Genius is as genius does: race bike speed with genuine big terrain ability

Calling your bike the Genius sets the bar pretty high, but Scott has delivered a fantastic ride packed with some incredible attention to detail. Gussets, neatly forged frame and linkage sections, multiple tube sections and shapes or even weight saving alloy bearing bolts aren’t unique. But fully sealed cable with routing bosses tucked under the linkage beams, inside the seatstays and under the bottle cages, plus lightweight monocoque dropouts are outstanding details.
The resulting frame is phenomenally light for a 5in rig and after badly denting an MC10 in WMB27, we were concerned about the frame’s toughness. Having hammered this bike and inspected plenty of other brutalised MCs we’re happy to lay those doubts to rest.

The four-bar rear end uses a proprietary high volume pull shock with a handlebar operated flush chain. This moves from full lockout to a progressive half chamber Traction Control (TC) setting before opening the extra piggyback can for full 5in plushness. Adjustable negative pressure lets you tune small bump sensitivity (once the seals bed in) and we’ve had no filth trouble with the neatly booted cable or mud clearance issues.

With a lightweight frame and a long stretch in the cockpit, the Genius feels fast as soon as you kick the pedals, hiding both its fat 2.25in tyres and 5in of travel until they’re needed. Push past normal XC speeds, though, and suddenly the extra mid stroke yawns open front and rear and you are absolutely flying. Oblivious to rock, ditch or chattering root you can just concentrate on cornering lines, clean landing spots and flashing past other rattling riders. Middling bottom bracket height means occasional tap dancing but it never forces you to back off.

Climbing traction is astonishing too. It rolls up and over stepped or rough rock sections with minimal pedal feedback in the full stroke setting, or filters out rattle while staying sharp through the cranks in the ‘TC’ setting. Lock it out and it’ll dance up the road like a hardtail.

Our Large matched a stable head angle with 120mm stem and 24in bars for high-speed poise, but wider bars on 100mm stem will bring out its technical wood working side. Manitou’s 120mm Black fork is a plush balance, with the compression adjuster giving an ideal ‘TC’ match two clicks out from lockout. XT throughout gives beyond reproach shifting, but we occasionally found the 160mm discs lacking necessary power.

Basic Mavic X223 rims are on the impressively confident but fast moving Cougar tyres, while own brand hubs are upgraded with lightweight alloy nipples on the DT spokes. Rest of the lightweight Scott gear leaves the MC30 just over a pound heavier but £1,400 cheaper than the best MC10, and the saddle isn’t as uncomfortable as it looks.

Brilliantly detailed lightweight chassis, remote shock control for superb climbing traction or stand up sprint response and sorted finishing kit make this one of our favourite bikes this year.

WMB VERDICT
A phenomenal blend of race bike speed and long travel capability.
Genuine Genius
PERFORMANCE 9
VALUE 9

It’s been a while since we’ve done a full eight-bike test, with all the major manufacturers pitching in their best shots, and it’s been a very close run thing. What it’s highlighted most is just how much character can be built into a 4-6in travel platform by prioritising different parameters.

If you plan your rides around tight twisty singletrack and linking together the local woodland rat runs, then there are two great options here. No surprise that one is the Kona Dawg Dee-Lux, as that’s always been its strongest suit, but the way the Giant VT 1 turned plush, playful suspension into big grins is still making us smile. Shame it doesn’t really deliver on value.

If it’s punch for pounds you’re after then Trek puts in a strong paper claim with the ‘all you need’ kit of the Liquid, but those oversprung forks put it out of the immediate running on the trail. This leaves the classically XT and Hope equipped Marin Attack Trail as our clear value pick. It’s also the rig to pick if you’re wanting big hit capability that can also ride you back to the top and over the moors between in a whole range of super efficient travel styles.
As for the ‘all-mountain’ all-rounders there’s no doubting that Specialized’s Enduro is still a great bike, but of the proven options it’s Cannondale’s Jekyll that really shines thanks to its new SPV shock – unfortunately neither offer outstanding value.

The bikes we reckon will turn many riders on however, are the new Gary Fisher Cake DLX and Scott Genius MC30. The Cake is slightly weighed down by its lower budget equipment, but its rapid character still shines through clearly. The way it accelerated in the open yet still soaked up the bigger bits of trail was inspiring right through the test.

But there was only one bike that we always grabbed when we just needed to escape the repetitive comparative circuits of our test trails and let rip – the MC30. Scott’s offering is a stunning piece of work, right from the incredible attention to detail on the frame to the way it’ll rip other riders apart on climbs and then add ego insult to their lactic injury on the way back down. For all but the burliest trail riders, this really is a work of multi-tasking Genius that’ll add speed, distance and whole new rideable sections to your biking.

PRICE Complete bike £2,099

SIZES S, M, L, XL
WEIGHT 27.75lb/12.6kg (Large, without pedals)
FRAME AL 6061 Evo 2 aluminium
FORK Manitou Black Super Air
SHOCK Scott Genius TC
WHEELS Mavic X223 disc rims on Scott hubs
TYRES Scott Cougar folding 26 x 2.25in
CRANKSET XT
GEARS XT rear, front and shifters
BRAKES XT
HANDLEBAR Scott Strike riser bar
OTHER STUFF Scott racing saddle, seatpost, stem and grips, Cane Creek Aheadset

Interested in a Genius? Call your nearest dealer or reference centre:

Southampton	Peterborough	Wokingham
Poole	Billingham	Blackburn
Derby	Crawley
More Genius pro Shops
Certini Cycle Co Saltash PL12 6LF tel: 01752 849 315 [email protected]
Cyc-Vibes Exeter EX4 4AX tel: 01392 499 555 [email protected]	KAW Ltd T/A Worcester Cycles Worcester WR1 2LU tel: 01905 611 123
Ron Spencer Warrington WA2 7BE tel: 01925 632 668	The Cycle Centre Jersey BA4 5SB tel:01534 876889 [email protected]	Wicked Wheels Worthing BN11 1QN tel:01903 201901
Wheely Good Bike Shop Hillingdon UB10 0CP tel:01895 811214 [email protected]

Reference Centres
Norwich	Peebles	Carlisle
Stoke on Trent	Tonbridge	High Wycombe
Poole	Derby
More Reference Centres
Ron Spencer Warrington WA2 7BE tel: 01925 632 668
Test Ride
Rutland	Betws y Coed
More Test Ride Shops
Grizedale MTB Hawkshead LA22 0QJ tel: 01229 860 369