Scott Voltage eRide on test: Lightweight trail e-bike with a stealth look
Scott burst onto the light e-mountainbike scene with a bang around a year ago. Never before has an E-MTB fully been as light as the Lumen. Under 16 kilos! (Click here to test the Scott Lumen!) The downcountry bike also set new standards in terms of system integration. The shock is hidden in the seat tube, the handlebars and stem merge into one unit and all cables and lines run almost invisibly through the headset into the frame. Now the big brother of the Lumen, the Scott Voltage eRide, is rolling into the shops. The wider version of the super-light speedster?
This is because the customer base for the super-light Lumen remained very small, despite its record weight. In line with the moderate range of use of downcountry bikes, the developers consistently designed the 130-millimetre fully for lightweight construction. Lightweight tyres with little puncture protection, a slim suspension fork and slender brakes enable light-footed handling. However, the concept offers too few reserves for demanding terrain. Only those who know how to put in a lot of effort and avoid rough terrain will be happy here. So not very interesting for the majority of the E-MTB community. But not so bad. Because the Scott developers have transferred the coveted features to their brand-new light trail bike for the 2024 season. Et voilà: the Scott Voltage.
The Swiss innovation drivers are positioning the Voltage as an all-purpose weapon for demanding terrain. The key data: Full carbon frame, 29-inch tyres, 160 millimetres of suspension travel on the fork and a 155 millimetre thick crumple zone at the rear. This puts it right in the league of lightweight trail fullys such as the Specialized Levo SL or Santa Cruz Heckler SL. (Here's the duel between the two popular lightweights in the trail segment!) According to Scott, the top Voltage model for € 12,999 weighs 17.9kg in size M. It doesn't quite reach the top values of the Levo SL S-Works (17.7 kg in L), but it comes pretty close. Only downcountry bikes with slimmed-down equipment, such as the Lumen from Scott, can clearly undercut this mark.
The facts about the Scott Voltage eRide
- Motor: TQ HPR50, 50 Nm max. torque
- Battery: TQ, 360 Wh (permanently installed)
- Optional: additional battery, 160 Wh, 1050 g
- Frame material: Carbon
- Suspension travel: 160 / 155 mm
- Wheel size: 29 inch
- Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Four models between 6599 and 12,999 euros, plus two women's versions
- Weight: from 17.9 kg (manufacturer's specification, top model in size M)
- Permissible total weight: 130 kg (manufacturer's specification)
Integration on all channels
In addition to the drive system with a subtle TQ boost, the Voltage also adopts the frame design from the Lumen downcountry bike. For the Voltage, the engineers also utilise their patent for shock integration from the sister brand Bold and hide the shock in the seat tube. Since Scott relaunched the Spark with this technology in 2021most new Scott bikes rely on this technical highlight. Incidentally, the integrated shock offers more than just visual advantages. Stowed in the chassis, it creates space in the main frame for a large water bottle plus an additional battery. Hardly any other e-MTB on the market achieves this! The integration also pays off in terms of durability. Protected from water, mud and dust, the integrated shock requires less maintenance than conventional frame designs.
Scott Voltage with adjustable suspension
Also typical Scott: With the tried and tested Twinloc system, the fork and shock can be adjusted simultaneously from the handlebars in three stages: open, platform and closed. In so-called traction control mode (platform), the air volume in the shock shrinks and more compression damping is activated. This increases the bike's suspension travel uphill and on undulating trails, eliminates the influence of the drive and still generates traction.
The e-bike drive
Scott takes the drive system from the more slender Lumen: a lightweight HPR 50 motor from TQ with moderate power and a permanently installed battery with 360 watt hours, which can be optionally supplemented with a range extender with 160 watt hours (1050 g). The HPR 50 from TQ is the minimalist among the light drives. No other motor is more compact, no other drive is quieter. It remains fairly quiet on the climbs and does not rattle on the descents. However, it offers only moderate power in comparison.
The option of a range extender is not insignificant for anyone who wants to go on longer tours. In our tests, the HPR50 with its 360 Wh battery did not achieve the best range values compared to other light drives. Of course, with high power output and low motor assistance, long rides are still possible.
The geometry of the Scott Voltage
The steering angle is slack at 63.9 degrees and can be adjusted via a rotating bearing shell (+1°). The slack value also suits enduro bikes well and ensures a smooth ride. The reach value is at the long end of the size spectrum. The same applies to the 455 chainstays. They give the bike good climbing capabilities, but inhibit playfulness. The steep seat angle also helps on the climbs. High bottom bracket.
Models and prices of the Scott Voltage eRide
Scott is offering its new light trail bike in six model variants: the Voltage eRide 900 Tuned with increased downhill potential, a 900-SL variant trimmed for lightweight construction and two more affordable models for 6599 and 7199 euros. The Voltage line-up is rounded off by two Contessa models especially for women. All models are based on the same full carbon frame with 155 millimetres of suspension travel. The same applies to the HPR-50 motor from TQ. It provides the drive assistance on all bikes and is powered by a permanently installed battery with 360 watt hours. The maximum permissible system weight is 130 kilos across the board.
Scott Voltage eRide 920 - 6599 Euro
The "light" trail fun starts at 6599 euros, a fair price for a full carbon bike with TQ drive. The Marzocchi Z2 fork only has 150 mm travel. The weight climbs to 19.3 kilos with favourable Sram and Shimano components.
Contessa Scott Voltage eRide 910 - 6599 Euro
Female bikers can also enjoy the new Voltage from just 6599 euros. As with the entry-level Voltage eRide 920 model, the product managers have chosen a price-conscious specification. This means a Marzocchi Z2 fork with 150 millimetres of suspension travel and a mix of gears from Shimano's Deore and XT range. The weight should be just over 19 kilos.
Scott Voltage eRide 910 - 7199 Euro
The Voltage eRide 910 is priced below our test bike and comes with a Shimano gear mix, Fox Rhythm suspension and aluminium wheels and components from Syncros. The price is 7199 euros. Weight according to Scott: 19.5 kilos. The suspension travel on the fork measures 160 millimetres.
Contessa Scott Voltage eRide 900 - 7199 Euro
The Contessa Voltage eRide 900 also costs 7199 euros. For this, Scott specifies a Shimano gear mix, Fox Rhythm suspension and aluminium wheel components from Syncros. With this equipment package, the Contessa Voltage eRide 900 weighs 19.5 kilos according to the manufacturer. Suspension travel: 155 millimetres at the rear and 160 millimetres at the fork.
Scott Voltage eRide 900 Tuned - 10,999 euros
Our test bike comes with high-end Fox suspension from the Factory quality class. For maximum downhill performance, the frame features the Float-X-Nude shock with reservoir. Suspension travel on the fork is 160 millimetres. Srams XX Eagle AXS Transmission takes care of the gear changes. Also on board: a handlebar/stem unit and FSA carbon crank arms.
Scott Voltage eRide 900 SL - 12,999 euros
The top model comes with Fox Factory suspension and includes the additional battery. The gears are shifted wirelessly with Srams XX Eagle AXS Transmission. Wheels, handlebar/stem unit and FSA crank arms made of carbon push the weight below the 18-kilo mark.
Practical test: How the Scott Voltage eRide 900 Tuned rides
The Voltage 900 Tuned is the most downhill-orientated version of the bike. Efficiency takes a back seat in favour of downhill performance. The bike is the only model to feature a Float-X-Nude shock with reservoir. In this configuration, the rear suspension reacts more sensitively to bumps thanks to the larger air volume and also offers adjustable compression damping. Instead of the Twinloc system, the so-called Tracloc is used, which only controls the rear triangle. The Fox 36 fork remains untouched by the adjustment, allowing the outstanding Grip2 damping to unfold its strength.
There are three riding modes to choose from at the rear: open, platform and the special ramp control mode. This closes one of the two air chambers in the damper. This has the same effect as installing a volume spacer - but at the touch of a button. The result: the rear suspension acts more progressively and offers more support. During our tests at the presentation of the new bike in Girona, however, the sophisticated ramp control mode seemed somewhat superfluous. This is because the rear suspension shows its sporty side even in open mode. It provides a pleasant amount of feedback from the ground and offers plenty of support both on shallow trails and when pushing through berms or pulling off jumps. The response behaviour is impressive across the board.
Thanks to the high front and steep seat angle, the riding position is upright and compact despite the long reach - so you can get through long days in the saddle without any problems. With its central position and long chainstays, the front stays reliably on the ground even on steep climbs. In short, once you get used to the moderate support of the TQ motor, the Voltage impresses with its confident climbing skills.
And downhill? Thanks to its long geometry and slack steering angle, the bike follows the intended line with confidence. However, the high front end pays off particularly well. It conveys the feeling of being low and secure on the bike. This makes the Voltage easy to control even on steep terrain. The only drawback: If you like to dance light-footedly over the trail or play with the terrain, you will have to use a lot of power for light conditions. In tight bends, the bike feels slightly bulky with its long chainstays. There is also criticism for the rattling of the optional range extender in rough terrain. Without the additional battery, however, the Voltage whizzes along the trail pleasantly quietly.
EMTB review of the Scott Voltage eRide
Strengths
- Confident and uncomplicated driving behaviour
- Space for water bottle and range extender
- Damper integration extends maintenance intervals
- Quiet on the descent (without range extender)
Weaknesses
- Price
- System integration makes set-up and maintenance work more difficult
The EMTB conclusion
From a technical point of view, the Scott Voltage is a masterpiece: maximum system integration, top workmanship and great attention to detail. In practice, the newcomer is a super all-rounder with uncomplicated climbing and downhill characteristics. - Max Fuchs, test editor EMTB Magazine
Max Fuchs
Editor
