2021 SCOTT Ransom eRIDE on test – A hard-hitting descender and comfortable climber!

Are you looking for a hard-hitting, long-travel eMTB? Then you should take a closer look at the new 2021 SCOTT Ransom eRIDE. We put the big bike with its Bosch motor and 625 Wh battery to the test. Can it deliver a fun ride and climb as well as it descends?

It’s a premiere: with the new 2021 Ransom eRIDE, SCOTT have dispensed with the TwinLoc system they usually rely on for their full-sus bikes, meaning no more suspension lockout lever on the handlebar. To find out who this bike is for, we put the hard-hitting, 180 mm travel Ransom eRIDE 910, featuring 29” wheels, the Bosch Performance Line CX motor and a 625 Wh battery, to the test.

The SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 910 in detail

The slim silhouette and cool paint job look fantastic, adding a breath of fresh air to SCOTT’s ebike portfolio. The Bosch Performance Line CX motor is nicely integrated and powered by a 625 Wh battery. A rubber down tube protector guards the aluminium frame, motor and battery cover from flying rocks. For the display, SCOTT rely on the minimalist Purion unit across the range, which does double-duty as the remote. Our test model comes with 29” wheels but thanks to the flip chip on the shock mount, the new 2021 SCOTT Ransom eRIDE is compatible with 27.5” wheels too.

The missing TwinLoc lever is a blessing for a neatened up cockpit. Until now, most of SCOTT’s full-suspension models, such as the SCOTT Genius eRIDE 920, had a crowded and untidy looking cockpit. With limited space on the handlebar to accommodate the levers and buttons of various remotes, some of them inevitably became hard to reach. That’s no longer the case with the new 2021 Ransom eRIDE. The missing cables also contribute to the tidy look of the cockpit. The spiral wraps keep cables tidy and in check while the spacers under the stem look great too. However, the cables are routed into the frame at the side. A headset with internal cable routing would have been the better option and could have resulted in an even cleaner look. As usual, SCOTT rely on their in-house brand Syncros for the stem, handlebar and saddle. The mudguard is supplied by FOX and is much sturdier than Syncros’ own model. In size L, the SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 910 weighs 24.4 kg. The maximum permissible weight is 128 kg, which leaves 103 kg for rider and gear after deducting the bike’s weight.

The components of the SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 910

The new SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 910 is available for € 6,999. It offers a whopping 180 mm travel with the help of a burly FOX 38 Performance Elite fork and FOX FLOAT X2 shock. The FOX Transfer dropper post on the size L has almost the same amount of travel (175 mm), providing plenty of freedom of movement on the descents. For the drivetrain, SCOTT rely on SRAM’s high-end X01 Eagle derailleur and 10–52 t cassette but it is paired with a budget NX shifter. This doesn’t make much sense in terms of performance, but the prominent derailleur will certainly look good standing on the shop floor. The 29” wheels are built up with Formula hubs and Syncros X-30S rims. These are shod with 2.6” wide tires, a MAXXIS Assegai up front and MAXXIS Dissector at the rear, both with the EXO+ casing. If you’re going to be pushing the Ransom’s limits, you’ll have to swap out the rear tire for a more durable version with the DoubleDown casing. Furthermore, if you don’t like the easy-drifting Dissector, you might as well use the opportunity to fit a model with more grip too.

The components of the SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 920

The only other build available is the SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 920 for € 5,499, offering the same 180 mm travel but specced with the lower-end RockShox ZEB fork featuring the Charger R damper. This only allows you to adjust the low-speed rebound. The FOX FLOAT X2 shock on the rear provides more adjustment options. Shimano’s BR-MT520 four-piston brakes are paired with 203 mm rotors front and rear and should ensure sufficient stopping power. For the drivetrain, you’ll have to make do with a budget 12-speed SRAM NX/SX Eagle combination. Compared to the 910 model, there are only minor changes to the tires, handlebars and stem.

The geometry and sizes of the SCOTT Ransom eRIDE

The 2021 SCOTT Ransom eRIDE is available in sizes S, M, L and XL. All our test riders were around 180 cm tall and felt comfortable on the size L Ransom eRIDE. With a seat tube angle of 76.1° and a reach of 470 mm, the geometry is modern but not extreme. The 465 mm chainstays are relatively long and the front end is quite tall with a stack of 649 mm.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	420 mm	440 mm	470 mm	500 mm
Top tube	568 mm	595 mm	628 mm	661 mm
Head tube	120 mm	120 mm	125 mm	125 mm
Head angle	64°	64°	64°	64°
Seat angle	76,5°	76,3°	76,1°	75,9°
Chainstays	465 mm	465 mm	465 mm	465 mm
BB Drop	22 mm	22 mm	22 mm	22 mm
Wheelbase	1.230 mm	1.255 mm	1.287 mm	1.317 mm
Reach	415 mm	440 mm	470 mm	500 mm
Stack	644 mm	644 mm	639 mm	649 mm

This is how the 2021 SCOTT Ransom eRIDE performs uphill and on flat terrain

The riding position on the new, 2021 SCOTT Ransom eRIDE is upright and compact on flat terrain thanks to the steep seat tube angle, making for a comfortable ride. When riding uphill, the front wheel stays planted no matter how steep the incline. You’ll really have to push it to get the front wheel to lift. Despite its long travel, there is no need to use the compression lever on the shock and we didn’t miss the TwinLoc system either. The rear end of the Ransom eRIDE 910 doesn’t bob and it doesn’t wallow on steep climbs either. The bike’s pedalling efficiency belies its weight – excellent!

Our test impression of the 2021 SCOTT Ransom eRIDE on the descents

From the very first metres aboard the Ransom, you’ll notice how balanced it is, which is exactly what we’ve come to expect from SCOTT. The handling is composed and the geometry matches the capabilities of the 180 mm travel suspension. It strikes a good balance between stability and agility, making it neither the liveliest nor most sluggish bike we’ve ridden recently. The suspension is sensitive and willingly uses its travel, skillfully damping small and medium-sized impacts. However, it could do with a little more progression to avoid bottoming out. We didn’t notice any harsh bottom outs but riders with an aggressive and hard-hitting riding style will benefit from installing a volume spacer. The Ransom eRIDE loves to blast over rough trails at high speed and when things get steep and demanding, you’ll always feel in control.

The SCOTT Ransom eRIDE loves it rough and demands to be ridden hard

2021 SCOTT Ransom eRIDE conclusion

With the new 2021 Ransom eRIDE, SCOTT have brought a hard-hitting eMTB to the market. They’ve done away with the TwinLoc system and it doesn’t suffer for it. On the contrary, thanks to the steep seat tube and well-tuned rear suspension, the bike climbs excellently and offers a lot of comfort on longer rides. Going downhill, it is composed, capable and at home on steep and demanding terrain. If you prefer riding more moderate trails, you’re better off with the Genius or Strike eRIDE. There’s room for improvement regarding some components but the performance is good considering the price.

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Words: Photos: Christoph Bayer & Julian Oswald