Nerd Alert! Rare Structure SCW1 Prototype Bike for Sale

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This caught our eye in the Singletrack Classifieds. I mean, why wouldn’t it? With echoes of the old Whyte PRST1 but a stack of new tech, it’s a bike nerd’s treat. We figured before it finds its way to a new owner, we ought to find out a bit more about this Structure SCW1 Prototype. Get yourself over to the Classifieds sharpish if you want to snap it up for yourself!

In the listing, the owner, Simon, says:

Opportunity to own a really unique bike – probably the only one in the UK.  This is a final pre-production prototype of the SCW1 – identical to the production bikes but with a clear coat lacquer rather than paint. There are a few minor knocks from storage but it’s barely ever been ridden (evident from the build kit).  

Size is G2 “medium” – 460mm Reach 

The build kit is super high spec 

  • SRAM XX1 drivetrain
  • We Are One Union wheelset on DT240s
  • One Up 180 seat post and lever 
  • Race Face stem and carbon bar. 

Retail price of this spec is £8650 (plus shipping, VAT and import duty). Frame/fork/shocks – £4400

Looking for £3000 complete, £1250 frame/fork/shocks 

Get in touch for more history, info or to haggle.

We had questions! Luckily, Simon was up for answering them, so here you go….

How did he come to own this unusual bike?

The basics are that Structure started their marketing push through 2019. At that stage they had the prototypes and a handful of ‘production’ frames made.  They were taking pre-orders for the initial batch of sixty frames which were supposed to be delivered in April 2020

I was going to be the UK ambassador and was gearing up at the start of 2020, and registered a ltd company at the start of March with some of that first batch (including a bike in my size) coming to the UK…… but then Covid hit.  

By the time that first production run finally made it to Canada 18 months later, at end of 2021, the bike market was a very different place.  My understanding is their plans for an expanded range of bikes are still on hold and the founder is focussing on use of the patented suspension tech in ATV vehicles.

Why aren’t you keeping it? And what’s it like to ride?

“I’ve had this bike in store since 2020.  I can ride it but it’s too small for me (it has a reach of 460, I ride 500+) so while I’ve got a feel for how it handles it feels too cramped for me to really enjoy it. The front suspension is stunningly smooth – it sucks up roots and trail chatter like nothing else I’ve ridden.  When the suspension compresses the head angle gets slacker so it’s super stable but without the disadvantages a slack head angle normally gives for slower speed handling. Combined with the anti-dive gives an impressive level of control on steeps and switchbacks.

And just how rare is this bike?

How many worldwide? Production batch 60…maybe another 10 or so prototypes and the first batch of demo bikes they had built.

Thanks to Simon for talking us through this bike – let us (and him!) know if you’re tempted to buy it!

Author Profile Picture
Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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Home Forums Nerd Alert! Rare Structure SCW1 Prototype Bike for Sale

Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 25 total)
  • Nerd Alert! Rare Structure SCW1 Prototype Bike for Sale
  • chakaping
    Full Member

    I mean, the frame & fork price is arguably a bit of a bargain (for someone else) for something so unique.

    woody2000
    Full Member

    Weird – never heard of this brand until this week when my lad was watching a video about it on YouTube. Now there’s one for sale here ?

    Still don’t want it!

    nickc
    Full Member

    I count At least 38? bearings and bushes assuming that the ones on the lower swingarm are singles and not double blinds or anything daft like that…

    yeah, I’ll pass thanks.

    sharkattack
    Full Member

    I like the colour

    Bruce
    Full Member

    You could spend half the rest of your life looking for creeks!

    househusband
    Full Member

    That looks more like one of my whippets squatting for a jobbie than the very first Santa Cruz Nomad however many years ago…

    tomhoward
    Full Member

    I’m saving up for something else, sorry ;-)

    rickon
    Free Member

    I’d be interested to know why being the UK Ambassador for the brand requires setting up a ltd company.

    Did Simon mean he was going to be UK Distributor?

    Mugboo
    Full Member

    @woody2000 show it to Gareth, he loved his Whyte!

    halifaxpete
    Full Member

    I kinda dig it, as said on rarity alone it seems a bargain! Remember spotting a PTRS1 on a ride in the lakes years ago and being fascinated/baffled by it.

    FunkyDunc
    Free Member

    Stealth ad ?

    comet
    Full Member

    There have been so many attempts over the years to develop alternative front suspension for motorbikes and mountain bikes, yet we keep coming back to telescopic forks …

    boco
    Full Member

    Shaking my pitch fork. Anyone waxing lyrical about a Prst1 has never owned one! I did, worst bike ever!!

    BruceWee
    Full Member

    There have been so many attempts over the years to develop alternative front suspension for motorbikes and mountain bikes, yet we keep coming back to telescopic forks …

    People like their bikes to look like bikes.

    woody2000
    Full Member

    Here’s the review I mentioned

    comet
    Full Member

    People like their bikes to look like bikes.

    And ride like bikes, too.

    chakaping
    Full Member

    I mean, I’ve no interest in buying the thing but who wouldn’t want to take it for a spin, eh?

    blackhat
    Free Member

    ooh, my eyes hurt

    dartdude
    Free Member

    Oooof, stealthy Addy ;d

    BruceWee
    Full Member

    And ride like bikes, too.

    Interesting point.

    It’s clear that telescopic forks have some pretty huge disadvantages (and one huge advantage*) that riders have learned to ride around through successive generations of riders.  Also, fork manufacturers have tweaked the design relentlessly for 30 odd years to reduce these disadvantages as much as possible.

    It’s interesting that whenever someone comes up with a non-telescopic solution people’s reactions are so positive.  These solutions are more or less the equivalent of the early elastomer forks and yet people often still feel these other solutions are at least as good. Or at least, the advantages and the disadvantages cancel each other out.

    If these designs had 30 years of being optimised I suspect people would look at telescopic forks and wonder how we ever managed to ride those things.

    But that’s not going to happen, because people like their bikes to look like bikes.

    *the huge advantage telescopic forks have is the direct connection from the handlebars to the axle.  Any non-telescopic fork solution is going to have to minimise that loss of connection.  If they’d have had 30 years of design iterations to do so I doubt it would be an issue.

    hightensionline
    Full Member

    Possibly, but going back 30 years to the examples of non-telescopic forks in those days makes me wonder if it’s just a design cul-de-sac.
    Telescopic forks work well enough, I suppose.

    hot_fiat
    Full Member

    Every BMW GS owner I know absolutely raves about how good a magic carpet the front suspension is. I’ve one mate who went from a 1250GS to 5 years on an XR and then recently on to a Honda NT1100 and still complains that neither of the last two are as good at the front as the GS’s telelever. We’re used to forks as they’re cheap, easy to design and you can cludge them, like a 911, to make them less inherently flawed, but fundamentally they’re not the best technical solution.

    stevehine
    Full Member

    As a former PRST (1 and 4) owner who didn’t hate it – if this was a L or XL I’d be buying it in a heartbeat !

    joshvegas
    Free Member

    Non telescopic forks are probably more relevant now than ever.

    Every step away from stabdards and the use of integrated bits and pieces, and the huge prices it kinda makes more sense that you buy a frame and forks as a unit.

    Kinda… But then again, rigid single speed here so what do i know…

    nickc
    Full Member

    Telescopic forks work well enough, I suppose.

    Yup, For most folks, they’re predictable,  easy to service, don’t have a gazillion bearing to get sloppy or seized, and will perform as well as most folks require, and in comparison to all the current alternatives; are cheaper. Sure telescopic forks have downsides in theory, but like other theoretical ‘bad things’ pedal kickback or brake jack, how much that effects the average Joe’s enjoyment is debatable.

    These things are always interesting, but like alternative drivetrains, they’ll always be niche.

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