2022 · ScottScale RC Team

A 29″ carbon frame hardtail crosscountry bike with high-end components.

2022 Scott Scale RC Team
MSRP$3,699
Weight22.7 lbs
SuspensionHardtail
Travel100mm front
FrameCarbon
ForkRockShox SID
Wheels29″ Aluminum
Drivetrain1 × 12
GroupsetXT
BrakesHydraulic Disc
View on scott-sports.comLearn about Scott
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Insights
Gearing

1 × 12 — 12 speed

Scale RC Team

28 mph

Similar Bikes

27 mph

The Scale RC Team is easier to ride up hills than similar bikes.

The Scale RC Team is geared about the same as similar bikes for riding downhill.

Estimated Spec Level

Based on build material and quality level of the frame, fork, wheelset, groupset, suspension system, and more. Learn more →

Spec level →$0$500$1,000$1,500$2,000$2,500$3,000$3,500
This bike
Other crosscountry bikes
Sizing
SM

5'2" – 5'8"

MD

5'6" – 5'11"

LG

5'10" – 6'3"

XL

6'1" – 6'7"

🐐 Estimated

Reviews
MBR
Scott Scale 965 hardtail review - MBR

SeanwhiteFeb 2023

Log onto Scott’s website, search for hardtails, and you’ll see the XC focused Scale dominates the options. With no long, low and slack hardcore hardtail in sight, it’s apparent that once you tip over the £1k mark, Scott hangs its hat firmly on the Scale range, with all models running 100mm travel forks. And the spread of options is nothing short of gargantuan. At the top end sits the flagship carbon RC World Cup AXS bike at £7,099. A bike that’s been a pedigree XC hardtail for years and under Nino Schurter has dominated XC racing like no other bike. And just like Nino, the Scale itself has dabbled with different wheel sizes, with Scott eventually settling on 29in wheels across all frame sizes, including the women’s specific Contessa options. So with years of evolution behind it, how’s the current Scale shaping up? Take a quick glance from a distance and you may feel a little underwhelmed; the tall seat tube and flatter top tube giving the look of a more conservative, almost dated frame. But under closer inspection, you’ll spot a raft of neat details blended in with well-honed and proven geometry numbers – the Scale’s frame is understated but elegant. With a frame design steeped in racing pedigree, you’d expect the alloy Scale 965 tested here to mirror the dimensions and geometry of the premium carbon bikes. And in many ways it does, but there are some key differences that aren’t immediately obvious. The head angle (we measured this bike at 68.5º), 29in wheels and 100mm fork travel are a constant for both frame materials, as are seat tube measurements. The BB drop is also consistent on both the carbon and aluminium Scale frames, consistently high that is. At 320mm the BB height on the Scott is inline with the Giant and just a hair taller than the Trek. And while 320mm sounds really tall for a hardtail with a 100mm travel fork, it’s been designed that way so that riders can keep the longer 175mm crankarms spinning in all situations, delivering maximum power to the rear tyre without having to worry about clipping a pedal on a root or rock and getting ejected over the bars. Where the frames depart is in chainstay length, the aluminium bikes get 15mm longer chainstays, measuring in at 438mm. There’s also a XXL size on the aluminium frame, so if you’re approaching 2m in height Scott definitely has you covered. You’d expect to see some performance-oriented details too and for a bike at this price the Scale 965 doesn’t disappoint. The tidy cowled dropouts not only allow the rear hub to drop effortlessly into place, but the 148mm thru-axle frame spacing opens up numerous options when it’s time for a wheel upgrade. The bridge-less seat stays are curved and long, increasing compliance but we did occasionally clip our heals on the equally wide chainstays. All cables and the rear brake hose are internally routed, with securely clamped frame ports for a …Continue reading »

Pros
  • Fast, quiet, composed ride

Cons
  • No tubeless-ready tyres

Read Review

Pinkbike
First Look: Scott Release Latest Generation of Scale RC Hardtail

Henry QuinneyDec 2022

The top-end HMX-SL frame sheds 22 grams compared to the outgoing model, to achieve a claimed weight of 847 g.

Read Review

BikeRadar
Scott Scale RC SL first ride review

Alex EvansDec 2022

The Scale is a fast-paced XC hardtail with performance that reaches beyond the traditional racing remit

Pros
  • Light weight

  • Loaded-up spec

  • Fun, fast and agile

  • Impressive frame construction

Cons
  • Lack of dropper post limits scope

  • Very costly

Read Review

Bikerumor
2023 Scott Scale RC hardtail MTB takes weight reduction to new extremes

Dec 2022

The new Scott Scale HMX SL sheds as many metal inserts and parts as possible to save grams, and reinvents how a frame is made in the process.

Read Review

Bicycling
Scott’s Contessa Scale 900 Hardtail Keeps Things Simple

Mar 2019

A crisp, clean women’s mountain bike—with SRAM NX Eagle—for XC racing and riding.

Read Review

Geometry
Specs
Build
Frame

Scale RC Carbon / IMP Technology / HMF BB92 / SW dropouts for Boost 12x148mm SDS2 advanced Shock & Standing Damping System ICCR Cable routing

BB StandardBSA, 73mm, Threaded

Fork

RockShox SID SL RL Air 15x110mm Maxle Stealth / 44mm offset / Tapered steerer Lockout / Reb. Adj. / 100mm travel

Bottom Bracket

Shimano SM-BB71-41A / shell 41x92mm

Headset

Syncros Pro Drop in / Tapered 1.5"-1 1/8" Bearing diameter size 42mm and 52mm

Stem

Syncros XR1.5 -8° Integrated Spacer & Top Cap 2014 Alloy / 31.8mm / 1 1/8"

Handlebar

Syncros Fraser 1.5 / Alloy 7050 D.B. T shape Flat / 9° / 740mm Syncros Pro lock-on grips

Saddle

Syncros Belcarra Regular 2.0 CRMO rails

Seatpost

Syncros Duncan 1.5 / 10mm offset 31.6x400mm

Groupset
Rear Derailleur

Shimano XT RD-M8100 SGS Shadow Plus / 12 Speed

Crank

Shimano XT FC-M8100-1 / Hollowtech 2 32T

Shifters

Shimano XT SL-M8100-IR / Rapidfire Plus Ispec EV clamp

Cassette

Shimano XT CS-M8100-12 / 10-51 T

Chain

Shimano CN-M7100

Brakes

Shimano XT M8100 Disc

Wheels
Rims

Syncros Silverton 2.0 6 Bolt F: 15x110mm, R: 12x148mm 25mm Tubeless ready rim / 28H / Micro Spline Syncros Axle w/Removable Lever with Tool

Tires

Schwalbe Racing Ray 29x2.25" EVO Super Ground / TLE / 67EPI / Addix Speed Grip

Disk Rotors

Shimano SM-RT76 / 6 Bolt / 180/F and 160/R

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