The History Of The Scott Genius

The Scott Genius, a name synonymous with innovation and performance in the mountain biking world, has a legacy that spans nearly two decades and at Westbrook Cycles, we have been stocking and supplying the Genius to our customers for those two decades. This is one of the all time great full suspension mountain bikes, and in this post - we run through some of its history that we are proud to have played our small part in.

2003 - The Birth of a Legend

The Scott Genius made its debut in 2003, and it immediately turned heads with its cutting-edge design and technology.

The first of the Genius was designed for all-mountain riding, the initial model featured the innovative Equalizer shock, a rear shock that allowed riders to switch between three different travel settings (full travel, traction mode, and lockout) with just a flick of a lever.

This versatility immediately set the Genius apart from other mountain bikes on the market and established Scott as a leader in bike innovation. If Scott wanted this bike to be launched with a bang, they certainly managed it - with the Genius being the first bike to win a world championship back in 2003 under the capable riding of Thomas Frischkhnect, riding this all new 120mm travel full suspension mountain bike.

2008 - Traction Control System (Twinloc)

In 2008, the Scott Genius underwent a significant redesign and development. The introduction of the Traction Control System (TCS) allowed riders to adjust the rear suspension travel and geometry on the fly from the handlebars.

This system further enhanced the bike's versatility, making it even more capable of handling various terrains and riding styles and this design, known as the Twinloc - is still in use across the full Scott range today.

2011 - Carbon Integration

The next major leap came in 2011 when Scott introduced a full-carbon frame for the Genius. Most bikes are now available in carbo n fibre guise, but it’s still impressive looking back and seeing Scott make these frames over thirteen years ago.

Although innovative at the time, the industry now understands carbon fibre - so it’s easy enough to figure out that this change significantly reduced the bike's weight while maintaining its strength and durability, whilst allowing Scott to experiment with new manufacturing techniques.

The carbon frame not only improved the overall ride quality but also made the Genius one of the lightest full suspension mountain bikes available at the time.

2013 - 27.5-Inch Wheels

In response to the growing popularity of mid-sized wheels, Scott released the Genius with 27.5-inch wheels back in 2013.

This change provided a perfect balance between the agility of 26-inch wheels and the rollover capabilities of 29-inch wheels which is well documented.

The new wheel size, combined with the bike's advanced suspension system, further improved the riding experience for everyday riders and those wanting to set records.

2016- Genius eRIDE (e-Genius)

Scott was quite late in bringing the Genius to the electric mountain bike party, but that changed back in 2016.

Scott launched the E-Genius in 2016, which later became the Genius eRIDE in 2020. This electric-assist version of the Genius combined the bike's legendary design with a powerful motor and battery system, allowing everyday riders to ride harder and further.

The Genius eRIDE quickly became a favorite among e-bike enthusiasts and it continues to be a favorite today.

2023 - Genius Reimagined

After a takeover of another mountain bike brand, Scott introduced the unified suspension platform, integrating the rear shock into the frame for better protection and improved performance. This brings a unique look to the bike, with the rear shock stowed away inside of the bike's frame.

The bike's geometry was also updated to reflect the more modern and more demanding trail riding trends, meaning the Genius was designed with a slacker head angle and a longer reach, which results in more stability and more control whilst out on the trails.

Scott Genius Online at Westbrook Cycles

At Westbrook Cycles, we stock and supply the complete range of Scott Genius, including the Genius eRide. We also stock and supply a complete range of spare parts and components for the Genius.