By The Takeaway: The Contessa Scale 900 hardtail has what it takes for moderately technical, high-speed, classic XC-style mountain bike riding and racing.
Price: $2,090
Weight: 24.7 lb. (S)
Style: Mountain
Drivetrain: SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed
Material: Carbon
Tire size: 29x2.25-inch
The right bike for: Pure XC racers and women who just want to rip on cross-country terrain
In a sport where everything is getting bigger and extra, the Scott Contessa Scale 900 is a simple, refreshing bike that’s everything you need for classic cross-country-style mountain bike racing and riding. And nothing more.
During a test ride on the aptly named Trail of Tears in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, which punishes each gleeful sweeping drop with an uppercut punch in the opposite direction, I confidently floated down steep, root-strewn chutes, only getting bucked a bit on the biggest bumps, and found myself literally giggling while I spun up those bar-chewing kickers with ease.
That’s because the Contessa Scale 900 is perfectly appointed for this type of moderately technical, high-speed, fitness-forward mountain biking. It starts with Scott’s HMF carbon frame, which uses what the company calls EvoLap technology to make the frame stiff where it needs to be and more compliant where you need some give.
A reliable Fox Float Rhythm fork with 100mm of suspension up front takes the edge off the rough stuff, and can be adjusted on-the-fly via the RideLoc switch on the bar. Lock it out on smooth service roads, set it midway for the stuttery stuff, and open it up when you’re on more technical tracks. The wide-range, wall-scaling SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed with an 11-50t cassette keeps you making brisk forward progress even when the going gets steep.
5 Awesome Highlights on the Contessa Scale 900
Scott Contessa Scale 900 Detail Gallery
Remote Lockout
Scott’s RideLoc Technology handlebar remote lets you adjust travel on-the-fly.
Big Climbing Gears
A SRAM NX 11-50t cassette lets you easily spin up even the steepest climbs.
Fast-Rolling Rubber
The World Cup-winning Rekon Race XC tires are made for hardpack, but keep their grip in the slick.
Hydraulic Disc
Shimano MT400 disc brakes keep you firmly in control of your ride.
Supportive Saddle
A Syncros Savona saddle keeps you comfortable over rugged terrain.
On other test rides, I took the Contessa Scale 900 out on some muddy, slippery, rocky terrain. I was impressed with how well the 2.25-inch Maxxis Rekon Race tires hooked up and found traction—uphill, downhill, and off-camber—in the slidey goop. The Shimano MT400 disc brakes (180mm, front; 160mm, rear) scrubbed speed reliably through the wet muck.
Whether you’re an aspiring XC racer or just like to race around on your local trails, the Contessa Scale 900 is just enough bike to get the job done.
The Contessa Scale Family
Contessa is Scott’s signature women’s bike line. There are two top-tier Contessa Scale 900 mountain bikes: this one and the RC (Racing Concept) 900, which is lighter and dressed with higher-end components and retails for about $4,200
Classic Accessories
The Contessa Scale 900 is dressed in Syncros parts from headset to hoops. A Syncros X-25/Shimano hub tubeless-ready wheelset pairs with Maxxis Rekon Race 29x2.25-inch tires. A Syncros headset, stem, and 9-degree, 700mm bar with Syncros Women Pro lock-on grips provides the steering, and the Syncros Savona 2.0 Channel saddle rounds out the package with a perfectly comfortable perch.
