Scott Scale RC SL 2023: £14K Ultimate XC Racer Live Launch Review

How much is Scott's Scale race bike? At £14,000 this flagship RC SL version is the most expensive hardtail I've ever tested, on the fastest launch rides I've ever been on. So how much speed does that cash get you and what are the costs besides the damage to your wallet?
Thanks to Scott for inviting me to the Swiss launch this summer as the only UK journalist and Giro Cycling UK, Peaty’s Products and Crud XL Fenders for sponsoring the channel. Massive thanks to my Patreon supporters for their monthly pledges too. If you like what I'm doing and want early, extended and exclusive edits, personal buying and tech advice and other Patreon perks click on the link here: www.patreon.com/GuyKesTV?fan_...
Any questions get busy in the comments.
Cheers
Guy

[@mountainbikeondemand]

Guy, what a stud you are. Those dudes are ripping at a race pace and you're trying to stay composed enough to talk to a camera! Always love your stuff. I'm going back to watching the video.

[@GuyKesTV]

Haha thanks, but I'm just like a car with a hole in the exhaust. A lot of extra noise but way less power than you'd hope 🤣

[@mountainbikeondemand]

@@GuyKesTV Looks like you have plenty of horsepower. Can't wait to see what's next.

[@stuartdavis7922]

Saw you and bike radar, release Scott scale RC review at same time and instantly chose you, as love your reviews.

[@GuyKesTV]

Thanks mate, that means a lot. There's some good folks at Radar and I worked for them for 19 years but I would have to disagree with Alex's opinion on the Scale being comfortable and forgiving. The original 29er Scale was a peach but with the one piece carbon wheels in this is a punisher. BTW if you want words too check out bikeperfect.

[@cappoMP]

Guyvanni Kesatore broke your flow..... :-) Looks like a proper weapon of a bike

[@GuyKesTV]

🤣

[@Paganiproductions84]

I have a similar carbon handelbar on my 2021 Orbea Alma M30

[@Paganiproductions84]

XC Hardtails aint dead could this be best xc hardtail out there.

[@Thesomersetgimp]

Guy seems like a nice dude. I wonder what he does professionally and how long he’s done it for?

[@GuyKesTV]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ferencvarju651]

It really breaks my heart to hear that the frame of such a gorgeous hardtail turns out to be just too stiff in the end. I hope that can be sorted using regular carbon or aluminium wheels. Oh, and nice riding there. Kudos :)

[@LeandroSilva-wb4ox]

Top maquina de pedalar!!!!

[@JoesBikesUK]

what a weapon - Bikes not bad either ;-)

[@GuyKesTV]

🤣I reckon it's begging for a Joe's Bikes 'Hot Wheels' sticker job

[@PIANETAMTB]

Hey ! There's an italian in this video! Great content...

[@GuyKesTV]

Thanks for the lead out 😂

[@niranlh]

Bit of guidance advice please. Thinking about a light xc carbon hardtail in addition to my gravel road bike for long rides and uk rough gravel (as we don’t seem to have much smooth real gravel stuff😂 edge of NY moors) with a possibility of a bit of bike packing on it.Interested to see how lower carbon models ride with alloy wheels Was looking at the older model Scott scale 930ish carbon but may be better waiting for newer model for better geometry and compliance or choosing different xc hardtail all together which might be a bit more forgiving , although riding a drop bar carbon road/ gravel bike like I have been must be harsher than on such a hardtail surely? Any thoughts @GuyKesTV

[@GuyKesTV]

You've got some great trails to play on there and I agree that an XC hardtail will be a better choice to make the most of them. TBH the older 930 is a great choice as an entry level carbon bike. The new Scale has quite radical geometry (particularly the seat tube) but the previous one was still more trail than most XC frames. Reasonably smooth too but the Whippet offers better value for the components. Don't overlook alloy bikes like the Specialized Chisel or Sonder Dial though as they're really smooth and surprisingly light if you're on a tighter budget.

[@niranlh]

Thanks for taking the time to reply Does the new seat tube angle make it a more aggressive riding position overall and less suited as an all rounder? Hard for us mortals to get test rides to know these things and rely on test videos like yours to assist in the selection process. I noticed you were on a size L Scale ,I know you are very similar in terms of height and saddle height to me from watching your previous videos , was this right size for you (M too aggressive?) I Have considered the others you suggested, the Whippet geometry is like the old Scale ,which is now reduced in price so not much in it once specced up similarly . Have heard good reports re Whippet from others and watched your vid of it. Once again cheers for the help and keep up the good work, might see you up Hood Hill sometime😀 @GuyKesTV

[@Cesar3414]

Hola En donde puedo comprar el cuadro de esta bicicleta?

[@alolympic]

Great video and great riding Guy! Hope you got a good rest week in after this. Been waiting for reviews, jumped to yours and I guess I am thinking…big ££ and by the sounds of it, not an all day machine for cross country epics. Maybe the Scalpel HT would be the better choice…

[@GuyKesTV]

Thanks Alistair. I'm really keen to try one of the cheaper bikes with conventional, softer wheels. I didn't have chance to swap wheels at the launch but the guys who did said it rode significantly smoother so it might be an all dayer yet.

[@gweedsUK]

Fourteen grand though. Jeepers.

[@GuyKesTV]

Yup. Nuts. I'd rather have cheaper brakes and wheels too TBH

[@gweedsUK]

@@GuyKesTV going down the same path of mad road bike pricing.

[@Andy-co6pn]

Don't believe it gave you 10x the enjoyment of the Rujo.....

[@esquifo1]

TOP FRANCO

[@harveyjones1]

Did I hear you correct Guy -80psi ?

[@GuyKesTV]

In the tyres? No, I started at around 18 psi then dropped to 15.

[@harveyjones1]

@@GuyKesTV yeah I thought 80 was a bit extreme 🤣

[@JeremyLawrence-imajez]

I also heard 80psi @@harveyjones1

[@tombailey3807]

The last time you rode a Scott XC weapon you threw up! Does the extra £££ mean this is a no vomit model?

[@GuyKesTV]

Haha, I was DAMN close the whole time. Same intensity as that race, but for way longer. On back to back days two days after doing 350k of gravel in a day and a half. It was a busy summer 🤣🥵🤢

[@Andy-co6pn]

If you need some help with the Italiano kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKWUd52sbK-mgbs

[@GuyKesTV]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@thescerigai]

xc is just using the wrong tool for the job

[@deanf2259]

So a bike that costs probably more than you earn Guy. So stiff it's a awful ride and very noisy. Are bike companies on the same planet as us normal riders.

[@Andy-co6pn]

Scott have plenty of bikes for us normal riders, this is the mtb equivalent of an F1 car or a MotoGP bike , a no compromise race machine