Scott Speedster 10 Disc review

A sleek machine with weather protection

Our rating 
3.5 out of 5 star rating 3.5
GBP £1,429.00 RRP

Our review

Smart, solid and satisfying and, although not as fast as the name suggests, it’s a fine ride
Pros: Tidy looks, ride feel, specification and value
Cons: It’s not especially fast uphill
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The Scott Speedster 10 Disc is a well-priced, well-specced general purpose road bike. It’s listed as £1,399, but for an extra £29.99 you can get it with mudguards fitted.

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The frame is double-butted aluminium and although its lines are straight, every tube has been shaped, tapered or flattened in some way to improve performance and comfort. The mech cables and brake hoses run internally for the most part, which helps keep the bike’s profile sleek and clean.

The 181mm head tube is topped with a 25mm headset collar, which makes for a tall front end. But then this isn’t a race bike; the Speedster 10 Disc is aimed at people mixing leisure road riding with commuting, hence an elevated front end makes perfect sense.

Big volume Schwalbe tyres provide bags of grip and comfort
Big volume Schwalbe tyres provide bags of grip and comfort
David Caudery/Immediate Media

It’s not just taller though, it’s shorter — even with a 120mm stem there’s about 20mm less reach than on more race-bred road bikes. Nevertheless, it feels fine and puts the hoods in a comfortable position.

Scott has fitted the new Shimano 105 groupset, with its hydraulic disc brakes and Shadow rear mech. The hoods are hugely comfortable and offer excellent grip. As for the shifting performance, it’s very good — not quite as crisp as Ultegra, but more than adequate for almost everyone.

The only deviation from 105 is the non-series RS510 chainset. It’s been coloured to match the 105 components but sports forged aluminium cranks, rather than Hollowtech ones that grace the 105 unit.

Shimano’s hydraulic 105 discs help you keep a tight rein on the Speedster
Shimano’s hydraulic 105 discs help you keep a tight rein on the Speedster
David Caudery/Immediate Media

Syncros supplies the alloy bar, stem and seatpost, as well as the saddle and wheels, which are shod with 32mm Schwalbe Durano tyres. Their extra volume really helps to shape the Speedster’s ride, not only allowing you to run lower tyre pressures (I ran 75/70psi), but also providing greater grip and comfort.

It has a direct and positive feel; it picks up speed efficiently, then spins along comfortably. Its mudguards provide good protection from wheel spray, although for serious winter use, I’d fit flaps on the ends. Two beefy stays hold the rear mudguard in place but aren’t enough to stop it rattling on rougher ground.

Over broken tarmac, the Scott has great composure. It absorbs enough of the impacts and road buzz to leave you calmly watching the miles tick by. Its 10.57kg weight means it’s not the greatest of climbing machines — tackling big hills with it requires big efforts — but with enough momentum you can heave it over short rises while staying in the big ring.

It has a direct and positive feel, picking up speed efficiently and spinning along comfortably
It has a direct and positive feel, picking up speed efficiently and spinning along comfortably
Robert Smith / Immediate Media

The Speedster is at home cruising along at speeds below 20mph, but sustaining anything above that, even on the flat, quickly becomes a serious workout. As eager and lively as it feels, it isn’t blessed with natural speed.

Which isn’t to say it’s a long and lazy chopper; its short 415mm chainstays and tight 991.6mm wheelbase ensure the handling is both predictable and rewarding. Plus, the grip provided by the wide tyres and stopping power of the 105 hydraulics means you can easily rein things in.

As a winter trainer or commuter, the Speedster 10 Disc is ideal. Cheap enough that you won’t mind riding it in all conditions, but with a classy and engaging ride that’ll keep you happy every time you’re on board.

Scott Speedster 10 Disc specifications

Scott's Speedster 10 Disc
Scott’s Speedster 10 Disc
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  • Sizes (*tested): 47, 49, 52, 54, 56*, 58, 61
  • Weight: 10.57kg
  • Frame: Speedster Disc 6061 double butted alloy
  • Fork: Speedster carbon
  • Chainset: Shimano RS510
  • Bottom bracket: Shimano RS500
  • Cassette: Shimano 105 11-32
  • Chain: KMC X11
  • Mech: Shimano 105
  • Shifters: Shimano 105 hydraulic
  • Wheelset: Syncros Race 24 Disc
  • Tyres: Schwalbe Durano 32mm
  • Wheel weight: 1.7kg (f), 2.22kg (r)
  • Stem: Syncros RR2.0 alloy
  • Bar: Syncros RR2.0 Comfort alloy
  • Headset: Integrated steel cup
  • Saddle: Syncros FL2.5
  • Seatpost: Syncros RR2.5 alloy
  • Brakes: Shimano 105 hydraulic disc, 160mm rotors
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Scott Speedster 10 Disc geometry

  • Seat angle: 74.5 degrees
  • Head angle: 73.5 degrees
  • Chainstay: 41.5cm
  • Seat tube: 49.5cm
  • Top tube: 55.5cm
  • Head tube: 18.1cm
  • Fork offset: 5cm
  • Trail: 5.1cm
  • Bottom bracket drop: 6.7cm
  • Bottom bracket height: 30cm
  • Wheelbase: 1,000mm
  • Stack: 59.23cm
  • Reach: 38.46cm

Product Specifications

Product

Name Name, 0, 10, Name, Speedster 10 Disc
Brand Brand, 0, 20, Brand, Scott

Available Sizes Available Sizes, 2, 0, Available Sizes, 47cm 49cm 52cm 54cm 56cm 58cm 61cm
Bottom Bracket Bottom Bracket, 2, 0, Bottom Bracket, Shimano RS500
Brakes Brakes, 2, 0, Brakes, Shimano 105 hydraulic disc, 160mm rotors
Cassette Cassette, 2, 0, Cassette, Shimano 105 11-32
Chain Chain, 2, 0, Chain, KMC X11
Cranks Cranks, 2, 0, Cranks, Shimano RS510
Fork Fork, 2, 0, Fork, Speedster carbon
Fork Offset Fork Offset, 2, 0, Fork Offset, 5
Frame Material Frame Material, 2, 0, Frame Material, Speedster Disc 6061 double butted alloy
Front Tyre Front Tyre, 2, 0, Front Tyre, Schwalbe Durano 32mm
Front Wheel Weight Front Wheel Weight, 2, 0, Front Wheel Weight, 1700
Handlebar Handlebar, 2, 0, Handlebar, Syncros RR2.0 Comfort alloy
Head Angle Head Angle, 2, 0, Head Angle, 73.5
Headset Type Headset Type, 2, 0, Headset Type, Integrated steel cup
Rear Derailleur Rear Derailleur, 2, 0, Rear Derailleur, Shimano 105
Rear Tyre Rear Tyre, 2, 0, Rear Tyre, Schwalbe Durano 32mm
Rear Wheel Weight Rear Wheel Weight, 2, 0, Rear Wheel Weight, 2220
Saddle Saddle, 2, 0, Saddle, Syncros FL2.5
Seat Angle Seat Angle, 2, 0, Seat Angle, 74.5
Seatpost Seatpost, 2, 0, Seatpost, Syncros RR2.5 alloy
Shifters Shifters, 2, 0, Shifters, Shimano 105 hydraulic
Stem Stem, 2, 0, Stem, Syncros RR2.0 alloy
Trail Trail, 2, 0, Trail, 5.1
Weight (kg) Weight (kg), 2, 0, Weight (kg), 10.57
Wheelset Wheelset, 2, 0, Wheelset, Syncros Race 24 Disc
Chainstays (cm) Chainstays (cm), 2, 0, Chainstays (cm), 41.5
Seat Tube (cm) Seat Tube (cm), 2, 0, Seat Tube (cm), 49.5
Top Tube (cm) Top Tube (cm), 2, 0, Top Tube (cm), 55.5
Wheelbase (cm) Wheelbase (cm), 2, 0, Wheelbase (cm), 100
Frame size tested Frame size tested, 2, 0, Frame size tested, 56cm
Head Tube (cm) Head Tube (cm), 2, 0, Head Tube (cm), 18.1
Stack (cm) Stack (cm), 2, 0, Stack (cm), 52.23
Reach (cm) Reach (cm), 2, 0, Reach (cm), 38.46
All measurements for frame size tested All measurements for frame size tested, 2, 0, All measurements for frame size tested, 56cm
Bottom-bracket drop (cm) Bottom-bracket drop (cm), 2, 0, Bottom-bracket drop (cm), 6.7