SCOR was born from a simple desire to create a bike that met the demands of weekend riders tackling the rugged local trails. The trails are famous for their big jumps, super challenging descents, and slippery white rocks that demand skill and control. BMC employees' after-hours tinkering led to the development of the SCOR prototype V1.
As SCOR progressed from prototypes to production bikes, the team expanded their offerings to cater to a wider audience, including options for traditional and electric bikes.
The Beginning of SCOR Mountain Bikes
It all started at the Bike Manufacturing Company in Switzerland. Two employees, Mariano Schoefer and Christof Bigler, wanted to make something BMC didn’t have: A weekend bike that could handle the country’s diverse terrain. Foothills, forests with steep inclines and sharp corners, and rocky trails that were even more challenging in the rain.
They cut down a BMC Trailfox frame to slacken the head angle and lengthen the reach in the front and shorten the chainstay in the rear. It became the V1 prototype. Word about this project spread to their coworkers, and more people got in on the action.
Months of testing all over Switzerland ensured peak performance and handling. At some point, a fellow BMC ambassador decided this was too different from the company’s other bikes. They needed a new brand, and SCOR was born!
Building the Brand
Other BMC members came on board for SCOR mountain bikes. The V2 prototype went into production. Christof worked on product design and personalization, while Mariano discovered that one frame could offer two travel options. Carbon fiber was chosen for the base material.
They decided they wanted more bikes, including an e-bike. Mariano crashed one of the test bikes on the Chaumont jump trail, one of the wildest riding trails in the world. That warranted some changes. He reinforced the offending area so it could shrug off crashes.
The top priority was making something durable for hard riding. Hardware was the same as what was used on BMC bikes. The brand evolved, but every decision was based on the desire for something fun that everyone wanted to ride.
