Field Test 2022: Scott Speedster 30 road bike review 

Love the real world level bike reviews - keep them coming CT!

When you have never ridden anything like this. This bike is a Ferrari compared to my 80s bike with one gear... Just my thoughts.. no gimmicks just raw power .

Hearing that the components let this bike down and not the frame, I wish they offered a bare frameset. Too many companies only offer their high end framesets, but getting the speedster frame by itself you could make a much better full bike for cheaper, even if you stuck with cable disc brakes, but did a hybrid like the Juin Tech F1's with a Sensah 1x12 group set and some Elite wheels 😁

While not owning the Speedster 30, I do own the gravel 40 EQ variant. The frame is the same, but the fork is alloy and it shipped with shimano BR RS305 mechanical disc brakes. Both those and the Tiagra groupset were quite a positive surprise to me. As far as internal routing is concerned, I can only say that I have taken it apart and changed/rerouted the housing twice...not a big deal at all.

Im glad the previous gens offer grx hydraulics on all their models. I personally own a 2020 model gravel 20 and I love it.

I bought this model (as road bike) a few months ago, I had a vintage road bike and a basic 3x9 MTB with mechanical brakes before it. Positives: 1. The frame is quite good. 2. 32mm tyres are great for begginers. You can change them for 28mm. 3. Every screw comes with it´s torque gauge. 4. Stem is quite nice since every cable is internal. Negatives: 1. Brakes definetly need an improvement. I couldnt find a great difference in stoping power vs a basic MTB. 2. Shimano Sora is fine but I would like to see this bike with an Tiagra hydraulic option (Speedster 20 is Tiagra with mechanical brakes). 3. Saddle is bad, 135mm and almost no support, changing it is a must. 4. If you need to change the stem is an issue since you must use an original one (more expensive).

Watching this because I am looking for a gravel bike. This bike and checkpoint have been on my mind so far.

Own a 2016 Speedster 10, very enjoyable bike. It’s my foul weather machine and all rounder/commuter.

Found my comment from the original CT article on the release of the Speedster range "The gravel options look like so much better value. At only 100 USD more you get 10 speed GRX hydraulics over Tiagra mechanical for the road version, not to mention there's technically more that you paid for in material (frame and rubber). The gravel version with the same Tiagra and mechanical as the road ones is 100 USD less and it comes with fenders!"

I just bought the Speedster 30 in the UK for £600. It was kicking around at the back of my local bike shop's warehouse & it was my frame size. It replaced a 19yr old road bike I'd fitted a compact crank to a few years back. I suspect I'll fit 28c tyres to it & pop the 32c on my everyday Hybrid. First thoughts are it's a comfortable ride & coming from side pull brakes the discs feel pretty good to me.

Hidden cables are a just show stopper for me, nearly lost me watching right there. Glad I stayed for Betsy's Toyota Camry review [!!!] and an actual objective analysis. Thanks.

I recently borrowed a bike with cable disc brakes. They worked OK but it made on thing clear to me. I would much rather have good set of rim brakes than cable disc brakes any day. After years of being used to disc brakes on my gravel and road bike and cantilever on my commuter bike, it was nerve wracking until I got used them. And those weren't all that bad as I didn't feel unsafe once I got used to them.

Remove and sell the groupset, put 105 Di2 on it. No more need for internal cable replacement.

Good to see an honest review though.

Interesting comment about the frame being "high quality" and "very impressive", but being brought down by a bad component spec, especially for the price. When folks ask for bike buying advice, it seems as though 90% of the time people say to get the best frame you can afford and worry about upgrading components later as your budget allows and your skill/need/desire grow. Was Scott was trying to do that, but misfired with the crappy brake pads and boat anchor tires (if they're the 32mm Luganos, they've got wire beads and weigh 420g each)? For the issue of headset spacer changes and the difficulty imposed by the internal cable routing, especially for a bike at this level, do they not use split-ring spacers? If not, that seems like a local bike mechanic employment program designed right into the bike :-). None of my bikes have internal cable routing and I still wish I had split ring headset spacers at times.

If you had to compare this one with the trek domane al 2 or 3 (same groupset, budget wheels, tektro disc breaks, price point), which one would you choose? The domane al 4 had an outstanding review, the speedster has a review that criticises the modern bike industry. In my eyes both bikes seem the same except some geometry details.

By the time I’m spending US$1800 on a bike, is it unreasonable these days to expect it to stop reliably?

if you will put a 50mm carbon hoops on this as a first upgrade if the budget permits, i think this will be a lively bike.

Thanks for the honesty in the review!

I got the speedster 20 22' for 1000 USD on special. Think it was a pretty good deal but let me know your thoughts

Thanks!

Confused by the pricing, is the speedster 30 really 1800$? Here in Germany it says 1200€; 1800€ is the one with 105 mainly, so not a bad deal really. Ofc I personally would go for sth like a Triban 520 as it is a lot cheaper, but I can only really get the critique if the bike is oddly overpriced in the area where you tested it.

These guys were insulted by this bike. Makes me feel like they have my back. Love it.

I ordered a speedster 10 2022 in Germany for $1,800 .. the only downfall at the new price ranges for 105 / hydraulic .. is that the speedster 10, top of the Alu line, is STILL 10kg. Only downfall. Kills me that I can get bikes for 100-200$ cheaper that weigh 1kg less

Since the fashion of ProTour bikes is trickling down maybe a needed is frame of reference like Formula 1 vs. sporty street-legal cars would help. When the option to gravel ride is a possibility. make it a sporty cross-over. Commonwealth Games 2022, Aaron Gate - Road Race won on rim brakes - yeah!

I bought this bike to put it in my home trainer, serves the purpose, but it does kind of sucks for the money. When I update my main road bike, I’ll pass most of the components to the this bike, but is going to be a headache to run the cables though the steam

Is it possible to remove the spacer to change the stem height without disconnecting the cables?

What's the max tire clearance for this bike?

Not quite sure why professional reviewers and cyclists would pick this bike? Personally I love my Speedster 10. It's a good looking bike and today it's at a great sale price. Mine have a carbon wheel set and I'm all in for 2800.

I know you shouldn't have to but surely you could put a higher quality group Set with hydraulic disc brakes.

The analogy of this bike with such aero aesthetic is an overweight amateur with beer belly wearing TT attire hoping to slice the wind easily

Want to buy Speedster 20. What are your recommendations

My height is 6'1 - 185cm. So which frame size should i buy?

Harsh review but true in 90% of what they say… BUT the only good Scott Speedster is the speedster 10. In Germany/EU it’s only $1,799/1,799 euro for the speedster 10. Nothing is trying to be aero. Some people want to have a certain position as let’s say, a backup bike!! Versatility too is big !!

Is she alright? Sick?

Old Speedster was much better, 10 was ultegra 105 mix, 20 was 105

People go mad over wide tyres, so that's what they get.

Beige toyata Camry... Nods... Although those are good cars 😁😁😁 She really didn't like this bike at all.

Betsy holds no punches.

It's funny -- low-end Tektro pads have always been terrible. Anyone who's been subjected to Tektro Oryx cantilevers know what I mean.

Arguably, any aero speed gains from hiding all the cables and housing are actually dangerous considering the higher speed will make it even harder to stop with those brakes.

You should be riding a 49 with effective top tube length of 525 instead of the 52 with ett of 540. Because the "S" of other bikes has an effective top tube of 530 or so..and hence a 49 speedster would have been a more like for like comparison. You found the reach long because of that. When hiring bikes try to keep the effective top tube length same across brands rather than the name of the sizes. I was only giving an objective reason why you found it badly fitting. I agree with your other assessments on the bike ofc. The bike isn't that good.

Buy a canyon endurace al rb. Much better spec, rim brakes, no idiotic cable routing.

This bike is a mess! Who did they spec this for ? That aside. tektro brakes are fine, not great, but serviceable. Those pads must have been garbage. I left MTB to start off riding gravel and mixed road on a Sora set. and for a beginner its a perfectly nice set. But at this price point they should have min 10 speed Tiagra with hydro brakes. It may be uncool to not have fully concealed cables - but its wasted at this price point, no one starting out needs fully internal cables. Anyone more experienced would be getting a better frameset than this ! THEN if they feel they want it - sure. But "budget friendly" options ? Leave that garbage out and give better components !! Price-wise for $1,700 ? You can get a giant revolt , with Sora and a MUCH MUCH better bike for like $1,100 that fits up to 45mm tires/ carbon frame/ d-fuse and is a hugely better platform to grow into with upgrading components. This bike make no sense.

Nothing wrong with a bland bike. It’s got 2 wheels, it’s not a 105 lightweight machine. It’s a bit pricey doesn’t seem much better spec wise then a £700 bike from decathlon… real life performance is crap if the breaks don’t work. They prob need better rims I much prefer exposed cables. So much easier to fix on the trails

Meh

bike are unaffordable.

Oh the welds, I know it saves money but it/they look cheap, industrial and lazy.

Speedster Gravel Disc / D.Butted 6061 Alloy, SCOTT Gravel geometry / Replaceable Derailleur Hanger, Internal cable routing, Syncros fender kit ready Vilica Speedster Gravel HMF Flatmount Disc, 1 1/4"-1 1/2" Eccentric Carbon steerer Zadnji menjalnik Shimano GRX RD-RX400, 20 Speed Prednji menjalnik Shimano GRX FD-RX400-F Prestavne ročice Shimano GRX ST-RX400 Disc, 20 Speed Gonilka Shimano GRX FC-RX600-10, 46x30T Zavore Shimano BR-RX400 Hyd Disc, Shimano SM-RT70 CL rotor 160/F and 160/R Krmilo Syncros Creston 2.0 X, Alloy 31.8mm Opora krmila Syncros RR2.5 1 1/4" / four Bolt 31.8mm Sedežna opora Syncros RR2.5 27.2/300mm Kaseta Shimano CS-HG500, 10 Speed 11-34 T Obročniki Syncros Race X25 Disc, 28 Front / 28 Rear Plašči Schwalbe G-ONE Bite Performance, 700x45C Same bike and this gear...