[Lelandjt]

The thing with the Spark is its geometry is still spot on. The head angle is slacker than some newer gen XC bikes, it is long and low, so what are they going to update exactly?

Steeper seat tube, .5° slacker head tube, longer reach. Those are the things I want and expect to see.
Apparently it will also get 20mm more rear travel and 10mm more at the front. I didn't see the need for this but Nino must have preferred it in testing.

 

[Chippertheripper]

Steeper seat tube, .5° slacker head tube, longer reach. Those are the things I want and expect to see.
Apparently it will also get 20mm more rear travel and 10mm more at the front. I didn't see the need for this but Nino must have preferred it in testing.

Are you speculating on the RC, or the regular 120/120 spark?

 

[Lelandjt]

Are you speculating on the RC, or the regular 120/120 spark?

RC. We've seen Nino's new prototype so it's hardly even speculation. Yes, I was also surprised by the 120 travel. The feel and quantity of the RC's suspension is not something I thought needs improving, but I'll be curious to try the new one.

 

[packfill]

Cannondale debuted a scalpel the same time the Scott launched the current Spark. Cannondale just brought out the new scalpel today. The have a 100 and 120 version that use the same frame. 100 version has a 68 degree head tube and the 120 has a 67, with 74.5 and 74 degree seat tube angles. Their claiming frame weight are kind 1900g. Something like this would welcome changes to the spark.

 

[Chippertheripper]

I’d really like to see something like what giant does, an sx of sorts.
120f/100 or 110r for shreddy or endurance type stuff.

 

[westin]

FWIW, Topeak makes a bottle cage holder that goes around the seatpost, which is a pretty nice solution, besides raising the center of gravity a bit when the bottle is full. But that's how I run two bottles on my '14 Spark SL. Your riding buddies may accuse you of being a closet tri-geek.

That said, I'm not riding as much these days, so I've been relying on my Camelbak for on-the-fly hydration.

I use a wolftooth b-rad on my 2020 Spark RC900. Holds two large bottles inside mainframe. Only minor issue: can contact calves on standing forward sprint.

 

[slimphatty]

Just to keep this convo going...so is the spark going to be updated for 2021?? I'm looking for the ultimate xc race bike and I think I've narrowed it down to the Spark.

 

[Lelandjt]

Just to keep this convo going...so is the spark going to be updated for 2021?? I'm looking for the ultimate xc race bike and I think I've narrowed it down to the Spark.

(assuming we're talking Spark RC) Anyone who answers is only making an educated guess but the more likely guess is "yes" based on Nino being given a 110/120mm Spark to race for 2020. If he does enter a race this year the rules require the frame he uses to be released within a year.

If the RC gets updated the regular Spark will almost certainly as well, or get absorbed into the new Spark and Genius (which is equally old). Since its introduction I've felt the separate "RC" monaker confuses the Spark line, which was always an XC race bike with more travel than others.

 

[Chippertheripper]

I hope you’re right, cuz I’ll snatch up a rc900pro when they start blowing them out in the fall to make room for the new run.

 

[dreicha]

RC. We've seen Nino's new prototype so it's hardly even speculation. Yes, I was also surprised by the 120 travel. The feel and quantity of the RC's suspension is not something I thought needs improving, but I'll be curious to try the new one.

Is frame design the same with only small changes?
How to measure by only seeing the prototype that there is 120mm of travel?

 

[Lelandjt]

Is frame design the same with only small changes?
How to measure by only seeing the prototype that there is 120mm of travel?

Travel was stated in the interview. We don't know what changed with the frame, swingarm, or rocker. It could be a combination of parts from the Spark and Spark RC, so everything he's using is already available to the public and no requirement to sell a new frame within a year of racing it.

 

[brentos]

I doubt that the bike Nino is running would be the all new model. I would expect there would be more changes to the form of the frame than we have seen on his bike. My guess is that he is running the current bike with a 45mm stroke shock (as labeled on his bike), with a slight offset in the mounting hole eyelet to raise the bike a hair, and prevent the seatstay bridge from hitting the seat tube at full compression.

 

[MisterNoChain]

A friend saw a post on Facebook from someone who claimed to be working for Scott in the usa. A new frame should be released in the early summer of 2021, so no changes on the 2021 model.

 

[tommy2bliss]

Specialized's new Epic + Epic evo are supposedly debuting in 2 weeks or so... would be interesting to see if the release date is similar for the Spark.

 

[LCW]

In the latest Pinkbike podcast, they talked about an upcoming XC bike comparison (split into full race and “downcountry”). They alluded to a few new models that were under embargo until the article comes out. Should be interesting.

 

[jtc1]

In the latest Pinkbike podcast, they talked about an upcoming XC bike comparison (split into full race and "downcountry"). They alluded to a few new models that were under embargo until the article comes out. Should be interesting.

Yes - my thoughts exactly when I heard the PB guys talk about some yet to be released bikes in for testing. I say any day there will be a new Specialized or Scott product - they had planned to release around the original Olympic schedule. Im only guessing tho.

Personally I am interested in the new Tarmac SL7.

 

[Chippertheripper]

I cured myself of all want for an rc this past week.
That bb is too low. I have never smashed my pedals into more things.
The rest of the geo felt pretty spot on, and it’s definitely quick, but it’s not a bike for me, sadly. If it had a flipper chipper like the old sparks, or my current genius I might be down...

 

[packfill]

somebody has to know something.

 

[Fraction]

Yes - my thoughts exactly when I heard the PB guys talk about some yet to be released bikes in for testing. I say any day there will be a new Specialized or Scott product - they had planned to release around the original Olympic schedule. Im only guessing tho.

Personally I am interested in the new Tarmac SL7.

I don't think a new Spark is coming anytime soon. If it were, why would Scott spend the resources on building Kate a new pink Spark (current model) and putting it all over social media last week. If a new bike was coming this summer, you'd think they would wait a few more weeks.

 

[Lelandjt]

I don't think a new Spark is coming anytime soon. If it were, why would Scott spend the resources on building Kate a new pink Spark (current model) and putting it all over social media last week. If a new bike was coming this summer, you'd think they would wait a few more weeks.

Don't we all think the new Spark will be 2021 model with earliest availability by like February?