The SCOTT Lumen eRide 900 SL – In our big “Best Light-eMTB of 2023” group test.

In our 2023 Light-eMTB group test, the new SCOTT Lumen eRide 900 SL stands out from the crowd, taking on the competition with a unique, futuristic look. It’s also the lightest and most expensive bike in the entire test field as well as the one boosting the highest level of integration. Does this make it the sportiest contestant?

Over the past few years, SCOTT focused not only on building light bikes, but also on achieving the highest possible level of integration. With their latest generation of mountain bikes, the shock is fully enclosed in the frame – and the Lumen eRide 900 SL is no exception. Generating 130 mm of travel front and rear, the Lumen resembles SCOTT’s downcountry bike, the Spark, which employs the same linkage-driven single pivot with flex stays. Tipping the scales at 16 kg, the Lumen is lighter than many analogue bikes, but at € 15,999, it’s also more expensive than some cars.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best Light-E-MTB 2023 – 8 bikes in review

The Light-eMTB SCOTT Lumen eRide 900 SL 2023 in detail

The TQ HPR 50 motor is integrated discreetly into the frame, emphasising the Lumen’s elegant design language. The drive is combined with a TQ display in the top tube, a minimalist remote on the left-hand side of the handlebars and a 360 Wh battery. The latter is permanently integrated into the frame, meaning that off-bike charging isn’t an option, but can be expanded with an optional 160 Wh range extender, which can be attached to the down tube in place of the bottle cage. SCOTT seem to be taking integration extremely seriously, hiding minitools all over the frame: there’s one in the rear thru axle, another one in the bottle cage and two more in the bar ends. The Lumen relies on SCOTT’s proprietary TwinLoc system, which lets you switch between three suspension settings – Lockout, Traction Control and Descent – using two bar-mounted levers. While the system makes perfect sense on the Lumen, it takes some getting used to, and the additional cables and remotes spoil the otherwise clean look of the bike.

The spec of the Light-eMTB SCOTT Lumen eRide 900 SL 2023

The spec of the SCOTT Lumen eRide 900 SL was chosen to ensure the lowest possible system weight which, unfortunately, comes at the expense of the bike’s trail performance. The most blatant example is the FOX 34 Factory fork with FIT4 damper, which is light and can be locked out from the handlebars using the TwinLoc system, but lacks the excellent small-bump compliance and support of the superior GRIP2 version. The FOX Nude 5T air shock was developed specifically for SCOTT and is accessible through a service port in the down tube. FOX also supply the 150 mm Transfer Factory dropper post, which has the least travel in the entire test field, restricting freedom of movement on the bike. Shimano XTR four-piston brakes with 180 mm rotors front and rear do stopping duties. For heavy riders and steep trails, we recommend upgrading to bigger 200 mm rotors for more braking power and better modulation. Shifting is taken care of by a wireless SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS drivetrain. For the cockpit, SCOTT rely on their in-house, 760 mm Syncros Fraser iC carbon handlebar/stem unit, which comes standard with a holder for a light, a GPS device or a GoPro. However, the one-piece construction doesn’t allow for fine tuning. Syncros also supply the Silverton SL2 carbon wheelset, which adds to the stylish look of the bike but, at € 4,800, is sinfully expensive to replace in case of damage. This is particularly nerve-wracking given the choice of tires, because the Lumen comes standard with Schwalbe Wicked Will tires in the paper-thin Super Race casing, both front and rear. This is paired with the ADDIX Speedgrip compound at the rear and ADDIX SpeedSoft rubber compound at the front, which was developed specifically for SCOTT. While the tires perfectly suit the Lumen’s lightweight concept, we can’t help but ask ourselves: why would you risk forking out another € 2,000 for a new wheel rather than just using a tire with the tougher Super Trail casing, which only weighs 200 g more? We also recommend upgrading to a softer rubber compound for more traction.

Tuning TipS: More robust tires like Schwalbe Super Trail front and rear | Tires with softer rubber compound for more trail performance

The geometry of the Light-eMTB SCOTT Lumen eRide 900 SL 2023

Despite being the only e-Downcountry bike in this group test, the SCOTT Lumen eRide 900 SL shares a similar geometry with the rest of the test field. That being said, at 480 mm, it has the longest seat tube in the entire test field, paired with 476 mm reach. On top of that, the short-travel, 150 mm dropper post can’t be fully inserted into the frame, restricting freedom of movement even further. Chainstays are 450 mm across the board, which makes them the longest in this test. An external sag indicator on the frame facilitates shock setup while a service port in the down tube allows you to access the shock easily. Compared to bikes with a conventional shock, however, the shock of the SCOTT takes a little more effort to set up.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	415 mm	440 mm	480 mm	520 mm
Top tube	562 mm	589 mm	620 mm	645 mm
Head tube	110 mm	110 mm	120 mm	135 mm
Head angle	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°
Seat angle	76.8°	77°	77.2°	77.5°
Chainstay	450 mm	450 mm	450 mm	450 mm
BB Drop	38 mm	38 mm	38 mm	38 mm
Wheelbase	1.176 mm	1.206 mm	1.240 mm	1.270 mm
Reach	416 mm	446 mm	476 mm	501 mm
Stack	615 mm	615 mm	625 mm	638 mm

The Light-eMTB SCOTT Lumen eRide 900 SL 2023 on the trail

With its smooth character, the TQ motor is a perfect match for the SCOTT, providing minimal support, and only when pedalling at high cadences. Moreover, the drive unit is compact, light and discreetly integrated into the frame. Unsurprisingly, the Lumen puts you into a sporty pedalling position, which is comfortable even on longer rides. The long riding position makes it easy to negotiate steep climbs without having to actively weight the front wheel. Overall, the Lumen is a good climber despite providing only minimal support – and at 16 kg, it’s light enough to carry on your shoulders in unrideable sections ;). Even in open mode, the rear suspension is pleasantly firm and only requires you to reach for the TwinLoc remote when trying to crush KOMs or sprinting past your mates. Traction Control mode is far too stiff on technical climbs, which comes at the expense of traction.

The SCOTT Lumen is extremely elegant and the undisputed master of integration

Downhill, the SCOTT impresses with nimble, direct handling and offers tons of support, which makes it good fun on flat, flowing trails. Only the Pivot Shuttle SL makes it easier to pump through rollers and flick the rear end from one corner into the next. When the going gets rough, you’ll be surprised at what SCOTT’s scrawny little downcountry rig is capable of, provided you can ignore the tremendous rattling noise coming from the Syncros front mudguard, which gets increasingly louder as the trail gets rougher. When things get really wild, the SCOTT’s performance is heavily limited by its components. The peculiar shape of the narrow Syncros handlebars pushes your elbows inwards, making it hard to control the bike and robbing you of confidence on most descents. The paper-thin tire casings and hard rubber compounds force you to run high air pressures to prevent the expensive rims from exploding with nasty impacts. As a result, the SCOTT doesn’t generate enough traction and struggles to inspire confidence. Although the Lumen is still relatively easy to control, it lacks reserves, blowing through the 130 mm of travel far too easily and quickly pushing you beyond your limits.

While the Lumen has a lot more trail potential than you would assume, the spec holds it back from unfolding it.

Conclusion

Without doubt, the SCOTT Lumen eRide 900 SL is an exceptional bike. The level of integration is mind-boggling, making the Lumen a real head turner. Unfortunately, the bike is sinfully expensive and only covers a rather narrow range of applications. The Lumen is an efficient climber and delivers tons of fun on flowing trails. But while the frame platform per-se has good trail potential, the spec holds it back on rougher trails, where the Lumen quickly reaches its limits.

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You can find out more about at scott-ports.com

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The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best Light-E-MTB 2023 – 8 models in review

All bikes in test: Focus Jam² SL 9.9 2023 (Click for review) | Forestal Siryon Diode (Click for review) | Haibike LYKE CF SE (Click for review) | Orbea Rise M-LTD (Click for review) | Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01(Click for review) | SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 | SIMPLON Rapcon Pmax TQ (Click for review) | Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS (Click for review)

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Words: Simon Kohler Photos: Peter Walker, Mike Hunger