Road test of the new Scott Addict Gravel: how it handles monster 57mm tire clearance, a lightweight frame, and off-road riding tests.
There are trails that normal gravel bikes look at with fear: too rough, too steep, too full of roots to risk cracking a rim or coming home with your arms in pieces. Then you take the new Scott Addict Gravel, strap massive 57 mm (2.25 inches) tires onto it—stuff fit for a light mountain bike, to put it into perspective—and you realize the boundary between fast unpaved roads and pure exploration has just shifted much further out.
We went out to put it to the test on real terrain: treacherous singletracks, loose rock gardens, and bone-shattering descents where traditional gravel bikes usually beg for mercy. Here is how it went.
📦 Test Bike Technical Specifications (Premium Model)
Test Model: Scott Addict Gravel Premium
Drivetrain: SRAM RED XPLR AXS 13-speed (13v)
Wheels: Fulcrum Sharq GR Cult Carbon
Tires Fitted: Schwalbe G-One RX Pro Evo (50 mm)
Measured Weight: 7.8 kg (in size M)
Price: £5,799 / €TBC
In the Saddle: Explorer Setup, Not Time-Trial Posture
As soon as you hop in the saddle, the initial sensation is one of great openness. The increased stack and shortened stem pull you out of that shrimp-like posture typical of extreme race gravel bikes. You have a clear field of view, relaxed shoulders, and the comforting knowledge that you could pedal for eight hours without having to book an appointment with an osteopath that same evening.
Yet, as soon as you push hard on the pedals, the geometric magic of the short chainstays (425 mm) makes itself felt: the bike is not a sluggish, clumsy bus. Lateral response is snappy, and in tight directional changes, it handles with the exact same agility as a much lighter road bike.
Field Testing: Mud, Stones, and Wide-Open Corners
1. When the Frame Acts Like Suspension
The real secret of this Addict Gravel lies not just in the giant tires, but in the fine tuning performed on the HMX carbon. Reducing overall frame stiffness by 5% and designing vertical stays that taper down to a mere 8.5 mm turns the frame into a natural leaf spring.
Over loose rock gardens, the bike doesn't bounce or buck: it tracks the ground. High-frequency vibrations that normally numb your wrists are literally dampened before ever reaching the handlebar.
2. Endless Traction (Thanks to the Big Rubbers)
Tackling an unpaved 18% climb with a loose base is the ultimate truth test for a gravel bike. Here, the combination of record-breaking tire clearance (up to 57 mm) and optimized weight distribution via the smart fork (with recessed bottle bosses to lower inertia) ensures the rear wheel never loses grip. You climb where others are forced to get off and push.
3. On Descents: Blind Trust
On fast descents over hard-packed dirt, the generous trail and front-end stability give you total confidence. You can let go of the brakes, trust the thick tire casing, and carve through turns with the absolute certainty that the bike will do precisely what you ask of it, with zero twitchy reactions.
⚖️ Verdict: Who Is It Really Made For?
The new Scott Addict Gravel doesn't pretend to be a disguised road bike. It is, to all intents and purposes, the modern interpretation of long-range off-roading.
Recommended because: It obliterates the limits of where you can push a gravel bike, offering insane vertical compliance and smart solutions (like the frame storage box and handlebar-plug multi-tools) that save your ride.
Consider alternatives if: You are looking for a super-stiff, twitchy criterium blade to maintain 45 km/h averages over smooth white roads. For everything else—from pure adventure to hardcore bikepacking—it is a true benchmark.