Ransom

The 2024-present Scott Ransom is a complete reset of Scott’s long-travel platform, moving the bike decisively away from the previous generation’s long-travel-trail identity and into the modern enduro category. It remains a 170mm bike, but almost everything important has changed: the frame is built around Scott’s integrated suspension concept with the rear shock housed inside the downtube, the rear end uses a new six-bar layout with a concentric bottom-bracket pivot, and the chassis is designed from the outset around geometry adjustment and wheel-format flexibility. The frame also uses the large downtube access port for shock access and, on many builds, in-frame storage, making the integration more functional than cosmetic alone.

What distinguishes the Ransom in this market is not just the hidden shock, but the way Scott combines that architecture with a very specific ride brief. The bike pairs a steep effective seat angle in the 77° range with a very slack front end, and it includes both angle-adjust headset cups and a rear flip chip that enables either full 29in or mullet setups. Scott also separates this bike from many rivals with its TracLoc system, which changes rear suspension behavior on the fly rather than simply offering a basic lockout. In practical terms, the Ransom sits at the sharper, more technical end of the premium enduro segment: a race-capable, bike-park-ready machine aimed at riders who want downhill composure without giving up meaningful climbing efficiency.

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Build

Reviews

Reviewers were broadly aligned that the new Ransom is a much more serious enduro bike than the outgoing model. Pinkbike, MTB-Mag and Enduro MTB all described it as a clear shift toward a true enduro or mini-DH character, with descending performance that is markedly more composed at speed. Much of that praise centered on the new six-bar suspension and low shock placement, which testers said gave the bike a planted, ground-hugging feel without making it vague. BikeRadar highlighted the super-stiff chassis and direct handling, while Pinkbike and Bike Rumor both emphasized how effectively the bike blends big-hit capability with unusual climbing composure for a 170mm platform.

A recurring theme in reviews was the usefulness of the TracLoc system. Rather than being a gimmick, reviewers found the middle Ramp Control setting especially valuable, with Bike Rumor and others noting that it makes the bike feel more supportive and playful on flow trails and flatter sections where a full-power 170mm bike can feel wallowy. Enduro MTB went further, calling it one of the best climbers in its analogue enduro test field, and several outlets praised the steep seat angle and efficient pedaling position. At the same time, reviewers did identify tradeoffs. Enduro MTB found the Ransom demanding and not especially forgiving of mistakes, and both they and other testers pointed to the stiff Syncros one-piece cockpit as a possible source of fatigue and arm pump on long, rough descents. Pinkbike and Flow also raised concerns about the proprietary cockpit and headset cable routing making fit changes and maintenance more complicated than on less integrated competitors.