Tweaking your new softwail for peak perfomance...

[h4tch3t]

Hey all,

 

 

 

Need some help help getting the best out of my new soft tail(Scott Spark 30). I realized during the first ride yesterday the following(after riding a Scott Scale HT for 2 years):

 

 

 

1) Steering angle to great(the bars are about 10cm longer than that of my hard tail), thus less accuracy and slower in tight turns.

 

 

 

2) The extra knobbly wide tires from Schwalbe (Nobby Nic) makes for loose cornering on single trek.

 

 

 

Should I cut the bars or just get straight narrower bars as supplied on the limited version of the Scott spark for better accuracy and quicker steering?

 

 

 

What tires should I replace the Schwalbe's with...? I have a set of Maxxis Cross Rides I haven't used yet, would these be slightly better?

 

 

 

Any other streamlining tips will be appreciated. I want more speed out of this bike. It's pretty light already weighing in at 11kg's flat.

 

 

 

Thanx

[Mackie]

I also ride Nobby Nic's & love them, you need a wider more aggressive tyre pattern up front and can get away with a "quicker" narrower tyre out back. Cut thos bars, Mine cut to 580mm and I ride grip shifts and have bar ends, feels like I have power steering. Also helps not getting your bars stuck in the bushes in narrow ass single track

[h4tch3t]

Is there some general rule towards the bar width one should follow? I've been googling and the default seems to be shoulder width. Right now I'm just keen on setting my riding position up similar to that of my HT by placing the bikes next to each other and taking some measurements.

 

 

[Mackie]

Rule of thumb is shoulder width, but the over riding factor with all bike set up and equipment choice is comfort, do what is good for you and what will give you more confidence

[wonduhboy]

what's the best way to cut the h.bars?

[h4tch3t]

LOL - I hacked mine with a plain hacksaw this morning.

 

Made a huge difference in handling and I' quite happy.

 

I would however suggest you take the bars off completely and put them in a vice. I did mine while on the bike, only moved the components over so I have enough room. Came out pretty well for free hand sawing...