Scott Addict Gravel 2027 review: details & ride impressions

The new bike was once again presented in the picturesque Black Forest, just as the Addict Road had been the previous year. The two bikes share more than just their launch venue: not only the design, but also several technical details are heavily inspired by the road model. Like the Addict Road, the new Addict Gravel was created by Jean-François Boivin, who developed both bikes with his team. "Jeff", a native Canadian who has worked in Scott’s design department for several years, naturally could not resist joining us for a ride through the Black Forest and sharing plenty of first-hand details along the way.

Officially placed in Scott’s comfort-oriented "Ride" category, it is by no means afraid of racing despite that classification. But its primary focus is adventure and fun, whether you are heading out for an after-work spin or an exploratory tour. Just as gravel was originally intended, several hearts beat within the new Scott.

Its design adopts the elegant, clean lines of the Addict Road. There are no harsh corners or edges to define its appearance; the gentle radii not only reduce weight, but also distribute the forces acting on the frame more evenly. The burly tyres also blend well into the design and do not look oversized. In typical Swiss fashion, the result is once again a genuinely light and aerodynamically optimised gravel bike.

At first glance, the model range looks rather understated in terms of colour, so it is definitely worth visiting your preferred dealer. In person, the finishes – particularly Watery Green on the Addict Gravel Premium and Blaze Purple on the Gravel 10 – have considerably more to offer than the photos suggest. If you would rather build your dream bike yourself, you can opt for the cheerfully colourful HMF frameset. Even the supposedly black Addict Gravel 20 is a highlight: it receives just a single layer of clearcoat, leaving nothing concealed and revealing the frame in all its pure perfection.

Integration was once again a major priority, with all cables and hoses routed through the frame as usual and neatly hidden. Not even on closer inspection do protruding bolts or unsightly bolt covers spoil the appearance. You can see just how much attention to detail the designers put into their work. Elaborately moulded countersunk holes allow the bolts to sit flush with the frame, further reinforcing the clean look. However, bridging the design gap to the Addict Road also means that Scott has deliberately dispensed with the less frequently used mounting points on the frame and fork.

As far as comfort is concerned, it makes no difference whether you choose the 794 g frame (size M) made from HMX carbon fibres or the slightly heavier 990 g HMF frame. Both frames are once again a little lighter than their predecessors: the new carbon creations weigh 75 grams and 25 grams less respectively. The frames’ exceptionally clean workmanship is striking and demonstrates the extensive expertise and craftsmanship involved in production. Compatible exclusively with 1-by groupsets, the Addict Gravel is available in no fewer than seven sizes (XXS–XXL).

The fitted carbon wheelsets have also become slightly wider, all featuring an internal width of 30 mm. As mentioned at the outset, the Scott accommodates tyres up to 57 mm wide, including 2.2" MTB tyres. Combined with the wide rims, this allows very low tyre pressures, delivering significantly more traction and comfort off-road.

Sceptics may already consider 50 mm too wide for a gravel bike, but tyre width is a highly individual matter. Tyres should not be too narrow for this new gravel speedster: according to Scott, 45 mm is the lower limit for maintaining balanced handling. With rims measuring 30 mm internally, a tyre width of 47 mm is already the lower limit of what is officially permitted.

There are five complete models in the line-up, all available in seven sizes from XXS to XXL and all fitted with Schwalbe G-One RX Pro Evolution tyres in 700 × 50C.

Weight: manufacturer’s figures for complete bikes: without pedals, with toolkit

Colours: Premium in Watery Green, the 10 in Lupine Grey and Blaze Purple, the 20 in Watery Black and Mojito Green, the 30 in Agate Grey and Mulberry Purple, the 40 in Carbon Black, Iron Grey and Peach Pink.

Despite the wide tyres, toe overlap is absolutely no issue on the Addict Gravel. Even with my size 46 shoes combined with 55 mm-wide tyres, my toes were still nowhere near touching the front wheel. This is down to the bike's new geometry: compared with its predecessor, Scott has opted for a higher stack and slightly longer reach – 10 mm in each case – while the wheelbase is a little longer and the head angle slacker. The bottom bracket has moved down to accommodate the larger tyres. Chainstay length remains unchanged.

The Syncros cockpit was designed to match. With forward sweep on the tops, it is easier to manoeuvre through tight corners from this hand position. The flare only begins just below the brake levers, providing a more ergonomic hand position and keeping the hoods at the same angle as the drops. Drop and reach have been reduced – cockpit reach by 10 mm – and the radii of the drops have also been adjusted. This lets you switch hand positions more quickly and makes the brake levers easier to reach from every position. Not only the premium carbon version of the handlebar benefits from the new cockpit design; the aluminium version does too.

Thanks to a lower bottom bracket, the 70° head angle and the fork's 60 mm rake/offset, the bike remains responsive and playful despite its relatively long wheelbase. The riding position and contact points have been chosen to remain identical to the Addict Road. A practical touch: components such as the seatpost, stem, handlebar and rear light are compatible across the entire Addict family. The D-shaped seatpost works with the integrated rear-light system, while the seat clamp now comes from the Addict RC.

In the Black Forest, we were served up everything a gravel rider's heart could desire. Endless forest roads and varied singletracks are exactly what the new bike was made for. The first time you get on, it really does feel reminiscent of the Addict Road unveiled last year. The riding position is neither too sporty nor too upright – precisely that fine balance we remembered from its asphalt-oriented sibling. The first impression is one of great familiarity, and you immediately feel at home on the bike.

Plenty quick on asphalt, the Scott truly comes alive on gravel, because its handling is clearly tuned for off-road riding. Its high level of comfort becomes apparent after just the first few metres of gravel. It filters out rough surfaces extremely well, and even small edges and larger rocks do not knock you off your stride. You can confidently lean it into corners, and because the tyres and rims work well together, the limits of grip remain a long way off at first.

After a review ride on 55 mm-wide G-One RX Pro tyres and a successful search for root carpets worthy of an XC course, the Addict Gravel can be credited with genuinely composed handling – in what you might call extreme-gravel terrain. It is good to know that riding terrain like this is genuinely fun. Many other gravel bikes would offer little more than a proverbial fight for survival here.

Just as remarkable is how well – and almost too quickly – the Scott flies downhill. It inspires a great deal of confidence and remains stable even at high speeds. Riding singletracks through the forest is tremendous fun, not least because of the grippy tyres. Thanks to the handlebar's good ergonomics, the brakes are always within reach and changing hand positions is very easy. This provides additional confidence and security in technical terrain, as well as plenty of comfort in the drops.

It responds quickly to steering input and feels nimble and lively despite the wide tyres. The Schwalbe G-One RX Pro have a positive effect on the handling: they work as one with the bike and prevent the Scott from becoming too nervous or prone to tipping into corners. Fitting the Addict Gravel with a set of road tyres would be rather counterproductive in terms of handling.