Bye bye, Shimano. For 2020, SCOTT have opted to build their Genius eRide around Bosch’s new Performance Line CX motor. This new configuration allows a battery capacity of up to 1125 Wh. Is the SCOTT Genius eRide 920 the perfect adventure bike and how does it perform on singletrack?
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22.9 kg in size L | € 5,199 | manfacturer website
Wow, what a paint job! The high-quality finish of the SCOTT Genius eRide 920 changes colour with the sun’s angle and it’s damn sexy. This level of paint is a rare sight on a € 5,199 eMTB and it blows the competition out of the water. The speed sensor is just as neatly integrated into the aluminium frame as the Bosch Performance CX motor for which SCOTT designed a special cover. However, the angular down tube containing the 625 Wh battery looks quite bulky compared to the competition and Bosch’s floppy charging port spoils the otherwise positive impression. As with the Haibike, the Genius eRIDe can accommodate an optional 500 Wh range extender in the main triangle, so there’s nothing to stop you from crossing the Alps! SCOTT TwinLoc system comes to play here too, allowing you to remotely lock out the 150 mm travel FOX Performance suspension in three stages. Because of the additional trigger this system requires, the cockpit looks cluttered despite the Purion display. We’re equally unconvinced of the performance of the SRAM SX Eagle drivetrain as it doesn’t shift as quickly and precisely as the better drivetrains on test. We were even less impressed with the Shimano BR-MT420 brakes and their two-finger brake levers. Despite 200 mm rotors at the front and rear, it’s by far the worst-performing brake on test and doesn’t offer enough braking power for serious eMTB riding. The 29 x 2.6” Schwalbe Magic Mary tire up front and Hans Dampf on the rear provide plenty of grip and the APEX casing also provides enough puncture protection for the bike’s intended use.
Scott Genius eRIDE 920
€ 5,199
Specifications
Motor Bosch Performance Line CX 75 Nm
Battery Bosch PowerTube 625 Wh
Display Bosch Purion
Fork FOX 36 Rhythm 150 mm
Rear Shock FOX Float Performance 150 mm
Seatpost Syncros Duncan Droper 150 mm
Brakes Shimano BR-MT420 4-Kolben 200/200 mm
Drivetrain SRAM SX Eagle 1x12
Stem Syncros ER2.0 50 mm
Handlebar Syncros Hixon 2.0 780 mm
Wheelset Syncros X-30S 29"
Tires Schwalbe Magic Mary/Hans Dampf Apex 2.6"
Technical Data
Size S, M, L, XL
Weight 22.9 kg
Perm. total weight 130 kg
Max. payload (rider/equipment) 107 kg
Trailer approval yes
Kickstand mount yes
Specific Features
primed for headlights
TwinLoc-suspension
Bosch DualBattery ready
The dropper post remote at the top right of the handlebar is difficult to reach and requires a lot of force to operate.
The Shimano BR-MT420 brakes and two-finger levers may offer good ergonomics and power for a touring bike. However, they’re completely inappropriate for an aggressive eMTB like the SCOTT Genius eRide.
The flip-chip on the Genius eRide is only there to adjust the geometry to suit different wheel sizes, not your personal preferences.
There’s a mounting point for a stand on the chainstay and the frame comes pre-wired to install a set of lights.
All cables on the cockpit are neatly routed but the number of buttons and levers on the cockpit can still be overwhelming.
The front triangle is roomy enough to accommodate either a water bottle or Bosch’s optional Dual Battery System, which increases the battery capacity to 1125 Wh.
SCOTT have specced 2.6” tires with Schwalbe’s Apex casing which is perfectly suited for the bike’s intended use regarding grip and puncture protection. Only very heavy or aggressive riders will need a more robust tire on the rear.
The colour of the Genius eRide varies depending on the angle of the light hitting it. The quality of the bike’s paint job is easily the best on test.
Geometry of the SCOTT Genius eRide
Compared to the rest of the test field, the geometry of the SCOTT Genius eRide isn’t out of the ordinary. However, the 465 mm chainstays are the longest on test and the 490 mm seat tube is very long for a size L. On level terrain, the riding position is spot on and very comfortable. Together with the optional range extender, there’s nothing to hold you back from all-day epics with the Genius eRide. On very long stretches of asphalt, you can lock out the shock and fork using the TwinLoc remote and make progress efficiently.
| 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° | 65.0° | 65.0° |
| Seat angle | 75.4° | 75.4° | 74.8° | 74.8° |
| Chainstays | 465 mm | 465 mm | 465 mm | 465 mm |
| BB Drop | 30 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,215 mm | 1,236 mm | 1,258 mm | 1,290 mm |
| Reach | 422 mm | 441 mm | 461 mm | 488 mm |
| Stack | 627 mm | 631 mm | 641 mm | 650 mm |
SCOTT Genius eRide 920 on test
Away from paved or smooth surfaces, we left the TwinLoc system open. Unlike the more expensive models of the Genius eRide, traction mode simply increases compression damping of shock and fork instead of reducing the travel. This makes it unnecessarily harsh on gravel and offers hardly any efficiency advantages. While the Genius eRide 920 may not offer the geometry and travel adjustment of the more expensive models, in open mode, the suspension generates a lot of traction. The long chainstays prevent the front wheel from lifting and make the Genius eRide super comfortable and easy to manoeuvre on the climbs. However, while the FSA cranks are nominally 165 mm long, the crank arms extend significantly beyond the pedal axle and easily get caught on rocks and other obstacles.
The SCOTT Genius eRide 920 offers plenty of traction and is super easy to manoeuvre: great all-round bike.
Going downhill, the SCOTT Genius eRIDe 920 impressed us with its intuitive and easy handling. The low bottom bracket keeps the rider’s centre of gravity low on the bike. However, you’ll have to have long legs, as otherwise the long seat tube is likely to restrict your freedom of movement despite the 150 mm dropper post. While the front end is very tall, the long chainstays keep the weight evenly distributed between the wheels. As a result, the SCOTT handles open corners just as playfully as berms and slippery off-camber terrain. The key word in describing the SCOTT Genius eRide 920 is traction, because it offers plenty of it! No matter how steep or rough the terrain, the suspension and geometry of the eRide 920 instil you with the confidence to charge on. The only issue you’ll have with going fast is the lack of stopping power on offer from the Shimano brakes.
Tuning tips: upgrade the brakes with something like Shimano SLX, which offer a lot more braking power and control and are still affordable.
Riding Characteristics
7Agility
- sluggish
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- stable
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Riding fun
- boring
- lively
Motor feeling
- digital
- natural
Motor power
- weak
- strong
Value for money
- poor
- top
Conclusion of the SCOTT Genius eRide 920
With the DualBattery option and its high level of comfort, SCOTT’s Genius eRide 920 is aimed at those looking for all-day comfort and range. At the same time, the SCOTT is equally able to deliver on singletrack with great all-round handling and versatility. The ride is intuitive and forgiving enough to benefit beginners and experienced riders alike. However, high-speed junkies won’t get their money’s worth and make sure not to leave the shop before upgrading the brakes.
Tops
- easy, intuitive handling
- long-distance comfort
- mounting points for lights and a stand
Flops
- underpowered brakes
- long seat tube
- cluttered cockpit
For more information head to scott-sports.com
The test field
Click here for an overview of the best budget eMTB
All bikes in review: CENTURION No Pogo E R2600i (Click for review) | CUBE Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC (Click for review) | Haibike XDURO AllMtn 3.0 (Click for review) | Moustache Samedi 29 Game 4 (Click for review) | RADON RENDER 10.0 (Click for review) | Scott Genius eRIDE 920 | Specialized Kenevo Comp (Click for review) | Trek Rail 7 EU (Click for review)
Relaxed and comfortable riding on surfaced roads, both uphill and downhill.↩
Easy climbs up trails with few obstacles, wide turns and a moderate incline.↩
Active and playful descents on easy trails with few obstacles, wide turns and a moderate slope.↩
Single-track climbs on challenging terrain. Loose ground, steps, roots, tight corners and occasionally extreme inclines.↩
Singletrack descents on challenging terrain. Loose ground, steps, roots, tight corners and small jumps as well as some very steep descents.↩
High speed descents on sometimes very rough trails with large jumps and obstacles that you can’t roll over.↩
The rating used for riding characteristics refers to the bikes in the group test and the current state of development of eMTBs. The best bikes managed to blend supposedly opposite riding characteristics, feeling both lively and stable at the same time. The handling describes the balance of the bike on downhill sections. The information regarding motor-power refers to the ride-feeling in the overall context of the bike and not exclusively to the motor – that’s why the same motor can present different values.↩
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Words: Photos: Finlay Anderson
