SCOTT’s newest incarnation of their E-Genius flaunts a brand new frame, new motor and new rear end design. In fact, other than the name, very little has remained from the earlier E-Genius generation! We’ve spent two days tearing up and down the trails in Italy’s Valle d’Aosta testing the E-Genius to bring you our First Ride review.
The frame of the SCOTT E-Genius
Their newest incarnation of the E-Genius has been scrubbed and pulled in all directions for the coming season, seeing SCOTT put their focus firmly on integrating the Shimano STEPS E8000 system. They’ve stashed the battery into the airy downtube and developed their own three-part motor cover with air coolers and a skid plate. In the pursuit of aesthetics, all of the cables run internally through the aluminium frame.
The E-Genius has two-position geometry adjustment via a flip-chip on the rear shock mount to alter the bottom bracket height as well as the angles. At the rear there’s clearance for up to 2.8″-wide 27.5″ tires, or 2.6″ 29ers. In terms of wheelsize, SCOTT don’t dictate so the choice is down to the customer. Stay tuned for our more in-depth testing of both wheelsizes.
The option to mount a kickstand might not win the most kudos amongst more ambitious riders, but it’s arguably an intelligent feature that many will rate.
The SCOTT E-Genius 700 Tuned specs
Fork FOX 36 Float Factory 150 mm
Shock FOX NUDE EVOL Trunnion 150 mm
Motor / Battery Shimano STEPS E8000 / 500 Wh
Brakes Shimano Zee
Drivetrain Shimano XT
Seatpost FOX Transfer
Stem Syncros FL1.5
Handlebar Syncros FL1.0 Carbon 740 mm
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHF 2,8″/ Minion DHR II 2,8″
Wheels DT Swiss H1825
SCOTT have moved on from plus-size tire chat
A glance at the list of new SCOTT E-Genius models shows that the term ‘Plus’ has seemingly fallen out of fashion, not appearing in any of the names. SCOTT’s current approach now refers solely to 27.5″ or 29″ tires and their respective widths. However, it’s purely a name-based departure, as SCOTT have exclusively equipped the 27.5″ wheels with wide 2.8″ tires, while the 29ers have a width of 2.6″. All of the wheel sizes are compatible with upwards of 2.5″-wide tires, so it’s down to personal taste.
The suspension on the SCOTT E-Genius
The new E-Genius shares a lot of the same visual cues as the recently presented E-Spark. The rear shock is now parallel to the seat tube rather than under the top tube, which is a design that gave SCOTT the freedom to increase the stiffness in strategic locations and improve its suspension kinematics. Its 150 mm rear suspension has been refined to result in much more sensitivity, support and a better prevention of bottoming out thanks to enough progression at the end.
Thanks to the TwinLoc technology, there are three travel setting, which admittedly only have a negligible impact on the bike’s efficiency but proved really practical while testing as the now higher bottom bracket eliminates the risk of catching the pedals on technical terrain.
The geometry of the SCOTT E-Genius 700 Tuned
SCOTT have pulled off the feat of replicating the geometry of the conventional non-motorised Genius as they kitted the E-Genius with the compact Shimano STEPS E8000 system. Compared to the previous iteration of the E-Genius, the chainstays are now almost 3 cm shorter, while the frame is longer and the head angle is slacker. What this means for you is both smoothness and stability at high speeds as well as stellar, agile cornering to boot.
Size | S 900/700 | M 900/700 | L 900/700 | XL 900/700 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seat Tube | 410 mm | 440 mm | 490 mm | 540 mm |
Top Tube | 586/585 mm | 606/605 mm | 636/635 mm | 666/665 mm |
Head Tube | 120 mm | 125 mm | 135 mm | 145 mm |
Head Angle | 64.8/65.3° | 64.8/65.3° | 64.8/65.3° | 64.8/65.3° |
Seat Angle | 75/75.5° | 75/75.5° | 75/75.5° | 75/75.5° |
Chainstays | 462/460 mm | 462/460 mm | 462/460 mm | 462/460 mm |
BB High | 342/340 mm | 342/340 mm | 342/340 mm | 342/340 mm |
Wheelbase | 1216/1215 mm | 1237/1236 mm | 1259/1258 mm | 1291/1289 mm |
Reach | 419/425 mm | 437/444 mm | 459/465 mm | 486/492 mm |
Stack | 624/620 mm | 629/625 mm | 640/636 mm | 649/645 mm |