Scott Speedster Gravel 40 EQ: Sporty commuter bike on test

If you don't want to rock your expensive road bike or high-end carbon gravel bike on your daily commute, you need to look for affordable alternatives. If you want to maintain your sporty aspirations while commuting, you will quickly end up with a universal gravel bike as a commuter bike. These all-terrain, sporty bikes with racing handlebars can take on any type of commute, whether on tarmac, on a continuous blanket of snow or on nasty gravel tracks away from road traffic. And to ensure that you can commute for as long as possible without any worries, robust aluminium frames and tried-and-tested components are preferred, which can cope with many kilometres without a fuss.

With the Speedster Gravel 40 EQ, Scott Bikes offers just such an aluminium gravel bike with fixed mudguards. We tested the Scott Speedster, for which the Swiss company recently launched a Recall campaign due to problems with the steerer tube tested extensively on unpaved commuter routes. Scott charges 1599 euros for the EQ version of the Scott Speedster with Shimano Tiagra gears and mechanical disc brakes.

Scott Speedster Gravel 40 EQ - the facts

• Frame material: Aluminium
• Gear system: Shimano Tiagra 2x10 gears
• Brakes: Shimano BR-RS305 (mechanical disc brake)
• Wheels: Syncros Race 24 Disc (aluminium)
• Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Bite Performance / 40 mm
• Frame sizes: XXS to XXL (7 sizes)
• Price: 1599 Euro >> available here
• Weight: 11.98 kg (without pedals/size L)
• Weight front/rear wheels: 1843 g / 2515 g
• Stack to Reach: 1.56

Scott Speedster Gravel 40 EQ: Commuter bike with a sporty approach

The EQ version is based on the aluminium frame that is also used for the other Speedster gravel bikes from Scott. There are higher-quality and lighter aluminium gravel bike frames on the market, but in the entry-level price range below € 2000, robustness and functionality are more important. And this is what the Speedster gravel chassis, which Scott offers in a total of seven frame sizes, has to offer. The geometry with a 100 millimetre stem in size L and a stack-to-reach value of 1.56 is slightly stretched and rather sporty for a commuter bike. The combination of a 70.5 degree steep steering angle and a wheelbase of 1065 millimetres ensure extremely smooth handling. Even at high speeds on gravel, the Scott Speedster Gravel, with its 71 mm trail on the fork, circles safely around corners. If you want to adjust the riding position or the cockpit, the integrated Syncros solution with special stem and spacers leaves little room for manoeuvre. On the other hand, the cables and hoses run in front of the handlebars under the stem into the inside of the frame without any major routing issues.

Shimano Tiagra gears: 2x10 instead of 12-speed drivetrain

Instead of a special gravel bike drivetrain such as a Shimano GRX, the Scott bike comes with a Shimano Tiagra drivetrain with 2x10 gears. The gear ratio of the double crankset from FSA is also sporty with 50/34 teeth. The range with the 11-34 cassette from the GRX range is 455 per cent, the climbing gear has a 1:1 ratio. The Shimano Tiagra rear derailleur does not have a friction damper (Shadow+), which keeps the chain under tension in rough sections. The groupless, mechanical Shimano disc brakes with 160 mm discs require significantly more manual force when decelerating compared to the hydraulic stoppers of a Shimano GRX drivetrain. However, they offer the advantage that you don't have to fiddle around with brake fluid and there is no need to bleed them. For the wheels, Scott also uses its component brand Syncros for its gravel bike with mudguards. The classic aluminium round wheels have 24 millimetre wide rims on which 40 millimetre wide Schwalbe G-One Bite Performance all-rounders are mounted. The front wheel weighs 1843 grams, the rear wheel weighs a whopping 2515 grams including tube, tyre and cassette (TOUR measurement). Compared to similarly priced aluminium gravel bikes, this value is impressive, but you have to pedal very hard for explosive acceleration.

>> More exciting commuter bikes based on road bikes or gravel bikes

Fixed mudguards on the Scott Speedster Gravel for riding in all conditions

The Syncros Fender Kit, which can also be retrofitted to other Scott Speedster Gravel and Addict Gravel models, is already fitted to the EQ model ex works. The mudguards, made from a polycarbonate/nylon mix with fibreglass, sit securely and wobble-free thanks to one strut each and the attachments on the seat stay and fork bridge. They are wide and long enough to reliably keep splash water out. What's more, the fixed mudguards are not too close to the tyre that stones thrown up off-road could get stuck. However, mudguards are only one feature of sporty commuter bikes. Scott has dispensed with other attachments for everyday riding such as fixed lights with a hub dynamo or a slim pannier rack on the EQ version of the bike. This emphasises the sporty character and does not add any extra weight. Because with lights and pannier rack, the 11.98 kilo aluminium gravel bike would be at least another kilo heavier. In the winter months, you can always fall back on a battery-powered light and equip the Scott bike for commuter rides in the dark.

For bikepacking, the 1599 euro Scott gravel bike only has two threaded eyelets on the top tube and two under the bottom bracket in addition to the two classic bottle cage mounts (3 screws on the down tube). There are no additional eyelets on the aluminium fork. Scott limits the total weight (bike, rider, luggage) of the stiff aluminium gravel bike to a maximum of 120 kilos. The 2023 model costs 1699 euros and is grey instead of yellow. However, Scott is currently also offering the 100 euro cheaper 2022 version in parallel.

Test summary of the Scott gravel bike as a commuter bike

Honest, dirty commuting kilometres instead of fair-weather rides for best times: The Scott Speedster Gravel 40 EQ* delivers robust, proven technology for sporty riding on gravel and tarmac. For a thoroughbred commuter bike, it lacks fixed lights and reflectors. However, the gravel bike with fixed mudguards can also be used as a sports bike all year round. The stylish cable integration is a real plus point in this price range, and the price of 1599 euros is fair in relation to the harmonious overall package.