Those faux-bar suspension designs like this scott where the axle is directly connected to the swingarm are really just single pivots with a linkage actuated shock. This design has some fundamental problems. Braking forces are not isolated from suspension movement, so putting the rear brakes on actually stiffens the rear suspension which creates the "brake jacking" effect. The path of the rear axle also changes in distance from the chainrings so you get the effect when you hit a bump and are pedalling that the rear suspension pulls on the chain and makes it harder to pedal through the bump.
These designs also don't have any of the anti-squat type features of the DW-link, maestro etc designs so they rely on the platform tuning in the shock to stop pedal bob. This inevitably results in poor small bump compliance.
Shame about the suspension design. Just another faux-bar design with the usual brake jacking, chain growth etc... It certainly won't ride like a AX29. It'll probably be a weight weenies wet dream though.
If you want to think about this stuff clearly...
a) don't read marketing blurbs
b) draw a static free body diagram
c) draw a dynamic diagram
For the sake of disambiguation:
There's only one dual suspension 29er out there with zero chain growth - Lenz Milk Money. To achieve zero chain growth,the rear axle must move on a constant radius arc around the bottom bracket (sometimes referred to as a "concentric pivot"). It's only a useful concept if you want to run a dually single speed - and is otherwise detrimental.
Most suspension designs will utilise a rearward axle path early in the stroke. This means that chain tension resists the compressive force on the shock and prevents "squat" or "bob" characteristics, which would be when chain tension acts as an additional compressive force. Chain power is provided by the rider and is regulated through the spring and cage on a derailleur. There's no way that chain growth can make it harder to pedal. It's not like the suspension actually tries to make your chain go backwards - it just increases chain length, the derailleur adjusts tension accordingly, and your legs will never know the difference.
The whole selling point of multi-link setups like DW/Maestro is a variable axle path, so that the influence of chain tension is varied throughout the travel.
Brake jack is a force and moment created by the caliper that can act through a linkage to produce a force at the rear shock that tries to extend it. It looks like Scott have slotted the brake mount on the chainstay... this changes the braking dynamic compared to traditional seatstay mounts. Where did the phrase "isolating" a force come from? Forces don't disappear, they have to be resolved somewhere.... the force involved is tiny on short travel bikes with small rotors anyway.
