Scott Sub Cross 40 (2017) : ChooseMyBicycle.com Expert Review

The Scott Sub Cross 40 2017 is equipped with a 6061 alloy frame. The frame is one of the most exciting and stand out features on this bicycle. The hydro formed alloy with clean welds on the joints gives us a frame which is competitive in weight and strong enough to literally last a lifetime if maintained properly. The top tube and bottom tubes are square-ish and not the usual cylindrical shape. This enables to cut down the material used but at the same time maintains the strength of the frame.

The Zoom front suspension fork is one of the components which makes this bicycle a •Crossê hybrid, meaning that it can handle rough surfaces and are useful mainly for touring. The 63mm travel on the fork is minimal but what makes it useful is that almost 80% of the travel is realistically usable.

You know it is a Scott when the frame design and welds are a treat to your eyes. For years Scott have been putting in so much thought in to the designing as much as they do for performance. The Sub Cross 40 2017 which I test rode came in a light grey colour with shades orange in a few places. The matte finish paint job enhances the look and feel of the bicycle. The beginning of the top tube is bulkier and has a sharp cut after a few inches as it starts to decline as a slop on to the seat tube. All this put together adds to the stellar aesthetics of this bicycle.

The gearing in the Sub Cross 40 2017 is taken care of by Shimano Tourney at the front and Shimano Altus at the rear. Yes, they are entry level components which was a step back for the price of this bicycle. With Altus at the rear the pulling power on urban inclines were stretched a bit. During the test ride the gearing felt smooth but the rear derailleur felt noisy while in operation. The Shimano gear shifters functioned without any complaints with quick transfer of gearing. The trigger shifter could have been a little longer than it is.

If the gearing offered was a step back then the brakes on the Sub Cross 40 2017 were a step forward. The Tektro SCH-F17 hydraulic disc brakes at both the front and rear take the cycling experience a few levels up. With massive 160mm rotors the brakes can handle even wet conditions with ease. During the test ride I tried braking in the most complicated situations like while on turns and the balanced braking was extraordinary. The Tektro brake levers reacted well to both interval and jammed braking.

The Syncros UC3.0 handlebar on the Sub Cross 40 2017 was surprisingly straight as seen on most MTBês. A straight handlebar on a Hybrid bicycle made the riding position aggressive. Even though this might be comfortable for riding through rough surfaces and off the saddle pedallin, this riding position might not be the most comfortable one for commuting.

The Schwalbe Smart Sam 700C x 42C hybrid tires on the Sub Cross 40 2017 are the perfect cross tires for handling rough surfaces as well as being sleek enough to generate good speeds. Well supported by the Synrcros Rims, these tires were treaded well with a secondary tire lining guard for added puncture protection. The Scott Sub saddle looked neat and had more than enough padding which turned out to be a negative. There was too much padding and the back of the saddle were wider than my sit bones making it bulkier and rounded than being ergonomic. The overall ride quality was fast and smooth on flat roads.