Tech

Scott announce new Genius platform

· By Press Office · 0 comments

Scott recently announced the new Genius platform. Watch Andrew Neethling ride the new bike in the Alps.

Press Release

Evolution of the line

The Genius has been a longstanding staple in our range of mountain bikes for many years now. Having always been the result of a focus on innovation, technology, and design, the genius has evolved over the years in order to be able to tame anything that comes its way. With the latest iteration of our all mountain trail bike, one concept formed the backbone of the development process. What comes down, must go up. This has always been the premise of the genius, it truly is the perfect mountain bike for every trail it encounters. Steep rooty climbs? No problem. Fast, flowy single track? Yes please. 2000m long descents in the Alps? Music to our ears. With the genius, no matter the trail, no matter the conditions, no matter the rider, it is always the right tool for the job.

Wheelsize

With the new Genius, we wanted to make sure that versatility was still achieved. Unlike much of the competition, the new Genius can switch from 27.5” to 29” wheels with nothing more than the lip of a chip. No need to change the fork, no need to worry about tire clearance, all you need to do is lip a shock mount chip, change your wheels and of you go. The lip chip allows us to maintain a similar BB height when switching from one wheel size to the other which is key to keeping handling similar for both wheel sizes. With 27.5” wheels, you can run either 2.5”, 2.6” or 2.8” tires. For the 29er, anywhere from 2.4”-2.6” is good to go. The Genius has always been a bike for everyone. Now, more so than ever this rings true. One frame, a multitude of options.

Carbon

At SCOTT, we pride ourselves in our Carbon expertise. For decades we have been pushing the limits of what is possible with regards to frame design, and specifically with regards to carbon construction. Our goal with the Genius was to develop a frame that would set a benchmark for the 130-150mm trail bike. Having finished with a frame and hardware weight totaling 2249g, we can safely say that we’re right on the money.

With the introduction of the Spark last year, it was imperative for us to learn new layup techniques that allowed us to set a new standard for lightweight bikes that could be raced by the world’s best. Having learned a fair amount from that project, we were able to really maximize stiffness to weight ratios for the new Genius.

With the proper selection of materials, eighty percent of the work to create a frame is done. But the remaining twenty percent requires most of our efforts. For this reason, our choice of the most advanced carbon fibers in the market is followed by intensive use of specific tools, like FEA (finite element analysis) software, to map out the carbon lay-up. With FEA software, we can simulate different forces on a virtual model of the frame and adjust the frame construction accordingly.

FEA software enables us to create complete virtual prototypes incorporating all the physical phenomena that exist in real-world environments.

With our Evo-Lap technology we model the frame to optimize the surface area, simulate tube structures with diferent ply orientations, ob- serve the results of using diferent conigurations, and test the stress distribution in diferent areas of the frame.

Thanks to this extensive computer modelling, we’ve optimized the car- bon layers on all parts of the frame. The entire carbon Genius range beneits from EvoLap technology, giving exceptionally light and stif frames without sacriicing durability.

Trunnion Mount

We utilise the same trunnion shock mount construction as seen on the Spark. The change in frame layout and trunnion shock mount combine to create a stiffness backbone, running from head tube to bottom bracket to dropout. The shock force is now directed in to the already strong bottom bracket area, negating the need to add additional reinforcement to the frame’s top tube. The carbon layers which make up the trunnion mount also bridge the connection between down tube and the main pivot, boosting stiffness at a critical link in the stifness path. This results in a frame that is compliant but stif in all the right places for excellent power transfer under hard pedaling.

Suspension Kinematic

Our suspension kinematic brings perfect balance and control to the Genius platform. Continuing our research from our successful Spark program, we have honed our suspension feel, pedaling and braking response to work with maximum efficiency and in harmony with our Twin- Loc system. Our kinematic suspension curve gives supple small bump sensitivity and therefore exceptional traction characteristics, perfect support in the mid-stroke and a controlled deep stroke for predictable and comfortable bottom outs. Our specific pivot placement ensures efficient pedaling that drives the bike forwards like a startled greyhound and neutral braking that strikes a perfect balance between rider comfort and control, chassis stability and rear wheel traction. From the XC racer, to the downhill enthusiast, the new Genius kinematic brings improvements and advantages in all areas and gives a solid fundamental basis for a bike for all riders and all conditions.

TwinLoc

Imagine having the perfect bike waiting for you at the beginning of every section of trail. Our all new Genius was developed as a system with this concept in mind. A SCOTT-exclusive FOX NUDE Evol shock, paired with our patented TwinLoc remote system, allowed us to create a bike that climbs effortlessly and efficiently, yet slays on the way down. Our unique TwinLoc lever makes our climb for the descent experience unique in the industry.

With TwinLoc, a rider can effectively control the complete frame, fork, and shock as a system. Why does this matter? A bike with 150mm of sus- pension travel, correctly set up, has more sag than a bike with 130mm. It’s that extra travel that makes it more fun to ride and more capable on the descents, but the greater sag has an oversized effect on the bike’s geometry and climbing performance. That’s where TwinLoc matters.

TwinLoc helps manage the sag effect by adjusting not only the shock compression damping, but also the spring curve, a unique and hugely important aspect of the SCOTT TwinLoc system. In Trail mode, the shock is not only firmer, but it has dynamically less travel. The result? The bike sits higher, maintains a steep seat angle for those climbs, and becomes more agile. We also offer a third, full lockout mode for going up in the most efficient manner possible.

These unique settings optimize climbing geometry, even on longer travel bikes. We can eliminate the “long travel effect that can rob your pedaling efficiency, but we’re not robbing you of the full-fun, 150mm travel when you point it downhill. With TwinLoc, our 150mm-travel Genius trail bike climbs as well as a bike with less travel and descends as well as one with more. From a race setting, to a lunch ride, to an after work trail shred, being able to switch from mode to mode depending on a trail’s proile at the push of a lever is paramount to riding faster and having a damned good time.

Geometry

The Genius has always been a bike designed to go up as well as it went down, and vice a versa. For 2018, we wanted to re-emphasize this point. We designed the Genius specifically in search of balance. Compared to the previous iteration, this one is slacker, has longer reach, shorter chainstays and a steeper seat angle. We really wanted geometry figures that would balance out the long front end for more stable descending. What we’ve ended up with is a bike that climbs like a bat out of hell and gets you down the mountain faster than you can say “dropping!” After years of testing different options, these numbers are a result of taking every- thing we want out of a bike for the trails we ride, and building it.

Devil in the details

Protection for an all mountain bike is very important. We developed a Downtube Protector whose primary goal was to protect against rock strikes on the lower downtube. The idea was to make sure that is was not only durable, but also lightweight. Additionally, it integrates nicely with a Di2 battery and works well with our cable routing system, providing easy access to those internal cables.

As far as cable routing goes, we have a new system near the head tube that uses a plastic cage and interchangeable rubber inserts to adapt to all cable routing situations. It is lighter and more efficient than our old system, and can adapt to pretty much all cable routing needs: Di2, nor- mal brakes, moto brakes, dropper posts, TwinLoc etc.

We’ve also added a propriety SCOTT chain guide that is simple, light and efficient. It integrates with the main pivot nut meaning that no extra hardware is necessary keeping things nice and tidy.

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