SCOTT PATRON ERIDE 900 TUNED
£8,149 The Swiss army knife of e-bikes
Keen on heading out for all-day epics? Scott hope to have you covered with their Patron eRIDE. Sitting between their trail-orientated Genius eRIDE and their aggro, long-travel Ransom eRIDE, the Patron is designed to tick off the kilometres with ease, whatever the trails throw your way.
THE FRAME
The Patron’s striking, angular look is influenced by its high level of integration. Scott have hidden the rear shock inside the top tube, where a tool-free removable cover allows access to its adjusters. A four-bar Horst-link suspension system delivers 160mm of rear-wheel travel. The battery is also housed within the carbon fibre frame. By rotating the Bosch Gen 4 motor, Scott have made room in the down tube for a larger 750Wh power pack, which can be removed without tools.
Cables run internally through a one-piece bar and stem, and you get Scott’s TwinLoc system, which lets you partially or fully lock out the fork and shock from the handlebar. Not only is a discreet rear fender included, but it even has built-in lights.
Geometry-wise, the Patron is more trail-friendly than boundary-pushing, with a 65-degree head angle (64.5 on the small size) and 76.9-degree effective seat tube angle. Reach numbers are moderate, ranging from 432.7mm (S) to 501.2mm (XL), as are seat tube lengths (440.5mm, M). The chainstays are 454mm on all sizes.
THE KIT
Up front is a burly, e-specific Fox 38 Factory FIT4 fork with 160mm of travel, a three-position low-speed compression damping lever plus open-mode adjustment, and a lowspeed rebound dial. A custom Fox Nude T eRIDE EVOL shock takes care of the rear suspension. The drivetrain is made up of a mix of SRAM Eagle components – an X01 mech, midrange GX shifter and cassette, and cheaper NX chain. Four-pot Shimano Deore XT brakes with 203mm rotors provide the stopping power.
Syncros Revelstoke-E 1.5 CL wheels are fitted with 29x2.6in Maxxis Dissector 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ tyres. The finishing kit is from Scott-owned Syncros, too, including their Tofino saddle and Hixon iC SL integrated carbon fibre bar and stem.
THE RIDE
Adding a 750Wh battery makes for a hefty e-bike, but at least the motor placement helps keep that weight low in the frame. The extra mass does have some benefits – it makes the suspension suppler, by reducing stiction, and gives the bike a planted feel, ensuring that the tyres maintain contact with the ground brilliantly. That initial sensitivity is complemented by decent support in the mid-stroke and good progression towards the end of its travel. This means the Scott can tackle most trails with confidence and is hard to push out of its depth.
While the Patron’s central weight placement aids stability, the moderate geometry figures add some sprightliness to the ride. This results in a bike that handles well and should keep you feeling comfortable on all but the steepest trails. The kit is all top stuff, although we didn’t get on with the integrated bar/stem despite its neat looks, as it made it difficult to alter the bar height.