The new Scott Gambler is a radical departure from the current versionJames Huang/Future Publishing
Scott’s new Prototype downhill rigScott Sports
The suspension runs on a 400lbx3.5in titanium Cane Creek spring over Fox’s longest 10.5in damperScott Sports
A better look at the massive main pivotScott Sports
The shock linkage, which controls the shock rate for what appears to be single pivot bikeScott Sports
The new Scott prototype with its pilot, Fairclough, in the backgroundScott Sports
Just how different is the new Scott Gambler? Here’s a look at the old one for comparisonJames Huang/Future Publishing
The wild linkage on Scott’s revamped Gambler looks complicated but is straightforward in operation. A linkage connects the front of the single-pivot swingarm to the top of the shock to compress it as the rear wheel moves through its travel. A second link connects to the seat tube to help control the shock rateJames Huang/Future Publishing
While the linkage is complex, the rear end is a simple single-pivot design on the revamped Scott GamblerJames Huang/Future Publishing
A Fox Racing Shox DHX RC4 rear shock is tucked away behind numerous linkages on the new Scott GamblerJames Huang/Future Publishing
A convertible chip in the lower shock mount allows for tunable geometryJames Huang/Future Publishing
The bottom bracket shell on the new Scott Gambler is welded as two separate halvesJames Huang/Future Publishing
Chain stay length is adjustable on the new Scott Gambler between two settingsJames Huang/Future Publishing
Scott uses a sort of sandwich construction for the adjustable dropouts on the new GamblerJames Huang/Future Publishing
The rear derailleur housing is fed into the front of the chain stay…James Huang/Future Publishing
…and then it peeks out again before being fed into the tubeJames Huang/Future Publishing
There’s a lot of welding on Scott’s new Gambler frameJames Huang/Future Publishing
The new Scott Gambler also features integrated fork stops, which are omitted hereJames Huang/Future Publishing
Full-length housing is externally routed on the new Scott GamblerJames Huang/Future Publishing
RockShox offers a clamp to limit the travel on the Reverb dropper post but Scott11 team mechanics are apparently making do with electrical tape and zip tiesJames Huang/Future Publishing
The blacked-out logo is hiding the badges for Shimano’s revamped Saint leverJames Huang/Future Publishing
Teams often get creative in mounting number plates on downhill bikesJames Huang/Future Publishing
Details are sparse surrounding Scott’s new downhill rig, which Brendan Fairclough and his Scott11 teammates will race at this weekend’s opening round of the 2012 World Cup series in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
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What we do have are detailed photos from Scott Sports of the bike from the pits in Pietermaritzburg.
Travel has yet to be announced, but Scott say the hub, bottom bracket, and head tube are all within the normal range of today’s downhill machines, so: 150mmx12mm rear axle, 83mm bottom bracket shell and 1.5in head tube.
We do know, prior to this weekend’s World Cup the team was first seen testing the new rig in San Romolo, Italy, however, Scott reps told us here at BikeRadar that the team only has about 2-weeks of time on the new bike.
The suspension design is an intriguing, but simple single pivot with linkage-activated shock. The interesting aspect, however, comes with Fox’s longest — 3.5in stroke shock, and the wild-looking linkage, which looks complicated, however, is straightforward in operation. A link connects the front of the single-pivot swingarm to the top of the shock to compress it as the rear wheel moves through its travel. A second link connects to the seat tube to help control the shock rate.
Scott tuck a Fox Racing Shox DHX RC4 rear shock away behind numerous linkages on the new bike. At the lower shock attachment point Scott have built in convertible chip, which allows for tunable geometry. Chainstay length is also adjustable between two settings via flip-flop sandwich style dropouts.
Other, new, features include integrated fork stops, and semi-internal derailleur cable routing through the rear swingarm.
A better look at the massive main pivot: a better look at the massive main pivotScott Sports