First Rides
Mountain Biking UK|April 2023
Straight out of the box & onto the trails
First Rides

Scott have given their crosscountry race hardtail a 2023 update focused on weight savings, geometry improvements and other refinements. This top-end Scale RC SL tips the scales at just 8.93kg - a weight reflective of its racing pedigree, racking up wins under the likes of Nino Schurter and Kate Courtney, and one worthy of its lofty price tag.

THE FRAME

The chassis is now made up of just three pieces, including a new monocoque front triangle. Scott say this saves weight (as fewer junctions are required) while maintaining high levels of stiffness. The RC SL uses the Swiss brand's most advanced 'HMX SL carbon fibre, which allows for very thin wall thicknesses (just 0.8mm in places), shaving more grams.

Scott have split the frame into two 'zones, tuning the carbon lay-up of the upper half (top tube, seat tube and seatstays) for light weight. This is complemented by a 'stiffness zone' (head tube, down tube, bottom bracket and chainstays), designed to give a fast ride feel and efficient pedalling the characteristics Scott say are ideal for an XC hardtail. Frame details include a lighter, flush-sitting rear axle, a lightweight polymer bottle cage and a 'service door' under the BB to access the internally-routed cables.

Key geometry figures include a 67.9-degree head angle, which, thanks to an angle-adjust headset, can be slackened to 67.3 degrees. The seat tube angle is a relatively steep 75.4 degrees, reach figures span from 418.5mm to 491.2mm (small-XL), and the chainstays are short, at 425mm.

THE KIT

This story is from the April 2023 edition of Mountain Biking UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 2023 edition of Mountain Biking UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MOUNTAIN BIKING UKView All
BIKETEST BACKCOUNTRY HARDTAILS
Mountain Biking UK

BIKETEST BACKCOUNTRY HARDTAILS

We see whether carbon fibre or steel, big-name value or boutique attention to detail comes out on top on the trails

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2023
NUKEPROOF MEGAWATT CARBON 297 RS
Mountain Biking UK

NUKEPROOF MEGAWATT CARBON 297 RS

The original Megawatt proved itself almost instantly, winning our inaugural E-Bike of the Year award in 2022.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2023
CALIBRE LINE T3 29
Mountain Biking UK

CALIBRE LINE T3 29

£1,100 (with £5 GO Outdoors card) Cost-effective proper' mountain bike

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023
FIRST RIDES
Mountain Biking UK

FIRST RIDES

STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023
ROUTES QUICK BLASTS
Mountain Biking UK

ROUTES QUICK BLASTS

Facing shorter days and inclement weather, Max finds three satisfying routes that show it doesn't have to be an all-day ride or nothing

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2023
GRIME TIME
Mountain Biking UK

GRIME TIME

EXPERT WORKSHOP ADVICE

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023
TRAILCREW HAVOK BIKEPARK
Mountain Biking UK

TRAILCREW HAVOK BIKEPARK

A hand-cut, rider-built bike park, Havok reopened earlier this year at a new site in West Yorkshire and is still expanding

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2023
From dust it did rise
Mountain Biking UK

From dust it did rise

Steve Thomas traces the birth of British mountain biking, from 'tracker bikes' to Muddy Fox

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2023
THROW DOWN THE CAUNTLET
Mountain Biking UK

THROW DOWN THE CAUNTLET

In our final challenge of the series, we see if e-bikes really are as good at climbing as they're cracked up to be, as we tackle Antur Stiniog back to front

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2023
THE RIDER OFF YEAR' 23
Mountain Biking UK

THE RIDER OFF YEAR' 23

THE BIG REVEAL! You voted in your thousands - now meet our winners...

time-read
10 mins  |
December 2023