Wil reviews the 2024 Scott Voltage
The Scott Voltage is a brand new lightweight e-MTB for 2024. It follows in the footsteps of the Lumen that we reviewed last year, but ups the travel and capability to create what is essentially an electrified version of the Genius.
It’s quite the eye-catching machine, and it’s purported to weigh as little as 17.9kg despite concealing a motor and battery within its high-tech carbon frame. But what’s it actually like to ride? And how does it compare to some of the other lightweight e-MTBs on the market?
To find out, we’ve been putting the new Scott Voltage through its paces over the past few weeks, culminating in several days of in-depth testing on the brilliant Cascades Trail at Lake Mountain in the Victorian High Country. If that isn’t a recipe for a good time, we don’t know what is!
Watch our video review of the 2024 Scott Voltage here:
Combined with the longer wheelbase and extra 5kg of mass, the Voltage delivers a noticeable boost in outright stability over the Genius. It’s an absolute beast on the descents, offering a calm and controlled ride when charging at speed.
An overview of the Scott Voltage
The Scott Voltage is a lightweight e-MTB that’s designed for aggressive trail riding and enduro shenanigans. It’s built around 29in wheels and it features a 160mm travel fork with 155mm rear travel. That sees it charging elbows-out against the likes of the Specialized Levo SL, Trek Fuel EXe and Focus JAM² SL.
As is the case with many in this category, the Voltage is only produced in carbon fibre. Scott has become exceedingly proficient in working with composites over the last couple of decades, and that experience was immediately apparent the moment we first laid eyes on the Voltage. In a world where many mountain bikes look much the same, the HMF full carbon frame cuts a striking figure with its integrated suspension design, sharp lines and gargantuan bottom bracket junction.
Hidden inside is a TQ HPR50 motor, which is one of the lightest, quietest and smallest drive units on the market thanks to its cutting-edge Harmonic Pin Ring gear system. Delivering up to 50Nm of torque and 300W of peak power, the compact motor is fuelled by a slim 360Wh battery.
A low profile display is integrated neatly into the top tube, and a minimalist remote allows you to scroll through the motor’s three assist settings; ECO, MID & HIGH.
Stealthy suspension
Like the Genius, the Voltage features a four-bar suspension platform. A clever multi-piece splined linkage drives the shock, which lurks within the belly of the downtube.
Compared to the shorter travel Lumen, the shock in the Voltage sits lower down and further forward. This has been achieved with the addition of a small extension link for the upper shock eyelet, which also incorporates a bearing mount to improve sensitivity. A further benefit of the shock’s lowered position is that it’s easier to access. There’s a small tool-free removable hatch for getting to the air valve and adjusters, though you can also unbolt the whole skid plate should you need to remove the shock entirely.
It’s all very clever, but why hide the shock in this part of the frame? As well as keeping it away from the elements, Scott says that this is already the stiffest and most reinforced part of the frame, which helps to minimise deflection of all those moving parts. It also lowers the overall centre of mass with the goal being improved handling.
Additionally, the space-efficient approach means that the Voltage is one of the few e-MTBs on the market that can carry two bottles. A unique mounting plate is required for the seat tube, which allows you to fit a conventional bottle cage to carry extra water or a tool keg. Alternatively, the mounting plate will also accommodate an optional 160Wh range extender battery, which is available separately for $980 AUD.
Remote control
As with nearly every Scott full suspension bike, the Voltage features a handlebar remote for adjusting the suspension settings on-the-fly.
Most Voltage models utilise the TwinLoc system, which sees the remote linking up to both the fork and shock to provide Descend, Traction Control and Lockout modes. In the middle Traction Control mode, part of the shock’s air volume is closed off to create a much firmer platform that limits rear travel to 100mm. It’s the same system used on the Lumen, and in our experience it works really well.
The Voltage Tuned model differs with its TracLoc system, which only links up to the shock. The remote is much the same, but the Fox Float X Nude shock is different. It features a piggyback reservoir for greater damping control, and it offers three modes; Descend, Ramp Control and Climb.
The middle Ramp Control setting also closes off part of the shock’s air volume, making it firmer and more progressive while limiting the usable travel to 100mm. However, there is no additional compression damping in this setting, which Scott says makes it ideal for flowy jump trails. Flick the lever into the final Climb mode and the compression damping does increase to provide a firm but not locked-out climbing platform.
Scott Voltage geometry
Geometry on the Scott Voltage is pretty similar to the Genius, albeit with a couple of notable differences.
The BB sits 6mm higher for more ground clearance, which is an important consideration on an e-MTB. And due to the packaging required around the motor, the chainstays are quite a bit longer. The rear centre length comes in at 455mm, compared to 440mm on the Genius.
Otherwise the Voltage gets the same 63.9° head angle, 77.1° seat angle and similar reach measurements across the four frame sizes.
It also carries over the modular headset cups from Acros, which can be rotated to steepen the head angle to 65.1°. For the Goldilocks riders out there, neutral cups are also included with the bike to provide a 64.5° head angle.
One feature that’s missing from the Voltage hit list is mullet compatibility. Unfortunately there are no flip chips for accommodating the change in BB height when fitting a 27.5in rear wheel, so it’s not recommended.
Scott Voltage price & specs
There will be three Scott Voltage models coming to Australia for 2024, with prices starting at $11,999 AUD for the Voltage eRIDE 920.
Regardless of price, all models utilise exactly the same HMF full carbon frame, the TQ HPR50 motor and 360Wh internal battery. You’ll find chunky 2.6in wide tyres on each model, as well as a brand new Syncros Duncan dropper post that features adjustable travel.
The bike we’ve been testing is the Scott Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned, which stands apart from the rest with its Fox 36 GRIP2 fork, Float X Nude piggyback shock, and thicker Maxxis EXO+ tyres.
2024 Scott Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned
- Frame | HMF Carbon Fibre, IST Four-Bar Suspension Design, 155mm Travel
- Fork | Fox 36, Factory Series, GRIP2 Damper, 44mm Offset, 160mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Float X Nude, Factory Series, 185x55mm
- Remote | TracLoc 3-Position: Descend, Ramp Control & Lockout
- Motor | TQ HPR50, 50Nm Peak Torque
- Battery | TQ 360Wh
- Wheels | Syncros Revelstoke 1.0-30 CL, Carbon Rims, 30mm Inner Width
- Tyres | Maxxis Assegai EXO+ 3C MaxxTerra 2.6in Front & Dissector EXO+ 3C MaxxTerra 2.6in Rear
- Drivetrain | SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission 1×12 w/34T e*13 Race Carbon Crankset & 10-52T Cassette
- Brakes | SRAM Code Silver Stealth 4-Piston w/200mm Rotors
- Bar | Syncros Hixon iC Carbon, 780mm Width, Rise: 15mm (S-M), 25mm (L-XL)
- Stem | Syncros Hixon iC Carbon, Length: 40mm (S-M), 50mm (L-XL)
- Seatpost | Syncros Duncan 1.5S, 31.6mm Diameter, Travel: 140mm (S), 180mm (M), 210mm (L-XL)
- Saddle | Syncros Tofino 1.5, Titanium Rails
- Claimed Weight | 18.6kg
- RRP | $17,799 AUD
2024 Scott Voltage eRIDE 910
- Frame | HMF Carbon Fibre, IST Four-Bar Suspension Design, 155mm Travel
- Fork | Fox 36 Rhythm, GRIP Remote Damper, 44mm Offset, 160mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Nude 6T, Performance Series, 185x55mm
- Remote | TwinLoc 3-Position: Descend, Traction Control & Lockout
- Motor | TQ HPR50, 50Nm Peak Torque
- Battery | TQ 360Wh
- Wheels | Formula Hubs & Syncros X-30S Alloy Rims, 30mm Inner Width
- Tyres | Maxxis Dissector EXO 3C MaxxTerra, 2.6in Front & Rear
- Drivetrain | Shimano Deore 1×12 w/34T FSA Alloy Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
- Brakes | Shimano Deore 4-Piston w/203mm Rotors
- Bar | Syncros Hixon 1.5 Alloy, 780mm Width, Rise: 15mm (S-M), 25mm (L-XL)
- Stem | Syncros AM 1.5, Length: 40mm (S-M), 50mm (L-XL)
- Seatpost | Syncros Duncan 1.5S, 31.6mm Diameter, Travel: 140mm (S), 180mm (M), 210mm (L-XL)
- Saddle | Syncros Tofino 1.5, Titanium Rails
- Claimed Weight | 19.5kg
- RRP | $12,999 AUD
2024 Scott Voltage eRIDE 920
- Frame | HMF Carbon Fibre, IST Four-Bar Suspension Design, 155mm Travel
- Fork | Marzocchi Z2 Air, Rail Remote Damper, 44mm Offset, 150mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Float, Performance Series, 185x55mm
- Remote | TwinLoc 3-Position: Descend, Trail & Lockout
- Motor | TQ HPR50, 50Nm Peak Torque
- Battery | TQ 360Wh
- Wheels | Formula Hubs & Syncros X-30S Alloy Rims, 30mm Inner Width
- Tyres | Maxxis Dissector EXO Wire Bead, 2.6in Front & Rear
- Drivetrain | Shimano Deore 1×12 w/34T FSA Alloy Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
- Brakes | SRAM DB8 4-Piston w/200mm Rotors
- Bar | Syncros Hixon 2.0 Alloy, 12mm Rise, 780mm Width
- Stem | Syncros AM 2.0, Length: 40mm (S-M), 50mm (L-XL)
- Seatpost | Syncros Duncan 1.5S, 31.6mm Diameter, Travel: 140mm (S), 180mm (M), 210mm (L-XL)
- Saddle | Syncros Tofino 2.0, Chromoly Rails
- Claimed Weight | 19.3kg
- RRP | $11,999 AUD
It’s an absolute beast on the descents, offering a calm and controlled ride when charging at speed.
Testing the Scott Voltage at Lake Mountain
As part of the Ride High Country Test Sessions, we decided to take the Scott Voltage up to Lake Mountain to ride the infamous Cascades Trail.
Starting from the top of Lake Mountain, this 30km trail takes you on an epic alpine adventure that weaves its way through the landscape as you descend 1,500m all the way down to Marysville. With plenty of rocky alpine tech up top, and rollicking rollercoaster flow trails through the ferns down below, the Cascades Trail keeps you throughly entertained from start to finish. There’s a good amount of climbing thrown in there too, and with so many lovely views to soak in it’ll take most riders around 3-4 hours to complete.
While we’ve ridden this trail numerous times on all sorts of different bikes, a lightweight e-MTB is an awesome tool for the job. Not only can you climb faster, it also saves your legs (and energy) for those incredible descents. Given we’d be doing three top-to-bottom runs in three days, I was mighty glad to have the Voltage with us!
If you’re yet to ride Lake Mountain, get out from underneath that rock and start making your way to Marysville. For everything you need to know, check out our travel feature and video on the Cascades Trail.
With plenty of rocky alpine tech up top, and rollicking rollercoaster flow trails through the ferns down below, the Cascades Trail keeps you throughly entertained from start to finish.
Sizing & fit
At 175cm tall I’ve been riding a Medium size in the Scott Voltage. The fit is pretty similar to the Genius in terms of the reach (457mm) and stack (622mm), though you can sense the rear wheel sitting further behind you due to those longer chainstays. Although the BB sits a touch higher, overall you feel very planted and secure between the hub axles.
The Syncros one-piece cockpit looks fantastic and I found the dimensions and profile to be spot-on. I also like that there are no stem bolts to worry about.
Smaller frames come with a 15mm rise bar and 20mm of headset spacers, while larger frames come with a 25mm rise bar and 30mm of headset spacers for dialling in the riding position. However, it’s worth noting that if you do decide to drop the stem down then you’ll also need to commit to chopping the steerer tube flush in order to fit the integrated shroud. Yes it looks neat, but adjustability is somewhat limited compared to a more conventional cockpit.
I have to give a big thumbs up for the 180mm travel dropper post on the Medium size Voltage. For those with shorter legs, it’s possible to adjust the travel down by 25mm, which is much better than having to buy another dropper.
Suspension setup
Just like the Genius, the Scott Voltage features a sag guide that’s integrated into the non-drive side rocker link. This clever gadget makes it surprisingly easy to set up the rear suspension, despite the shock being hidden away inside the frame.
Scott recommends aiming for 25-35% sag for the Voltage, so I started out in the middle at 30%. While this worked well, the TracLoc system does make it possible to run a more downhill-focussed setup. With fingertip access to a firmer climbing mode, I ended up dropping pressures and settled on 33% sag for a plusher ride quality. To support my 67kg riding weight I needed 180psi inside the Float X Nude shock.
I then set rebound damping on the quicker side at 9/14 clicks. Of note is that while the shock’s air valve is easily accessible, some finger dexterity is required to tweak the red rebound dial. You’ve also got a blue low-speed compression dial, which I set halfway in its range (5/10 clicks) to provide a little more support while in the fully open Descend mode.
With plenty of prior experience with the excellent Fox 36 GRIP2 fork, I set that up as per usual.
Scott Voltage weight
Confirmed weight for our Scott Voltage test bike is 18.94kg. That’s without pedals and with the tyres set up tubeless.
It’s a reasonable figure for a lightweight e-MTB, being comparable to the Specialized Levo SL Comp (18.24kg) and the Focus JAM² SL 9.9 (19.02kg) we’ve been riding lately.
It is more than a kilo heavier than the Lumen 910 (17.78kg), which you’d expect given the beefier frame and additional travel. The Maxxis EXO+ tyres are also quite porky due to their high volume casing and aggressive tread pattern. The Assegai weighed in at 1,307g and the Dissector tipped the scales at 1,221g. That’s some hefty rubber!
The Syncros Revelstoke carbon wheelset they’re fitted to is actually quite light (1,707g confirmed). To protect the fancy carbon rims I fitted a CushCore insert and set tyre pressures at 19-20psi for the front and 21-22psi for the rear.
What do we dig about the Scott Voltage?
Following on from our experience with the Lumen and Fuel EXe, the TQ HPR50 motor in the Scott Voltage continues to impress with its smooth power delivery and quiet performance. There’s no jerkiness or excessive push through tight corners, and it generally just fades into the background of the riding experience. It’s a great match for a lightweight e-MTB where the motor is there to provide a supporting role rather than being the star of the show.
One characteristic that did grab the limelight was the Voltage’s supple suspension. It is beautifully plush, being notably more sensitive than the Genius we’ve tested previously. I’d put this down to the combination of the new bearing mount, slightly higher leverage rate, and the excellent Float X Nude shock. Perhaps there’s also something to the stiff structure and linkage that surrounds the shock, which can only be a good thing if it leads to less binding and smoother sliding of moving parts. Whatever the case, it is effortlessly smooth back there.
Combined with the longer wheelbase and the extra 5kg of mass, the Voltage delivers a noticeable boost in outright stability over the Genius. It’s an absolute beast on the descents, offering a calm and controlled ride when charging at speed.
The 2.6in wide Maxxis tyres provide masses of grip and damping, allowing you to charge quite hard even when the trail gets particularly rough and rocky. And on bigger impacts, the supportive suspension soaked up everything that I could throw at it. The travel indicator regularly showed I was using full travel, but not once was there a harsh metal-on-metal clunk. How Scott has balanced that support with a floaty cloud-like quality is genuinely impressive, and it makes the Voltage a vastly more confidence-inspiring descender compared to the shorter travel Lumen.
I have to say that I really like the adjustable headset cups, which allow you to adjust the head angle independently of the rest of the bike’s geometry. The steeper 65.1° setting provides more responsive front-end steering for riding on flowier machine-built trails, though I generally preferred the slacker 63.9° setting as I felt this provided more balanced weight distribution with the long chainstays.
Either way, it’s cool to be able to tweak the steering dynamic to suit your riding style and local terrain. And I’ll point out that we’ve had similarly positive results with the same Acros headset on the Spark, Genius, Lumen and JAM² SL we’ve tested previously.
Clever climbing
Speaking of the long chainstays on the Scott Voltage, those also provide benefits when climbing. The whole bike hugs the ground closely and there’s very little front wheel wander when the trail kicks upwards. This is aided by the steep seat angle, which positions you centrally in the cockpit to provide a calm and comfortable riding position.
On feature-rich trails, the TracLoc remote is a useful addition. While the Ramp Control mode was originally intended for riding flowy jump lines, I’ve found it more beneficial for technical climbing. In this mode the shock’s air volume is reduced by around 20%, making it firmer and more progressive. This lifts the bike’s dynamic ride height to help steepen the effective seat angle and increase pedal clearance, which is handy as the 170mm crank arms are a touch longer than I’d prefer on an e-MTB.
Because the Ramp Control mode doesn’t add any compression damping, the suspension remains relatively sensitive. This maintains some comfort and ensures the rear tyre can keep searching for grip where possible. And since the fork is unaffected by the remote, the front wheel can continue to track the terrain and absorb bumps as intended. It’s an ideal setup for puzzling your way up awkward, rocky sections of trail.
Flick the TracLoc lever into the Climb mode and the increase in compression damping provides a notably firmer setting. This is great for out-of-the-saddle efforts where you want to maximise forward propulsion, and it also works well on smoother and longer climbs.
Of course not everyone will see the need for a remote lever on a bike with a motor. But for those who value responsive pedalling performance and ground clearance for clocking technical climbs, the TracLoc system is an effective and easy-to-use tool.
What didn’t we like?
The Scott Voltage is a great handling bike, but I’d still like the option to set it up with a 27.5in rear wheel. To me this is one of the biggest points of difference with the Levo SL, which is arguably the benchmark in the lightweight e-MTB category.
Don’t get me wrong, the Voltage is impressively poppy and agile given its long wheelbase and plush suspension. The sub-20kg weight has a lot to do with it, and so too does the fact that much of its mass is concentrated around the BB. Along with the stiff carbon frame and lightweight wheels, there’s little issue when it comes to steering accuracy.
That said, it’s not quite as playful or as enthusiastic through the turns as the Levo SL, which has shorter chainstays (432mm vs 455mm) and a smaller 27.5in rear wheel. This makes it more willing to tip over into a corner, and it cuts a noticeably sharper arc.
In comparison, the Voltage is a bit more glued to the ground. Tight uphill switchbacks are trickier to negotiate, and you have to be a bit more prescriptive when threading it around snaky singletrack. It gets better at speed, but you’ll still need to lean it over assertively when pushing through successive high-speed berms.
Since the chainstay length is the same on all frame sizes, I’ll point out that taller riders are likely to have a different experience to me. And in any case it doesn’t take long to adapt to the overall proportions. Of course geometry is all about compromise, and when it comes to outright stability and climbing performance, the Voltage, with its dual 29in wheels and lengthy wheelbase, offers some noticeable advantages over the Levo SL.
Even still, I’d love to see mullet compatibility built into the Voltage. Scott recently introduced the new Ransom with a flip chip that allows it to accommodate a 27.5in or 29in rear wheel, and it’d be great to see a similar feature added here.
Intimidating integration
We’ve become accustomed to Scott’s pursuit of integration with its latest range of mountain bikes, though just like Vegemite it’s something you’ll either love or hate.
There’s no denying that the one-piece cockpit and hidden cable design looks slick. And it’s worth noting that you can run whatever bar and stem you like by fitting an aftermarket headset adapter from Acros. Still, we’d prefer if the cables didn’t run through the headset to begin with.
Things are pretty busy in there, and they’re similarly tight around the shock and motor. To help with this, Scott has developed a specific guide tunnel for the dropper post cable, and there’s also a sleeve that surrounds the shock to eliminate any chance of rubbing. It all works, but needless to say that without moulded-in guide tubes like a modern Trek or Specialized, replacing a cable on the Voltage will be a more time-consuming affair.
I do like the way the shock is hidden away from dust, mud and bike washing fluid, which helps to maintain lubrication oil and minimise seal wear. Jono recently sent off the shock from his Genius for a service after a year of hard riding, and according to the suspension technician it was in pretty much new condition.
One thing I have noticed with the internal shock design is how hot it can get during a ride. Of course this happens with any rear shock, but without any air flow the Float X Nude can reach higher temperatures.
To measure the difference, I took the Voltage and Levo SL out on a particularly warm summer’s day. I rode the same loop on both bikes, and using a laser thermometer I measured the temperature of each shock. The Levo SL read 44.8°C, while the Voltage came in quite a bit higher at 61.6°C.
While interesting, this isn’t too much of a concern as you’ll really need to be pushing well over 100°C to experience a degradation in damping behaviour. And since the Float X shock incorporates an IFP to account for oil expansion as it gets hot, there’s a certain amount of self-regulation that helps to maintain consistency on longer descents. Scott also states that while the internal shock design can experience higher temperatures, generally those temperatures are more stable with less fluctuations.
How much range can you get with the Scott Voltage?
Range depends on a variety of factors, with rider weight and elevation gain being the most influential. What assist mode you use will also have an impact. As such, heavier riders using the higher assist settings will find themselves rinsing the 360Wh battery pretty quickly.
Typically I’d get 1.5 hours of hard-n-fast riding in HIGH. That ride time would push out to two hours when using the MID setting, with around 800-1,000m of elevation gain over a 30-35km ride.
For some comparative data, I put the Voltage through our standardised range test. Taking on the same road climb, I set the motor to its most powerful setting and rode as many laps as possible before the battery ran flat.
It’s worth noting that the TQ motor will automatically drop to ECO when the battery hits 10%, and it will finally switch off completely when you hit 0% on the display. At this point I was glad to find that the SRAM AXS derailleur (which is wired into the main battery) continues to shift. According to TQ you’ll get 300 shifts from the flat battery, which will make the pedal home a lot easier when it happens.
Here’s how the Voltage stacked up against the competition;
- Norco Sight VLT (Shimano EP8, 900Wh Battery) – 2,478m climbing
- Canyon Spectral:ON (Shimano EP8, 900Wh Battery) – 2,451m climbing
- Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 (Bosch Performance CX, 750Wh Battery) – 2,320m climbing
- Rocky Mountain Altitude (Dyname 4.0, 720Wh Battery) – 2,108m climbing
- Scott Patron (Bosch Performance CX, 750Wh Battery) – 2,079m climbing
- Focus JAM² SL (Fazua Ride 60, 430Wh Battery) – 1,665m climbing
- Scott Lumen (TQ-HPR50, 360Wh Battery) – 1,567m climbing
- Orbea Rise (Shimano EP8-RS, 360Wh Battery) – 1,388m climbing
- Trek Fuel EXe (TQ-HPR50, 360Wh Battery) – 1,312m climbing
- Scott Voltage (TQ-HPR50, 360Wh Battery) – 1,311m climbing
- Specialized Levo SL (SL 1.2, 320Wh Battery) – 1,307m climbing
- Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite (SyncDrive Pro, 400Wh Battery) – 1,057m climbing
- Specialized Kenevo SL (SL 1.1, 320Wh Battery) – 1,053m climbing
As you can see, the Voltage ended up pulling basically the same amount of climbing as the Fuel EXe, which makes sense given it shares an identical motor and battery. It’s also comparable to the Levo SL, both in terms of range and the 14.5km/h average climbing speed.
It’s interesting to note that the shorter travel Lumen achieved quite a bit more climbing in this test, even though it uses the same TQ system as the Voltage. This largely boils down to the much lighter and faster-rolling tyres fitted to the Lumen, which clearly have a big impact on rolling resistance. If you’re looking to boost efficiency on your e-MTB, tyres are a great place to start.
What about the range extender?
For those wanting to ride further and faster on the Voltage, it is possible to purchase TQ’s 160Wh range extender. This sells for $980 AUD for the battery and cable, and it adds 1.1kg of weight to the bike.
The quick-release bracket makes it easy to clip onto the seat tube, and it positions the additional mass quite centrally above the motor. It’s all very secure, and I had no issues with noise or movement throughout testing. I also like that it still leaves room for you to carry a proper 750ml bottle on the downtube, which isn’t possible with most other lightweight e-MTBs.
Once fitted, the TQ display reads the total battery capacity as 150%. The system is designed to run the range extender flat first, before moving onto the main battery.
With 520Wh of battery at my disposal, I embarked on a big ol’ mission with the Voltage. Instead of getting the shuttle bus up to the top of Lake Mountain, I decided to self-shuttle and do a complete loop starting from Marysville.
Initially I climbed in the HIGH assist setting to save my legs, though by the time I got to the top it was clear I was going to have to ride in ECO in order to make it as far as possible along the Cascades Trail. I got pretty close too, with 48km of riding and 1,526m of climbing on the clock before both batteries were completely spent. This left me with a couple of kilometres to ride with no assistance from the motor, which was a good opportunity to experience how little drag there is when it’s switched off.
Overall I think the range extender is a great opportunity for expanding your riding options with the Voltage, or any lightweight e-MTB for that matter. For some folks it’ll mean they can make use of the motor’s higher assist settings, which can be particularly handy if you’re heading out with pals on full-powered e-MTBs. Step the motor down to the ECO mode, and the 520Wh capacity makes the Voltage capable of some pretty epic backcountry rides.
Component highs & lows
In terms of value for money, it’s worth acknowledging that the Scott Voltage eRIDE 900 Tuned comes in at a higher price than the Trek Fuel EXe 9.8 GX AXS ($15,999 AUD), despite sharing the same TQ system and a similar level of components. It also makes the Focus JAM² SL 9.9 look like an absolute bargain given its $12,499 AUD sticker price.
Of course it’s the unique carbon chassis and clever integrated suspension system that mark the key points of difference for the Voltage. Sure it isn’t for everyone, but those who value the engineering and the advantages the design brings to the party will clearly see the appeal.
As for the parts fitted to it, I’m happy to report that our Scott Voltage test bike has been thoroughly solid throughout testing with few issues to report on.
The suspension is a real standout, and it’s great to see powerful brakes with proper 200mm rotors as standard.
While I’d prefer shorter crank arms, the SRAM GX AXS Transmission has also been top-notch. Scott’s decision to spec the old Rocker paddle rather than the newer Pod controller is a good one, and the wired-in derailleur wired means there’s one less thing to remember to charge.
In addition to its adjustable travel, the new Syncros Duncan dropper post impresses with its light action and fast return. It also uses a shorter cable pull, which makes the TracLoc paddle quite a bit nicer to use. The only blemish was a bit of rotational play, which resulted in some noise while descending.
The lightweight Revelstoke wheelset helps the Voltage sneak under the 19kg barrier, though I found the carbon rims to be quite stiff. This aids in steering precision, but it also leads to some notable feedback through the hands and feet on longer and rougher descents.
Some of that stiffness is masked by the high volume tyres, which do a lot to smooth out the overall ride quality. Heavier and harder riding folks may find the 2.6in tyres to be a little too floaty when pushing into hardpack berms however, and may benefit from fitting a narrower 2.4-2.5in tyre. This will also improve rear tyre clearance, which is weirdly tight through the seatstay bridge. I had no problems on the dusty trails at Lake Mountain, but there are scuff marks on our test bike already and those who ride in wetter climates will find the rear packing up with mud.
While I like the neat T30/T25/6mm tool integrated into the rear axle lever, as with most of these tools it rattles while riding so I removed it. The Voltage is otherwise a quiet and sturdy bike, with plenty of useful armouring and noise-damping throughout.
Scott Voltage vs Specialized Levo SL
For our trip up to Lake Mountain we brought along the Specialized Levo SL to ride alongside the Scott Voltage. As mentioned earlier, the Levo SL is one of the benchmark bikes in the lightweight e-MTB category, making it a great point of comparison.
Equipped with 160/150mm of travel, the Levo SL comes standard as a mullet but has the ability to fit a 29in rear wheel if preferred. It also comes with adjustable headset cups, and it adds a flip chip into the chainstay pivot and lower shock mount to provide a huge array of options for tweaking the geometry. Specialized also produces the Levo SL in a wider range of sizes. There are no fewer than six sizes on offer, compared to four in the Voltage.
The price point is pretty similar when looking at the Specialized Levo SL Pro, which sells for $17,500 AUD. The Fox Factory Series suspension is much the same, but the Levo SL Pro upgrades to a SRAM X0 Transmission, a BikeYoke Revive dropper post and DT Swiss 350 hubs. It’s considerably lighter too, coming in at 17.4kg for our test bike (confirmed).
It does come with a smaller 320Wh battery, though the Levo SL motor is claimed to pump out the same 50Nm of torque and a slightly higher peak power output of 320W.
On the trail the two motors perform similarly in terms of support and overall range, though the TQ motor wins when it comes to noise. The Levo SL fights back with its crisp MasterMind TCU display, which along with the Specialized App provides all the functionality and data you could possibly wish for.
Both bikes are highly capable on technical terrain, though when things get flowy and jumpy the Levo SL takes the lead thanks to its shorter chainstays, smaller rear wheel and lighter weight. It’s an obscenely fun bike to ride, with plenty of pop and attitude that makes it much easier to handle compared to heavier full-powered e-MTBs.
The Voltage pulls ahead on rougher and rowdier terrain however, with its plusher suspension and lengthy wheelbase affording better grip and control. It inspires more confidence when charging descents off the brakes, and it floats seamlessly over rock gardens at speed. Longer chainstays and a steeper seat angle provide a more planted position on steep climbs, and combined with the TracLoc system, the Voltage is for sure the better technical climber out of the two.
Flow’s Verdict
For many riders, the Scott Voltage could very well be the lightweight e-MTB they’ve been waiting for.
We were impressed with the Lumen we tested last year, but there’s no doubt that its short travel platform and weight-optimised build kit made it a bit of a turnoff for those who were more interested in bombing down technical descents. The new Voltage aims to fulfil the demands of those riders, with its additional travel and raked-out geometry making it an incredibly capable all-rounder that’ll appeal to a broader section of the market.
Not everyone will fall head over heels with its integrated cockpit and hidden shock, and we reckon Scott has missed a trick by not building mullet compatibility into the Voltage chassis.
There’s no denying the advantages the unique frame brings to the trail however, with the ability to carry a full-size bottle and a range extender battery being a particularly welcome feature. Combined with the subtle TQ motor, stupendously plush suspension and nifty TracLoc remote, the Voltage stands as one of the most technically proficient e-MTBs we’ve ridden.
