For 2011 Scott have launched the Genius LT, a long-travel version of the current Genius.
It’s a natural step for Scott, basing its replacement for the Ransom, which was getting a bit long in the toothhaving been in the range for five years, with a Genius LT that is based on the same DNA as the standard Genius but scaling the travel up from from 150mm to 185mm.
While the Genius LT looks in essence like a souped-up Genius, it has been designed to withstand the demands of the extra travel with a ground up design. Scott have been at the forefront of carbon fibre technology (you only need look at their road bikes and new Scale 899 to realise that) and the Genius LT gets a brand new frame using Scott’s IMP5 technology. The frame is claimed to weigh just 2.8kg (6.2lb), including the 535g pull-shock. All-up built weight is going to be in the sub-30lb area, impressive for a bike packing such travel.
We were shown sections of a sawn in half frame at the UK launch, and comparing sections of this new frame to what came before it’s clear to see just how far Scott has pushed its carbon moulding process. Weight savings have been sought from cleverer use of carbon, switching to a single piece monocoque for the front triangle reduces unnecessary carbon inside the tubes.
Where the regular Genius has adjustable travel from 90mm to 150mm, the LT boosts that to 110mm-185mm for harder hitting riding. A new Equalizer 3 pull-shock sits just behind the seat tube, mounted in the opposite orientation to the standard Genius for better wheel clearance at full travel, and has been tuned for the longer travel the frame offers.
TwinLoc, Scott’s handlebar mounted remote lever flicks between the three settings the shock offers. The unique shock has two positive air chambers, from which oil from the main chamber is forced into when the shock is activated, and it is these that allow the shock to offer two travel settings and a locked out mode. In Full Mode both positive chambers are utilised while in the 115mm TractionControl mode one of the air chambers is shut down. In Lockout both positive chambers are closed.
Flipping between the travel modes of course alters the headangle and bottom bracket height, but Scott has also added further adjustability. The one-piece aluminium rocker linkage has a high/low shock fixing point that means you can change the headangle from 66.3 degrees in low and 67 in high.
Other features of the frame include press-fit bottom bracket bearings, which saves weight but also means the Scott designers could increase the downtube from quite large to really quite massive. An ISCG chain device (or HammerSchmidt) can be fitted. The rear disc brake caliper attaches to post mounts located inside the rear triangle, and the Interchangeable Dropout System accepts various standards including 142×12.
Four models will be available, with the range-topping LT10 will be specced with a RockShox Lyrik 140-180 fork, SRAM X.0, Avid X.0 brakes, RockShox Reverb dropper post and DT Swiss AM 10 wheels and Schwalbe Fat Albert tubeless ready tyres.
The ultimate do-it-all bike? Quite possibly, but there are a few contenders vying for this much coveted crown.
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