A ride on the SCOTT Genius 900 Ultimate is extremely electrifying – not only because of the electronic suspension. Once you put your feet on the pedals, your heart will start to race. There are several reasons for this.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best trail bike you can buy
SCOTT has always been one of the early brands to focus on new technologies and trends, so it’s no surprise that the Swiss are one of the first manufacturers to install FOX’s brand new Live Valve system. With the Genius Ultimate, the electronic suspension replaces the TwinLoc system Scott previously relied on. It does the same job of locking out the suspension, but it does so completely automatically and much more often than you would with the TwinLoc lever. At a price of € 10,499, the Genius Ultimate is the most expensive bike in the test field and you can see why. Shimano XTR four-piston brakes, Syncros carbon wheels, a SRAM XX1 drivetrain – there’s no room for improvement here! Thanks to the flip-chip in the rocker link, the Genius can be ridden with both 29″ and 27.5″ wheels. The bike is rounded off with the futuristic Syncros Hixon iC SL cockpit and an outstanding bronze-brown paint finish. This bike is a work of art; it’s almost too pretty to have to dirty it on the trails.
The handling of the SCOTT Genius is so sharp that you should take care not to cut yourself
The SCOTT Genius 900 Ultimate in detail
Fork FOX 34 FLOAT Live Valve Factory 150 mm
Schock FOX FLOAT Live Valve EVOL 150 mm
Brakes Shimano XTR 200/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM XX1 Eagle
Seatpost FOX Transfer Factory 150 mm
Stem Syncros Hixon iC SL Carbon
Handlebar Syncros Hixon iC SL Carbon
Wheelset Syncros Revelstoke 1.0 CL
Tires MAXXIS Rekon 29″ x 2.6″
Weight 12.70 kg
Price € 10,499
The Syncros Revelstoke 1.0 CL wheels give the Genius extremely precise handling. Their enormous stiffness, however, hardly forgives mistakes and will quickly wear you out.
The SCOTT Genius benefits noticeably from the FOX Live Valve system. The bike is even more efficient and shoots forward. There’s some room for improvement regarding integration though.
The Genius 900 Ultimate’s paintwork is absolutely perfect, giving this expensive bike precisely the look it deserves.
The Syncros Hixon iC SL cockpit looks super futuristic but doesn’t give you any adjustment options. If you don’t like the shape of the handlebars, you’re out of luck. We found the back sweep a bit too much.
Geometry of the SCOTT Genius 900 Ultimate
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 410 mm | 440 mm | 480 mm | 520 mm |
| Top tube | 570 mm | 603 mm | 633 mm | 670 mm |
| Head tube | 95 mm | 95 mm | 110 mm | 125 mm |
| Head angle | 65° | 65° | 65° | 65° |
| Seat angle | 74.7° | 74.7° | 74.7° | 74.7° |
| Chainstay | 438 mm | 438 mm | 438 mm | 438 mm |
| BB Height | 346 mm | 346 mm | 346 mm | 346 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1166 mm | 1199 mm | 1232 mm | 1271 mm |
| Reach | 406 mm | 439 mm | 466 mm | 499 mm |
| Stack | 600 mm | 600 mm | 614 mm | 628 mm |
The SCOTT Genius 900 Ultimate on the trail
But that’s exactly what the Genius is made for, and you’ll get to the trailhead very quickly. The low front end and efficient suspension constantly motivate you to get on the pedals. The stiff wheels accelerate with ease and the shallow tread of the Rekon tires leaves hardly a watt unused. The overall riding position is compact, which means that on steep climbs you’ll have to consciously shift your weight forward to prevent the front wheel from lifting. The FOX Live Valve is tuned in such a way that we mostly rode in mode two of the five available modes. Going downhill, the low front end and the Hixon iC cockpit define the bike’s handling. The Genius is reminiscent of an XC bike, requiring a lot of physical input. Just sit back and let go? Not possible with the Genius. The handling is razor sharp and super direct. The bike changes direction in a flash. The progressive suspension offers lots of support in corners and allows you to build up plenty of speed by pumping the bike, but it is difficult to use the full travel of the suspension. In steep terrain, the low cockpit pulls the rider forward, robbing you of confidence. The 2.6″ wide MAXXIS Rekon tires not only lack grip but also puncture protection in demanding terrain – we had to patch several flat tires.
Conclusion
The SCOTT Genius 900 Ultimate is a bike with its own character. It accelerates brutally and is extremely precise on the descents. However, the low front end and the futuristic Hixon iC SL cockpit aren’t for everyone. If you’re considering buying this bike, you should definitely go for a test ride before you do.
Tops
- looks super fancy
- tremendously efficient
- XC riders will love it
Flops
- very low cockpit
- instils little confidence on steep descents
- tires lack grip
Uphill
Downhill
Stability
Agility
Value for money
More info at: scott-sports.com
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best trail bike you can buy
All bikes in test: Canyon Spectral CF 9.0 LTD | Evil Offering X01 | Giant Trance Advanced Pro 29 | Ibis Ripmo | Pivot Mach 5.5 Pro XT | Propain Hugene Highend | Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt BC Edition | Santa Cruz Bronson CC X01+ | Scott Genius 900 Ultimate | Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 29 | Transition Sentinel X01 | Trek Remedy 9.9 | YT Jeffsy 29 CF Pro Race
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