This is an awesome review. I have the Scott Spark 700 Tuned but put 29 wheels on it (130mm fork). Too many pedal strikes with 27.5 plus wheels. The BB is 13 inches bangs every little bit of technical trail. With the 29 wheels the spark is so fast and BB goes to 13.5 inches. It's interesting the Genius climbed as fast. I do notice the seat tube angle on the Genius is steeper (75.3) than the Spark (73.2) so that might help with the climbing. I might look at the Genius for 700 plus riding.
Does the Spark have a high and low BB setting? I can't remember. The Genius does. The Spark 29er definitely felt very fast. It's very tempting. I'm sure I could get used to big wheels and I didn't hit my pedals with it either but did with the Genius 700 and it was in the high BB setting.
Excellent video Brad: I must have watched this at lest 20 times in the past six weeks. I bought a Spark 740 L the first week in March (I’m 6’2”). Even before I bought it, riding in the parking lot it felt too small for me ~ they swapped the stem and said, “try that”. It was just ok. It was the largest bike they had. Even though I explained to them that it still felt too small for me, they said, “Yea, you just have to ride it for a while to get used to it.” Of course after you take it on a trail, there’s no refund; its then a used bike. I spend about a month playing with different stem lengths, Raceface handlebars, seat, etc… just trying to get the geometry “right” for me. I kept telling them, “It just feels like a little kids bike underneath me; twitchy, nervous and sometimes downright scary on descents.” Again, “Just keep riding it, you’ll get used to it.” Never did. Then I learned the difference between an XC bike and a trail bike. I sold the Spark 940 on CL a couple of days ago, went and bought the very last Genius 920 XL for sale in North America. I got lucky for a few reasons; the Spark is a full on cross country (XC) bike, the geometry is supposed to be tight or small and its supposed to feel twitchy and nervous. They are made for racing XC - Awesome climber, I smashed all of my previous climbs on Strava, but its a nervous descender by nature. Whereas the Genius is MUCH more slack and relaxed and confidence inspiring; its a trail bike. Designed to be comfortable, relaxed and stable. So for anyone reading this, the Spark is supposed to be a nervous race bike, the genius is supposed to be a supple trail bike. The first Scott dealer never ever mentioned this, by the time I went to buy the 920 from another Scott dealer I had enough information thanks in part to this video to know what I wanted. (and reading articles online for six weeks) I much prefer having fun on a mountain bike, as opposed to feeling like you could break a bone at any wrong move. Scott Genius = fun (for me) Scott Spark = hardcore XC racer not fun but work. Thanks for this vid Brad!
I got the 2018 920 XL - I was told a few different reasons for the shortage. 1. Scott underestimated the popularity. 2. Every dealer in the world, was just allowed 2 of each. Don't know really, but I'm glad I got my hands on one. The dealer called two hours ago and said they just finished the build; going to pick it up in the morning. Stoked!
Did you try an XL or only the L Newport? Its kinda crazy they tell you to get used to it and advise stem variations. A bike needs to fit from the get go.
I bought a Scott genius premium 2016 model off ebay and I'm in love, the carbon fiber frame is awesome the price I paid around $3400 and it was a steal for that price. I really could not spend anymore but if you have the funds The scott genius carbon fiber is a sweet bike I would buy a scott again if I can afford to do so.
craig anderson yeh, I had a hard time parting with $7500. Just bought a Specialized Camber Expert. Not even close to the same bike but I’m happy enough with it.
Brad Herder YES I got it brand new in a Scott's bike box NEVER opened they are sweet BIKES I was trying to buy another for my daughter but no luck So I got her a small cannondale bad habit 1 with the lefty fork for 2150 shipped brand new of eBay CHEERS
Yeh - Genius's are hard to come by. I was watching a few but never won one. I got a Scott Scale 700 from piermont bikes on eBay - $7000 (I think) bike for $2500 brand spankin' new!!! :-)
Thanks for the great comparison, just a question, it is possible to change my 29 Scott Spark 940 wheels to 27.5? This bike doesnt have the screw that say "low or high" and also I dont find if it possible or if it is not. Please help!!!
I asked them that very question last year and they said no. The 7's could become 29er's but the 9's couldn't become 27.5+ bikes - maybe b/c you can't flip the chip to high and b/c 27.5+ wheels have a smaller diameter than 29 and you'd be striking your pedals quite often. Not 100% sure but the Scott rep said you could go 27.5+ -> 29 but not 29 -> 27.5+. I bet you could but it might not be the optimal experience.
Thank you for the very helpful question Brad! I send a message to Scott, but they never answer to me. I ask this because I am more a Trail than a Crosscrountry, but not to extreme and I feel the 29 quite big for the trail, I would like to have smaller tires for the agility...
Maybe you could ask a local dealer? I had a bike with 29er wheels and hated them. 27.5+ is supposed to be almost as big but it isn’t. Personally, I think 27.5x2.5 or 2.6 is the happy medium. If you do find a definitive answer and wanted to post it hear, I’d love to hear what they say. Thanks
I got an answer direct from Scott, look below: The Genius does have the possibility because of a geometry chip in the rocker link which gives the user the chance to change the geometry of the frame a bit while using 27.5 inch wheels This chip is not used in the spark models . so the position of the BB and the crank will be a bit lower with 27.5 inch wheels than whith the 29ers and it is not corrigible. But I think this is the only noticeable point out. You will maybe have a minimal advantage in the maneuverability of the bike. Minimal, because the chainstay lenght will be as long as before. Best chance would be to try it. And find out if there is a noticeable difference which gives you an advantage in your individuall usage of the bike.
Yeh - I'm having a hard time parting with $7500 which the Genius 700 costs. I love the twin lockout levers. MustAsheville bikes in Asheville has some left overs for decent price. They have 'em listed on craigslist: asheville.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=scott%20spark&sort=rel
I noticed it squatted a lot on me too, figured the real shock needed some volume spacers or bands or whatever it uses. I so wish someone had these in stock. There's a shop with a left over spark 900 from last year which I'm very tempted to buy since I hear the Genius isn't going to be available till June now.
Funny you should mention them... I picked up a 2016 Scott Scale 700 end of last year for a ridiculously low price off eBay. I should call 'em. Thanks for the suggestion!
This is an awesome review. I have the Scott Spark 700 Tuned but put 29 wheels on it (130mm fork). Too many pedal strikes with 27.5 plus wheels. The BB is 13 inches bangs every little bit of technical trail. With the 29 wheels the spark is so fast and BB goes to 13.5 inches. It's interesting the Genius climbed as fast. I do notice the seat tube angle on the Genius is steeper (75.3) than the Spark (73.2) so that might help with the climbing.
I might look at the Genius for 700 plus riding.
Does the Spark have a high and low BB setting? I can't remember. The Genius does. The Spark 29er definitely felt very fast. It's very tempting. I'm sure I could get used to big wheels and I didn't hit my pedals with it either but did with the Genius 700 and it was in the high BB setting.
Spark only has one setting.
Nice, thanks for sharing and parsing the data
Excellent review. Thanks.
Excellent video Brad: I must have watched this at lest 20 times in the past six weeks. I bought a Spark 740 L the first week in March (I’m 6’2”). Even before I bought it, riding in the parking lot it felt too small for me ~ they swapped the stem and said, “try that”. It was just ok. It was the largest bike they had. Even though I explained to them that it still felt too small for me, they said, “Yea, you just have to ride it for a while to get used to it.” Of course after you take it on a trail, there’s no refund; its then a used bike. I spend about a month playing with different stem lengths, Raceface handlebars, seat, etc… just trying to get the geometry “right” for me. I kept telling them, “It just feels like a little kids bike underneath me; twitchy, nervous and sometimes downright scary on descents.” Again, “Just keep riding it, you’ll get used to it.” Never did. Then I learned the difference between an XC bike and a trail bike. I sold the Spark 940 on CL a couple of days ago, went and bought the very last Genius 920 XL for sale in North America. I got lucky for a few reasons; the Spark is a full on cross country (XC) bike, the geometry is supposed to be tight or small and its supposed to feel twitchy and nervous. They are made for racing XC - Awesome climber, I smashed all of my previous climbs on Strava, but its a nervous descender by nature. Whereas the Genius is MUCH more slack and relaxed and confidence inspiring; its a trail bike. Designed to be comfortable, relaxed and stable.
So for anyone reading this, the Spark is supposed to be a nervous race bike, the genius is supposed to be a supple trail bike. The first Scott dealer never ever mentioned this, by the time I went to buy the 920 from another Scott dealer I had enough information thanks in part to this video to know what I wanted. (and reading articles online for six weeks) I much prefer having fun on a mountain bike, as opposed to feeling like you could break a bone at any wrong move.
Scott Genius = fun (for me) Scott Spark = hardcore XC racer not fun but work. Thanks for this vid Brad!
At 6'2" there's no way they should have sold you a Spark. How'd you get a Genius? I thought they were still unavailable, no?
Oh - you got the last one in North America - WTF is with that? Must be uber popular overseas huh? for good reason
I got the 2018 920 XL - I was told a few different reasons for the shortage. 1. Scott underestimated the popularity. 2. Every dealer in the world, was just allowed 2 of each. Don't know really, but I'm glad I got my hands on one. The dealer called two hours ago and said they just finished the build; going to pick it up in the morning. Stoked!
Did you try an XL or only the L Newport? Its kinda crazy they tell you to get used to it and advise stem variations. A bike needs to fit from the get go.
I am really data oriented so I loved this video. I think I am going for the genius 740 :)
I bought a Scott genius premium 2016 model off ebay and I'm in love, the carbon fiber frame is awesome the price I paid around $3400 and it was a steal for that price. I really could not spend anymore but if you have the funds The scott genius carbon fiber is a sweet bike I would buy a scott again if I can afford to do so.
craig anderson yeh, I had a hard time parting with $7500. Just bought a Specialized Camber Expert. Not even close to the same bike but I’m happy enough with it.
craig anderson oh - did you buy a new or used bike off eBay? I also bought a 2016 Scott Scale 700 off eBay late last year - brand new, only $2500!
Brad Herder YES I got it brand new in a Scott's bike box NEVER opened they are sweet BIKES I was trying to buy another for my daughter but no luck So I got her a small cannondale bad habit 1 with the lefty fork for 2150 shipped brand new of eBay CHEERS
Yeh - Genius's are hard to come by. I was watching a few but never won one. I got a Scott Scale 700 from piermont bikes on eBay - $7000 (I think) bike for $2500 brand spankin' new!!! :-)
Oh - and Bad Habit 1 is AMAZING to get for $2150. Damn.
Thanks for the great comparison, just a question, it is possible to change my 29 Scott Spark 940 wheels to 27.5? This bike doesnt have the screw that say "low or high" and also I dont find if it possible or if it is not. Please help!!!
I asked them that very question last year and they said no. The 7's could become 29er's but the 9's couldn't become 27.5+ bikes - maybe b/c you can't flip the chip to high and b/c 27.5+ wheels have a smaller diameter than 29 and you'd be striking your pedals quite often. Not 100% sure but the Scott rep said you could go 27.5+ -> 29 but not 29 -> 27.5+. I bet you could but it might not be the optimal experience.
Thank you for the very helpful question Brad! I send a message to Scott, but they never answer to me. I ask this because I am more a Trail than a Crosscrountry, but not to extreme and I feel the 29 quite big for the trail, I would like to have smaller tires for the agility...
Maybe you could ask a local dealer? I had a bike with 29er wheels and hated them. 27.5+ is supposed to be almost as big but it isn’t. Personally, I think 27.5x2.5 or 2.6 is the happy medium. If you do find a definitive answer and wanted to post it hear, I’d love to hear what they say. Thanks
I will ask and let you know Brad
I got an answer direct from Scott, look below:
The Genius does have the possibility because of a geometry chip in the rocker link which gives the user the chance to change the geometry of the frame a bit while using 27.5 inch wheels
This chip is not used in the spark models . so the position of the BB and the crank will be a bit lower with 27.5 inch wheels than whith the 29ers and it is not corrigible. But I think this is the only noticeable point out.
You will maybe have a minimal advantage in the maneuverability of the bike. Minimal, because the chainstay lenght will be as long as before.
Best chance would be to try it.
And find out if there is a noticeable difference which gives you an advantage in your individuall usage of the bike.
thanks for your review
Good review. Im debating the two as well, but for my budget, a Spark 960 v a Genius 750. With all the leaves, it seems pretty tough to see the trail.
Yeh - I'm having a hard time parting with $7500 which the Genius 700 costs. I love the twin lockout levers. MustAsheville bikes in Asheville has some left overs for decent price. They have 'em listed on craigslist: asheville.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=scott%20spark&sort=rel
I have a Genius 720 2016..I am trading it in for a Spark 720 2017... The Genius squats to much and is too small for me.. It's a Sm i need a Med
I noticed it squatted a lot on me too, figured the real shock needed some volume spacers or bands or whatever it uses. I so wish someone had these in stock. There's a shop with a left over spark 900 from last year which I'm very tempted to buy since I hear the Genius isn't going to be available till June now.
Piermont Cycles in Piermont NY has a ton of Scott bikes..Give them a call...
Funny you should mention them... I picked up a 2016 Scott Scale 700 end of last year for a ridiculously low price off eBay. I should call 'em. Thanks for the suggestion!
weight means piss all its all about how the bike feels rides and handles the terrain ur riding and most of all reliable parts.
Isn't weight part of how the bike feels and rides?