Even though the bike has two distinctly different feeling set-ups, which Scott say is like having two completely different bikes, the steeper personality is a shadow of the looser bike and wouldn’t compare as strongly to many other production bikes with those angles. The Fox 40 balances this bike beautifully, probably the best pairing on any production bike. Shimano Zee brakes are solid with a smooth range. The only real component glitch being the wheelset, which came apart sooner than anticipated. On a ‘smooth to scary track toughness continuum’ the scott sits firmly on the end. Even with adjustable angles this bike has only one thing on its mind – speed. The firm damping, slack ride and stiff chassis takes getting used to relative to the many softer, flexier production downhill bikes. It’s very much made for hard and fast riding and I don’t believe this bike is for everyone. Having said that it’s most definitely one of my favourites. Its strength is its strength, and to say you would be over-biked on the majority of what the UK downhill scene has to offer kind of puts into perspective what you’re dealing with here. If you’re looking for average, look elsewhere, but if you really have the terrain and the bollocks to take this bike to the limits then fill your boots, for I doubt you’ll find much better.