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It’s what you can’t see that matters
Earlier in the Spring of 2021 Scott Sports launched their 2022 Spark MTB full suspension bike and surprised the market by presenting the new model with a rear suspension system that is completely enclosed inside the frame. This was the result of Scott buying a small start-up brand called Bold Cycles, who previously developed the concept for their own bikes. While the Scott MTB race team struggled to deliver their normal slew of wins on the new bike in 2021 World Cups, the bike – and its enclosed suspension tech, was not the issue. So, when Scott wheeled out their new for ’22 Patron e-RIDE MTB platform a couple of weeks ago, it was no shock (literally) to see that the rear shock was also hidden from view, using a similar configuration inside the chunky looking fame tubes. The Patron sits between the Scott Ransom e-RIDE and their Genius e-RIDE in the line and is defined as a trail bike.
Of course, e-bikes are now mostly all now using internal storage for their battery and motors, but this is the first time a full-suspension e-MTB has also featured fully internally housed rear suspension. The result is an amazingly clean-looking bike. With far less nooks can crannies for mud to collect, the bike is more reliable, easier to clean, and, perhaps arguably, nicer to look at.
In addition to the hidden rear shock, Scott have pulled another first in the design of the 2022 Patron e-RIDE MTB. They have raised and angled the Bosch Performance Line motor to improve its performance and the overall durability of the bike. By raising and rotating the motor to an angle of 46 degrees, the motor (producing 85Nm of torque, 340% of assistance), is better able to use airflow generated by the bike’s own movement to cool the motor – increasing its performance and reliability. In addition, it also moves the motor away from the direct line of fire of dirt and water – which in the wetter, muddier northern European conditions can be tough even on the best sealed motors in their normal position just ahead of the bottom bracket.
Further smoothing the look of this bike, the Patron e-RIDE features full enclosed cables, housed inside the frame, including those for the front and rear running lights – the rear is mounted on the rear hugger fender, the front light is bar mounted.
Scott claims no handling issues by raising and rotating the motor, and only net performance gains. So, will this new suspension and motor lay out become the blueprint for all future high performance full-suspension e-MTB’s? Time will undoubtedly tell, but here at 2fifty9 we’re not betting against it!
