80mm of travel. Scott keeps the Spark at the top of the stroke in this mode, maintaining a steeper seat angle and keeping the rider in an aggressive pedaling position so you can put the power down. The third mode is the most plush, utilizing all 120 mm of travel. It is best used for technical sections of trail and descents.
Offering three suspension modes isn’t new, however, the TwinLoc is certainly one of the best at providing a wide range of significantly different modes. Not only do you get a wide range of performance, the remote operates both fork and shock simultaneously. The only downside to the system is that the remote levers sit tightly alongside the dropper post remote. That makes accidental suspension mode changes feasible when trying to operate the seatpost.
Scott Spark 910: parts and components
The 910 version tested here sits in the middle of a expansive, 15-model line of Sparks on offer from Scott. That includes the…
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