HMF carbon-fiber makes this ride the perfect rig for the aspiring. Light, stiff, able, with plenty of travel, the Scott Genius LT 700 HMF is the smart buy, mixing up with top-shelf bikes while sporting a lower price tag. Combine 27.5” wheels, 170mm travel with a stiff chassis weighing only 2770g, including shock, and you’ve got a bike that plays well up and down the mountain, no matter how far over the edge you want to ride.

Scott’s mastery of carbon-fiber is only comparable to their dominion over geometry. They’ve been building in carbon for so long that this bike weighs less than many competitor’s premium offering, even though it is in second position in the Scott enduro lineup. The frame looks like the HMX version because it comes from the same molds, features the same geometry, rear end, the same internal routing. In other words, an identical ride, save the lower price and slightly higher weight.

Weight isn’t everything, of course. The active suspension features 170mm of travel. The rear linkage is laterally stiff thanks to smart placement of pivots, starting with the wide swingarm pivot point above the BB92 bottom bracket, continuing back to the wide 142x12 thru-axle (which, thanks to Scott’s IDS-SL system, can be changed to 135x12, and 135 quick release), and then up to the rocker, where a reversible chip that is built into the top of the suspension linkage. There’s a “low” and “high position,” which changes the bottom bracket height, the effective chainstay length, and the seat and head angles. Those who like more of a cross-country ride will probably prefer the low, and those who like more aggressive riding will probably like the high, but you can change the setting in about a minute to decide for yourself, and tune on the trail.

The bike is also a joy to pedal because of the combination of steep seat angle, short chainstays, and slack head angle. A rear wheel that feels underneath rather than behind has better traction and feels more responsive to the application of power.

Control over the extreme rough stuff is why you came looking at this bike. And with the long-travel fork and shock, you can get in pretty deep over your head and still be in control. This is thanks to Scott’s partnership with Fox, which supplies front and rear suspension elements for the complete bikes, and the shock for the frames. The rear has Fox’s Nude DPS with EVOL sleeve for greater adjustability. Even with all the tuning in the shock, trail conditions change, and with that in mind, Scott supplies their TwinLoc remote with the Genius LT. It’s a three-position remote controlling both front and rear suspension, letting you toggle between open, traction control, and firm while you ride.

Enduro bike riders have gravitated toward single-ring setups as they’ve become more accessible. The Genius LT can handle both 1x and double-ring setups with ease. For the single-ring setups, Scott includes their integrated chain guide, the lightest on the market, which rides on the swingarm.

Another common accessory for the all mountain crowd is a dropper post. Here, too, Scott includes internal routing in the bare frame, and a RockShox Reverb Stealth with complete bikes. Likewise, complete bikes come with 203mm rotors in front and 180mm in the rear.

The Scott Genius LT 700 HMF shows its IQ in how it adapts to the wide variety of trails you ride.