Dealer Camp is awesome. Tons of new bikes and gear and epic singletrack to try it on. Man, it sure beats Las Vegas any day. I rolled into the event a little late and my 650B hopes were nearly dashed by the mile-long line waiting to ride the new Scott 650B Genius 700. In the end, a little help and a little luck landed me with some quality time on the 2013 Scott Genius 700.
Scott Genius 700 Features:
- 650B wheel size
- 150mm travel front and rear
- TwinLoc system offers descend, traction and lockout modes on-the-fly
- Full carbon frame
- Nude2 rear shock with single air chamber
- Press Fit BB92 bottom bracket
- IDS-SL dropout system works with 142×12, 135×12 and 135×10 rear axles
- Pricing and availability TBA
Scott Genius 700 Quick Review
With a little over an hour in the saddle, I set out to climb, descend and snake through as much Deer Valley singletrack as I could. I skipped the chairlift — opting to climb up the trails instead. My initial, steep climb up a fire road from the Snow Park base area let me know a little bit about how this bike would handle. It felt fast on the uphill and only had a smidge less rolling power than a 29er, but accelerated quicker.
After tackling the fire road, I dipped into the aspens where the singletrack winds up-and-up with tons of switchbacks. The first thing I noticed was how I could fly through uphill switchbacks without feeling like I needed a wider trail. I just kept hammering and the bike tracked up and around the switchback without an ounce of hesitation or wander. “That felt cool,” I thought to myself as I conquered switchback-after-switchback on my way out towards Deer Crest.
I made use of the traction and descend mode throughout my ascent. I wanted to test each modes out, so I did. Descend mode is best suited for, well, descending. But, in that mode, the Genius 700 still ascends well. It’s just that once you pop it into traction mode, you immediately realize just how awesome climbing can be. The bike hooks up in both seated and standing climbs and propels you up as long as your legs can go.
The Genius 700 is playful and fun while remaining smooth. Not once did I feel the front wheel flop that plagues many 29ers. Instead, it tracked smoothly and kept going ahead even under the steepest of climbs.
When things pointed downhill, the Genius 700 really started to come into its own. Granted, the suspension settings needed some tweaking, but the overall feel of the bike was comfortable and predictable. I found myself playing with the rollers and dropping off stuff just for fun. Lay this bike down and it responds. I didn’t once feel like I needed more traction — the 650B Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires hooked up instantly and held their line in every situation.
With more time, I’d be able to get the suspension completely dialed. As it was, I was able to get comfortable and experience just how awesome the Genius 700 and the 650B wheels are going to be.
Good Genius 700
- Rolls over obstacles with nearly the same ability as a 29er
- 150mm travel never felt so efficient
- Beautifully-crafted carbon fiber frame
- TwinLoc system gives you traction or plushness in a jiffy
- Nude2 rear shock simplifies setup
- Plenty of room for a large water bottle on the frame
- 650B tire selection is still limited
- You do get a little less rolling momentum than 29ers
- As tested, the bike will cost a lot (but the full line will include aluminum models at more budget-friendly prices)
Bottom Line: Scott Genius 700
The 650B wheel size has found a good following and the all-new Genius 700 sets the tone for the market’s new darling. With 150mm travel front and rear and the patented TwinLoc system, the 700 climbs with precision and descends like it should. I had a great time on it and really look forward to more time in the future.
More Info: Visit Genius.Scott-Sports.com
9 Comments
Can’t tell from the photos but does this bike have the new Fox fork for the 650b / 27.5 wheels?
The Fox fork is a new 650b-specific design for 2013. It was the TALAS 34 with Kashima on this build kit. It performed very well!
Great quick review!!! A few of the other online reviews didn’t have many positive things to say about the Nude 2 with the twin loc. Any other comments you can share?
I really liked the TwinLoc and my experience on the bike was very positive. Was it perfect? Nope… but, I enjoyed it and with more ride time, I think I could have gotten the suspension completely dialed. As it was, I was able to get it to the proper comfort level only at the very end of my ride time. The Genius 700 is ultralight, fun and responsive.
Jason, I know you were a big fan of the RIP 9 when you had it. Just curious about your thoughts comparing the Scott Genius 700 with the smaller wheels to the RIP 9? Would the extra weight of the RIP be a negative on long climbs compared the Genius 700? It’s odd that a 150mm bike could be more stiff or efficient than I’m assuming a more plush feeling 115mm RIP 9. I appreciate your thoughts. I’m close to pulling the trigger on a RIP 9 as prices come down. I’m in technical East Coast terrain where some climbs can be lengthy. Thanks.
Sorry for the delayed response, Glenn. The RIP is a great ascender, but the Genius will be lighter and a tad more nimble with an extra dose of travel.
I still stand by my longstanding love affair with the RIP and would have a hard time passing one up if I were in your shoes, but the new Genius 700 is quite a solid ride. You have to pay for all that lightweight carbon, but it is sweet.
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