Scott Gambler Tuned 900 Review: An easy downhill dream

Few bikes have caused as much of a stir on the downhill market in recent months as the brand new Scott Gambler. This not only comes with a few updates, but is in the starting blocks for the upcoming 2020 season in a completely new guise and lighter than ever. In addition to the choice between carbon or aluminum frames, the decision between 29 inches and 650b, it offers a lot of possibilities for personal adjustments to the frame, which is typical for Gamblers. We have already been able to test the 15,7kg light top version and in the following article we present the tested Scott Gambler Tuned 900 and its sister models.

The all new lightweight Scott Gambler 2020 in a nutshell

The Scott Gambler, known for well over a decade from the Downhill World Cup and almost all well-known freeride events, is completely modernized for the upcoming 2020 season. When developing the new Gambler, Scott attached great importance to a super-light frame that also has the necessary stability for the toughest tracks in the world and, above all, should be one thing - fast. However, not only the pure rigidity and the lowest weight were in the foreground, but also the appropriate level of lateral flex was considered according to the company. In order to draw on the full here, Scott worked closely with their team riders, so in recent years Brendan Fairclough and Lucas Dean have had a wide variety of prototypes in the Downhill World Cup in addition.

In the reincarnation of the bike, the tried-and-tested single-pivot rear triangle gave way to a classic four-pivot with Horst link and so the Scott Gambler 2020 has been given a completely revised suspension design. are therefore optical virtually no similarities to be seen, because compared to the previous model, the new Gambler looks absolutely clean and less intricate. Scott remained true to the enormous variety of adjustment options, as the steering angle, the length of the chainstays and the height of the bottom bracket, among other things, can be perfectly adapted to your own needs can. Compared to the previous version launched in 2013, a few additional factors had to be taken into account here, since the Gambler is delivered in 29 inches, but the choice of wheels is up to the rider.

Now available in four variants

Until recently, only the tested Scott Gambler Tuned 900 was available, which comes with high-end equipment, an HMX carbon frame that weighs 2650g according to the manufacturer and many other smart detailed solutions. Now the Gambler is in four different versions available, with everything from two aluminum bikes, a hybrid bike with aluminum rear triangle and carbon fiber main frame, to a full carbon bike, whatever the biker's heart desires. The prices here vary between €3699 and €7999. Scott speaks Due to the different frame materials and equipment variants, it appeals to a wide clientele, from thoroughbred racers to occasional bike park visitors. The options when choosing equipment range from the cheaper Rock Shox/X-Fusion chassis to the top version with Fox Factory chassis. As mentioned briefly above, the manufacturers also leave everything open to the end customer when it comes to wheels, since the construction with 650b or as a mullet bike, with 29 inches at the front and 27,5 inches at the rear, is not a problem for the Gambler. However, all models are delivered with 29 inch wheels. In addition to the complete bikes, Scott also offers the Gambler Tuned 900 as a frame kit including Fox DHX2 and Syncros headset for 4199€ on.

Scott Gambler 900 TunedScott Gambler 910Scott Gambler 920Scott Gambler 930

Loom: Gambler HMX carbon frame
Mute: Fox DHX2 200mm
Fork: Fox 49 Factory Float 203mm
Circuit: Sram XO1 DH
Brake: Ram Code RSC
wheelset: Syncros Revelstoke DH 1,5 TR
Weight: 15,79kg (reweighed)

Price: € 7.999

 

Loom: Gambler HMX carbon/alloy frame
Mute: Fox DHX2 200mm
Fork: Fox 40 Performance Elite 203mm
Circuit: Sram GX DH
Brake: Sram Code R
wheelset: Formula DHL-157/92
Weight: 16,7kg (manufacturer information)

Price: € 5.999

Loom: Gambler aluminum frame
Mute: Fox VAN RC 200mm
Fork: Fox 40 Performance Elite 203mm
Circuit: Sram GX DH
Brake: Shimano BR-MT 520
wheelset: Formula DHL-157/92
Weight: 17,1kg (manufacturer information)

Price: € 4.399

Loom: Gambler aluminum frame
Mute: X Fusion Vector R 200mm
Fork: RockShox Boxxer Select 200mm
Circuit: sram x5
Brake: Shimano BR-MT520
wheelset:Formula DHL-157/92
Weight: 16,9kg (manufacturer information)

Price: € 3.699

New standards in terms of customization

The setting options are briefly summarized

• Choice of 27,5 inches or 29 inches
• Adjustable chainstay length from 435mm to 450mm
• 4-way flip chip on the lower damper eye for optimal adjustment of the height of the bottom bracket and optimization of the kinematics, depending on the wheel size
• Included headset shells for an adjustable steering angle from 62° to 64°

As with its predecessor, the Scott Gambler 2020 also has two options for adjusting the length of the chainstays and thus also the total length by +-15mm. This ensures that the rider can optimally adapt the bike to the conditions of the track, so to sum it up: long settings for smoother running and short for more agility. However, this is not only influenced by the length of the chainstays, but also the choice of the wheel size plays a decisive role here. For example, the Scott Gambler can be ridden with a 650b and long rear triangle setting as well as with 29 inches and short stays.

In addition to the length of the chainstays, the flip chip in the lower shock eye also has a significant impact on the bike's handling characteristics. This offers the biker two different height settings for the bottom bracket, with which it can be lowered by 8,5mm or 24,2mm. The two holes in the flip chip, which decide whether the behavior is linear or progressive, also seem important to us. These geometry and damper options are designed to help ideally place the rider's center of mass between the wheels for an optimal level of balance and traction. Last but not least, the steering angle can be optimally adjusted to the conditions of the route, the bike setup and the personal preferences of the rider using the included headset cups.

Geometry of the Scott Gambler 2020

The Scott Gambler's geometry data is enormously extensive due to the enormous number of setting options, since any adjustments affect many values. However, all sizes have one thing in common - they are all long and flat, like most of the current 29-inch race downhill bikes. The steering angle moves between 62° and 64° and the wheelbase varies from 1207,6mm in size S to 1302,8mm in size XL. Unlike the earlier Gambler platforms, four frame sizes from S to XL are now available, with reach values ​​from 400,2mm to 495,0mm. Scott chose a slightly steeper seat angle for smaller S and M riders so that they can lower the saddle and still avoid the dreaded contact between tire and saddle.

Details of the Gambler Tuned 900

The Scott Gambler Tuned comes in a bright orange, offers some smart detailed solutions and fits in well with the product range next to the new Ransom and Genius models. The cables for the gears and brakes, which are inserted at the fork stop, run internally in the frame and only reappear near the damper, thus ensuring a tidy bike. There they are fixed by a clamp and some cable ties, which are intended to prevent rattling cables. The embedded frame protection on the underside of the down tube and the rubber coating on the chainstay on the drive side should also ensure a quiet bike. They also do this in practice, but the manufacturer could have chosen a little more generously, since the frame suffered a few small paint chips in the test. What is also pleasing, in addition to the cleverly routed cables, is the Syncros Trail DH mudguard on the front, which reliably protects the rider and bike in poor conditions.

The features of the Gambler Tuned 900

The Scott Gambler Tuned 900 costs almost 8000 € and therefore of course only brings the finest components with it. For the chassis, the Swiss use a Fox 49 and a Fox DHX2, each in the factory version with 203mm/200mm travel. The Scott Gambler Tuned 900 features the light Sram XO1 DH drive, which offers sufficient range with seven gears and a 34T chain ring on the XO1 DH crank. Also from Sram comes the snappy Guide RSC with 200mm brake discs.

Except for the Maxxis Assegai tires in 29 × 2,50, all other components come from Scott's own brand Syncros, like the Syncros Revelstoke DH 1.5 aluminum wheels. Above all, the Syncros Hixon iC DH carbon handlebar-stem combo with 15mm rise, 8° backsweep and 800mm width stands out here and the Syncros Pro DH dual lock-on grips are mounted on it. The headset also comes from Syncros, as does the Comox saddle, which was developed for use on 29-inch downhill bikes due to its special shape.

The Scott Gambler Tuned 900 on the trail

In order to take a close look at the Scott Gambler in practice, we went to the downhill route in the Geißkopf MTB zone and a wide variety of local trails, which should demand everything from the bike in poor conditions in the wet and cold winter months. On the test bike in size L with 460,4mm reach, with the long chain stays and low/linear bottom bracket setting, I quickly felt comfortable and, at a height of 1,80m, I had the feeling of standing very centrally and deep in the bike . This setup was my favorite, especially on the DH track in Bischofsmais, because I never had the feeling that I was standing too far in the suspension travel and the rear end seemed very active and "poppy" even in the linear setting. On steeper trails I preferred the progressive setting combined with short stays for maximum control and traction.

However, played here natural personal preferences also play a role. Above all, experienced drivers with a penchant for technology can let off steam here with the most diverse setting combinations and adapt the Gambler to any situation. The built-in 500 lbs steel spring in the DHX2 shock absorber seemed tight with a test rider weight of approx. 80kg, but with the appropriately tuned Fox 49 it was suitable for hard terrain and my personal taste. It can already be said in advance that the chassis worked extremely sensitively, filtered out small bumps cleanly and offered the necessary reserves for larger bumps.

The low weight of 15,7kg quickly had a positive effect on the Gambler Tuned 900, because it was absolutely playful to steer over the tracks and its driver almost forgot that it was running on 29-inch wheels with a wheelbase of 1270mm. It did surprisingly well on bike park routes in particular, because it was possible to maneuver agilely and dynamically through the curves in berms, even with the long chainstay setting. When jumping over tables and gaps, the Gambler was easier to turn sideways than expected, invited to play and also forgave sloping landings without any problems. I didn't always feel 100% comfortable on big jumps with very steep descents in the test - but building it up as a mullet bike would probably help here, as Scott team rider Brendog recently demonstrated in South Africa during the Dark Fest's, on some of the biggest jumps in the world. However, it should also be mentioned here that the Gambler Tuned, especially with 29-inch wheels, is basically a classic race bike and not so much a park bike, but the various setting options and the free choice of wheels can be used to fine-tune the Gambler's character if necessary .

On rougher terrain, the Gambler performed exactly as you would expect from a modern 29-inch downhill race bike. It radiated a lot of smoothness and could also be controlled with absolute precision. A lot of speed could be generated through rough passages, because the 29er aluminum wheels rolled over (almost) everything without any problems and provided a little more comfort, since the combination of frame and cockpit seemed quite stiff. For less experienced riders in particular, a conventional cockpit made of aluminum, which is less rigid, is recommended on this bike instead of the Syncros handlebar-stem combination. Personally, I had few problems in the test, but the handlebars had to be held tight in washed-out areas and on brake shafts, which can cause a lot of arm pump, especially on longer distances.

In Steinfeld, the new Gambler marched in a great 29er manner and was particularly impressive due to its effectiveness, since it went purposefully towards the valley even when choosing the wrong line. What I particularly liked was that the bike is absolutely quiet, almost noiseless, which was favored in the test by the quiet Syncros hub and the internal cable routing, among other things. On natural trails that are a little narrower

The Gambler Tuned 900 knew how to convince in the test and showed everything that is necessary for a modern downhill race bike. The equipment seemed very well thought out and left nothing to be desired, because in addition to the excellent working chassis, there was little to complain about in terms of the choice of components - unfortunately the test period was too short to draw a final conclusion with regard to the durability of the attachments and to give the frame. Except for a small dent on the front wheel, a few minor paint chips on the chainstays and the bottom bracket, there were no defects in the test.

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