Ransom

mtb5999–9999 USD

Origin

2019. The Ransom name traces to 2005 — one of the first carbon all-mountain bikes ever made. It was retired for years before Scott relaunched it in 2019 as a modern 170mm enduro bike to replace the Genius LT. Where the Genius focused on do-everything versatility, the Ransom committed fully to gravity performance while staying lighter than most competitors.

Specifications

Frame: HMX carbon (900 RC, full carbon front+rear); HMF carbon mainframe + 6061 alloy swingarm on 910/920. Patented IST integrated shock + 6-Link (6-bar) rear suspension. BB92, Boost 148/110 axles, claimed RC frame weight ~2,800g.
Weight: kg
Drivetrain: 1×12. 900 RC: SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission (AXS wireless, XS-1295 10-52T, 32T ring, DUB BB). 910: SRAM GX Eagle AXS. 920: SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed.
Brakes: 4-piston hydraulic disc. 900 RC: SRAM Code Ultimate, 200/200 mm. 910: Shimano XT, 200/180 mm. 920: Shimano M6120 (Deore 4-piston).
Wheels: 29" (mullet-ready via flip chip to 27.5" rear). 900 RC: Race Face Turbine R 30 mm alloy rims. 910: Syncros Revelstoke 2.0 alloy. 920: Syncros Revelstoke 2.5 alloy. Boost hubs.

The verdict

+Strengths

Best-in-class weight for 170mm travel: 15.2kg (900 RC) is a benchmark — competitors with 30mm less travel haven't matched it
6-bar kinematics praised as 'genuinely best-in-class' and 'one of the best at eating trail chatter' in head-to-head tests
Horizontal IST shock enables full-length droppers in all sizes — practical advantage over vertical-mounted rivals
TracLoc integrates dropper + suspension into one lever cluster — cleans up the cockpit meaningfully
Mullet flip chip preserves kinematics in both 29" and MX configurations — not just a wheel size option, actually works
Matchbox Kit is a genuine practical win — secure, no rattle, always there
Geometry (63.8° HTA, 458mm reach MD, 77.2° STA) is modern and well-calibrated for enduro

−Weaknesses

6-bar linkage = 6 pivots to service — maintenance complexity and time significantly higher than 4-bar bikes
IST shock access is better than Genius (larger cover, press-button) but still more complex than external mount
TracLoc operates shock only — fork remains on its own circuit (vs old TwinLoc that could lock both simultaneously)
Gen 1 review noted: 'perched on top of the bike rather than integrated' on aggressive terrain — high BB feel
Gen 1 2.6" tyre choice criticised as too thin-walled for aggressive enduro use — upgrade recommended
Limited to 4 frame sizes — some riders find size gaps between MD and LG
Gen 2 price ($5,999–$9,999) puts it at the sharp end of the enduro market

Did you know

01The Ransom 900 RC at 15.2kg is among the lightest 170mm enduro bikes in production — lighter than many bikes with 30mm less travel
02The 6-bar linkage gives engineers independent control over anti-squat, anti-rise, and progression — not possible with simpler 4-bar designs
03Horizontal shock orientation (vs Genius/Spark's vertical) means full-length dropper posts fit in all frame sizes including small
04The Matchbox Kit (tube, levers, tool) slots perfectly into the downtube storage with no rattling — a Scott/Syncros exclusive
05The original 2005 Ransom was ridden by Scott athletes to some of the era's most ambitious mountain descents — a seminal bike in the history of long-travel MTB
06Gen 1 (2019) Ransom was one of the few 170mm bikes to use a Fox NUDE shock with adjustable ramp (auxiliary air chamber flip switch) — letting riders go linear for trail or progressive for park without a rebuild
07TracLoc (Gen 2) integrates dropper post remote into the same left-hand lever assembly as the suspension modes — three levers total on the left bar

Who it’s for

Enduro racers (EWS / amateur)Aggressive all-mountain riders who prioritise descendingBike park regulars who also pedal to trail accessRiders wanting lightest possible 170mm bike (900 RC)