The Scott Foil was already known for being a light & aero race bike that wouldn’t beat you up on the rough stuff. Orica-Scott rider Mathew Hayman even rode one as the first aero bike to get a Paris-Roubaix victory. Scott has talked of modernizing with road discs for a few years. So it was time that the light aero bike gets the disc brake treatment for improved control and rider safety.
2018 Scott Foil Disc aero disc brake road bike
The new disc version build off the has the same proven frame design & construction of the rim brake bike, and claims to still be one of the lightest aero bikes on the market at a claimed 985g, even with discs.
The frame itself looks almost entirely unchanged, from the same integrated Syncros cockpit up front back to the same (proprietary) aero seatpost with an improved hidden clamp, dropped seatstays, and subtle rear wheel cutout.
For the most part that all remains thanks to the rim brake version already having pulled the rear brake off the seatstays and tucked it behind the bottom bracket.
Tech details
Now a flat mount disc caliper just slides into a reinforced chainstay, next to a new 12mm thru-axle.
A small but very thoughtful detail, the Foil Disc gets a specially tapered dropout design that helps guide the rear wheel into place. We’ve dealt with enough thru-axle bikes where it was a chore to align the rear wheel to insert the axle, and it looks like Scott has a nice solution.
Scott pairs that axle with two different rear derailleur options – either a traditional hanger or a Shimano direct mount version which provides extra room to make wheel changes faster & easier.
Reshaping the bike for new brakes is more dramatic up front. The Foil Disc gets new prominent fork tip flaps that are said to minimize drag around the hub and caliper, and to optimize performance in cross winds. The all new, full carbon flat mount disc fork adds a 12mm thru-axle with removable lever, internal routing, and boosts clearance for up to 30mm tires.
The HMX carbon Foil Disc retains the comfort the Foil is known for with its dropped, thin chainstays and ‘Comfort Zone’ rear end construction, now tuned for disc brakes.
The disc bike carries over their single-point-of-entry modular full internal cable routing, a PF86 bottom bracket, an integrated front derailleur tab, and integrated anti-chain drop device, and a stainless anti-chain suck plate.
Complete bike builds
Scott has three complete versions of the Foil Disc, all of which come at a premium. Each shares the same frame & fork and are available in a wide seven size range (XXS-XXL). The entry Foil 20 Disc starts at just $4800/3600€, built up with a full Ultegra groupset.
At about $6300/4800€ you will find the Foil 10 Disc that upgrades to Ultegra Di2.
The the top Foil Disc Premium climbs to a whopping $13,000/12,000€, built up with Dura-Ace Di2, Zipp 303 NSW wheels, and the Syncros Carbon Foil Combo cockpit for a claimed weight of 7.25kg (15.98lb).
