Scott was undoubtedly a pioneer with the first Genius. When the Swiss company presented the bike to the world in 2003, the aim was to appeal to sporty, performance-orientated bikers. In other words, a target group that was more likely to reach for a hardtail than a full-suspension bike, let alone a full-suspension touring bike. But by the 2003 Marathon World Championships in Lugano, any doubts about the sporty nature of the Genius had been dispelled. Because that was when Thomas Frischknecht sprinted to victory with the Genius onto the winner's podium.
Scott Genius eRide 900 tuned - the first ever E-Genius with a carbon frame
Times have changed. And yet the latest Genius eRide continues the sporty tradition. Dynamic acceleration thanks to the efficient chassis, Twinlock levers, plenty of suspension travel to cope with difficult terrain and a balanced and mature geometry. With the first carbon version of the e-MTB, the Swiss are now also reducing the weight: the carbon fibre main frame of the top model saves a good half a kilo compared to the aluminium model (Test in EMTB 04/19 - currently free for you as a digital edition - #stayathome). The carbon handlebar stem unit is also a first for Scott e-bikes and sets an example in terms of lightweight construction and system integration. Overall, the Genius eRide 900 tuned weighs 23.11 kilograms according to our laboratory measurements, 650 grams less than the previous top model Genius eRide 910 with aluminium frame. Both bikes come with Bosch's Performance CX Gen4 drive and 625 watt hours of Intube battery. Thanks to the Dual Battery System, there is even the option of 1125 watt hours.
Carbon Genius: Low centre of gravity, upscale equipment
A positive side effect of the carbon frame: the mass is distributed lower in the bike, the centre of gravity drops from a somewhat high 530 millimetres on the aluminium model to 513 millimetres on the carbon model. A value that would also do well in an enduro test and ensures more predictable and smoother handling. Otherwise, the geometry of the carbon model remains the same, only the reach grew by a few millimetres in our measurements. The carbon Genius is also somewhat more generously equipped than its aluminium counterpart: the Swiss company relies on a GX/X01 mix for the drivetrain and the bike is decelerated by powerful XT four-piston brakes. Above all, however, the suspension has been taken up a notch: The Fox Factory suspension offers a noticeable plus in terms of performance compared to the Fox Rhythm components from the aluminium model. However, there is still potential for tuning: with a carbon crankset and a lighter cassette - the NX cassette with steel sprockets is fitted - the weight could be reduced even further.
Price and practical test
In view of the weight and the significantly upgraded equipment, the € 1600 surcharge for the carbon Genius compared to the aluminium top model is perfectly acceptable. The rear triangle is still made of aluminium, which means that the bike remains within the price range of its carbon competitors and changes hands for a total of 7799 euros.
You can read how the E-Genius from Scott performs in practice and everything about the optional Bosch Dual Battery System in the dual battery comparison test "Three Thousand" in EMTB issue 3/2020 - available at newsagents and digitally in the Delius-Klasing Webreader.
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Adrian Kaether
Editor
