2016 Scott Gambler 710 Bike

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Right off the bat, one of the positive things that I loved about this bike was the adjustability of the geometry. You can adjust headset angle, chain stay length, and bottom bracket height. I found myself to prefer the short chain stay setting, at 63 degree head angle, in the low bottom bracket setting. This allowed the bike to be a little more lively and aggressive, however, If I were to race I would recommend the longer chain stay position. I also loved the component spec that came on the bike and never felt that I was looking for more out of the components aside from a stiffer more reliably rim. As I went through two of the stock syncross rims.

As far as the bike performance itself, it felt as if it had a point and shoot type mentality and was ready to head down whatever you pointed it at. The bike did seem to be a little sloppy jumping out of corners and was not that playful, however, I felt the bike jumped better then I had expected. My complaint with the bike would be the linkage system that Scott uses. It seemed very linear, so having the float x2 rear shock, and tossing a bunch of volume spacers in there did allow for a more progressive feel, but with the limitation of spacers allowed in the new float x2 I still felt that the gambler blows through the bottom end of the stroke. Two other friends and myself, who have all had this bike found that it blows through the travel and doesn't feel very progressive. After a bunch of tuning to the air shock and adding spacers I got it to feel really good. However, with a coil I felt that it was easy to blow through the bottom half of the travel. I was running 30 percent sag with both the air and coil. However trying the air at 25 percent sag was a little harsh in small bump sensitivity, although it did help the bottom half of the stroke. This year they announced that they developed a more progressive linkage that you would be able to purchase so that will help. 

All in all I really enjoyed the bike and it pushed me to become a better rider, and with the new linkage update I feel it will be an all around more capable DH machine.