The Scott CR1 SL is a road bike which is oriented around providing comfort to those who also want top notch performance on the tarmac. The comfort features are built in along with many weight saving properties to keep it as light as possible, while the frame compliance manages to gel with lateral stiffness to make sure that acceleration and speed are also on the menu.
The Scott CR1 SL is built around the HMF NET frame with IMP carbon technology. This is a light and hardy design which has plenty of continuous lines and slickly integrated features to gawp at. This includes the bottom bracket, which is part of the mainframe and thus is a feature that preserves rigidity while lowering the weight of the bike.
The IMP technology goes hand in hand with Scott’s Naked External Tubeset, essentially indicating that the manufacturer has not arbitrarily added a final layer of carbon to the frame simply in order to augment the aesthetics. As such the Scott CR1 SL looks every inch the long distance road racer and touring champion.
At the front you get the carbon fork which uses the same technology as the frame. It has been redesigned for 2012 and now weighs in at just 330 grams. Scott has been careful to make sure that the fork gives the bike an integral feeling of stability and control while still allowing it to reduce the impact of road rumble and match the expectations relating to comfort which come with any bike of this kind.
Shock Damping System
This is all thanks to the shock damping system (SDS) which is a feature at the front and rear. This is something that defines much of this bike range, but it is most impressively implemented and obvious when you get onboard the Scott CR1 SL. You might assume that a taught road bike would leave little to the imagination when encountering less well preserved surfaces, but SDS does a good job of minimising the discomfort and fatigue which can originate as a result of vibrations and impacts.
Of course the vertical compliance does not mean that you cannot put power down when necessary. While the fork keeps things tight and manageable in the ascents, the Shimano Dura-Ace drivetrain helps to deliver the power you need to tackle climbs without running out of steam. The Hollowtech II crankset is appropriately light and durable and the transmission gives the impression that it will stay in one piece mile after mile without much trouble.
The wheelset consists of Mavic Ksyrium SL black hubs and rims with Continental Grand Prix 4000 tyres. These work well together whatever the weather and also make sure that the lightness of the frame and drivetrain components is not detracted from. You get Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900 Super SLR brakes with dual pivot operation for smooth, consistent performance.
Since comfort and lightness go hand in hand when it comes to the Scott CR1 SL, the presence of the Fizik Arione CX saddle and Ritche Carbon Superlogic seat post will not be too surprising. The Ritchey WCS Logic Curve handlebar follows this line of thinking.
The Scott CR1 SL is the bike to watch at the top end of this manufacturer’s performance range. It has been revised in order to minimise weight while maximising comfort and you can certainly tell the difference when it is compared with its contemporary stable mates and also its predecessors. While these capabilities come at a cost that might put some off, those with the right budgetary elasticity might find it a suitable partner for all day riding.
