Scott Addict RC 2025 in the long-term review

Icy wind, poor visibility, temperatures around freezing, and last but not least, road conditions often pushed both rider and equipment to their comfort limits, especially since road cycling in winter had not been a topic for the former in recent years. The hardtail and gravel bike simply did a better job under such conditions.
But what else can you do but ride a road bike when you “have to” test one? So, no complaining—off to ride the latest creation from the Swiss!

And oh, what a surprise: wide tires, good ergonomics, and balanced handling made even winter rides on the Addict RC an absolute pleasure!
As a result, the bike was ridden more often than expected in recent weeks, and the gravel bike was left standing just as often.
For the second part of our long-term test, this fact immediately raises a question: If the Addict RC Pro was already so much fun in the cold season, how much joy will it bring in the summer?

The 6.6 kg lightweight Addict RC Pro is equipped with many fine components. Its foundation is the newly developed HMX carbon frame, weighing 650 grams in size M. This frame catches the eye with its well-balanced proportions, making the Scott a timeless classic from the very start.
The seemingly simple (carbon) black-and-white paint job has significantly more depth in real life than the photos can convey. The cumulus white features a beautiful pearl metallic effect, and the Scott logo shimmers in blue and green depending on the viewing angle.

As is typical for Scott, integration is a top priority. This focus gives the 2025 Addict a very clean appearance, especially when combined with the Syncros IC-R100-SL cockpit, which also boasts excellent ergonomics.
In the ongoing review, the impressions of the cockpit from the product launch have been confirmed: the flattened top handlebar is comfortable to grip, the flare in the drop handlebar is pleasant, and the transition to the shifters also earns praise.
The optional bike computer mount for the Syncros handlebar is a real gem:
at an additional cost of 109.95 euros, it’s not exactly cheap, but it’s extremely lightweight and stable – practically a “must-have” when purchasing new.

Tech Specs

For seat comfort, the Syncros SP-R100-SL seat post is actually responsible on the Addict RC Pro. However, for the test operation, it was swapped out for an even more comfortable Syncros SP-R101-CF with less offset. Practical: The latter can also be quickly equipped with a form-fitting rear light (RRP €54.95).
The comfort difference between the two seat posts is not immediately noticeable. Over time, however, the Syncros SP-R101-CF feels a touch more comfortable, and it clearly shows its strengths, especially on rough asphalt.

The clamping mechanism of the seat post proves to be very simple despite the Scott-typical integration: The clamping screw is hidden under a plastic cover, which can easily be removed with your fingers.
The same applies, by the way, to the stem clamp, and both are very easy to access with the mini tool hidden in the handlebar, allowing the saddle height to be quickly adjusted even on the go. And of course, the practical tool is also compatible with the seat clamp and all other screws on the bike, including the thru-axles that keep the wheels securely in place.
Another nice feature: The Syncros Belcarra saddle, with its flat design and wide saddle nose, offers a variety of seating positions.

The Syncros Capital 1.0S (Tubeless ready) behave inconspicuously in the test operation so far. Nota bene: I am a big fan of inconspicuous wheelsets.
The 40 mm high rim profile with a 25 mm internal width remains almost entirely unaffected by crosswinds and gusts. Even in strong, gusty winds, only a slight influence is noticeable – however, far from nervous or even unpredictable handling. So, there's no need to fear tricky wind conditions, and the rim height offers a good compromise between aerodynamics and weight.
The fact that the carbon fiber round profiles run on legendary DT Swiss 240 hubs and are held by 24 premium DT Swiss Aerolite spokes is a welcome feature. This ensures the wheels will provide faithful service for many kilometers.

The 30 mm wide Schwalbe Pro One Microskin TL Easy tires come factory-equipped with lightweight Schwalbe Aerothan tubes.
This combination, together with the 25 mm internal rim width, offers unexpected comfort and suppleness. Especially on such a lightweight bike, one wouldn’t expect it – but after a short time, one wouldn’t want to do without it.
Equipped with so much comfort, it practically floats over the asphalt. Especially in winter, this provides plenty of reserves. After a while, you stop worrying about "nasty" loose gravel and just ride over it. And even short gravel detours or poor roads are no problem thanks to the tires and the excellent handling of the Addict RC.

Geometry

What stands out positively at this point: Nothing rattles and nothing clatters, even when things get rough. Here, more praise towards Scott is well-deserved.
Thanks to the resulting ability to ride with lower air pressures, you have tremendous grip in all situations, which significantly boosts confidence in the bike.
Considering all these aspects, and if you’re comfortable with the sporty riding position, the new Addict offers not only a fast but also a surprisingly comfortable long-distance bike. Although for my proportions, an additional spacer would have provided a touch more comfort and – especially on winding descents or gravel detours – better weight distribution on the bike.

The whole package is garnished with Shimano's high-end Dura Ace Di2 groupset. The Japanese brand's best electronic shifting system features excellent ergonomics, a flawless black high-gloss finish, and impressively fast and precise shifting performance.
The customizable Di2 offers many possibilities to create a perfect shifting setup. The only downside is that the buttons on the hoods are difficult to operate with winter gloves.
The factory gearing setup can be described as very mountain- and adventure-friendly. With 36-52 teeth at the front and an 11-34 cassette at the rear, most climbs lose their intimidation factor. And thanks to the 12-speed configuration, the cassette's gear gaps are kept pleasantly small.

There is nothing to criticize about the brakes from the same manufacturer and group level up to this point. They are easy to modulate, powerful enough, but never aggressive, and have a clearly defined bite point.
Pleasantly surprising: annoying brake rotor rubbing after hard braking maneuvers is a thing of the past with the current generation of Dura-Ace.

In the drops, thanks to the flared bar ends, you have even better control over the bike compared to traditionally shaped drop bars.
What’s more, the abundance of comfort is impressive. Rough roads and coarse asphalt hardly unsettle the Scott. The front wheel almost stabilizes itself, allowing you to fully focus on pedaling without wasting unnecessary watts to keep the bike under control.

The new Addict RC, as already mentioned, also handles challenging wind conditions very well. Even in gusty crosswinds, the bike stays on track, and while the steering inputs are noticeable, they don’t faze the Scott.
Toe overlap is hardly an issue, even with size 46 shoes on a large frame. Its minimal presence is almost never bothersome during rides.
Real points of criticism? None. It’s hard to find any flaws in the new Addict RC.