Playing hide and seek – the SCOTT Genius ST 900 Tuned is deceiving, hiding a rocker link and 150 mm of rear travel inside its sleek carbon frame. Despite that – or maybe precisely because of it – SCOTT managed to keep the weight to a scant 13.6 kg. Is the second lightest bike in this test a heavy-hitting trail machine?
13.6 kg in size L | € 10,999 | Manufacturer’s website
When you’re out riding with the SCOTT Genius ST, you’ll be often mistaken for an electric mountain biker and have to put up with all the ridiculous abuse that comes with the territory. Despite the lack of an electric motor, the pronounced bottom bracket area makes for a distinctive ebike look. However, inside the frame hides the shock, with the enclosed design making the SCOTT the tidiest looking bike in the entire test field. For € 10,999, you’ll get one of the lightest trail bikes in test with 160/150 mm of travel.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best trail bike 2024 – 15 of the most exciting trail bikes in our 2024 comparison test
The 2023 SCOTT Genius ST 900 Tuned in detail
The SCOTT Genius ST’s frame details are integrated into the frame so neatly that you hardly notice them. For example, the cables disappear into the headset through the one-piece stem/handlebar unit, with a big, slightly bulky looking plastic cover on the stem ensuring a clean look. Furthermore, the SCOTT Genius is extremely quiet on the trail thanks to the extensive, ribbed chainstay protector. SCOTT hide a small tool in the rear thru axle featuring a T25, T30, and a 6 mm Allen key, which allows you to carry out all basic trailside repairs, including removing both wheels – unlike most bikes, the SCOTT’s front wheel axle relies on a Torx T25 bolt. The skid plate in the bottom bracket area also doubles as a service port which can be opened at the push of a button to allow easy access to the integrated shock and cables. The closure system works reliably but its position on the down tube exposes it to the elements, meaning that you’ll get your hands dirty if you need to adjust the rebound when riding in foul conditions. An external, magnetic sag indicator makes it easier to set up the shock by yourself and also tells you whether you’re anywhere near the bottom-out zone.
The spec of the 2023 SCOTT Genius ST 900 Tuned
For the suspension of the Genius ST 900 Tuned, SCOTT rely on a 160 mm FOX 36 Factory GRIP2 fork, which features a fancy Kashima coating and offers countless adjustment options. The fork is paired with a custom FOX FLOAT X Nude shock, which is fine-tuned to the suspension kinematics of the bike and generates 150 mm of travel at the rear. Unlike other FOX shocks, the SCOTT’s FLOAT X Nude has all dials at the bottom, which makes it easier to access them through the service port. To do this, we recommend turning the bike upside down. If you have to remove the shock to get it serviced or repaired, removing it is not as simple, and the original shock can’t be upgraded with a conventional after-market shock. Super light Shimano XTR brakes do stopping duties, combined with a 200 mm rotor at the front and smaller 180 mm disc at the rear, which is undersized for a potent trial bike like the Genius, overheating quickly on long, steep descents. Unfortunately, the frame design doesn’t allow you to upgrade to a bigger 200 mm rear rotor. Shifting is taken care of by a 12-speed, wireless SRAM X01 AXS drivetrain, which works flawlessly but doesn’t match the smooth performance of the latest SRAM Transmission drivetrains, especially when shifting under load. For the rest of the spec, SCOTT rely on their in-house component brand Syncros, including the dropper post, cockpit and wheels. The Duncan dropper offers a rather conservative 170 mm of travel and is paired with a sophisticated remote, which sits right below the TracLoc lever for the two-stage shock lockout. The 780 mm one-piece Syncros carbon cockpit ensures a clean look and high level of integration. However, the one-piece design doesn’t allow for fine tuning, except for the stack height, which can be adjusted via stem spacers. Furthermore, the carbon cockpit is extremely stiff, and the stem spacers can’t be moved to the top of the stem without spoiling the integrated look. The 29” Syncros Revelstoke 1.0 carbon wheelset is paired with MAXXIS tires, with a Minion DHF at the front and DISSECTOR at the rear, both in the hard MaxxTerra rubber compound and the paper-thin EXO casing. This significantly increases the risk of punctures, which could result in irreversible damage to the expensive carbon rims, while the hard rubber compound lacks traction in wet conditions.
The SCOTT climbs just as efficiently as the ebikes in this test field – except that there’s no electric motor hiding inside the bulky bottom bracket.
The service port on the bottom bracket can be opened at the touch of a button. However, when riding in yucky conditions, you’ll have to get your hands dirty.
Behind the service port hides a FOX FLOAT X Nude, and all the adjustment dials are in easy reach.
All cables and lines are routed internally and disappear into the frame through a cover on the one-piece cockpit. While the system might look a little bulky, it ensures a very clean look.
The TracLoc remote consists of two levers, one for the shock’s lockout and one for the dropper post. The system might be practical, but takes some getting used to on the trail.
The quick-release lever in the rear wheel thru axle doubles as a multitool and includes a 6 mm Allen key, T25 and T30, which is all you need to remove the wheels and tighten the swingarm bolts.
SCOTT Genius ST 900 Tuned
€ 10,999
Specifications
Fork FOX 36 Factory GRIP2 160 mm
Rear Shock FOX FLOAT X Nude 150 mm
Seatpost Syncros Duncan 170 mm
Brakes Shimano XTR 200/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM X01 AXS 1x12
Stem Syncros 40 mm
Handlebar Syncros Carbon Onepiece 780 mm
Wheelset Syncros Revelstoke 1.0 Carbon 29"
Tires MAXXIS DHF, EXO, MaxxTerra/MAXXIS DISSECTOR, EXO, MaxxTerra 2.6"/2.6"
Technical Data
Size S M L XL
Weight 13.6 kg
Specific Features
integrated tool
Tuning tip: Improve compliance by changing the cockpit/handlebars
Pants Sweet Protection Hunter Pants | Shoes Northwave Overland Plus | Gloves POC Resistance
The geometry of the 2023 SCOTT Genius ST 900 Tuned
The SCOTT Genius is available in four sizes, S to XL, with most geometry values matching the modern standards. Reach grows from 430 mm in size S to 510 mm in size XL, covering rider heights between 165 and 195 cm. At 64.5°, the head tube angle is average in this test, and can be changed by 0.6° in each direction by turning the headset cups. To do this, you only have to lift the cockpit slightly rather than remove it completely – awesome. Chainstay length is 440 mm across the board and doesn’t grow with the size, which may result in inconsistent handling between the different sizes.
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top tube | 570 mm | 602 mm | 631 mm | 659 mm |
| Seat tube | 380 mm | 410 mm | 440 mm | 470 mm |
| Head tube | 90 mm | 100 mm | 120 mm | 135 mm |
| Head angle | 64.5° | 64.5° | 64.5° | 64.5° |
| Seat angle | 76.8° | 77.1° | 77.2° | 77.4° |
| Chainstays | 440 mm | 440 mm | 440 mm | 440 mm |
| BB Drop | 33 mm | 33 mm | 33 mm | 33 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,195 mm | 1,229 mm | 1,263 mm | 1,294 mm |
| Reach | 430 mm | 460 mm | 485 mm | 510 mm |
| Stack | 617 mm | 626 mm | 644 mm | 658 mm |
The 2023 SCOTT Genius ST 900 Tuned on the trail
Going uphill, the SCOTT delivers such an excellent climbing performance that it could pass as an ebike, exposing you once more to the aforementioned ebike abuse – no other analogue bike climbs as smoothly and efficiently as the SCOTT. The lightweight wheelset and fast rolling tires are partly responsible for this, but the efficient TracLoc rear suspension contributes noticeably to the climbing performance too. In the first position, TracLoc doesn’t lockout the shock completely but prevents it from sinking into its travel with abrupt pedalling inputs, thus increasing traction and efficiency significantly. Nevertheless, the three-lever remote is rather crammed and takes some getting used to. The riding position is nicely balanced between the hands and saddle, making the SCOTT suitable for long days in the saddle.
When riding downhill, the SCOTT is capable of generating tons of speed through rollers and berms, but lacks traction in fast, rough sections.
When gravity takes over, the SCOTT Genius ST 900 puts you in a balanced riding position, with the weight evenly distributed between the front and rear, but also places you on top of the bike rather than integrating you deeply into the frame, robbing you of confidence on steeper descents. This is a shame, because the SCOTT is intuitive to ride and requires very little familiarisation time. As soon as you hit the trail, the first thing you’ll notice is the firm suspension, which passes bigger hits on to the rider almost unfiltered, even with the suspension sag set at a generous 30%, making you feel as if you had significantly less travel on tap. For comparison’s sake, the Santa Cruz Hightower feels more capable despite having 10 mm less rear travel. In addition, the Genius is pretty stiff, which is mainly due to the combination of a carbon frame, one-piece carbon cockpit, carbon wheelset and also the flimsy tires, which require higher air pressures to prevent punctures. Needless to say, this comes at the expense of traction, especially with fast, repetitive hits, and requires a vigilant riding style. Overall, the SCOTT is super stiff and offers very little compliance, which, on one hand, results in super precise handling downhill but, on the other, makes it feel nervous and distracted, and very unforgiving of mistakes. On the plus side, the SCOTT lets you change your line spontaneously and carve through berms like no other bike in this test – provided you know what you’re doing. If you do, the SCOTT encourages you to pop off ledges and play with the trail, always providing more than enough support. The downside: the Genius ST really shakes you up, which can be exhausting after a while. The direct, unforgiving handling can be overwhelming, especially for beginners, who will be quickly pushed to their limits by the SCOTT’s speed. This affects the whole ride quality, and unfortunately, there’s no prescription to calm down a hyperactive mountain bike!
Who should take a closer look at the 2023 SCOTT Genius ST 900 Tuned?
The SCOTT Genius ST is primarily aimed at experienced riders who want to ride fast and are looking for an efficient, precise trail bike. On long tours, the SCOTT is super efficient to pedal, which is partly due to the handlebar lockout – the only one in this test! This makes sure that all your leg power is transferred directly onto the trail, with the supportive rear suspension making it easy to sprint out of the saddle. This enables long days in the saddle with a focus on climbing, making the SCOTT a good riding companion for epic backcountry expeditions like Alp crossings. However, the stiff, direct handling makes it a less ideal option for beginners and passive riders.
Our conclusions about the SCOTT Genius ST 900 Tuned
The integration award goes to the SCOTT Genius ST 900 Tuned! No other manufacturer in this test packs this much technology into a bike, and none of its competitors manages to do it as neatly. However, the SCOTT also stands out from the crowd with its handling, which is the most direct in the entire test field. This makes it difficult to control at times and requires an active, vigilant riding style, which makes it an interesting option for climbing enthusiasts and advanced riders, especially those who value integration and are willing to pay SCOTT’s hefty price tag.
Tops
- Direct, efficient riding behaviour
- Tidiest overall look and shock integration
- Secures the analogue uphill KOM in this group test
Flops
- Bad tire choice
- Demanding handling
- Rear suspension is too firm for beginners
You can find out more about at scott-sports.com
The test field
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best trail bike 2024 – 15 of the most exciting trail bikes in our 2024 comparison test
All bikes in test: Cannondale Habit LT 1 (Click for review) | Cube ONE55 C:62 SLT 29 (Click for review) | Ghost RIOT Trail Full Party (Click for review) | Merida ONE-FORTY 10K (Click for review) | Mondraker Neat RR SL (Click for review) | Nicolai Saturn 14 Swift HRZ (Click for review) | Orbea Occam LT M10 (Click for review) | Santa Cruz Heckler SL XX AXS RSV (Click for review) | Santa Cruz Hightower X0 AXS RSV (Click for review) | Scor 2030 X01 (Click for review) | SCOTT Genius ST 900 Tuned | Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL (Click for review) | Trek Fuel EX 9.9 X0 AXS T-Type (Click for review) | Yeti SB140 LR T3 X0 (Click for review) | YT JEFFSY CORE 5 CF (Click for review)
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Words: Julian Schwede Photos: Peter Walker
