SCOTT Addict eRIDE Premium first ride review – higher, further, steeper?

With the Addict eRIDE Premium, SCOTT venture into the still burgeoning market of E-road bikes, placing their bets on the Mahle Ebikemotion X35+ hub motor. Visually, the bike is a hit and the eRIDE also cuts a good figure on the scales. Can the E-road bike deliver on the road?

It wasn’t that long ago that ebikes were derided with rudimentarily integrated motors, measly battery capacities and software adjustments that didn’t deserve to be called as such. A lot has changed since then, and electronically-assisted bicycles have become an integral part of our lives. Almost every third bike sold in Germany today is an ebike. If you take a seat at an ice cream parlour on a Sunday afternoon and count the number of ebikes passing, you’ll arrive at a two-digit figure for every scoop of ice cream you eat. The pioneers in this field are clearly the eMTBs and E-trekking bikes, as the selection of E-road bikes is still very small in comparison. Most motors come from the eMTB sector and only a few are adapted to the completely different needs of E-road bikes. SCOTT made a conscious decision to use the relatively weak Mahle Ebikemotion X35+ motor for their first E-road bike. The Addict eRIDE isn’t supposed to make riding easier, but make the whole experience more interesting. The motto is: higher, further, steeper. Have they succeeded?

The motor of the SCOTT Addict eRIDE

At the heart of the SCOTT Addict eRIDE E-road bike is the Mahle Ebikemotion X35+ hub motor offering up to 40 Nm torque. The X35+ can be controlled via a remote in the top tube and an app on your smartphone. It weighs 3.5 kg including battery, cables and control unit. Compared to its predecessor, the Ebikemotion X35 M1 that we tested previously (review here), Mahle have made a few minor improvements to the latest model. The motor and battery remain the same, only changing the shape of the housing, adding full ANT+ compatibility and allowing for a higher spoke tension on the X35+ motor. The capacity of the completely integrated 252 Wh battery in the down tube can be expanded by 208 Wh with the optional range extender, giving you a total of 460 Wh. The 120 km range and 2,200 m of altitude claimed by SCOTT only seem possible in the lowest of the three support modes and with lots of physical effort. Note: the range doesn’t only depend on the size of your “tank”! Electricity consumption, the degree of efficiency and performance of your motor, and around 20 other external variables play into the equation – including the riding style, the rider’s weight and the kilometres ridden above the 25 km/h threshold. As such, it’s impossible to make general claims about the range. You can read more about this in our sister magazine E-MOUNTAINBIKE in “The truth about lab tests”.

The iWoc ONE remote on the top tube relies on LEDs of different colours to indicate the selected support mode and the remaining battery capacity in 25% increments. Compared to most other bicycle motors on the market, the Mahle X35+ motor doesn’t regulate the assistance according to cadence or the rider’s input, but according to the speed at which the cassette rotates in relation to the hub. This means that the X35+ also assists even if you’re not putting in any effort but simply turning the cranks. It might sound tempting, but it also has its pitfalls, as you’ll read below in the first ride review.

The components in detail

The SCOTT Addict eRIDE is available in four versions with prices ranging from € 4,499 to € 9,299; the eRIDE 10 is available in a CONTESSA version with contact points specifically designed for the female anatomy. Our € 9,299 test bike, the flagship SCOTT Addict eRIDE Premium features a complete Shimano DURA-ACE Di2 groupset, the range extender giving you an additional battery capacity of 208 Wh, a Syncros Creston iC SL stem-handlebar combination – as seen on the SCOTT Addict RC Ultimate (review here) – and Syncros Capital 1.0 40e disc carbon wheels. The 700 x 30C Schwalbe Pro One tires come mounted tubeless and should offer sufficient comfort. If you’re looking for a little more cushioning, you’ll be able to mount up to 700 X 32 C wide tires on the Syncros Capital wheels. The Addict eRIDE Disc HMX frame is said to be the lightest E-road bike frame on the market, weighing 1,040 g in size M. The weight of the complete bike in size L is just 10.9 kg.

Groupset Shimano DURA-ACE Di2, 2 x 11, 50–34 t
Cassette Shimano DURA-ACE 11–30 t
Brakes Shimano DURA-ACE 160/160 mm
Wheels Syncros Capital 1.0 40e Disc
Tires Schwalbe Pro One, 700 x 30C
Motor MAHLE Ebikemotion X35+, 40 Nm
Battery 252 Wh, Range Extender: 208 Wh
Seat post Syncros Duncan SL Aero, 20 mm offset
Handlebar Syncros Creston iC SL, 420 mm
Stem Syncros Creston iC SL, 110 mm
Weight 10.9 kg in size L, rear wheel including tire, cassette and brake rotor: 3,470 g
Price € 9,499
Availability from October 2020

Overview of the different SCOTT Addict eRIDE models

Model	Groupset	Wheels	Cockpit	Range extender	Weight	Price
Addict eRIDE Premium	Shimano DURA-ACE Di2	Syncros Capital 1.0 40e Disc	Syncros Creston iC SL	included	10.9 kg in size L	€ 9,499
Addict eRIDE 10	Shimano ULTEGRA Di2	Syncros Capital 1.0 40e Disc	Syncros Creston iC 1.5 / Syncros RR iC	optional	11.6 kg* in size M	€ 6,499
Contessa Addict eRIDE 10	Shimano ULTEGRA Di2	Syncros Capital 1.0 40e Disc	Syncros Creston iC 1.5 / Syncros RR iC	optional	11.6 kg* in size M	€ 6,499
Addict eRIDE 20	Shimano 105	Syncros Capital 2.0 25e Disc	Syncros Creston 2.0 / Syncros RR iC	optional	12.0 kg* in size M	€ 4,499

* manufacturer’s specs

The geometry of the SCOTT Addict eRIDE

Size	XS/49	S/52	M/54	L/56	XL/58
Seat tube	490 mm	520 mm	540 mm	560 mm	580 mm
Top tube	515 mm	530 mm	545 mm	560 mm	575 mm
Head tube	105 mm	125 mm	145 mm	165 mm	185 mm
Head angle	71.0°	72.0°	72.5°	73.0°	73.3°
Seat angle	75.0°	74.5°	74.0°	73.5°	73.1°
Chainstay	422 mm	422 mm	422 mm	422 mm	422 mm
BB Drop	70 mm	70 mm	70 mm	70 mm	70 mm
Wheelbase	995 mm	997 mm	1,002 mm	1,007 mm	1,014 mm
Reach	373 mm	377 mm	380 mm	384 mm	388 mm
Stack	529 mm	551 mm	572 mm	593 mm	613 mm

The geometry is slightly different compared to the SCOTT Addict RC road bike. The head tube is longer, the stack is taller and the reach is slightly shorter. With these adjustments, the position of the rider is a bit more upright on the eRIDE, which SCOTT hope to be more comfortable. The women’s specific version, the Contessa Addict eRIDE, is only available in four frame sizes from XS to L and is based on the same frame with the same geometry as the unisex version. Speaking of numbers, unlike ebikes with mid-motors that have a wider bottom bracket, the Q-factor on the eRide remains unchanged, giving you the same fit as on a regular road bike. This is one of the big advantages of the Mahle X35+ hub motor!

SCOTT Addict eRIDE Premium first ride review

Before mounting our pedals, adjusting the saddle height and swinging our legs over the bike, the eRIDE needs to be connected to the nearest power outlet to convert the electrical energy from the socket into chemical energy in the battery. The integrated battery has to remain in the bike for charging and it should only be removed from the down tube for service purposes. You’ll need an outlet wherever you park store bike, or you’ll have to park the eRIDE in your living room. However, thanks to the low weight, stairs aren’t a big obstacle – you would have a much harder time with the E-cargo bikes that we recently tested for our sister magazine DOWNTOWN (group test here). Integrated in the seat tube at the height of the derailleur, the charging port is easily accessible and protected from dirt and water by a magnetic carbon cover – beautiful!

If the capacity of the integrated 252 Wh battery isn’t enough, you can simply connect the range extender, which is included with the eRIDE Premium and looks like a water bottle. This increases the battery capacity by an additional 208 Wh to give you a total of 460 Wh. For the other three models, the range extender is available separately. It gets mounted to the seat tube like a water bottle and plugged into the charging port. Compared to Bosch’s Dual Battery System, in which an additional battery functions like a normal battery, the range extender of the eRIDE doesn’t work independently. Instead, it charges the main battery. As a result, if you’re running low and using the highest support mode, the range extender won’t be able to charge the main battery fast enough and you’ll either have to shift down, pedal harder or take a break. If you want to avoid this kind of scenario, you need to connect the range extender before the integrated battery runs low!

The Ebikemotion smartphone app, which links up to the motor via Bluetooth connectivity and worked perfectly during the test, is a great addition. Besides allowing you to regulate the intensity of the three support modes, it also offers onboard navigation. In addition to displaying the current riding data, it evaluates how heavily you relied on the electronic assistance on your previous ride. Another convenient function is being able to link the app with your heart rate monitor and define the level of assistance you want within different heart rate ranges. This makes the eRIDE the perfect partner for doing groundwork training even on undulating terrain!

As soon as the battery is fully charged, you can hit the road. One thing is certain: hardly any of your neighbors will recognize that you’ve made the switch to an E-road bike when they first see it. The proportions of the frame are almost identical to those of the analogue Addict RC that we reviewed last year (review here). However, you’re sure to be getting a lot of envious looks nonetheless as the matt paint job with the glossy lettering is beautiful. SCOTT also did a good job with the internal routing, keeping all of the cables nicely hidden. The only detractor in the looks department are the huge axle nuts of the Mahle motor. Apart from that, the Addict eRIDE is a feast for the eyes from every angle.

The eRIDE accelerates comfortably as you pull away and gives you a gentle push up to the 25 km/h threshold. Depending on the selected support level, intensity and your own input, you’ll reach the threshold more or less quickly. You’ll soon realise that the two lower support modes are very similar, even after fine-tuning them on the app. Depending on the setup, only the highest level feels like it offers a lot of support. To switch from one support mode to another, you’ll have to take one hand from the handlebar to operate the iWoc ONE remote in the top tube. The noise of the motor is pleasantly subtle and once you’ve gotten used to it, you’ll no longer notice it.

One of the strengths of the X35+ motor is riding at the 25 km/h threshold. The support fades out very linearly before you continue pedaling solely on your own, so you never feel like you’re crashing into a wall. The motor’s relative lack of power is a plus point here, since, depending on the terrain, you won’t be able to rely completely on the motor, requiring you to put in a certain amount of effort throughout. The motor sets back in just as imperceptibly without jerking or any other unpleasant side effects. So far, the assistance of the motor feels extremely natural. However, due to the design of the hub motor, as already mentioned, the support isn’t based on your cadence or performance, but on the speed at which the cassette rotates in relation to the hub. This makes it possible to ride on flat terrain without pushing down on the pedals. You could just spin the cranks with one leg and feel like you’re riding a moped! Simply lifting and dropping your legs is enough for the motor to push you along. Compared to systems with a torque sensor, this kind of support, which is independent of how much force you’re applying to the pedals and your cadence, can occasionally feel unnatural.

You’ll notice the motor’s lack of power most clearly in mountainous terrain as the Mahle X35+ isn’t capable of offering much assistance on inclines in the double-digit range. In these situations, you’ll need to select the highest support mode to achieve any noticeable effect. To make matters worse, the motor isn’t very effective at slow speeds, only able to unleash its full effect from 15 km/h. However, SCOTT deliver on their promise. The eRIDE isn’t supposed to make riding easier, but more interesting. They claim reaching higher altitudes and being able to ride further. It’s true! We’re still out of breath after the climb but slightly less so and, above all, we got there quicker, saving us time.

On the descent, the Addict eRIDE is a bit less aggressive than the Addict RC. The longer wheelbase and the extended chainstays make the rear end slightly delayed in its cornering response. Ambitious racers will be slightly disappointed, but they’re not the main target group of the eRIDE anyway. Beginners and less experienced riders can look forward to a very composed and stable bike! The SCOTT’s stable handling, in combination with the powerful and easy to modulate Shimano stoppers instil the rider with confidence. In terms of comfort, the 700x30C tubeless Schwalbe Pro One tires add a bit of compliance to the stiff frameset and the grip they offer is excellent in all conditions. Overall, the comfort offered by the Addict is okay. You’ll need to experiment with the air pressure or, if necessary, fit even higher-volume tires for that added bit of comfort necessary for all-day, long-distance rides. The frameset itself is stiff and direct, staying true to its DNA.

Our conclusion on the SCOTT Addict eRIDE Premium

With the Addict eRIDE Premium, SCOTT have made a successful debut in the E-road bike segment. It looks fantastic and it’s very light too. The motor offers enough support to ride noticeably further and higher. However, if you want to be shuttled up the mountains without much effort of your own, the eRIDE isn’t what you’re looking for. The SCOTT E-road bike is a great training device for beginners with stable and confidence inspiring handling on the descents.

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You can find more information about the SCOTT Addict eRIDE Premium at scott-sports.com

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Words: Benjamin Topf, Philipp Schwab Photos: Benjamin Topf