Scott Addict eRIDE Premium review

Scott’s new Addict eRIDE electric road range tops out with this Premium model, though all of the models in the range share the same HMX grade frame and fork.

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The Premium model however gets a specification sheet that wouldn’t look out of place riding in the Tour de France, with its full Dura-Ace Di2 groupset (50/34, 11-30), one-piece Syncros Creston SL carbon bar/stem and Syncros Capital carbon wheels.

In fact, it’s pretty much the same specification that you’ll find on Scott’s Addict RC Pro (£7,699) and what’s also very similar is the frameset. The dimensions of the bike follow the Addict RC, and it’s surprising to see down tube looking the same as the non-ebike version while hiding a 250w battery inside!

The bike is running Mahle’s ebikemotion system, which has a rear hub motor and sees the battery stored within the frame, as mentioned (you can remove and replace the battery for servicing, but it involves removal of the bottom bracket).

I've tested a few ebikemotion bikes before and been impressed, but here it’s by far the most impressive execution of the system I’ve tried to date.

The system is built around that powerful 250w rear hub motor and slim integrated 250w battery in the down tube, with the idea that it provides just enough assistance when you need it, more a gentle push in the back rather than a bunch of torque-laden power – like you’d get from a bottom bracket mounted system from someone such as Bosch.

Control of the motor system is simple, with colour-coded lights on the control button denoting power level and battery reserves. Press this top tube-mounted button (called iWOC) to turn it on and the ring LED shines white, press and hold and it turns green (low assistance), orange (medium) and then red (full).

This is also the battery level indicator: white is 75–100 per cent, green 75–50 per cent, orange 50–25 per cent, red -25 per cent, flashing red less than 10 per cent.

On the Addict eRIDE Premium you get the piggyback range extending battery included. This smart bottle cage-mounting unit provides an extra 208W/h of energy, pushing the range out to a claimed 120km with 2,200m of climbing.

I haven’t fully put that to the test yet, but managed to fit in a 103km/64 mile ride with 1,989m/6,525ft of ascent that ended with the battery indication on red (below 25 per cent) and the app stating a remaining range of 27km, so I don't doubt Scott’s claims – with the caveat that ebike range has a lot to do with how you ride, the terrain ridden, as well as rider weight, weather conditions and much more, too. I’d safely say, however, to expect a range in excess of 100km for most riders.

I do like that the piggyback battery integrates so well into the system, so you can charge both bike and the xTra battery using the single charger included. Recharging both battery and bike took just over three hours – Bosch Performance Line motors by comparison take 5 to 6.5 hours depending on battery size, while a Fazua with a single battery takes 3 to 4 hours.

The system is Bluetooth 4.0 compatible and with the downloaded ebikemotion app the bike connects easily (the iWoc button flashes blue as it's connecting). The app has bags of information on tap such as accurate battery level, distance travelled, altitude, average speed, cadence, gradient, and current speed.

You can also pair the bike with a heart rate monitor and set heart-rate based assistance. Set your maximum heart rate and the bike will automatically alter the level of assistance to keep you from exceeding your max, and you won’t need to touch the iWOC control button.

You can even set a heart-rate zone and the bike works with you to stay within it, effectively helping you achieve zonal heart rate training goals. It will co-upload to Strava automatically too.

The eRIDE subtly provides assistance to get you up and over the EU limit of 25kph/15.5mph and then gently phases out said assistance.

As impressive as the power delivery is, the eRIDE is just as impressive when it’s not providing an electric boost. The Addict eRIDE feels just like an Addict; the slickly fully integrated design and deep 40mm carbon aero wheels (the standard Addict gets smaller depth 35mm rims) cut through the air making it easy to hold pace with those around you.

As part of my testing, I rode a 60km ride with Scott riding legend Nick Craig, and for the first time for me I kept pace with him on the climbs using assistance and took turns at the front over rolling terrain – thanks to the lack of drag from the ebikemotion system and the quickness of the Addict design.

It does differ from the standard Addict when it comes to ride position. Size for size the reach is a few millimetres shorter and the stack a few millimetres taller, but it’s not so much as to turn the bike's racing DNA pedestrian, this is still a really fun bike to ride.

Where it beats out its racing sibling is in the comfort stakes because Scott has cleverly opted for bigger 30c tyres (and it has clearance for more), which give the eRIDE lots of smooth comfort. The contact points of the Creston bar and Belcarra saddle hit the right comfort notes too.

What most people in the market for a bike like the Addict eRIDE want to know though is how it climbs. The short answer is brilliantly.

Don’t expect this or any other e-road bike for that matter to take over and propel you up double digit ascents perspiration free, but the Addict eRIDE excels when you are putting in the effort too.

On one of my test rides I took in a steep climb that I'd normally avoid. It hits 26 per cent in the mid-section of its just over 2km length and with me working hard and attacking the gradient just as I would on a ‘normal’ bike the eRIDE responded in kind – my effort was the same but the bike moved significantly faster.

If you ride the eRIDE and let it take the strain it's fine, but I fully believe that to get the best out of this Addict you need to be putting in plenty of effort too, then it becomes a really rewarding ride.

It’s a great option that creates equality between riders of differing ability (as my ride with Nick proved) and if you are coming to or at the age where your performance can’t quite hit the high marks of your youth, then bikes as good as the eRIDE will extend your big-ride life.

Even if you don’t fit into the intended target market for this bike I’d still recommend either trying one at a demo day or better still renting one out for a rapid recovery ride at a training camp, or just to put as big a smile on your face as it does mine – I got to experience what it would be like to be a 25-year-old 65kg pro-tour climber rather than a 90kg six-foot-two 40-something when the road starts to rise.

Scott Addict eRIDE Premium geometry