TEST - Ancillotti Scarab Evo 29: Thrills and... Fear
After a brief encounter in a Short Test, I decided to dive deeper with a proper review. The Ancillotti Scarab Evo 29 represents the new vision of enduro from the Tuscan brand—a bike that embodies the motorcycle history, craftsmanship, and passion of the Ancillotti family for off-road two-wheelers.
Following that Short Test, I felt a bit unsatisfied because I hadn’t ridden it on my usual trails, where I test other enduro bikes. After discussing it with Tomaso Ancillotti, we came to an agreement. Thus, a custom-built Ancillotti Scarab Evo 29 was assembled, with geometry tailored to my riding style and intended use. After several months of testing, I’m ready to reveal the secrets of this MTB, which, for better or worse (mostly better...), always sparks strong discussions and emotions.
1 – FRAME TECHNICAL DETAILS
– Geometry: 9,5/10
Usually, if you give Tomaso free rein, you can’t go wrong. However, the trend is to offer customers a bike with modern geometry—long top tube, slack head angle, very steep seat tube, and generous wheelbase. This makes the Ancillotti Scarab Evo 29 extremely stable both uphill and downhill.
The version I tested was custom-built to my specifications, including a 74.5° seat angle, 610 mm top tube, approximately 438 mm chainstay, and an adjustable head angle between 65° and 63.5°. The bottom bracket height can be adjusted via the lower link (see photo). Adjusting the lower link is easy but requires care and cleanliness when disassembling and reassembling the bolts and nuts.
I tested the bike in all possible settings depending on the trail type, and the difference is noticeable with every half-turn of the adjuster. This geometry is very extreme and not easy for everyone, but my goal was to fully exploit the craftsmanship of the frame to receive something unique that could potentially meet my “tinkering” needs.
– Riding Position: 9,5/10
The overall balance is excellent. The geometries meticulously planned on paper were adhered to, and all components were chosen according to my preferences: 40 mm stem, 30 mm rise handlebar, 770 mm width, and a saddle-to-bar drop of about 6 cm in favor of the bar. Yes, my setup is a bit unusual, with a very high front, but since I tend to ride heavily on the front, this setup allows me not to overload the front and stay more centered when the slopes become very steep.
– Build quality: 6/10
We could talk about this for hours because a bike like the Ancillotti Scarab Evo 29 leaves little room for detail refinement. Knowing Tomaso personally, I know more could be done. The welds are very noticeable and could be thinner and cleaner, and the cables could be better routed with a few more guides or internal routing. The rear tire clearance is minimal—I used it in heavy mud without issues, but everything is clearly at its limit. Forget about a bottle cage unless you have a size L frame. Also, there’s no reference mark for how far you can unscrew the lower link. Overdoing it with the head angle adjustment could lead to the rear wheel touching the seat tube when the suspension bottoms out. Generally, based on conversations with other Scarab Evo 29 owners, from fully screwed in, you can unscrew the link up to 2.5/3 turns. However, anyone who buys an Ancillotti knows what they’re getting into: it's all about substance. It leaves a slightly bitter taste, but that’s easily overlooked once you’re in the saddle.
– Shock Tuning: 9,5/10
This is the first standout feature of the Ancillotti Scarab Evo 29. The Ancillotti shock has a tuning that makes the compression curve of the 160 mm rear suspension highly intuitive and incredibly enjoyable. The hydraulic support is not very noticeable at the beginning of the stroke, making it super sensitive, and when you expect to feel bottoming out, it seems like the travel never runs out.
While pedaling, you can close the hydraulics with the lever, but even with the shock open, the bike doesn’t suffer as long as you pedal smoothly. It’s definitely downhill-oriented, so it’s not designed for quick sprints or mid-stroke support like a trail bike. However, there’s another adjustment that helps: the second, lower hole on the swingarm (see photo) makes the compression curve much more progressive, effectively turning it into a 130/140 mm rear suspension and completely changing the bike’s behavior, making it much more like a trail bike in terms of responsiveness and pedalability.
Ancillotti also offers customers more specific tuning depending on their needs. While it lacks some finish quality, Ancillotti never leaves anything to chance when it comes to performance. After several tests, I preferred a different link that gives the bike more support and progressiveness. With such a handmade bike, there are endless customization possibilities. The important thing is not to get lost…
– Shock Positioning: 8,5/10
The position is well protected from debris and mud, and the compression lever is easy to reach even while riding. However, for rebound adjustments, you must stop and insert your hands into tight spaces, but this is a setting that is rarely touched.
– Frame and/or Bike Weight: 9/10
The bike, as equipped, without overly refined components, with wheels weighing about 2 kg and including flat pedals, tipped the scales at 14.1 kg. This is more than reasonable, considering the setup and coil shock. The bare frame weighs 2.8 kg, reaching 3.5 kg with the coil shock.
– Frame and/or Bike Price: 8/10
In this case, the setup was custom, but the frame alone costs €2900, which is relatively high for an aluminum frame. However, we’re talking about a handcrafted product made to measure for the buyer. The complete bike becomes more cost-effective and is in line with the market, starting at €4800 with Formula brakes and fork, Sun Rims wheels, and Sram Nx transmission.
– Frame Warranty: 6/10
2 years as required by law.
Final Score (out of 10): 8.25
2 – UPHILL PERFORMANCE
– Rear Suspension Efficiency on Climbs: 8/10
The coil shock doesn’t detract from the climbing performance of this bike. At typical enduro paces, with smooth pedaling, there’s no need to close the hydraulics of the Ancillotti Scarab Evo 29. Closing the hydraulics does provide a benefit, especially when fatigue sets in. When standing on the pedals, the bike tends to sag significantly, but that’s almost inevitable with a 160 mm bike.
– Climbing Ride Impressions: 8.5/10
Honestly, just like during the Short Test, I was pleasantly surprised by how it handles climbs. The rear traction is impressive, and unless there are significant obstacles, it tends to stay level. The steep seat angle and generous wheelbase give it incredible stability even on the steepest climbs. When the switchbacks get very tight, the bike’s long wheelbase requires a more trial-like approach to gain space and find the ideal line.
Final Score (out of 10): 8.25
3 – DOWNHILL PERFORMANCE
– Rear Suspension Efficiency on Descents: 10/10
Small impacts are literally “devoured” by the suspension, creating an effect comparable to that of a Plus tire. On some terrains, I had to stop, thinking the tire had deflated or punctured. Talking about how it performs downhill is almost redundant-you need to try it to understand. Confidence is immediate, as is the feeling of having more travel than is actually available. The suspension becomes more progressive towards the end of the travel, making it extremely difficult to detect bottoming out.
– Braking Efficiency: 9/10
The high sensitivity to small impacts positively affects braking efficiency as well. Despite being a single-pivot design, where braking or locking the wheel slightly inhibits the suspension, the overall performance remains strong.
– Downhill Ride Impressions: 9.5/10
The Ancillotti Scarab Evo 29 is a downhill machine that makes you forget about obstacles as soon as you start riding seriously. All components are designed and calibrated for this use and for maximum performance. On steep, rough terrain, this bike's geometry, suspension, and 29” wheels are unmatched. The steeper and rougher the terrain, the more it outperforms similar enduro bikes.
The Formula Selva fork is already a reliable choice, and thanks to previous experiences, I was able to dial it in perfectly after just a few rides. Despite having a wheelbase comparable to a size L enduro, the bike remains agile thanks to the massive effort to centralize mass. If I had to nitpick, I’d say I’ve tested bikes, like the Trek Slash 29, that are more precise in corner entry and more efficient in braking. However, few bikes have given me this sense of omnipotence on rough, steep terrain.
Final Score (out of 10): 9.5
4 – PEDALING PERFORMANCE
– Rear Suspension Efficiency While Pedaling: 8/10
Sprints are one of the moments where the downhill-oriented tuning of the Ancillotti Scarab Evo 29’s shock becomes apparent. On the flip side, this setup allows you to easily glide over obstacles. It requires some practice and understanding to make the most of it. Once you get the hang of it, it allows you to maintain very high speeds and avoid the need to sprint.
– Pedaling Impressions: 8.5/10
The 29” wheels help maintain high speed, but you need to be skilled to fully exploit this bike’s capabilities. So, yes, sprints are not extremely fast, but the bike’s sturdiness allows you to push hard in descents and corners, facilitating the achievement of higher speeds.
Final Rating (from 1 to 10): 8.25
Overall Rating (from 1 to 10): 8.56
In conclusion...
If you want to see how far you can push the limits between enjoyment and the thrill of speed, you need to ride the Ancillotti Scarab Evo 29. The feeling of invincibility on steep and technical descents is impressive. It’s true that the bike is fast on straight sections and that it’s often better to hit an obstacle head-on rather than avoid it. However, it’s also true that you don’t necessarily need to slow down to make a turn once you understand how much energy is required for entry and handling.
It might struggle a bit with tight mountain switchbacks due to its long wheelbase, but keep in mind that it allows you to widen your lines like few other bikes in the world can.
The geometry of the Ancillotti Scarab Evo 29 is extreme, but the customization options and frame construction can be planned from scratch. This can be an advantage for those who know exactly what they want and a disadvantage for those who don’t. The focus of this project is entirely on riding pleasure, with minimal frills, less attention to aesthetic details, and a lot of substance. If you’re looking for something unique that will give you strong emotions for a long time, this bike is for you. But if you like frequently changing bikes, seek the latest technologies, and want a clean and well-finished bike, you might already be deterred by the fact that the frame is aluminum…
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