When people think of unhealthy city living they probably think of smog, or perhaps convenient but non-nutritional fast food diets. Not too many of us are likely to consider the impact noise pollution has on our health, but the World Health Organization says noise is the second biggest factor affecting our health next to air pollution.
Taking a creative approach to their sales pitch, Scott says they aim to ‘silence the cities’ by getting people out of cars and onto their E-Silence line of pedal-assist bikes. Bikerumor first saw the E-Silence EVO at Eurobike last fall, but below we’ll look a little closer and check out the entire E-Silence lineup…
All models in the E-Silence series use the same 6061 aluminum frame, which comes in S-XL sizes and boasts some pretty interesting features. Not only are the Brose motor and battery integrated as smoothly as possible, it also has a built-in rear carrier rack that wraps around the fenders to provide solid mounting points and help protect them from damage. Some E-Silence models come with the rigid Silence fork, which has a sturdy bolt-on metal support for the front fender.
At the front of the seat stays, the frame accepts a proprietary carrier which hauls the Abus Bordo folding lock. If you don’t opt for the carrier, a simple rubber plug keeps the mounting holes covered. Cables are routed internally through the down tube and the Silence fork even ports the cable in and out. The E-Silence bikes all ride on 700c wheels with 50c Schwalbe tires.
As for other handy commuter accessories, all E-silence models come with a headlight built onto the stem and integrated tail lights. The Syncros stem is height-adjustable to accommodate different riding positions, and the bikes come with kickstands.
The E-silence’s Brose motors put out 250w and 90Nm of torque, and are powered by a 508wH battery. The motor weighs roughly 7.5lbs, which is not bad for an E-bike powerplant. The battery operates in a wide range of temperatures from -20c to +60c. The bikes offer a max speed of 25km/h, and at speeds beyond that the motor automatically stops supporting the rider and leaves the drivetrain friction-free for unencumbered pedalling.
There are three levels of power assist to choose from- Cruise provides 65% assist, Tour gives you 165%, and the Sport mode pumps out 295% assist. Depending on your usage, the E-silence bikes can achieve a range of up to 150km.
The bar-mounted control unit uses a hardened lens on its display for durability, but still functions well in rainy weather and remains responsive through gloved fingers. The control unit powers the lights and motor, selects between pedal assist levels and activates a walk-assistance mode. Its display screen shows your current speed, battery life, and indicates if the head/tail lights are on or off.
The standout feature of the top-spec E-Silence Evo model is the Conti belt drive setup, laced to a Nuvinci Harmony N330 hub. The N330 hub automatically shifts gears for you once you choose from three cadence settings using the handlebar control unit. On the Evo, the motor control is on the left and the hub control unit sits on the right side of the handlebar.
The Evo rides on the Silence rigid fork, and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes bring things to a stop. Syncros supplies the handlebar, adjustable stem, seat and LED equipped seatpost, and up front sits a Supernova E3 headlight. The complete Evo comes in at 52.7lbs.
The Speed 10 model is your other option if you want to ride rigid and don’t want the belt drive. It’s set up with the rigid Silence fork, but uses an XT-SLX 11-speed drivetrain. Again, Shimano supplies hydraulic disc brakes and Syncros takes care of the bars, stem (with Supernova headlight), seat and post. This model comes in slightly lighter than the Evo at 52.25lbs.
If you’re looking for a softer ride, the E-Silence 10 and 20 models are equipped with suspension forks. The 10 model is the higher end spec, featuring a Rockshox Paragon Gold 60mm fork, an XT/SLX 11-speed drivetrain, and hydraulic disc brakes. This model uses a Spanninga integrated headlight and a B&M rear light. The weights are all quite close with the E-Silence 10 at 52.47lbs.
As the entry-level model the 20 uses a Rockshox Paragon Silver 60mm fork, and a Deore 10-spee d drivetrain. It still has a set of Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, Syncros bars, stem, seat and post, and VP pedals. The light setup is the same as the 10 model, and the weight comes in at 52.69lbs.
For full build specs, geometry and more details visit Scott’s website. Pricing is not listed, so you’ll have to contact a Scott dealer.
