Scott Genius ERide Review

Scott have tried to make the ride feel of these ebikes similar to their non-powered namesake. Geometry is very similar to the regular Genius with tweaks to fit the nature of an ebike.

The head angle is slightly slacker, and the stack height is a little taller. Like most ebikes the chainstays are a little longer. This is great for climbing steep trail sections and makes the bike a little more stable at speed but does make the bike a little less manoeuvrable in tight turns.

There are two frame options for the redesigned Genius eRide. Most of the bikes have an aluminium alloy frame but the top-of-the-range 900 Tuned has a carbon fibre main frame combined with an alloy rear end. Geometry is identical on each model.

The battery pack is neatly integrated into the downtube while still being easy to remove for off-the-bike charging. All the cables are internally routed.

You get 150mm of suspension travel front and rear with Genius eRide. Up front, all bikes get a burly fork which is a real plus point on an e bike. Starting with the 930 you get a RockShox 35 Gold with its stiff 35mm stanchions. The rest of the bikes have an even stiffer Fox 36 fork.

You get a four-bar suspension system on the rear that keeps things active even while pedalling and braking. This is the same type of system that Specialized pioneered and many other brands now use it as it is so simple and effective. The 930 has a custom X-Fusion shock with Fox Float shocks through the rest of the range. The quality of the Fox fork and shock improves as you move up through the range becoming slicker and offering more adjustment options.

TwinLoc is a unique suspension adjustment system that is only found on Scott bikes. This clever system uses a lever on the handlebars to adjusts the damping and spring curve on both the front and rear at the same time. With three modes to cycle through you can make the suspension nice and firm for efficient climbing and then open it up again when the gradient changes.

Pioneers of e bike motors, the fourth generation Bosch Performance CX drive unit takes things to the next level. Lighter and quieter than previous versions this motor offers the same maximum torque but delivers more support and delivers it in a much more usable way.

You can adjust the level of support that the motor offers from 60% of your natural peddling power in ECO mode all the way up to 340% in TURBO mode. Offering variable assistance eMTB mode delivers maximum support when you pedal hard but reduces the amount of assistance when you ease off. This is the most usable mode as it only gives you maximum power you need when you need it, making the bike easier to ride as well as extending the range of the battery.

The PowerTube battery pack slots very neatly into the downtube of the bike but is still easily removable if you want to charge the battery off the bike instead of while it is still in place. Most of the bikes in the Genius eRide range feature the larger 625Wh battery pack which offers a range of up to 80Km in ECO mode. It is also possible to add a range extender battery pack that clips onto the frame and doubles the distance you can ride on one charge.

It’s great to see that each bike in the Genius eRide range features a SRAM Eagle 12 speed drivetrain. This means that you get the same big range of gear ratios on every bike. Starting with SX Eagle on the 930 the gear shifting gets slicker as you move up through the range to XO1 on the 900 Tuned.

Shimano four-piston brakes and big disc rotors front and rear offer plenty of stopping power. The 930 has BR MT-420s moving up to MT-520s then XT brakes on the top model.

Each bike also has a dropper post. The Syncros Duncan on the first couple of models is a great performer and the top models take it a step further with the smooth operating Fox Transfer post. The Syncros finishing kit is all great quality on the Genius.

The Genius eRide rolls on 29” wheels. Scott chose this wheel size for rapid riding on all terrain. The Syncros wheels are all tubeless-ready and feature wide 30mm rims which offer good support for wide tyres. The 900 Tuned gets a Syncros Revelstoke carbon wheels which are lighter and faster than the alloy wheels on the other bikes.

It is good to see that every bike is shod with quality rubber. With a Magic Mary up front and a Hans Dampf on the rear, the 2.6” Schwalbe tyres are ideal for UK riding conditions all year round. As with many other Scott mountain bikes, it is possible to fit 27.5” wheels as there is a flip chip to adjust the geometry to suit.