Do you want a World Cup inspired XC bike, but at a fraction of the cost? Look no further than the Spark 730. Blending the featherweight lineage of a dedicated race bike, with the single track chops of a 120mm travel ripper, this bike is up for anything. With updated Spark frame design features, a SRAM GX 1x11 drivetrain plus Syncros components, this Spark is sure to light a fire.
Twin Lok
Scott's patented Twin Loc technology now offers simultaneous control of rear shock travel and fork lockout. The open position allows full travel, front and rear. One click switches the rear shock to Traction mode, while the fork remains fully active. Click again and rear shock and fork lock at the same time. No other bike in the world offers this user friendly system. Found on the Spark & Genius and Genius LT models. Only available for Nude2 shocks on 2013 or previous year models.
Frame Design
The Spark down tube shock and linkage are clearly asymmetric, when looking from the top of the bike. Carbon fibres achieve their full potential when used in smooth straight lines. Off setting the shock slightly to the left hand side of the bike gives a clean and continuous structure from the down tube through the shock mount to the main pivot.
Scott have adopted the new Metric shock sizing standards with a Trunnion mount. Since the shock body now extends between the two lower mounting bolts, our suspension partners have more design space. This means the shock has more stroke for the same eye to eye length. Stroke on the 165mm eye to eye shock has increased from 38mm to 40/45mm.The Trunnion standard also offers structural gains. The shorter shock enables Scott to build a very compact frame and shock package, which integrates tightly to the seat tube. They managed to have a very tiny yet stiff linkage-lighter than ever. Thanks to the Trunnion mount construction, stand over height on the new Spark is very low. Scott are still able to realize a super compact full suspension frame and provide the ability to mount both a small and big water bottle.
With the proper selection of materials, eighty percent of the work to create a frame is done. But the remaining twenty percent requires most of Scotts efforts. For this reason, Scott's choice of the most advanced carbon fibers in the market is followed by intensive use of specific tools, like FEA(finite element analysis) software, to map out the carbon lay-up.
With FEA software, they can simulate different forces on a virtual model of the frame and adjust the frame construction accordingly. FEA software enables them to create complete virtual prototypes incorporating all the physical phenomena that exist in real-world environments.
With their own Evo-Lap technology they model the frame to optimize the surface area, simulate tube structures with different ply orientations, observe the results of using different configurations, and test the stress distribution in different areas of the frame. Thanks to this extensive computer modeling, they’ve optimized the carbon layers in all the parts of our frame. When the parts were bonded together in the first prototypes, the result was a super light and compact frame without a sacrifice in the stiffness, comfort or impact resistance. The entire range benefited from their EvoLap technology.
Boost
Boost is a hub and drivetrain standard developed by SRAM. Boost is built around a wider rear and front hub and enables stiffer wheels due to a wider spoke bracing angle. Boost 148 rear hubs move each flange of the rear hub three millimeters wider.
Boost is designed as a complete system so drivetrain performance isn’t compromised. Even though Boost pushes the cogs three millimeters outboard, the crankarm Q-Factor remains the same as the Boost system’s crankset utilizes front chainrings that sit a corresponding 3mm outward to ensure the required chainline. Boost cranks can only be used when paired with a 148mm hub. On the front the hub spacing is increased by 10mm to 110mm. Increased wheel stiffness and greater clearance for bigger tires are the main advantages of Boost technology. On Scott's bikes, they wanted to go beyond the basics and reap all the benefits of this innovation by optimizing frame design and geometry.The 3 mm outboard chain ring adds clearance in the chain stay area that allows a substantial increase of the chain stay tube cross-section. Correspondingly,the stiffness in this part of the frame improves. Also, with a wider range of positions for the rear wheel, the frame geometry can be adjusted. Scott can shorten the chainstays for more agile handling.