Scott and TQ – apparently two birds of a feather. Once again, the global bicycle brand and the Bavarian drive manufacturer are joining forces. For their latest collaboration, the two are venturing into unfamiliar territory. Previously, e-mountainbikes such as the Scott Voltage eRide and the Scott Lumen eRide or the e-gravel bike Scott Solace eRide were created. In this case, for the first time, the result is an urban ebike – the Scott Silence eRide.
HPR50 from TQ – previously misjudged?
Every drive manufacturer certainly has a certain idea of which ebikes could be created on the basis of their system. This was probably the case with TQ as well. Perhaps the team from near Munich was already anticipating a few models whose playground is the urban jungle. After all, the HPR50 drive has a number of features that play right into the hands of an ebike for an urban setting. With a torque of 50 Newton metres, the mid-mounted motor is sufficiently lively for city traffic. In regard to a peak output of 300 watts, it is also clear that it does not provide any unnecessary power, which hardly offers any advantage in this context, but draws valuable power from the battery. The extremely compact dimensions of the motor and battery leave designers plenty of freedom when drawing up the frame. And thanks to the weight of around 3.7 kilograms for the entire drive system, a final ebike can be relatively light and easy for many people to handle in everyday urban life. Keyword: climbing stairs or taking it with you on the train.
A city bike for anyone who likes to travel quickly.
Examples such as the E-Vitess from Bergamont show that bicycle manufacturers have already recognised this potential in the past. This also applies to Riese & Müller, for example, which has opted for a similar drive in its lightest city ebikes UBN Five, UBN Six and UBN Seven with the Fazua Ride 60. Compared to the new Silence eRide, however, both appear much more reserved and conservative. Scott has put a lot more sporty ambition into its interpretation without reducing the model to a sports bike. The frame geometry definitely puts you in a more stretched, streamlined position on the bike. But you don’t hang so flat over the top tube as if you were training for the next time trial. The 107 centimetre wheelbase in the largest frame size XL means eleven centimetres less than the Sub Active eRide, another urban ebike from Scott. So the Scott Silence eRide can probably also manoeuvre skilfully around corners.
Scott Silence eRide is a real lightweight
Above all, however, it comes with a complete set of permanently installed lights, fully-fledged mudguards, a kickstand and a front rack. As standard, of course. Well, you can pack a maximum load of seven kilograms on the spartan luggage rack. It also looks more like a tray with a slightly sloping rear wall than a basket. This makes it difficult to carry full bags or panniers. At least Scott has provided it with a lashing strap, which you can use to secure your luggage to some extent.
Despite all these attachments, the new Scott weighs an astonishing 14.5 kilograms. One reason for this is the carbon frame, fork and stem/handlebar unit. Whoever was responsible for the exterior of the Silence eRide has, in our opinion, done a really good job. There is no real eye-catcher. But maybe that’s why the design looks as if it’s all of a piece. Simple. Sporty. Without superfluous gimmicks. With few, but clearly defined lines along which the eye glides. As the cables are routed back into the frame by the shortest route, even on the handlebars, there is hardly anything to disrupt this harmony. If you want, you can cavil at the position of the front headlight. This sits protected on the underside of the rack. However, it is not centred at the front, but offset to the right approximately halfway along the length of the carrier. Mounted in this way, the tyre running very close to it on the left may rob it of a whole section of its light cone. However, only a test ride could really clarify this.
Reduced to the essentials
We can only have positive things to say about the TQ drive, the HPR50. It does its job quietly and reliably. Together with the 360 watt-hour battery permanently integrated in the down tube, it enables ranges of 50 kilometres and more. For many people, this should be equivalent to a full week of daily errands without recharging. A range extender can also be purchased for longer distances. This provides a further 160 watt hours.
You can switch the bike on and off using the TQ display integrated into the top tube. It also shows you the most important information such as the battery charge status and the selected assistance level. More detailed information is provided by the TQ app. As there is no other display on the Silence eRide, it is best to put your smartphone in a case from SP Connect and then use it to mount the mobile phone on the stem. There, you can keep an eye on the app at all times and, thanks to the power meter integrated in the motor, you can track the cadence you are travelling at and how many watts you are producing. Using the smartphone as a display also opens the door to other apps, for example for navigating from A to B.
Electronic. High-priced. White.
Scott rounds off the concept of a dynamic, modern ebike for the city with an electronic derailleur system. A hub gear system featuring a belt drive would certainly also have been conceivable. I’m sure some of you would have liked the lower maintenance requirements. However, this would have made the bike somewhat heavier. So the choice fell in favour of the Rival groupset from Sram with finely graduated twelve gears. Incidentally, it draws its power directly from the ebike system. This eliminates the need to regularly recharge the batteries for the rear derailleur.
Do you really fancy a new bike now? Then take a look at the price tag of the Silence eRide first. It says 7,499 euros on it. For all the quality that undoubtedly characterises the ebike, that’s a bold call. At this price, some of those interested are sure to drop out. Either because it simply exceeds their own budget. Or they are simply not willing to spend that much money on a single bike. And if you do end up buying one, you want to be able to leave it locked up somewhere for longer periods of time without always having to worry that it won’t be there when you return. That’s why a really high-quality lock, preferably two of them, bike insurance and a GPS tracker are things that are worth thinking about. Next to the bike.
The new Scott Silence eRide is available on the market in a total of five frame sizes from XS to XL. There is no choice of colour. Either you like the Rainbow White – or you wait for the next urban ebike with the TQ HPR50. The speedster from Scott is unlikely to be the last of its kind.
Scott Silence eRide at a glance
- Frame: Carbon
- Fork: Carbon
- Motor: TQ HPR50
- Battery: TQ Internal 360
- Control unit: TQ HPR 50
- Drivetrain: Sram Rival XPLR AXS
- Brakes: Sram Level Silver Stealth
- Weight: 14.5 kg
- Maximum permitted total weight: 120 kg
- Colour: Rainbow White
- Price: 7,499 euros
Pictures: Scott Sports SA