SCOR 2030 GX REVIEW

THE FUN LOVER’S TRAIL RIPPER

Words by Robert Johnston  |  Photos by Caitlin Wilkinson

Since we Dissected the new SCOR 2030 and the existing 4060 last Summer, I’d been looking forward to more 2030 time on my local trails and around Scotland. It turns out my first impressions were not wrong, with a tire swap and some further tweaking of the suspension managing to eke out a small amount of extra capability from this play-minded 120mm travel rocket ship. It’s safe to say SCOR’s newest machine is seriously fun in the right scenario, but where do its capabilities tap out, and what compromises have been made to obtain its playful nature? Keep on reading or watch the review video to find out.

ABOUT THE SCOR 2030

The 2030 is SCOR’s second platform to hit the market, retaining the same fun-loving DNA of the 140mm or 160mm travel 4060, but in a shorter travel package for riders looking to cover more ground. As you may have guessed, the 2030 is designed to offer riders the choice of a 120mm or 130mm rear end, which is paired with a 140mm fork up front. As standard the 2030 is available only with 29” wheels on both ends – there’s no flip chip for a dedicated mixed-wheel or 27.5” setup. SCOR says that experienced riders who are aware of the danger of the resulting low bottom bracket height may still enjoy a smaller wheel setup on the 2030, if they so desire.

FRAME AND FEATURES | SCOR wanted to ensure that the 2030 was a bike capable of being ridden hard, so developed its carbon fiber frame to meet the same strength standards as their 4060 enduro bike. Within this carbon fiber layup development, SCOR paid particular attention to the stiffness of the frame, seeking a more consistent flex from front to rear. The Instant Center dual-link suspension design naturally produces good stiffness laterally to remain efficient under pedaling forces but allows for some torsional flex to improve traction. This torsional flex won’t be to everyone’s liking though, as we’ll discuss in the ride impressions.

The SCOR 2030 is a premium product, and BMC’s engineering expertise and refined finish carries over to their party brand here. All of the details on the frame are well covered, and the resulting product feels every bit as quality as its price tag may suggest. You get an angle-adjustable headset which lets you steepen the head angle by a degree if more agility is desired; fully guided internal cable routing that avoids going through the headset; a SRAM UDH; and an extra seal added to the frame pivots to increase bearing longevity.

Feedback from the 4060 led to attention being paid to reduce mud buildup in the tight lower linkage area. To address this, SCOR improved the access to the area to allow mud to be washed out easier and reduced the likelihood of mud building up in the first place with a new fender and more closed-off rear to the linkage. SCOR also worked on frame storage, utilizing the space in the downtube to offer internal storage with a waterproof frame pouch, which sits behind a door that doubles up as the water bottle mount.

SUSPENSION | SCOR bikes use a Lower Link-Driven dual link suspension design they named Instant Center Linkage, which produces a virtual pivot point which is constantly varying through the travel. SCOR sets this virtual pivot point – or Instant Center – very low, which produces an axle path which is close to vertical. The resulting traits are somewhat opposite to the buzzword High Pivot bikes, producing a more playful feeling since the wheelbase doesn’t extend under compression.

The pedaling performance is dictated by a reasonable level of Anti Squat at just over 100% in the climbing gears at sag, which drops off through the suspension travel to allow it to move freely towards the end of the stroke without sacrificing pedaling efficiency. The Anti Rise figures are relatively low thanks to that low Instant Center, which lets the rear end move a little more freely when braking compared with a higher value. The Leverage Ratio progression is fairly high for a short travel bike, and they worked to ensure the frame would fit both air and coil shocks with a “standard” layout. That is, no RS Vivid Air or Fox Float X2, but most piggyback shocks along the lines of the RockShox Super Deluxe.

GEOMETRY | SCOR bikes have a long(ish) Reach and short Chainstay philosophy, and the 2030 is no exception. In the five size range from Small to XL (With a M/L in the middle), Reach figures go from 435mm to 517mm with small 20mm jumps to let riders obtain their perfect fit, and Stack goes from 600mm to 637mm to match. The Chainstay lengths are slightly size-specific, beginning at 429mm for sizes Small to Medium-Large, then growing to 432mm for the Large (tested) and 434mm for the Extra Large. Effective Seat Tube Angles are roughly 77.3 degrees across the size range; there’s a 64.5 degree Head Tube Angle as standard which can be steepened to 65.5 degrees by flipping the headset cups; and 38mm BB Drop in the Slack setting. The size Large tested comes in with a tight 1247mm Wheelbase given its fairly lengthy 497mm Reach. With a slack Head Angle and short rear end, the aggressive nature of the 2030 is evident.

BUILD SPECS | SCOR gives a choice of three build specs for the 2030, from the $4,999 NX build to the $7,999 XO1 build, or you can buy just a frameset with Fox Factory shock for $3,499. All of the bikes feature builds that combine a nice mixture of light weight “trail-friendly” components with some more aggressive parts in key areas to support descending that is usually outwith the remit of a 120mm bike.

We tested the middle level build – the GX – which retails for $6,499. The suspension pairing is the RockShox Pike Ultimate and Deluxe Ultimate, offering a high level of adjustability with the Charger 3 fork damper and a three-setting compression adjustment on the rear shock. There is a mechanical SRAM GX drivetrain, which may be a little disappointing to see at this price point but is a solid performer, and the brakes are SRAM CODE RSC’s with a pair of 180mm rotors.

A DT Swiss XM1700 wheelset is wrapped in a fast rolling Maxxis Rekon / Dissector combo with EXO casings and Maxx Terra rubber as standard. I switched the Dissector to the rear and added an Assegai Maxx Terra to the front, in order to improve traction and confidence in the sloppy Scottish winter testing grounds. I considered equipping a more burly tire casing pairing, but opted to preserve the low overall weight. Rounding out the specs is a SCOR carbon handlebar clamped with a Burgtec Enduro MK3 alloy stem, and a WTB Silverado saddle suspended by the ultra-reliable Bikeyoke Divine dropper. This tipped the scales at a respectable 30.2lbs/13.7kg once setup as tested.

THE DIRT

Following the first rides on the SCOR 2030, during which we produced a Dissected feature where we compared this new machine with their existing 4060 platform, I was excited to get some more time on this aggressive 120mm ripper. Those first rides had left me wondering how the 2030 would perform once setup with a more capable tire combo, and how much capability could be unlocked by some more time spent on the suspension setup, so I was excited to welcome this machine into my stable for its long-term review.

SETUP | At 6’2” (189cm) but with a very short torso and long legs, I originally chose the M/L size (477mm Reach) for the First Ride Review, but was sent the Large (497mm Reach) for the long term test. With short jumps between sizes, I was able to ride both bikes quite comfortably, though my preference between the two was the M/L overall, for its improved agility and maximized playful nature. That said, the extra 20mm of Reach came into its own on the highest speed sections of descent, as well as giving a slightly more stretched out, mile munch-friendly seated pedaling position.

As mentioned, I switched out the tire spec to a Maxxis Assegai and Dissector combo, which felt like a solid all-round call for the wet and wild conditions and the combination of riding some of Scotland’s finest flow trails as well as the natural goodies around my home in the Tweed Valley. I experimented with sag settings from 25-32%, and settled right around the 30% mark to get the best combination of comfort and confidence. Setup like this, I avoided blowing into the end of the travel often or notably impacting the pedaling performance. Accessing shock settings is easy thanks to the open frame design around the front of the shock, making setup fettling that little bit more pleasurable. I tended to stick to the firmest of the three compression settings on the rear shock to obtain the most control of the rear end for my 98kg/220lbs weight, but when traction was at a minimum I’d occasionally switch to the middle setting to let the rear wheel move that little bit more freely.

CLIMBING | I’d wager it would be difficult to make a 120mm travel, 30lbs machine climb poorly. So with its sensible climbing geometry and kinematics that avoid any extreme traits, it’ll come as no surprise that the 2030 pedals efficiently and covers ground very happily. The Seat Tube Angle ends up being a little slacker than advertised at my saddle height due to my long legs, but the Reach is adequately long to push my center of gravity far enough forwards to mitigate the effects of the short rear end for most ascents, and it was only on the absolute steepest of climbs that I struggled with front wheel wandering. The 2030 climbs very well, and riders looking for an efficient short travel platform on which to cover miles would be served well.

DESCENDING | The lead engineer of the SCOR mountain bike projects – Mariano Schoefer – hails from the world of BMX, where responsiveness and back wheel loving are valued highly. The resulting character of the SCOR bikes really shows it. Looking at the low standover and tight rear end of the 2030, and then riding its Instant Center suspension platform with a very direct feeling and plenty of pop and progression, it doesn’t take too much use of the imagination to see how a BMX rider (like myself) may feel right at home. If you get into that mentality, you can have a ton of fun on SCOR’s short travel machine. But it’s far from a one trick (or should that be many tricks?) pony, providing a platform on which more technical trails can still be attacked.

Of course, you’ll quickly run into the limits of the 120mm rear end when attacking rough enduro trails, but all things considered the 2030 holds its own quite impressively. Sensitivity is not its strong suit, but if you’re willing to suck up a little more energy from the trail on your own, its progressive rear travel and fairly stout build can support some aggressive charging. There is a notable level of torsional flex in the rear end, which works well to aid its comfort and control in the rough stuff, but was a little disconcerting when hitting berms as hard as I could or on occasional landings where I was coming in slightly out of shape. I don’t imagine it would be enough to be a deal breaker for many people, but it does limit the confidence when pushing it super hard in the bikepark and so may not be the ticket for heavier riders looking to go full freeride on it. As a 120mm travel bike though, this is unlikely to be a real shock. The 2030 is strength rated for enduro riding, so it’s unlikely to lead to an issue with breakage, but it’s worth noting as riders looking to spin and shralp may prefer a slightly stiffer rear end.

The geometry on the 2030 is a big contributor to the fun that it encourages, handling steep terrain very amicably for a bike in its travel bracket. The fairly slack head angle and short rear end help to keep your weight from being pushed too far forwards over the front wheel, though the relatively low stack and stock 20mm rise bars can lead to a fairly low front end feeling for the steepest descents. The front wheel comes off the ground with ease, making manuals and playful riding great fun. There are times when this short rear end can lead to the front wheel going light on flatter terrain if you’re not careful to actively weight the bars, but thanks to the fairly long reach and lower front end it was manageable.

FINISH AND VALUE | Finish quality is a strong suit of the SCOR, but value is up for debate and will depend very much on the customer’s opinion of what justifies a price tag. At $3,500 for a frame-only, the extra $3,000 that the GX build kit demands is not exactly what you’d call incredible value when you compare it to some. But in terms of the engineering development and the resulting performance and feeling of quality when riding the bike, the price tag quickly disappears from your consideration and is replaced by a big old grin.

COMPONENT REPORT

RockShox Deluxe Ultimate – As a heavier rider (220lbs / 98kg), I typically wince a little when I’m handed a bike with a shock without a piggyback. Thankfully though, throughout the testing on the RockShox Deluxe Ultimate-equipped 2030, I didn’t find myself struggling for damping consistency or feeling underdamped. The Deluxe Ultimate feels to be tuned well for the Large frame size and punched above its weight when it came to handling the abuse.

DT Swiss XM 1700 Spline / 350 Wheelset – Yet another DT Swiss wheelset that provided nothing but solid and dependable performance, the XM 1700 Spline rims with 350 hubs are not a flashy wheelset, but simply work great and offer little reason to complain – a smart spec choice on the 2030 for sure.

HOW DOES IT COMPARE? | SCOR 2030 VS THE YT IZZO

Both the SCOR 2030 and YT IZZO are bikes I very much enjoyed testing thanks to their penchant for speed, and the surprising level of capability on the way down given their short travel. In terms of pedaling efficiency the IZZO takes the prize – just – but the SCOR is by no means a slouch. When it comes to the downhill, the IZZO is a more conventional feeling trail machine, whereas the SCOR is down to get a little more rowdy and pop and play around. It’s a pretty close call overall between these two bikes: I’d likely opt for the SCOR if I was looking to ride more technical descents or apply a more playful freeride-esque style; whereas I’d take the IZZO for more xc-trail style rides and especially for less gnarly trail center lapping. The SCOR frame feels ever so slightly higher quality, but the YT represents better value with its build kits coming in at a much lower price for the same level components.

The Wolf’s Last Word

When it comes to the fun department, the 2030 gets a very high SCOR. As a general duty light trail machine, it offers more capability than a 120mm rear end machine has any right to on the way down, without providing any complaints for the climbs and when covering miles. Some may wish for a stiffer rear triangle, whereas others will enjoy the benefits of the increased traction and comfort it provides.

Price: $6,499 / €6,499
Website: SCOR-mtb.com