Scott Addict Gravel 10 Review

Scott Addict Gravel 10 is the upper end of the model range, and a prime example of exactly how a performance gravel bike should look and feel. Don’t skip past this because the of the price, as the range is huge and the bike is great.

• Brand: Scott
• Product: Addict Gravel 10
• From: Scott Bikes
• Price: £5,799
• SQUIRREL_TEXT_12999288
• Tested: by Amanda for 1 month

Pros

• Looks. Everything about it looks cool
• Really well considered build kits
• Superb handling on and off road

Cons

• Bars are too wide for this size frame (and arrived with the levers in the wrong position)
• Shorter cranks on this size frame
• Tyres are not suitable in the wet

The Build

The double chainring drivetrain [SRAM FORCE eTap AXS 24-Speed, 10-36 with 46/33T] feels like a conservative decision on a bike like this. Something so obviously suited to the rapidly emerging gravel racing scene would surely have been better off with a good size single ring, maybe keep the 46t big ring it currently has and have a 10-52t cassette out back. This gives near identical top and bottom gear ratios as the current 33-46t chainrings and 10-36t but with less filler ratios in between and significantly more front chainring security. I also don’t think I’d want to do first hand research of the unreliability of SRAM front shifting that I’ve heard about from various sources – that’s speculation on my part though.

The entire Addict gravel range comes with a double chain set excluding one or two of the mid-range models. This is despite gravel bikes popularly adopting single chainrings and broad ratio cassettes out back. All that said, the Force AXS groupset on this bike does work flawlessly and silently.

The DT Swiss GRC 1400 wheels are top spec with a DT 240 hub, aero comp straight pull spokes and a 42mm deep tubeless hookless rim. The hub is a long-standing DT staple of quality and something you’d expect to rely on for many years. The rim is of excellent modern geometry being 24mm wide internally, and it will give as much volume as possible to the 45mm tyres fitted. If you were to use this bike as a dual-purpose road and gravel bike they would take a large volume (32-35mm) road tyre and make an excellent fast road setup too.

The Syncros finishing kit includes a carbon handlebar and seatpost and an aluminium stem. All of excellent quality with the handlebar deserving of a special mention. It has an ultra short reach of only 60mm which is the least of any drop bar I’ve ever known. It also has a short drop of 115mm and 16 degree flare. This culminates to a very compact feeling cockpit around the hoods and drops which feels easy to switch between the two – an asset when riding off road.

The Scott Addict Gravel range is vast, but from the lowest in the range at £2,299 up to this model at £5,799, the frame is the same construction, so it’s really all about the components and the paint job. If you want an even lighter bike, the RC and Tuned models use a different carbon filament, but combined with the elite build spec on those ones you’d be spending over £8,000. The range is really good, there are models within it that are actually quite competitively priced in the current market.

Sizing and Geometry

The geometry and sizing is carefully considered classic road bike sizing with a few gravel tweaks like slightly slacker head angle (resulting in longer wheelbase) and a slightly shorter stem than you might find on a road bike. The result is a beautifully neutral handling bike with the right balance of stability and agility for its expected use.

I am 173cm which puts me at the upper end of a size small. Apart from the bars feeling slightly too wide, the sizing is perfect for me. It’s a rare occasion that a gravel bike turns up and I don’t have to push the saddle inwards on the limit of the rails or put a shorter stem on.

The Ride

As mentioned, off-road handling is agile and the ride is smooth and super stable. It’s a really high performing gravel bike, yet no sacrifices are made on the road riding side of things. This bike is so fast, like really really fast. Somehow Scott has found the perfect balance of a performance road bike and capable gravel bike.

Shifting is silent and smooth, and the bike is blisteringly light and responsive under power. A bike that makes you feel like you can travel far and fast on tarmac, yet teases you into off-road adventures with it’s balanced and comfortable ride. It’s the full package.

Aero tubing, a stiff light frame and sizing that allows you to tuck into a racing position make this one of the more versatile gravel bikes around. I would argue that tyre choice is the defining factor of intended use on this bike. If I were shopping for a road bike, this would be as high on my list as it is for a gravel bike.

Overall

One of the most balanced and stable gravel bikes I’ve ridden, both on and off road, making this a versatile choice that could open doors for you in terms of riding and adventuring. I have been shying away from taking gravel bikes off-road during winter, but I’ve spent the past month wanting to ride everything, everywhere, on this bike. That mischievous feeling of spotting an unknown Bridleway sign and following it is no worries on the Scott Addict. Equally, if you need to get somewhere in a hurry it’ll safely ride at speeds you’d expect from a performance road bike. The Scott Addict Gravel 10 A bike that makes you feel like you can travel far and fast on tarmac, yet teases you into off-road adventures with it’s balanced and comfortable ride. It’s the full package.

Scott Addict Gravel 10 Specification

• Frame // Addict Gravel Disc HMF Carbon
• Fork // Addict Gravel HMF Flatmount
• Wheels // DT Swiss GRC1400
• Front tyre // Schwalbe G-One Bite Performance 700x45C
• Rear tyre // Schwalbe G-One Bite Performance 700x45C
• Chainset // SRAM FORCE Crankset 46/33
• Drivetrain // SRAM FORCE eTap AXS
• Brakes // SRAM Rival eTap AXS, 160/160mm
• Stem // Syncros RR2.0, 31.8mm
• Bars // Syncros Creston 1.0 X Carbon, 31.8mm
• Bar Tape // Scott
• Seatpost // Syncros Duncan 1.0 Aero
• Saddle // Syncros Tofino Regular 1.0 Cutout
• Bottom Bracket // SRAM DUB
• Size tested // S52
• Sizes available // XS49, S52, M54, L56, XL58
• Weight // 8.4kg
• Head angle // 70°
• Effective seat angle // 74°
• Seat tube length //507mm
• Head tube length // 122mm
• Chainstay // 425mm
• Wheelbase // 1,023mm
• Effective top tube // 534mm
• BB height // 71mm BB drop
• Reach // 378mm

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