We tested the new Scott Spark DC 2027: 140mm travel, farewell to headset-only cable routing, and electronic suspension. Real weights and prices.

The Spark lineup splits in two and chooses the path of pure substance. While the RC version lives in symbiosis with the stopwatch and sterile World Cup XCO circuits, the new Scott Spark DC 2027 is built for those who understand that real mountain biking begins when you start releasing the brakes on descents, without having to haul a 16-kilo heavy-duty enduro tank.

This isn't just an XC bike with a couple of extra headset spacers. It's a ruthless reinterpretation of the downcountry concept: 138 mm of real rear wheel travel (managed by a longer-stroke 210x50mm shock hidden inside the frame via a Bold-inspired layout), paired with 140 mm up front (certified to handle up to 150mm forks) and a series of technical fixes riders have been begging for years.

What the Marketing Won’t Tell You: Actual Frame Updates

Anyone who lived through the maintenance nightmare of the first integrated generation knows what we're talking about. On the new Spark DC, Scott has taken a step backward—or rather, a step of pure intelligence:

    The Return of Human Cables: On the Spark RC, forced internal routing exclusively through the headset drove half the mechanics in Europe crazy. On the DC, the Givisiez brand has intelligently reintroduced traditional port routing on the head tube, neatly hidden behind interchangeable badge covers. Maintenance, stem swaps, and cable routing are finally real-shop operations again.

    Planted, Less "Nervous" Geometry: The neutral head tube angle sits at 65 degrees (adjustable via the eccentric headset cup by plus or minus 0.5°), but the real game-changer is a 2.5 cm taller Stack that relieves neck strain on long transitions, combined with a wheelbase lengthened by over 4 cm that turns the bike into a high-speed freight train.

The Field Test: Why the DC Wins Hands Down for 90% of Riders

The writer doesn't hold an elite racing license and doesn't live to shave seconds on climbs. And that is precisely where the Spark DC completely flips the script.

Pushing it hard in back-to-back testing alongside its RC sibling, the difference is night and day. The DC climbs with almost identical swagger—thanks to a rear triangle that resists unwanted wallowing—but when you point the front wheel down steep, technical lines, the extra 16% travel and front-end confidence erase all intimidation.

The RockShox Flight Attendant Factor: Magic or Gimmick?

On flagship models (Factory and DC 10, which we thrashed in the field), intelligent RockShox Flight Attendant electronic management eliminates traditional lockout compromises. Forget manual handlebar remotes: during a 90-minute technical ride, the system adjusted the shock response 278 times and the fork 129 times. The result? When you mash the pedals, you get hardtail-level rigidity; the exact millisecond your rear tire hits a slick root, the hydraulics blow wide open instantly without pulling your brain off your chosen line. If you have the budget for it, it fundamentally transforms the ride.

Real Weights, Specs, and List Prices (MY27 Lineup)

The range splits between the ultra-light HMX carbon layup (reserved for the top tier with Ceramic Speed SLT bearings) and the HMF layup (tougher and more accessible, featuring mechanical shift compatibility). Here is the breakdown:

    Scott Spark DC Factory (€11,500 / $13,000): HMX frame, RockShox Pike & SIDLuxe Ultimate Flight Attendant suspension, SRAM XX SL AXS drivetrain with spindle power meter, Motive Ultimate 4-piston brakes, and Syncros Silverton CF1 carbon wheels. Claimed weight: 11.5 kg.

    Scott Spark DC 10 (€8,500 / $10,000): HMF frame, Flight Attendant suspension, XO AXS groupset with power meter, Silverton CF2 wheels. Test note: measured weight in size L with pedals stops at 13.12 kg.

    Scott Spark DC 20 (€5,700 / $7,300): Switches to Fox (36 SL & Float Factory with 3-position TwinLoc remote), mixed Shimano XT Di2/Deore drivetrain, and Silverton AL2 alloy wheels. Claimed weight: 12.7 kg.

    Scott Spark DC 30 (€4,700 / $5,400): RockShox Pike Select fork, Deluxe shock, TwinLoc remote, SRAM S1000 AXS drivetrain, and DB6 brakes. Claimed weight: 13.0 kg.

    Scott Spark DC 40 (€3,700 / $4,400): The entry point. Base RockShox suspension, mechanical TwinLoc, Shimano Deore drivetrain, and Syncros aluminum components. Claimed weight: 13.8 kg.

Available now at authorized dealers. If you are looking for an all-out weapon that won't break your back on climbs yet lets you descend laughing out loud, the Spark DC 2027 hits dead center.