Scott Brings Back the Endorphin as a New Concept Bike - Eurobike 2023

Jun 21, 2023
by Ed Spratt  
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The biggest draw at Scott's Eurobike stand during the first day of the 2023 event had to be its new concept bike that reimagines its groundbreaking 1995 Endorphin with all the standards of 2023 bike design.

The 1995 Scott Endorphin was a significant bike in the company's history as it was the first carbon bike marketed by the brand and had a very unique look for a hardtail. The original bike's focus was on creating a bike that could ride like a hardtail but still offer a rear end that could absorb some trail impacts. As we see more and more bikes like the Trek Supercaliber and Specialized Epic World Cup that try and blend this line, there's never been a better time to bring back the Endorphin.

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While the new Endorphin bike looks pretty great we were told it is very much a proof of concept rather than anything that is currently intended to be produced. Whether it becomes a real bike or not in the future it's still interesting to see the experimentation of bringing back some of the wilder designs from yesteryear and see some of the difference between modern XC bikes and those from 27 years ago.

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One particularly interesting design incorporated into the concept frame is a small opening on the top tube that is said to act as an anti-vibration system.

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As this is very much just a concept bike for Scott don't expect to see Nino Schurter racing this at a World Cup anytime soon.

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks Scott Eurobike 2023


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61 Comments
  • 100 10
 Original had much better cable routing, just saying.
  • 16 11
 The new one doesn't need cables to be routed. Just brake hose
  • 3 5
 @dypeterc: And it's doing a bad job even of that. Those new SRAM levers where the hose exits angled backwards a bit to make headset cable routing "cleaner" because let's be honest, it doesn't look all that clean to start with, is doing a great job making sure the front brake hose is rubbing the head tube and fork CSU so you'll have to put on some crappy plastic film to avoid scratching it.
  • 7 8
 Nah, new routing is way better. External is ugly
  • 49 2
 I miss those green WildGrippers.
  • 9 0
 @mikekazimer
I have a pair of unused green WildGrippers that will eventually make their way onto a '96 Kona Hei Hei frame that's collecting dust.
  • 5 0
 @dlford, nice, that sounds like a great vintage build. I remember being so envious of a buddy's Kula that his parents bought him around that time.
  • 2 0
 I think they still make a lookalike version for gravel kinda ironic.
  • 1 0
 i've got a pair. i'd swap you for some NOS original white onza porcupines...
  • 4 0
 @t-stoff: www.sim.works/collections/simworks-by-panaracer/products/the-homage-tire-26?variant=39543940874414
  • 1 0
 Wish Scott would've put some funkier tires on the new build.
  • 1 0
 @dc-woods: thanks! I like it! I bought some panaracer dart and smoke reissue for my 96 zaskar. but ill bookmark these
  • 20 0
 dunno how they found a set of those XTR cranks without the annodising all worn off. I thought that happened when you opened the box.
  • 15 0
 The best thing I can say about the Scott "unicrown" elastomer suspension fork, is that ~30 years ago, when I got tagged by a taxi in NYC, pushing me into the back of a parked car, the fork bent ridiculously backwards. Reversing the fork so I could ride home (after bashing the front wheel back into "round") resulted in what felt like a 61 degree HA on my Cannondale M700, with it's typical 71.5 HA.

Looking back on that day, I think that cab driver and I invented long, low and slack hardtails.........
  • 14 0
 This thing is cool. 10/10 would not ever consider buying one.
  • 11 0
 cue knolly lawsuit
  • 6 0
 Paint job is sick, I wish it extended into the rear triangle but I’ll also agree that having a big blank “HEY LOOK ITS A PIECE OF CARBON!” black part on your frame is very 90’s
  • 4 0
 Paint job and graphics look like an ocular migraine but its awesome
  • 2 0
 @twozerosix: dude it really does look like an ocular migraine haha, I haven’t had one in a while
  • 1 0
 @mariomtblt: Just had my first, a few weeks ago. It was not awesome to experience, but THE VISUALS!
  • 2 0
 @twozerosix: yeah it looks crazy, my ones have looked like a crescent moving from the right of my vision to the left, and boom a migraine as soon as its over. I feel you man
  • 2 0
 @mariomtblt: mine went left to right, a zig zag mess of colors and lines, and then felt like a hangover for the rest of the day. Decided I was working too much and went home.
  • 8 0
 How dare they add V brakes to that bike when it should have OG XTR cantilever brakes. That Scott Unishock fork is a beauty!
  • 3 0
 Exactly, it's far from period correct.
  • 2 0
 That's also an M952 (9-speed) crankset, not the M950 (8-speed) crank. The large ring is solid on the 8-spd version. Also using it with an older 8-spd XT front derailleur with what looks like Mega 9 rear derailleur. It's definitely a bit of hodge podge.
  • 2 0
 @nozes: Reminds me of Seth's Bike Hacks 'retro' videos.... His Slingshot video in particular. That thing had 9 spd XTR, a coil Indy fork, v-brakes, threadless headset, etc, and he was passing it off as period correct... The Slingshot bikes from early 90's would have had a rigid fork, quill stem, cantis, and an 8spd Suntour/Syncros setup. There was such a monumental leap in that decade with better equipment, it's comparing apples and oranges.
  • 5 0
 Is there any part, other than the saddle, from the original that would fit the new one?
  • 4 0
 Cranks would with the appropriate bb
  • 5 0
 @bman33: Pedals?
  • 3 1
 @bman33: does a square taper or octalink PF92 BB exist? I don't think it does.

Pedals would fit, if any were fitted!
  • 1 0
 Grips, and the rear derailleur with a UDH
  • 1 0
 Grips, saddle, saddle post if the diameters are the same, pedals, cassette (won't work with the drivetrain of course), shifters (they won't be compatible though), brake levers (same), bar ends :-)
  • 1 0
 @WhateverBikes: The cassette won't fit those wheels as they are, and I think the shifters and brake levers being incompatible rules them out. Same for the mech - that won't fit without an extra part, and then wouldn't work with the cassette anyway.
  • 1 0
 @lukeb: You asked what would 'fit', not what would work. Also I already added those caveats myself.
You're right about the cassette btw, as it is not the standard Shimano body on that new bike, that was my mistake. As for the mech, no that won't fit (without an adapter), so that's why I didn't mention it in my list.
  • 4 0
 Great, Il upgrade my old endorphin to the new one.

First ride: erm, where’d the bottle cage mounts go..?
  • 44 0
 They're internal.
  • 3 0
 @travisengel: This one wins. Thanks for playing everybody!
  • 3 0
 @travisengel: brilliant. Now you’ve just given them an idea.
  • 5 0
 No idler on that high pivot softail?
  • 4 1
 Like many redesigns the original just looks so much better. Even cable tourism didn't help...
  • 4 0
 Are those chain or seat stays, or should we just call them cheatstays?
  • 1 0
 Those green tyres look nice, I wish they still did those. I think Michelin did a prototype green colour for the XCO riders a while back.
  • 2 0
 Simworks Homage comes in a 27.5x2.2
  • 2 0
 You know you got too much money when you start making carbon bikes for fun
  • 2 0
 It's not for fun. It's for publicity.
  • 2 0
 i'm surprised sram hasn't yet come out with wireless brakes
  • 3 0
 You do know SRAM has google alerts for any time they see their name typed on the internet, right? They'll reserve a patent in the next 3 years just because you put it out in the universe.
  • 4 0
 In that case... FUCK sram...
  • 3 0
 29 is dead udh is dead
  • 1 0
 "Anti vibration system", come on, they are just messing with the reporters at this point.
  • 1 0
 being critical of the retro bike again - - those Grip sHIFT X-ray shifters are not compatible with shimano xtr .
  • 1 0
 grip shift xray is compatible with 8 speed XT
  • 1 0
 I await the day when the downtube becomes the rear shock.
  • 4 1
 Wouldn't that be a Slingshot?
  • 1 0
 Ok now that's a cool retro throwback.
  • 1 0
 "You ride a Scott? Scott no friends!"

Playgrounds in the 90s
  • 2 0
 needs a motor
  • 1 0
 Paint scheme is rad, but ends there.
  • 1 0
 That Endorphin originally didn't have the unicrown fork....?
  • 1 0
 the Scott Unishocks had clear fork booties, not black, right?
  • 1 0
 sign me up







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