Introductory review of a 2018 Scott E-Genius 720 as kindly supplied by Rutland Cycling.
Full bike specifications can be found in link below.
https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/electric-bikes/scott-e-genius-720-2018-full-suspension-electric-mountain-bike-grey_380514?utm_source=Eddie&utm_medium=Forum&utm_campaign=TeamRutland
As with other bikes that Rutland Cycling have been kind enough to allow me to review, the Scott E-Genius 720 arrived securely and well packaged, and well within the allocated delivery slot.
I had no prior expectations about the bike, and indeed try to make a point of not looking at other reviews in order that I can format my own opinion.
The first surprise to me upon going to lift the bike from its box, was the weight. The weight as quoted on the frame, is 27.5kg, but according to my own scale, came in at 24.9kg. Either way the bike could never be considered lightweight, and whilst this could be considered a negative, in practice things were very different, but more in respect of that shortly.
Moving on, the next detail of note as I removed the packaging, was the quality of the satin grey paint finish. Although not quite battleship grey, it is close to it, and also happens by chance to be one of my favourite of colours. As with very much all bikes these days, the welding on what is actually a newly designed frame was exceptionally clean.
The next point of note and one which was very pleasing, was the decision by Scott to supply the bike with Maxxis 700 Series 2.80 x 27.5 tyres, a combination of Minion DHF on the front and Minion DHRII on the rear. The Syncros X-30s rims are also tubeless ready, so yet another bonus.
Rutland Cycling have always proved to be very efficient at preparing their mail order cycles, and the Scott proved to be no different, and although I do tend to go through the finer points of preparation once again myself, there is really no need and it is just a case of straightening and tightening of the handles bars, adjusting the seat post height to suit, and away you go. Even the battery was showing a full charge, a detail that an eager to ride new owner would appreciate.
I did take things further though, and moved the layout of the cockpit around to suit my own requirements, which is something that I tend to do with any new bike, and I’m sure that others do the same.
Speaking of adjustments, care does have to be taken when altering the saddle height, as the Syncros Pro cable operated dropper post, can become detached at the seat post end of the cable. This is no real issue or concern, and won’t happen if the cable is either pushed or pulled from the headstock end, in conjunction with the seat post height.
After a short spin to bed the brake pads in, it was time to set off for a proper ride on the bike.
Straight onto the Shimano STePS E8000 drive unit, I was immediately struck by two things, the first being that the drive unit seemed louder that my current Bosch CX drive unit, and then second by the comparative smoothness that the transition from assist to no assist was, at the UK legal cut off point. In respect of the noise, this is a very subjective detail and one that everyone appears to offer a differing opinion about. I recall having a similar opinion when using the Yamaha PWX drive unit. In reality though, I suspect that it isn’t actually the overall noise that is so different between brands, I think that it has more to do with how the power is being delivered, and how this affects the corresponding pitch and tone. How we perceive the frequency (pitch) can be very different to the actual ‘real’ frequency. An interesting subject for another article perhaps, and I shall leave that one there in respect of this review.
Back on to specifics about the Shimano system as fitted to the Scott 720, I initially found the left hand trigger mode change to be slightly un-natural in use, and also back to front whilst in use. It didn’t actually take very long to become accustomed to using the trigger, although I am still not overly keen on how it feels, but imagine that with a simple firmware change, that it could be reversed.
The display unit is neat and tidy though, and I really like the menu of available options, all of which are available from one push button. These include overall distance, odometer/trip, range, riding time, average speed, maximum speed, cadence, and clock, and of course current speed, power setting and remaining battery level on one screen setting.
The available mode setting in respect of power, are off, eco, trail and boost. As yet I haven’t completed any significantly long rides on the bike, so cannot currently offer an opinion of range, but intend to do so very soon, although as usual, this is very subjective to conditions, power settings etc. For the most part I have been using either eco or trail, and only dipping into boost on rare occasions. I have slightly mixed feelings about how the power is delivered, and would prefer an option between eco and trail. In use, the feeling that I get is that the system operates more efficiently at a lower cadence than a higher one, and to me it felt as though a cadence of between 75rpm-80rpm suited the system, rather that the 85rpm – 90rpm that I am more accustomed to. It made for quite a relaxed ride, and the available torque was transferred in a user friendly way. Shimano use two types of sensor and magnet options, and on this Scott 720, Scott have opted to use the integrated RT- EM800 centre lock disc mounted magnet, and SM – DVE 11 speed sensor. The combination works very well in respect that there is no potential for the movement of the magnets, but it does have the negative of tying the owner into a specific brake rotor, or at least it appears to.
Moving on to the battery, I cannot pretend that I am generally a fan of fully integrated down tube batteries, and in the case of the Scott, this is no exception. I struggle to see any logic or reason to mount a battery, with the power on button, the key position, and the charging point, all facing the front tyre, and in a position that means that everything gets covered in mud within moments of starting a wet ride. I’m sorry, but that is to me a design disaster. The battery is also not the easiest of designs to install and remove, but others I’m sure wouldn’t share this opinion, and might even like the downtube mounted design.
Scott also saw fit to put a rubber down tube protection plate just above the battery and this fell off within moments of touching it. It actually seems a very pointless addition to the bike.
Continued...
.
Full bike specifications can be found in link below.
https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/electric-bikes/scott-e-genius-720-2018-full-suspension-electric-mountain-bike-grey_380514?utm_source=Eddie&utm_medium=Forum&utm_campaign=TeamRutland
As with other bikes that Rutland Cycling have been kind enough to allow me to review, the Scott E-Genius 720 arrived securely and well packaged, and well within the allocated delivery slot.
I had no prior expectations about the bike, and indeed try to make a point of not looking at other reviews in order that I can format my own opinion.
The first surprise to me upon going to lift the bike from its box, was the weight. The weight as quoted on the frame, is 27.5kg, but according to my own scale, came in at 24.9kg. Either way the bike could never be considered lightweight, and whilst this could be considered a negative, in practice things were very different, but more in respect of that shortly.
Moving on, the next detail of note as I removed the packaging, was the quality of the satin grey paint finish. Although not quite battleship grey, it is close to it, and also happens by chance to be one of my favourite of colours. As with very much all bikes these days, the welding on what is actually a newly designed frame was exceptionally clean.
The next point of note and one which was very pleasing, was the decision by Scott to supply the bike with Maxxis 700 Series 2.80 x 27.5 tyres, a combination of Minion DHF on the front and Minion DHRII on the rear. The Syncros X-30s rims are also tubeless ready, so yet another bonus.
Rutland Cycling have always proved to be very efficient at preparing their mail order cycles, and the Scott proved to be no different, and although I do tend to go through the finer points of preparation once again myself, there is really no need and it is just a case of straightening and tightening of the handles bars, adjusting the seat post height to suit, and away you go. Even the battery was showing a full charge, a detail that an eager to ride new owner would appreciate.
I did take things further though, and moved the layout of the cockpit around to suit my own requirements, which is something that I tend to do with any new bike, and I’m sure that others do the same.
Speaking of adjustments, care does have to be taken when altering the saddle height, as the Syncros Pro cable operated dropper post, can become detached at the seat post end of the cable. This is no real issue or concern, and won’t happen if the cable is either pushed or pulled from the headstock end, in conjunction with the seat post height.
After a short spin to bed the brake pads in, it was time to set off for a proper ride on the bike.
Straight onto the Shimano STePS E8000 drive unit, I was immediately struck by two things, the first being that the drive unit seemed louder that my current Bosch CX drive unit, and then second by the comparative smoothness that the transition from assist to no assist was, at the UK legal cut off point. In respect of the noise, this is a very subjective detail and one that everyone appears to offer a differing opinion about. I recall having a similar opinion when using the Yamaha PWX drive unit. In reality though, I suspect that it isn’t actually the overall noise that is so different between brands, I think that it has more to do with how the power is being delivered, and how this affects the corresponding pitch and tone. How we perceive the frequency (pitch) can be very different to the actual ‘real’ frequency. An interesting subject for another article perhaps, and I shall leave that one there in respect of this review.
Back on to specifics about the Shimano system as fitted to the Scott 720, I initially found the left hand trigger mode change to be slightly un-natural in use, and also back to front whilst in use. It didn’t actually take very long to become accustomed to using the trigger, although I am still not overly keen on how it feels, but imagine that with a simple firmware change, that it could be reversed.
The display unit is neat and tidy though, and I really like the menu of available options, all of which are available from one push button. These include overall distance, odometer/trip, range, riding time, average speed, maximum speed, cadence, and clock, and of course current speed, power setting and remaining battery level on one screen setting.
The available mode setting in respect of power, are off, eco, trail and boost. As yet I haven’t completed any significantly long rides on the bike, so cannot currently offer an opinion of range, but intend to do so very soon, although as usual, this is very subjective to conditions, power settings etc. For the most part I have been using either eco or trail, and only dipping into boost on rare occasions. I have slightly mixed feelings about how the power is delivered, and would prefer an option between eco and trail. In use, the feeling that I get is that the system operates more efficiently at a lower cadence than a higher one, and to me it felt as though a cadence of between 75rpm-80rpm suited the system, rather that the 85rpm – 90rpm that I am more accustomed to. It made for quite a relaxed ride, and the available torque was transferred in a user friendly way. Shimano use two types of sensor and magnet options, and on this Scott 720, Scott have opted to use the integrated RT- EM800 centre lock disc mounted magnet, and SM – DVE 11 speed sensor. The combination works very well in respect that there is no potential for the movement of the magnets, but it does have the negative of tying the owner into a specific brake rotor, or at least it appears to.
Moving on to the battery, I cannot pretend that I am generally a fan of fully integrated down tube batteries, and in the case of the Scott, this is no exception. I struggle to see any logic or reason to mount a battery, with the power on button, the key position, and the charging point, all facing the front tyre, and in a position that means that everything gets covered in mud within moments of starting a wet ride. I’m sorry, but that is to me a design disaster. The battery is also not the easiest of designs to install and remove, but others I’m sure wouldn’t share this opinion, and might even like the downtube mounted design.
Scott also saw fit to put a rubber down tube protection plate just above the battery and this fell off within moments of touching it. It actually seems a very pointless addition to the bike.
Continued...
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