Relying too heavily on the TwinLoc system the Scott Ransom just isn’t the bike it could be if it simply utilized the suspension it chose to its fullest. While being a shredder and a great option for enduro races, the suspension just isn’t quite what we were hoping for, and the rest of the impressive bike fell to the wayside. It is a downhill shredder and great for some laps in the bike park. If you don’t climb a lot and mainly use gravity for propulsion, this is a great option.

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See Our Best Long Travel Mountain Bike Review 2021 Article HERE!

An Enduro purebred through and through, this bike also comes with some cheeky technology to give you that upper hand if you’re racing your friends to the cooler at the end of the day. Scott has brought back the Ransom after a 10-year hiatus. The initial Ransom that came out those many years ago looks so awesome with sharp lines and a proprietary rear suspension, but the new Ransom looks a lot like every other bike on the market. Ah well, it shreds harder and is packed with technology, so we can’t really complain.

The Bike

Using Scott’s TwinLoc system, the front and rear suspension can be set in three different levels: Lockout mode—which is for climbing; Traction Control mode—which is about half lockout to help in the uphills when things get bumpy; and Descend mode—which is wide open suspension. Traction Control turns the rear suspension into 120mm travel to allow for some small bump sensitivity.

The TwinLoc system did require a custom rear shock from Fox, but due to the TwinLoc system, it has been compromised and does not have any additional adjustment except for the three settings provided by Scott. The Scott Ransom is also available in 27.5” wheels with just the switch of a flip-chip.

Climbing

Bred to be an Enduro rider, the Scott Ransom climbs fairly well—thanks to the TwinLoc suspension lockout system that is controlled from a handlebar-mounted remote. The two main settings for climbing are Lockout, which completely locks the fork and rear shock out for efficient climbing, and Traction Control, which drops the travel down to 120mm to allow for small bump sensitivity if the climbs get choppy.

There isn’t anything too flashy about the climbing skill of the Ransom. It will go up and go up without too much argument. The weight and the lockout ability does help to get the wheel to the top of the hill.

Downhill

Once that switch is clicked to Descend Mode the bike comes alive. It is an Enduro rider through and through, and it really shows when the front wheel is pointed downhill. With the flip-chip on the bike, you can switch out the 29” tires for 27.5”s for that added snappiness in a bike park or on some flowing terrain. The brakes are solid and keep everything in check when the bike wants to get you out of your comfort zone. Some riders have had an issue with the tires that Scott has chosen as their stock option. With single sidewalls and the type of riding you are likely to encounter on a bike with this amount of travel, they could have gone with something burlier with better casings.

An issue with the TwinLoc system, however, is that to make it work, Scott has had to compromise the shock and forks. So there are not the same adjustment dials that you would find on this level of shock. You are still with the three levels of the TwinLoc and don’t have any other control over the suspension than that. So for a bike of this caliber and price, you would expect to have some more control over your suspension settings.

Build Options

There are four build options for the Ransom at the moment—two are carbon-framed bikes and the others are alloy. The fanciest model, the Ransom 900 with the AXS drivetrain (wireless), will set you back $8,999.99, which is pretty good for a wireless drivetrain. The other carbon frame model is the Ransom 910 is $5,999.99, again a pretty good price for a carbon frame and (compromised) Fox 38 Float with SRAM GX drivetrain.

The two alloy models are the Ransom 920 ($4,499.99) and the 930 ($3,999.99). While it is impossible to find the prices on Scott’s website, check with your local bike shop or online stores like Jenson USA.

The Bottom Line

While being a solid enduro racer, Scott seems to have missed the mark with the TwinLoc system. It takes too much away from a really good fork and rear shock. The convenience of the lockout system is overshadowed by the challenge of dialing in the suspension performance. If they had gotten a little more aggressive with the geometry, the TwinLoc wouldn’t be necessary.

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