Bike of the Week | Scott’s quirky Genius ST 910 features a hidden rear shock

Bike of the Week | Scott’s quirky Genius ST 910 features a hidden rear shock

Updated long-travel trail MTB incorporates some Bold technology

Published: October 19, 2023 at 11:00 am

Our latest Bike of the Week sees a return to knobbly tyres after last week's Brompton x Bear Grylls C-Line collaboration.

The Scott Genius 910 ST is a trail bike with many quirks and features, most notably the integrated Fox Float X Nude rear shock hidden in the bike’s bottom bracket area.

Scott says the Genius 910 ST is made to go up mountains in a hurry and down them even faster.

Will it deliver on its claims? Luke Marshall will be putting it to the test, but for now, let's take a closer look at Scott’s new Genius.

Secret shock

Scott Genius ST 910
Scott employs its second-tier HMF carbon fibre. - Luke Marshall / Our Media

The front triangle of the frame is made from Scott’s HMF carbon fibre, which is the brand’s second-tier carbon composite, sitting below HMX. The swingarm is made of aluminium.

The Genius ST features Scott’s patented Integrated Shock Technology, which it acquired when buying a majority stake in Bold Cycles, which first created the design.

Scott Genius ST 910
The patented Integrated Shock Technology is hidden away in the down tube. - Luke Marshall / Our Media

Scott says this leads to a cleaner design that protects the shock from the elements and debris.

It also lowers the bike's centre of gravity, which should make it more stable when cornering.

Because the shock is hidden away in the frame, the linkage features an external sag indicator.

Scott Genius ST
An external indicator on the linkage enables you to set the sag. - Luke Marshall / Our Media

The linkage gives the Genius ST 150mm of rear suspension travel, while the front of the bike gets a 160mm fork.

A panel in the down tube gives access to the Fox Float X Nude rear shock for adjusting rebound and air pressure.

Scott says this is quick and simple to use. Pressing a single button on the door panel reveals the shock.

Scott Genius ST 910
The down tube panel reveals a Fox Float X Nude rear shock. - Luke Marshall / Our Media

This panel is also intended to work as protection on the down tube, minimising damage and noise from rock strikes.

The Float X Nude uses what Scott calls TracLoc technology, which gives the shock three modes – a climb mode for ascending, a ramp control mode for big impacts and a descending mode.

These modes can be selected via a remote lever on the handlebar.

Scott Genius ST 910
A handlebar-mounted lever enables you to select from three modes using the TracLoc technology. - Luke Marshall / Our Media

Committed to integration, Scott has given the bike integrated headset cable routing. This enters the frame through a Syncros carbon fibre Hixon Cockpit that navigates cables down either side of the head tube.

We are seeing more and more brands using integrated headset cable routing for a cleaner aesthetic, but it can sometimes make bike maintenance more difficult, especially when replacing or servicing headset bearings.

What is Bike of the Week?

Every fortnight, we'll bring you a detailed first look at one of the latest bikes (or framesets) to arrive at BikeRadar HQ – from road to commuting, gravel to enduro, and anything in between.

This is our chance to introduce the bike and everything that makes it unique before hitting the road or trails.

Head to our Bike of the Week hub for previous editions.

Adjustable head angle and increased reach

Scott Genius ST
The head angle is adjustable, while reach has increased to 485mm. - Luke Marshall / Our Media

The head tube also features reversible cups. These enable you to adjust the head angle of the bike, with the slackest setting seeing a 63.9-degree head angle. This is 1.1 degrees slacker than the previous Genius.

Reach measurements are up to date, with a large-size frame featuring a 485mm reach, which is 13mm longer than the previous model.

Chainstays are also similar to the bike's contemporaries, measuring 440mm throughout all sizes.

SMLXL
Head tube angle (degrees)63.963.963.963.9
Head tube length (mm)90100120135
Top tube horizontal (mm)570.1602.2631.3659.3
Standover (mm)728.5738.5753.5768.5
BB height (mm)342.5342.5342.5342.5
Wheelbase (mm)1,1951,2291,2631,294
BB centre to top of seat tube (mm)380410440470
Seat angle (degrees)76.877.177.277.4
Chainstay (mm)440440440440
Reach (mm)430460485510
Stack(mm)617626.1644.2657.8

Dependable spec

Scott Genius ST 910
The ST 910 comes with SRAM GX Eagle Transmission. - Luke Marshall / Our Media

This Genius 910 ST model is specced with SRAM’s GX Eagle AXS Transmission drivetrain and retails for £6,949/$7,599/€7,499.

An Öhlins RXF36 m.2 Air fork is bolted to the front of the bike, providing 160mm of travel, while a Fox Float X Nude is quite literally hidden in the frame.

Shimano’s XT M8120 four-piston brakes are used to shave off speed, with a 203mm rotor featuring up-front and a 180mm rotor at the back.

Scott’s in-house Syncros brand takes care of a lot of the components.

This includes the Duncan dropper post, with travel options varying from 140mm to 210mm through the bike's size range.

Scott Genius ST 910
In-house brand Syncros supplies the integrated Hixon Cockpit. - Luke Marshall / Our Media

Syncros’ Hixon Cockpit integrates the handlebars and stem, and has a width measurement of 780mm with 8 degrees of backsweep.

The in-house brand also caters for the wheels, with Syncros’ Revelstoke 2.0 featuring 30mm internal rim depth and integrated tools in the axle.

Maxxis tyres are provided, in the shape of a Minion DHF 2.6in EXO 3C MaxxTerra on the front and a Dissector 2.6in EXO 3C MaxxTerra on the rear.

Scott claims the bike weighs 14.4kg with a tubeless setup.