SCOTT Patron Ride Review

What is the Patron? 

The Patron eRide is a bit of a weird bike in SCOTT’s line up. SCOTT considers the Patron  their “trail” e-bike, but it’s spec'd with 160mm of travel front and rear. That’s a lot for a trail rig! The Patron is a heavy hitter, with a Bosch CX motor system paired to a 750 Wh battery. I had the chance to rip some single track on the eRide 900 model, with a carbon frame, Shimano XT drivetrain and brakes, and a Fox 38 fork. 

The ride review 

On a gorgeous day after work, I saddled up the bike, put it into its third power mode, and boosted myself to one of my favorite trails. The bike got to the trail head with ease, cruising on the roads with the fork and shock locked out, going a consistent 18-19.5 MPH. One of the things that struck me first about this bike is how great it would be for rides like this: You’ve got limited time, lunch laps, maybe a quick rip after work or something similar? Well the Patron will get you done and through your favorite loop before the sun sets! Something I think I’d use it for a lot. 

Once to the trail, I kicked the motor down a notch or two, and went on my way. Climbing was a breeze, but not so fast as to feel like a motorcycle. It was a weird sensation, all the movements and effort were the same but the fatigue was significantly less (great for recovery rides….). After no less than 15 minutes the bike was at the top of the trail, letting me take in the spectacular views. 

Besides how fast it gets you to the top, the thing that surprised me the most was how well the bike descended, given how much it weighs. Once it was moving, it was hard to notice the weight. It still cornered well, cleared jumps with ease, and didn't feel hard to maneuver. The low center of gravity with the motor based around the BB helped stick the bike to the wall of the berms when cornering, maxing out those G forces. 

One of the cornering/handling aspects of this bike I was not a fan of is the OEM tire choice. The bike comes spec'd with 2.6 Maxxis Dissectors front and rear. While the Dissector is a great rear tire, when used up front it felt like the large gap between the center strip and the cornering knobs would cause a sense of unease in the corners, leaving the rider not quite sure where the tire is going to hook up. A Maxxis DHF or Assegai would probably be a better suited front tire for the Patron.

The bike was kitted fairly smartly from SCOTT, with the Shimano XT 12 speed drivetrain. The XT  system is awesome for a full powered e-bike like the Patron, as the HG+ (HyperGlide) system from Shimano helps shifting under load. The other thing I liked to see were the big brakes. On a heavier e-bike like this, I loved to see the 4 piston Shimano XT brakes paired with 200mm rotors front and rear. This setup provides plenty of power for stoppin’, skiddin’, and rippin’. 

Thoughts, Feelings

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with how well the bike handled, as I had the presumption that heavier full sized e-bikes are harder to maneuver. I had so much fun riding the Patron, miles of smiles uphill and down! The bike had a certain knack for letting itself be pushed so hard and fast, that it can get you into trouble (and I have a gnarly bruise on my thigh to prove it). This bike is awesome to make the most of those shorter timeline rides, and leads to some great views. Check out the highlights below:

 Highlights 

• 750 Wh battery life
• 85 Nm of Torque 
• 4 motor modes 
• Internal rear shock 
• Headset cable/hose routing to keep things clean 
• 2.6 Maxxis Dissectors front and rear
• 160mm of travel 
• Fox 38 fork 
• Shimano XT four piston brakes 
• Shimano XT HG+ drivetrain 
• Feels like a true “e-bike” 
• Great for recovery rides/beating the sunset rides  
• Feels heavy, but is easy to maneuver and fling and jump once moving 
• Corners well due to weight, but tires hold it back on the front end 
• Very clean looking lines 
• Active suspension platform