The SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL – In our huge “Best e-mountainbike of 2023” group test

The SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL takes on the competition with some impressive key figures. At 16 kg, it’s the lightest candidate in the entire test field, and the eye-watering € 15,999 price tag also makes it the most expensive one. On top of that, it boasts the highest level of integration in the entire test field – even the shock is hidden inside the frame! Does this make it the sportiest candidate with its 130 mm of travel?

**SCOTT** Lumen eRIDE 900 SL | TQ HPR 50/360 Wh | 130/130 mm (f/r)
16 kg in size L | € 15,999 | Manufacturer’s website

SCOTT seem to have developed a taste for magic, making the shock disappear on several of their bikes. Alongside its full fat eMTB counterpart, the Patron, and two of SCOTT’s analogue trail bruisers, the Spark and Genius, the Lumen eRIDE 900 SL features a fully enclosed shock. After focusing on building superlight bikes for several years, the Swiss manufacturer is now determined to provide their lightweight constructions with the highest possible level of integration. The SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL is proof that they’re incredibly good at it, hiding pretty much everything that can be hidden and tipping the scales at just 16 kg – which makes it the lightest bike in the entire test field. What else shouldn’t be missing on a SCOTT bike? The manufacturer’s proprietary TwinLoc system, which lets you switch between three suspension settings – Lockout, Traction Control and Descent – using two bar-mounted levers. However, mind-boggling integration and featherlight weight come at a price: € 15,999 to be exact, which makes the SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL the most expensive bike in this test.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2023 – 30 models in review

Light, lighter, lightest – what makes the Lumen eRIDE 900 SL different from all other bikes?

The Lumen eRIDE 900 SL takes on the competition with a futuristic, clean look, which reminds us a lot of SCOTT’s analogue trail bruiser, the Genius. Now here’s the real question: does the Lumen look like an analogue bike, or does the Genius look like an eMTB? Both the 50 Nm TQ motor and the matching, non-removable 360 Wh battery are neatly integrated into the frame, with only the display in the top tube and the discreet, bar-mounted remote hinting at the electric nature of the bike. Put the 160 Wh range extender in the bottle cage and it becomes a bit more difficult to hide the Lumen’s electric genes. The countless minitools hidden all over the frame are integrated into the frame even more discreetly than the motor, making it hard at first to remember what’s stowed away under the bottle cage and what’s hiding in the handlebars and thru-axle.

**Love it or leave it**
SCOTT’s in-house Syncros OnePiece carbon cockpit doesn’t allow for fine tuning and is pretty narrow at just 760 mm. If you don’t like it, there isn’t much you can do.

**Swiss army knife**
SCOTT hide tools all over the bike. There’s one under the bottle cage, one in the rear thru-axle and even a couple inside the bar ends – here the tubeless repair kit!

**Lever-central**
The three levers (and cables) on the TwinLoc remote spoil the otherwise clean look and take some getting used to.

Alongside the TQ motor, the FOX Nude5T shock is the beating heart inside the lumen. It was developed in close cooperation with FOX and is paired with a FOX 34 FLOAT Factory FIT4 fork. Both can be controlled directly from the handlebars using SCOTT’s proprietary TwinLoc remote system which, in our opinion, makes perfect sense for a bike in this travel category. Moreover, this allowed SCOTT to develop a rear suspension system that is extremely capable downhill despite generating only 130 mm of travel, without having to worry about the bike’s climbing performance; after all, the shock can easily be stiffened up or locked out altogether when heading uphill. However, the practicality of the system comes at the expense of aesthetics, because the additional cables and remotes spoil the otherwise clean frame silhouette. The shock is accessible through a service port on the down tube, which doesn’t require tools, but does take a bit of convincing to open. To facilitate shock setup, SCOTT add a sag indicator on the frame and a practical air valve extension. With a bit of patience, the rebound dial is relatively easy to reach.

**Not for heavy riders**
The Lumen comes with small 180 mm brake rotors front and rear, which overheat quickly on long descents. Heavy riders in particular should consider upgrading to bigger rotors, at least on the front wheel.

**Stealth Mode on**
The TQ motor is neatly integrated into the frame, ensuring a discreet look.

**Only for strong fingers**
The service port on the downtube can be opened without tools – at least in theory. In practice, however, the closing system gets jammed, requiring you to use a coin or flat-head screwdriver to access the shock.

The SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL was specced to ensure the lowest possible system weight. The highlight is the Syncros Silverton SL2 wheelset, which unites the rim, spokes, and hub into a one-piece carbon construction and is sinfully expensive to replace in case of damage. This can be particularly nerve-wracking when riding through nasty rock gardens, because the Lumen comes standard with Schwalbe Wicked Will tires in the paper-thin Super Race casing, both front and rear, paired with the hard ADDIX Speedgrip compound at the rear and ADDIX SpeedSoft rubber compound at the front. That’s totally pointless, because a set of tires in Schwalbe’s tougher Super Trail casing only weighs 200 g more, which is far less painful than having to splash out € 2,500 per wheel when the carbon rims get damaged!

**Finest carbon bling**
The one-piece wheelset is pure carbon art! Unfortunately, the thin-cased tires are a constant threat to your wallet!

**Clack, clack, clack, clack clack…**
The Syncros fender is bolted directly into the FOX fork’s threads. This ensures a great look but makes a loud rattling noise on the trail – we ended up removing ours after the first lap.

SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL

€ 15,999

Specifications

Motor TQ HPR 50 50 Nm
Battery TQ HPR Battery V01 360 Wh
Display TQ 0-LED
Fork FOX 34 FLOAT Factory FIT4 130 mm
Rear Shock FOX Nude5T 130 mm
Seatpost FOX Transfer Factory 150 mm
Brakes Shimano XTR 180/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS 1x12
Stem Syncros Fraser iC 70 mm
Handlebar Syncros Fraser iC 760 mm
Wheelset Syncros Silverton SL2 29"
Tires Schwalbe Wicked Will Super Race ADDIX Soft/Schwalbe Wicked Will Super Race ADDIX Speed Grip 2.4/2.4

Technical Data

Size S M L XL
Weight 16 kg
Perm. total weight 128 kg
Max. payload (rider/equipment) 112 kg
Trailer approval no
Kickstand mount no

Specific Features

Range-Extender
TyreWiz
integrated tools

Tuning tips: Upgrade to more robust tires with tougher Super Ground casing | Remove the Syncros mudguard from the fork for a quieter ride

What is the SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL capable of?

As soon as you swing your leg over the saddle, the SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL makes it clear that it loves a sporty riding style, which really suits the lively, direct character and gentle support of the TQ motor. The SCOTT places you in a stretched, aggressive pedalling position but is still far more comfortable than the Thömus Lightrider Ultimate, proving an excellent companion for sporty tourers. When negotiating very steep climbs or sprinting out of the saddle, it’s worth switching the suspension into Lockout or Traction Control mode, while in all other situations, Descent mode is already firm enough. On very steep climbs, we ended up using the latter, because it generates noticeably more traction than the other two modes without forcing you to weight the front wheel too much. Needless to say, the Lumen requires far more physical effort than its full-fat opponents, but at the same time rewards you with a very natural ride feeling. If you run out of steam on nasty, technical climbs, you can easily carry the 16 kg Lumen on your shoulders.

With its many hidden features, the SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL is the Swiss army knife amongst bikes.

**Nippier than a kitten on speed**
On the trail and on level ground, the SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL accelerates willingly.

**To the limit and beyond**
On technical trails, it takes a very experienced rider to stay out of the undergrowth.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	415 mm	440 mm	490 mm	540 mm
Top tube	562 mm	589 mm	620 mm	645 mm
Head tube	110 mm	110 mm	120 mm	135 mm
Head angle	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°
Seat angle	76.8°	77°	77.2°	77.5°
Chainstays	450 mm	450 mm	450 mm	450 mm
BB Drop	38.5 mm	38.5 mm	38.5 mm	38.5 mm
Wheelbase	1,176 mm	1,206 mm	1,240 mm	1,270 mm
Reach	416 mm	446 mm	476 mm	501 mm
Stack	615 mm	615 mm	625 mm	638 mm

The SCOTT Lumen is still playful and agile on flowing trails, but requires physical effort on technical terrain.

Downhill, the Lumen eRIDE 900 SL maintains its lively character and feels in its element on flat-ish, flowing trails. The SCOTT accelerates willingly, not least due to the super-light wheelset combined with the motor’s direct power delivery. The lively, direct handling allows you to throw the Lumen from one side of the trail to the other and generate tons of speed by pumping through rollers, while having the time of your life in the process. As soon as the going gets rougher, the big grin of joy can quickly transform into an anxious frown, because the SCOTT lacks reserves and composure, passing bigger impacts directly onto the rider rather than ironing them out. The direct, agile character suddenly turns nervous, while the handling becomes rather demanding. Compared to the Pivot Shuttle SL, which has only 2 mm more of rear travel, the Lumen hits the wall far quicker. Moreover, the tires struggle to generate traction due to the hard rubber compounds and thin casings, which force you to run higher air pressures. That’s a pity, because with more robust tires that generate more traction, the SCOTT would be a lot more capable on the trail.

**Helmet** SMITH Forefront | **Glasses** Melon Optics Kingpin | **Jersey** POC Resistance | **Shorts** POC Resistance | **Shoes** Crankbrothers Mallet BOA | **Socks** Stance

Who should take a closer look at the SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL and who should look elsewhere?

First of all, the SCOTT Lumen eRIDE is only an option if you have an extra € 15,999 lying around. In return for your money, you’ll get a futuristic, well-thought-out overall concept with a huge head-turning factor. The SCOTT Lumen is most suitable for sporty riders who are looking for an efficient bike for moderate trails with a natural ride feeling, but still want to drop into the occasional flow-trail. To perform well on technical trails, the SCOTT requires an experienced rider. On the other hand, it’s a pretty awesome training tool for fitness oriented-riders who want to take the edge off really steep climbs. Mean trail shredders and weekend warriors are better off looking for a more capable bike.

Riding Characteristics

DESIGN

unbalanced
coherent

USER FRIENDLINESS

cumbersome
clever

VALUE FOR MONEY

flop
top

TREKKING & COMMUTING SUITABILITY

low
high

HANDLING

demanding
intuitive

FUN FACTOR

boring
lively

Intended Use

Gravel roads

Technical climbs

Flowtrail descents

Technical descents

Conclusions about the SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL

With its futuristic look, the SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL stands out from the crowd as a true master of integration. On level ground and uphill, it’s incredibly efficient and provides a natural riding feel, but quickly reaches its limit on technical descents. On moderate, flowing trails, on the other hand, it puts a massive grin on your face. Despite the eye- watering price and high expectations that come with it, it can’t compete for the “Best eMTB of 2023” title, which is mainly due to its lack of all-round capabilities.

Tops

Highest level of integration in the entire test field
Good fun on flowing trails
Efficient climber

Flops

Non-removable battery
Spec limits the trail potential
Huge price for a tiny range of applications

You can find out more about at scott-sports.com

The test field