Scott Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned first ride review

Scott’s new Voltage eRIDE electric mountain bike may share the moniker of the Swiss brand's dirt-jump bike, but it couldn’t be more different, featuring 155mm of integrated rear suspension and a TQ HPR50 Mid Motor drive system that produces 50Nm of torque.

The bike sits above the Lumen eRIDE in terms of suspension travel and is aimed toward trail and all-mountain riding.

This £10,099 / $10,999.99 / €10,999 Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned sits towards the top of the range and boasts a drool-worthy spec, with flashes of Kashima and SRAM’s wireless GX AXS Transmission.

On the climbs, the motor offers quiet and potent power that makes trail heads come into sight quickly and has bystanders questioning if the bike is even electric.

The extra weight isn’t too noticeable on the way down, with the bike not feeling out of place on steep, rocky enduro trails where electric mountain bikes can feel brutish.

Its supple and supportive suspension certainly helps here, and the travel on offer doesn’t leave you wanting more on the majority of downhill trails.

If you’re in the market for a lightweight electric mountain bike with great all-round ability, the Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned should be considered.

Scott Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned frame and suspension

Scott has given the Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned a full-carbon fibre frame made using its HMF composite, which is the brand’s second-highest modulus layup behind the super-lightweight HMX.

The bike rolls on 29in wheels, and unlike many other electric mountain bikes, there is no flip chip in the linkage to accommodate a switch to a mullet setup.

Like the Lumen eRIDE, the Voltage eRIDE uses Scott’s Integrated Suspension Technology, hiding the rear shock within the seat tube of the frame.

Positioning the shock here is said to optimise the bike’s suspension and handling performance by lowering the centre of gravity and centring pedalling and suspension forces around a stiffer bottom bracket area.

To achieve this, Scott has added a linkage extender to its design to allow for increased travel compared to the Genius, while leaving space for the bottom-bracket mounted motor.

Scott also says the design keeps the elements and debris away from the shock, extending maintenance intervals.

As per Scott’s other integrated shock design frames, Scott has partnered with Fox, giving the Voltage eRIDE a Fox Nude 6T, and the Voltage eRIDE Tuned a Fox Float-X NUDE Piggyback shock.

The Tuned model features Scott’s TracLoc technology, which gives you three modes that adjust the ramp-up of the shock, as well as a climb mode via the damping circuit.

These are selected using Scott’s TracLoc lever, which doubles up as a dropper remote.

Damper adjustments are made via a door in the down tube, and the housing can be removed entirely to access the battery and motor.

The TQ HPR50 Mid Motor drive system gives out 50Nm of torque and the bike comes with a 360Wh battery in the down tube.

A range extender is available that adds 160Wh to the overall battery and is mounted to the bike via a plate on the seat tube, helping in centring the bike’s weight.

Scott Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned geometry 

The Voltage eRIDE is available in four sizes, ranging from S to XL, and is bestowed with geometry that leans toward the gnarlier end of the trail segment.

The size large has a 485mm reach measurement and a slack head tube angle of 63.5 degrees is seen throughout all sizes.

This can be altered by 0.6 degrees using the Acros angle adjust headset.

Chainstay lengths also stay the same, measuring a relatively long 455mm, alongside a steep seat tube angle of 77.1 degrees.

Scott Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned specifications

This top-of-the-range Tuned model features a 160mm Fox 36 Factory fork and a Fox Float-X NUDE Factory rear shock.

SRAM’s GX Eagle AXS Transmission is used for shifting and is paired with the American brand's Code Silver Stealth 4-piston disc brakes.

These Stealth levers help to create a neater-looking front end, especially when combined with Scott’s in-house Syncros Hixon iC Carbon integrated handlebar.

A Syncros Revelstoke 1.0-30 CL carbon fibre wheelset is booted in Maxxis tyres, with a 2.6in Assegai on the front and a 2.6in Dissector on the rear.

TQ’s HPR50 Mid Motor sits in the bottom bracket, connected to a 360Wh battery in the down tube.

This can be controlled via a handlebar remote and there is a screen in the top tube that shows battery, mode and power assistance, among other things.

A titanium-railed ​​Syncros Tofino 1.5 Regular saddle sits on top of a Syncros Duncan Dropper Post 1.5S to finish the bike off.

I wasn't able to weigh the bike, but Scott claims it tops the scales at 18.6kg with inner tubes.

Scott Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned ride impressions

I tested the Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned alongside the Scott Ransom 900 RC at the launch event in Santa Coloma de Farners, Spain.

The trails were a mix of flowy blues and technical blacks, all with their fair share of dust and rocky sections.

There’s no hiding from the fact that I smashed my face up on the third run of the day, so enjoy trying to spot my bust-up lips in the photos that follow.

Setup

I set the Voltage eRIDE up with the recommended 30 per cent sag, finding the built-in sag meter to make for a quick and accurate measurement.

The 36 Factory fork was set up to Fox’s recommended 85psi for use with an electric bike. For context, my weight is 73kg fully kitted-up.

This proved to be accurate, and I ran the fork with high-speed compression damping fully open and one click of low-speed compression.

I also had a play around with TQ’s app, but ended up leaving the bike in the default settings for my testing.

Scott Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned climbing performance

On the climbs, the Voltage eRIDE feels powerful, but unlike the pokey nature of other electric bike motors, the TQ system is more akin to having a second set of legs or a really strong tailwind.

In the lowest power setting, the bike has the attributes of a non-assisted cross-country bike – it feels weightless and responsive – but it's in the higher-power settings where the Voltage eRIDE shines.

The bike makes quick progress up the steepest of fire roads, and while there’s plenty of torque on tap to attempt technical climbs, those used to full-fat 80-95Nm motors will notice a lighter punch.

SRAM’s GX Eagle AXS Transmission worked faultlessly, and while it doesn’t provide the quickest shifts, its performance under load is remarkable.

I often don’t understand the need for rear suspension lockouts, especially on electric mountain bikes, but the Voltage eRIDE benefits from its climb mode on longer, less technical ascents, sapping noticeably less power from you and the motor. 

The climb mode also helps maintain a steeper seat tube angle, keeping the bottom bracket height higher for technical climbing.

Scott has provided a comfortable seating position, with the 77.1-degree seat tube angle centring your weight over the bottom bracket well.

The TracLoc remote and Syncros Duncan Dropper Post 1.5S worked effectively, enabling me to easily adjust my saddle height to lower my centre of gravity on short, technical shoots.

Scott Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned descending performance

Heading down the first trail, I noticed quickly how supple the suspension is at the start of the stroke, helping to find grip on rough sections and through corners.

Even when challenged with gnarly enduro trails, the bike remained controlled and capable, with the suspension eating up the bumps well.

Deeper into the travel, the rear end feels almost infinite, with the shock offering great mid-stroke support, helping to maintain speed down the trail without transferring big hits through the frame.

The added weight of the drive system is disguised well and adds a feeling of stability to the bike without seeming wallowy.

Just as they had been when climbing, the motor and battery remained quiet on the way back down, with no clacks or bangs detected when ploughing through rough terrain.

Fox’s 36 Factory fork offers good stiffness that lends the bike direct steering that's more than ample for all-mountain and enduro riding.

Maxxis’ Assegai and Dissector combo bolsters the Voltage eRIDE’s downhill ability, fending off punctures while providing plenty of grip in their 2.6in form.

SRAM’s Code Silver Stealth 4-piston disc brakes work well for scrubbing speed, and the HS2 rotors provide a great lever feel.

Scott Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned early verdict

Scott’s Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned offers great performance, both up and down, with an envelope that spans trail to enduro riding.

It’s on the pricey side, but riders who want the latest in integration will find it hard to surpass.

While others may not welcome this level of design, there’s no doubt the Voltage eRIDE is an impressive bike to ride.