August 22, 2005

Who says racing hardtails are dead?

Bicycling Magazine

The “CR” in the Scale frame’s “CR1” name means “Carbon Racing.” That’s not just a label: Mandrel-wound carbon tubes are mitered for precise fit, as on metal lugged bikes, and then carbon plies are hand-wrapped over the joints to form lugs. The result is a frame that weighs just 980 grams (2 pounds, 2 ounces); without question, it’s the lightest mountain frame we’ve ever ridden. The Scale is tough, too: German outfit Engineering for Bikes did out-of-saddle load testing on it and gave the Scale its highest performance rating—one of only two sub-1,400-gram frames to achieve the top standard.



A longish, 106 cm wheelbase and a 71-degree seat angle are fantastic for fast descents, even in technical terrain, but speed is key to unlocking the Scale’s handling strengths. Dawdle and the Scale reacts slowly. Short, 42 cm chainstays and a steepish, 73.5-degree seat angle offer great power transfer, but on descents can leave you feeling like your weight’s too far forward.

One bonus: Scott spec’d a mostly XT group on the Scale 20. It offers nearly the same performance as the XTR group on the Scale 10 but costs $1,700 less.

Combine the rigid ride with a geometry that works best at top speed and the Scale is a bike that doesn’t only want to go fast, it needs to go fast. We give Scott full marks for focusing on racing’s core needs and delivering a bike that meets them perfectly. But if you want a daily driver, look elsewhere.—Joe Lindsey