E-Mountainbike Review | Scott E-Genius 710 Plus 2016

Despite still being in its infancy, the E-MTB industry is making giant leaps of progress – and nowhere is this more apparent than at SCOTT, one of the first companies to plunge into plus-size tyres which promise more traction and stability. But is wider really better? And has the technology, just like a fine wine, had enough time to mature?

Update November 2016: This article is from 2015, in the meantime we’ve reviewed the SCOTT E-Genius 700 Tuned 2017

Plus-Size-Tires spend a lot of security – the E-drivetrain kills the disadvantages.

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The SCOTT E-Genius is a looker! The wide tyres may catch your attention, but only after you’ve spotted its luminous green colourway. Understatement? What understatement, this bike doesn’t know the meaning of the word! But aside from the wheels, the rest of the spec is notably less spectacular.
The reliable Shimano XT and SLX shifting and braking components do their job dutifully, as does the stock FOX suspension, whose bar-mounted Twinloc lever allows you to adjust the three-mode lockout. (There’s a choice between 130 mm travel, 90 mm travel, or a complete lockout.) At the front, the FOX 34 Performance fork offers up 140 mm of travel.

Auffallen ist garantiert! — The look is definitely outstanding!

Reminiscent of a monster truck, it just takes a few minutes on the bike until you’re nodding away, proclaiming that it’s just like a mountain bike with ‘regular’ tyres. Thanks to the 40 mm-wide rims, there’s no sense of the undefined nature that you might be used to from a fat bike, as the rims effectively support the tyres and the rolling resistance remains satisfactory. Pedalling uphill on the Genius Plus, there’s a generous sense of support from the powerful Bosch Performance CX motor. When the ground gets less firm, the 3″ Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres come into their own, delivering an insane amount of traction and leaving other tyres wallowing in the mud, crying out for grip. Descents bring a similar situation, as the bike doesn’t just fill you with confidence, but encourages you to take the corners at a rapid pace. Having the right tyre pressure is crucial here, though – during our tests, we settled on 1.1 bar at the front and 1.2 bar at the rear as being optimal for a rider weighing between 75–80 kg.
This set-up gives the bike a defined feeling and the maximum traction and comfort. However, it’s important to mention that the slightest change in air pressure in a plus-size tyre can make a huge difference to the damping, traction, and roll-over characteristics. Changes in direction on the Genius Plus also require some extra effort given its longer wheelbase, but the advantages outweigh that effort: the bike possesses an enormous sense of stability and smoothness.

Die Reifen bieten eine Menge Grip! — Those tires give a lot of grip!

Details

Volle Kontrolle ohne aufgeregte Optik. — **Total control:** The left side of the bars is where you can control the motor and lock out the suspension thanks to the Twinloc lever for maximal efficiency.

Eine 150mm Achse bringt Steifigkeit und Platz für große Reifen. — **Wide, wider, 150 mm:** SCOTT have kitted the E-Genius Plus out with the new Boost standard at the rear while simultaneously making it wider (150 mm) to create sufficient space for tyres with of a width of up to 3.0″.

Jede Menge Grip, jede Menge Platten – Tubeless schafft Abhilfe. — **Grippy:** The 3.0″-wide Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres offer masses of grip whatever the conditions. However, if you’re after a weakness then you can point the finger at their relatively thin carcass, which results in frequent flats – tubeless is compulsory!

Scott will, dass ihr mehr erlebt! — **Energy-saving:** The giant Bosch Power Pack with a 500 Wh capacity expands the range, and therefore radius, of your ride on the Genius LT Plus. “Ride farther, experience more,” is the motto.

Specification: Scott E-Genius 710 Plus

Fork: Fox 34 Performance
Damper: Fox Nude Scott Custom
Motor: Bosch Performance CX
Battery: Bosch Power Pack 500
Brakes: Shimano SLX 180/180 mm
Drivetrain: Shimano XT M8000
Seatpost: RockShox Reverb Stealth
Stem: Syncros TR 2.0
Handlebar: Syncros FL 2.0 T-Bar
Tires: Schwalbe Nobby Nic EVO 3.0″
Wheels: Felgen: Syncros X-40 | Naben: Formula CL-811
Weight/Size: 22,1 kg / Size M
Prize: € 5,499

Conclusion

From mountain bikers heading out for long rides in comfort right through to performance-orientated trail riders, the SCOTT E-Genius Plus is a great option! Its incredible handling, huge amounts of traction, and clever details such as the TwinLoc system have clinched victory in our group test and proven that plus-size tyres rock!

Strengths:

Great Traction
Top suspension
Very smooth

Weaknesses:

Somewhat clumsy handling
Thin carcasses on the tyres

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More amazing bikes can be found in our E-Mountain Bike Group Test 2016.