The SCOTT Genius eRIDE has been thoroughly redesigned for the 2020 season. It now features a Bosch Performance CX motor with a battery capacity of up to whopping 1,125 Wh and is also available with a carbon fibre frame. We took the Genius eRIDE 910 on an alpine test ride. Read on to find out how it performed!
You won’t immediately see what’s changed on the new SCOTT Genius eRIDE, but as soon as you take a closer look, you’ll realise that the Shimano E8000 motor has been replaced by a new 2020 Bosch Performance CX motor. The down tube containing the 625 Wh PowerTube battery has become a lot slimmer and you also have the option of expanding the battery capacity to a whopping 1,125 Wh with an external PowerPack. A lot of the finer details have been revised as well, with changes to the suspension, further refined integration and updated componentry.
The SCOTT Genius eRIDE 910 in detail
The key points of the SCOTT Genius eRIDE 910 can be summarised as follows: 150 mm travel, 29″ wheels front and rear, Bosch Performance CX 2020 motor and 625 Wh battery. But there is more to it than that. The Genius eRIDE also features SCOTT’s proprietary Twinloc system allowing you to stiffen up the front and rear suspension in two stages. For everyday use, the Genius eRIDE has mounting points for a stand and mudguards. A new chainstay protector promises to make the bike even quieter. A steering limiter in the headset stops the handlebar and fork from damaging the frame. The Genius eRIDE is supplied with 29″ wheels as standard, but thanks to a flip-chip, it remains compatible with 27.5″ wheels. As with its predecessor, the magnet for the speed sensor is securely integrated into the brake rotor.
The geometry of the 2020 SCOTT Genius eRIDE
As with the silhouette of the new Genius eRIDE, the geometry also differs only marginally compared to the previous model. While the reach, stack, seat tube length, head and seat tube angles have changed only by a tenth, the biggest change is that the chainstays have grown by six millimetres, from 459 to 465 mm. Like its predecessor, the new Genius eRIDE is available in four sizes from S-XL. Here’s an overview of the data:
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 410 mm | 440 mm | 490 mm | 540 mm |
| Top tube | 585 mm | 605 mm | 635 mm | 665 mm |
| Head tube | 120 mm | 125 mm | 135 mm | 145 mm |
| Head angle | 64.8° | 64.8 | 65° | 65° |
| Seat angle | 75.4° | 75.4° | 74.8° | 74.8° |
| Chainstay | 465 mm | 465 mm | 465 mm | 465 mm |
| BB Height | 347 mm | 347 mm | 347 mm | 347 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1215 mm | 1236 mm | 1258 mm | 1290 mm |
| Reach | 421 mm | 440 mm | 460 mm | 488 mm |
| Stack | 627 mm | 631 mm | 641 mm | 650 mm |
The model range of the 2020 SCOTT Genius eRIDE
SCOTT are offering five Genius eRIDe models ranging from € 4,299–7,799. This also includes a Contessa (women’s) version. The flagship Genius eRIDE 900 Tuned comes with a carbon fibre frame while all the other models feature an aluminium frame. All models at a glance:
| Genius eRIDE 930 | Genius eRIDE 920 | Genius eRIDE 910 | Genius eRIDE 900 TUNED | CONTESSA Genius eRIDE 910 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor | Bosch Performance CX | ||||
| Battery | 500Wh PowerTube | 625Wh PowerTube | |||
| Fork | RockShox 35 Gold RL DebonAir 150 mm | FOX 36 Rhythm 150 mm | FOX FLOAT FACTORY 36 FIT4 150 mm | FOX 36 Rhythm 150mm | |
| Shock | X-Fusion NUDE 150 mm | FOX Float EVOL 150 mm | FOX NUDE T EVOL 150 mm | FOX Nude TR EVOL 150mm | FOX Float EVOL 150mm |
| Brakes | Shimano BR-MT420 4 Piston 203 mm rotors | Shimano BR-MT520 4 Piston 203 mm rotors | Shimano XT M8120 4 Piston 203 mm rotors | Shimano BR-MT420 4 Piston 203 mm rotors | |
| Drivetrain | SRAM SX Eagle | SRAM NX/GX Eagle | SRAM X01/GX Eagle | SRAM SX Eagle | |
| Wheelset | Syncros X-30S | Syncros Revelstoke-E 1.5 C | Syncros X-30S | ||
| Tires | Schwalbe Magic Mary Snake Skin/Addix Soft 29×2.6″ (f) Hans Dampf Snake Skin/Addix Speedgrip29x2.6″ (r) | ||||
| Seatpost | Syncros Duncan Dropper | FOX Transfer Dropper | Syncros Duncan Dropper | ||
| Price | € 4,299 | € 5,199 | € 6,199 | € 7,799 | € 5,199 |
Calm and composed – the new Genius eRIDE on the trail
The new SCOTT Genius eRIDE 910 immediately feels very familiar. If you’ve ever ridden a SCOTT eMTB you’ll feel right at home – and even if not, everything feels right. The riding position is upright and very comfortable. Although the cockpit seems quite cluttered with the additional Twinloc system, all the levers are easy to reach and using them quickly becomes intuitive without having to take your eyes off the trail. The assistance from new Bosch Performance CX offers plenty of power as soon as you get on the pedals and it’s very easy to control, especially in eMTB mode. At the end of our ride, which was about 40 km long with 1,125 m of climbing, our 85 kg rider had 2 out of 5 bars and our 72 kg driver had 3 out of 5 bars of the 625 Wh battery remaining.
The TwinLoc system is great for increasing the efficiency of non-motorised full-suspension bikes, but this factor is negligible on an eMTB thanks to the powerful motor. Nevertheless, the system still offers an advantage: thanks to the reduced suspension travel, it reduces the SAG, which increases the ground clearance and centres the rider’s point of gravity. We completely locked out the suspension on smooth paths and we kept it in Traction mode on the more technical climbs. This offers a good compromise between traction, pedalling position and ground clearance. On steep climbs, the front wheel remained on the ground and only started lifting when things got very, very steep. Our only criticism with regards to climbing is the very hard and uncomfortable Tofino saddle since it doesn’t quite suit the riding position, but that’s a matter of preference.
Going downhill, you’ll quickly realise that the rear suspension is more sensitive compared to its predecessor, more readily absorbing small bumps. The bike is very plush, staying on the ground and swallowing up hits with ease. However, what you’ll also notice is that the Genius was designed primarily to offer stability and composure. If you’re looking for a playful bike, look elsewhere. Due to the long chainstays, the handling is very balanced and you have plenty of grip on both wheels in the corners. In very tight situations or when trying to get the bike airborne, you have to put a lot of effort in to get the Genius going in the desired direction. When the trail gets fast and rough, the bike calmly stays on course and the suspension definitely feels like it offers more than 150mm travel. In steep terrain, we would have liked a little more than 150 mm travel on the dropper post. However, the options are limited because of the length of the seat tube.
Our first test ride didn’t reveal any weak points on the componentry. The powerful Shimano BR-MT520 four-piston brakes and the big range SRAM Eagle drivetrain performed just as well as the grippy 2.6″ Schwalbe Magic Mary tire up front or the 780 mm wide handlebar.
Our first impression of the 2020 SCOTT Genius eRIDE 910
The new SCOTT Genius eRIDE 910 does everything better than its predecessor and makes for an excellent companion on long rides. The handling is very comfortable, stable and predictable and the spec is great too. The new Bosch motor with the large 625 Wh battery and the optional 500 Wh PowerPack suit the bike perfectly. However, if you’re looking for an agile, fun bike, for rowdy trail action this is unlikely to be the bike for you.
Tops
- comfortable and defined suspension
- stable and predictable handling
- variable battery concept for maximum range
- practical mounting points for a stand and mudguards
Flops
- a bit cumbersome on the trail
- long seat tube
For more info head to scott-sports.com
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