Scott Metrix (2017) : ChooseMyBicycle.com Expert Review

Scott's approach to building urban bicycles is to make them a bit like their road bicycles. That means that the Metrix 10ês frame are short, with an aggressive head angle. The Metrix 10ês frame is crafted from multi-butted, hydroformed 6061 Aluminium. It's 31.8mm Syncros stem makes the rider lean forward even more than an average hybrid bicycle. The build quality of this frame is exceptional and it can be termed as a flat-barred road bicycle.

At first glance, one might think the forks on the Scott Metrix 10 (2017) is made of carbon but it isnêt. The fork on the Metrix 10 is a straight bladed, full alloy affair that's bladed and aerodynamic. The design is a functional one with the alloy fork blades literally as good as the carbon counterparts.

When it comes to design Scott always exceeds expectations and that is the case with the Metrix 10 (2017). The bicycle which I test ride came in the lightest shade of metallic grey with some black in a few places to add contrast. The rounded top tube and the triangular down tube have neat welds at the joints, making them seamlessly blend with each other. The matte finish paint job was top notch and will definitely make heads turn while on the road. The minimal branding and graphics on the Metrix 10 actually benefits the clean look of the bicycle.

Shimanoês 3 x 9 Deore/Altus drivetrain keeps things simple and clutter free for urban use and the 4 teeth chain ring and 11-32 cassette should suit most riders for urban and touring use. Shimano Deore as the rear derailleur is a performance packed road gearing component and the quality of it shows when trying to reach top speeds on flat tarmacs. Shimano Altus at the front is quite the contrast in performance when compared to Deore and the difference in reaction time was evident during the shifting process when I had to change to a bigger ring at the front and immediately change the gear ratio at the back. These are small niggles and certainly does not have a big impact on the transmission process or while attaining top speeds. The Shimano Altus shifters felt comfortable and were easy to operate with no real discomfort felt during the test ride.

At this price there are a few specific type of components which are expected to be there on a Hybrid bicycle. One such component are the disc brakes. Scott have equipped the Metrix 10 (2017) with Shimano BR-M355 hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors at the front and back. They provided enough stopping power during the test ride while zipping through traffic or cornering at high speeds. Of course, power isnêt everything; control matters more. These brakes offer a good balance of power and control. The brake levers were easy to engage with just 3 fingers and were in good reach from the grips.

The Syncros UC 3.0 handlebar is what that makes the riding experience of this bicycle similar to a road bicycle. The 31.8mm handlebar is flat with bulge in the middle and gradually decreasing as it goes to the grips. This is to make sure there is even distribution of weight on minimal material usage to keep the weight of the handlebar at a low.

The Scott Metrix 10 (2017) rolls on a pair of Kenda K180 700C x 38C tires. These tires are perfect blend for speed with hard treads for rough surfaces. The deep treads limit the slippage in slushy conditions, especially when using rear braking only, as is necessary on wet conditions. The tire also does very well at reducing shocks when travelling heavy. This long lasting tire is suitable for high speed use but at the same time its deep tread and the large diameter contribute high rolling resistance providing good traction. The Scott Sub saddle was perfect in length and width and made sure my sit bones were evenly places at the widest part of the saddle. The back half of the saddle had enough cushioning to reduce soreness at the same time it had an ergonomical shape to it. The over-all ride quality was smooth on flat roads but bumpy on rough surfaces.