Submitted by
ZX12
a Weekend Warrior
from Taunton Ma Date Reviewed: June 6, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Otis AFB
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2800.00
Purchased At:
Scottee's Westport C
Strengths:
Solid feeling chassis, Equalizer shock works well, soaking up big hits as well as the small stuff. Remote lockout for rear shock works as advertised, (lockout, half travel, full travel).
Quality build for mass production.
Weaknesses:
Complex rear shock uses high pressures and could be tough to work on when needed. Expensive frame and shock design means the components are somewhat bottom shelf.
Heavy, though its slowly getting lighter.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR 120
Scott Scale 20
Bike Setup:
Size Large with 110mm Hope stem, Shimano 770 XT brakes and rotors, 770 XT 11-34 cassette, Raceface carbon riser bars.
Might be switching the fork out eventually to a Fox Talas 36 or Vanilla.
Bottom Line:
The best all around mountain bike I've ever ridden. The smooth solid feeling of the Ransom gives you a lot of confidence.
This bike will really spoil you on any terrain. Its a true do it all machine, from steep climbs to fast downhills the bike really shines. What really amazed me was there was no pedal bob at any travel setting.
So far I haven't had any problems with the Equalizer shock, but time will tell.
The Marzocchi 55R that comes with 2008 model is my first 160mm fork, so I can't say much other than it soaks up the trail pretty well and is simple to set up.
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Submitted by
Martin
a Weekend Warrior
from Bryant, Ar USA Date Reviewed: May 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Cedar Glades, Hot Springs, AR
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Great all around bike, if you want to spend the money. Good for the downhills that you have to pedal to. The lock out makes it a pretty good climber for a 33.7 lb bike.
Weaknesses:
How much is the Equalizer if I have to replace it?
Similar Products Used:
Mongoose Teocali
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
I raced it in a xc race, I would catch anyone one a downhill, and I could hold momentum on the flats, just could not keep up on the hill climbs. I still finished in the middle of the pack. If you set up the suspension right the bike does most of the work you just point it where you want to go. Great trail bike.
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Submitted by
Oleg Vasilev
a Cross Country Rider
from Irkutsk, Russia Date Reviewed: May 24, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Chersky mountain
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3905.00
Purchased At:
FUN SPORTS DISTRIBUTION RUSSIA www.scott-vvc.ru
Strengths:
The remote travel switch on the bars, IRV. Optional 12mm Maxle IDS dropouts.
Weaknesses:
Equalizer - is Warranty-free shock. Dropouts for q/r. Lower bearings.
Fantasic frame design - its look liks starwars spaceship. Can be XC of freeride bike with different components... when it work. I broke only negative chamber valve on 14.09.2007 and need to write in Europe at 29.09.2007 because Russia National Dealer don`t answer. Mr. Nicolas BEYELER from scott-sports.com asked to send broken valve whith the shock, and from October 2007 to that time i don`t have a shock ! I`ts like in Ransom intro on Scott homepage - you have a Bike, but just a Banana in place of the shock - very funny ! So if you need an expensive warranty-free bike without shock - buy Scott Ransom.
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Submitted by
Shai Waisel
a Cross Country Rider
from Petach Tikva, Israel Date Reviewed: February 29, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
Tel Aviv dealer
Strengths:
Perfect comfort, both for all mountain and XC. The Equalizer works very well, overall feeling is excelant.
Weaknesses:
Lowering the seat the bar (may) break the Equilizer. I can't understand how the designers missed such a geometrical collision. I had to install a "stopper" in order to eliminate damages.
Similar Products Used:
Becidan FS bikes
Bike Setup:
Marzucchi AM II fork, full XT.
Bottom Line:
Absolutely recommended!!!
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Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Coventry, UK Date Reviewed: February 8, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3150.00
Purchased At:
Buckingham Bikes, UK
Strengths:
Go anywhere, do anything... it's not a race bike but mine isn't 33lb either (using crank bros Candy C pedals it's around 31lb). The Equaliser shock is easy to set up (-ve chamber pressure = +ve chamber pressure) and the rebound is easy to tweak even in gloves. The remote travel switch on the bars is fantastic too!
Weaknesses:
I managed to break a pivot bolt (5' 11", 92KG) on pretty tame trails. Evans Cycles managed the warranty replacement and it has been fine so far. It looks as though the broken bolt caused damage to the shock which was also replaced.
Standard except replacing shimano shifters / mechs with Sram X.9 stuff
Bottom Line:
4 and 4... they aren't cheap but you get a lot of bike for your money. I'd have loved to give it a 5 for overall but the mechanical failures have brought that down to a 4. Now it's fixed I'd like to give it a 6! Tyres are light and fast rolling... haven't had puncture problems and give great grip (2.35", 510grams folding)
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Submitted by
won
a
from mammoth lakes,ca Date Reviewed: June 14, 2007
The Ransom is the most efficient pedaling 6+ inch travel all mountain bike I have ever ridden. This bike pedals like a 4 inch cross country bike. The power transfer is amazing. The Ransom feels stable, responsive and controlled on the downhill but lacks the plushness of a Santa Cruz Nomad. This is because the Scott equalizer shock is designed to run on high air pressure. However, you can dial in a more plush ride w/o compromising the pedal efficiency via the 90 mm and lockout settings on the shock. The adjustment can be made on the fly using the handle bar remote. Any rider who climbs frequently but likes to ride aggressive single track should consider this bike. The Ransom may be the closest thing to a quiver of one mountain bike on the market today.
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Submitted by
Guy Lombard
a Racer
from Asni Date Reviewed: June 9, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Oukaimden Trail Tahanaoute
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Factory
Strengths:
Geometry/size, rear schock Quality of the frame excellent; finition superb
Weaknesses:
Marzo AM2 is a piece of.... Does not like the scott wheelset (too heavy)and don't feel comfident. This bike need more maintenance Vs. my remedy 6
Similar Products Used:
Trek Remedy 6 Scott Reflex
Bike Setup:
Change fork to a talas 36 or a totem shortly Change the shimano brakes to Hayes Hfx9 Carbon Change Handlebar to Bontrager race Lite Carbon Change the wheelset to a bontrager race lite
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike and very polyvalent.It is heavy but it is a very good climber, just the Marzo AM2 is a piece of S...t, need to be change ASAP. Very good control on single and technical trails. I have two AM bikes, A Trek remedy 6 for light AM-Race session and the ransom for long distance.
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Submitted by
John
a
from Munich Date Reviewed: May 26, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Strengths:
>>2007 Version<< Handles Trails extremely well Marzocchi AM4 is sooo plush
Weaknesses:
-The Shock - it is the biggest piece of crap on the planet... I broke 4 of them (having them set up for a bit more aggresive riding) Scott and the bikeshop couldn't explain, it hadn't ever happened on any ransom, apparently -the wheelset and tires suck -> lots of snakebites
Similar Products Used:
Kona Stinky
Bike Setup:
Stock except new pedals and tires (Big Betty in the rear)
Bottom Line:
The bike is a dream when it works. I don't have it anymore though, i've got my money back as the shock was always faulty. I've done XC, DJ, FR and DH with this... XC - Extremely well, only exchange the tires-> no grip DJ - it flies really well, moderately difficult to push it FR - Funny enough, the shock always failed at weird stuff, not the hard stuff. I once took this bike of a 8ft Drop to flat to test its durability, it performed wonderfully. It boosted my confidence wonderfully. DH - once took it on a dh, it holds its line well
Buy this bike if you like doing everything, but pray to god that everything is still ok after your ride...
-My recommendation is: get the SX-Trail if your more into FR, get something from Cannondale if you're more into XC-
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Submitted by
Crazy Professor Stuntman
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Australia Date Reviewed: April 29, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Dight Falls
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2800.00
Purchased At:
BSC Melbourne
Strengths:
Without doubt the biggest strength is the ability to lock the rear end out. Turns your street freeriding machine into a very capable downhiller capable of big hits, even with a 95kg pilot. At 16kg, you can peddle all day and have enough left over to get home.
Weaknesses:
Clip in pedals came standard and are next to bloody useless. After replacing them a couple of time I gave them the flick and went for a set of DMR V8s. Bolts and nuts didn't come with locktite. The one's on the equaliser left a scratch on the frame when they came loose.
A great bike for an old bloke. Soft ride and landings are a must for well used vertebrae. This one lets me keep on flying into my 40's.
Gets a lot of attention on the trails and generates lots of interest. Lots of green eyed monsters in them thar hills.
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Submitted by
Roy Langman
a Weekend Warrior
from Hobart, Australia Date Reviewed: July 25, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2800.00
Purchased At:
cyclingo.com.au - the only way to fly!
Strengths:
Good solid bike designed for going fast over the rough stuff and able to climb back to the top all day. Very adjustable, pretty good weight given the size of the thing (Medium bike is 15.1kg (33.3lbs for those still in the dark ages LOL!) Looks fantastic, very supple ride. Can lock out rear end and push down fork for the road, have half travel on rear and low front end for climbing and over 150mm travel both ends to fly when the trail goes south. can replace both rear drop outs with 12mm thru axle dropouts. Has built in universal chain guides on BB.
Weaknesses:
Only one drink bottle mount, difficult to mount battery clamps but that's being petty. So bling it hurts.
Similar Products Used:
Never had a dual suspension.
Bike Setup:
Not standard. Truvativ Team STYLO cranks & GXP BB Sram X 7 shifters. Sram x9 rear mech. Sram 990 cassette. DT Swiss 340 disc rear hub with Mavic X819 rim. Avid Juicy 7's front & rear. FSA FR 270 bars
Bottom Line:
I held off buying a "soft tail" for years declaring I was dedicated to hardtails. But Technology has done a bit of catching up and I can still lock out the rear end on this and claim to be in touch with my roots. This bike is pretty darn fun, sure its not a 23lb (10.5kg) racer but the smile it generates when I bomb through rough stuff and float on the fast trails is well worth the increase in mass. I is taking a bit of getting used to riding a dual susp but it's proving pretty enjoyable. Bike feels solid and tracks well. The Carbon bike is only 0.5kg lighter too - hard to justify the additional cost. I might even put some ultra light tyres on it and go racing too!!!! Scott have a pretty good package here!
$
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