Contender Ten Best of 2021: A Dialed SCOTT Genius Tuned AXS

You’re not going to find any genius puns for this custom 2022 SCOTT Genius 900 Tuned bike. What you’ll find, instead, is one of the last disciples of the plus tire scene out there, and perhaps one of the nicest new mountain bikes that can fit a plus tire today. For the plus tire devotee, that enough is cause for celebration.

Let’s talk plus tires. If you don’t know, they refer to mountain bike tires that typically have a 2.8” - 3.0” width. They were usually of the 27.5” flavor rather than 29”, and a lot of mountain bikes were able to fit these 27.5” plus tires because they have a similar outside diameter to a 29 x 2.3” tire and wheel combination. Often called 27.5+, they were all over the place in the mountain bike world.

We saw plus tires adopted by riders of all skills and backgrounds. People liked the wider footprint underneath the wheels, which means that riders are less likely to skid out in a flat corner and have better braking when you need it most. And while some people thought they “dumbed down” mountain biking, they make riding just a bit more comfortable on the trail.

There are caveats to plus tires, of course. More rubber means it is a bit heavier as a whole, and while you feel the added traction on technical climbs, you also feel that same traction slowing you down on pavement and dirt roads. Tire pressure, as important as it is for any mountain bike, it is particularly important for a plus tire. Being one or two PSI off can lead to a particularly bouncy or draggy ride, requiring experimentation and a strong understanding of the trail underneath you.

So why this bike? The Genius mountain bike is a very efficient pedaler, even with 150mm suspension front and rear. It is also exceptionally light for a bike with this much suspension, being one of the lightest 150mm trail bikes available. But we think this bike is particularly adept at being a plus bike for its bottom bracket height, which is relatively high at 344mm. Adding plus tires makes you feel more in the bike when descending, which when paired to the grip of plus tires, makes for a confidence-inspiring ride.

This bike isn’t for everyone. Not everyone digs SCOTT’s Twinloc suspension. Not everyone likes ENVE wheels either, and the same goes for the Syncros Hixon one-piece handlebar. But for those who appreciate this bike, there are few options better. 

See the component spec and more photos of this 2022 SCOTT Genius 900 Tuned below.