Bike check: Dangerholm's "world's lightest" Scott Lumen eRide

Dangerholm pushes the boundaries of innovation yet again with the Scott Lumen eRide 900 SL

Suvi Loponen

Jul 28 2023

Dangerholm, the renowned bike builder and weight-saving expert, has once again pushed the boundaries of innovation in the cycling world with his latest creation - the Scott Lumen eRide. Breaking new ground in the electric mountain bike (e-MTB) category, Dangerholm has accomplished his most ambitious project to date, producing the "world's lightest e-MTB".

The foundation of this groundbreaking masterpiece is the Scott Lumen 900 SL, a versatile and high-performance chassis designed for everything from pure cross-country mountain biking to trail and downcountry shredding. With the vision of creating an e-MTB that feels as close to a regular mountain bike as possible but with the added fun of a push-button boost, Dangerholm embarked on his mission to build the lightest possible e-MTB.

The result is a 12.90kg record-weight version of the Scott Lumen eRide. For riders seeking a more heavy-hitting trail experience, Dangerholm has also crafted a slightly heavier (around 14kg) but equally impressive trail/down-country version of the same bike (pictured above).

Discreet and light frame

The Scott Lumen eRide is essentially the e-bike version of the popular Scott Spark, equipped with a rear suspension travel of 130mm and a sleek design to accommodate the TQ drive unit and battery system. Stripped from paint, the frame weighs a mere 2,072g emphasising its true "raw carbon fibre" nature.

Dangerholm's expertise in weight-saving techniques is evident in every aspect of the build, including his preference for using knives to remove the primer and filler during paint stripping - this should ensure minimal impact on the carbon fibre's integrity.

Compact and customised drive unit

The heart of the Scott Lumen eRide is the TQ HPR50 drive unit, already known for its compact and lightweight design. Collaborating with TQ, CeramicSpeed and Meti, Dangerholm achieved further weight reductions.

Dangerholm’s Lumen comes with a one-off carbon fibre housing for the internal battery retaining its 360Wh capacity while shedding an impressive 206g. You won’t be able to tell, but Dangerholm said it “also looks absolutely beautiful”. The drive unit's bearings were replaced with CeramicSpeed's unique bearings, adding to the bike's efficiency and the feeling of a regular mountain bike. Custom hollow titanium mounting bolts, crafted by Meti, further reduced the weight by almost half compared to stock steel bolts.

All in all the tuned TQ HPR50 system on this bike comes in at 3,783g, with an extra 26g for the remote.

The experimental drivetrain and shifting

For the drivetrain, Dangerholm chose an 11-speed setup, combining two different derailleurs into one. The base utilises a SRAM Red AXS XPLR 12-speed derailleur, modified to 11-speed using a "p-knuckle" from the updated SRAM Red eTap 11-speed road derailleur.

“So I simply (ahem…) took both derailleurs apart and made one unique wide-range 11-speed derailleur out of them to use on this bike. And in the process I gave it a brushed looked and a bit of Dremel action,” Dangerholm explained.

Remote-controlled suspension

Hidden within the frame sits a remote-controlled 3-position RockShox Nude 5 RLC3 rear shock from a Scott Spark RC, replacing the stock Fox shock for weight reduction while maintaining excellent performance. Up front, the bike features the lightest 130mm fork currently on the market, the Intend Samurai TR 130mm fork.

Lightweight components

To complement the world's lightest e-bike, Dangerholm selected the Trickstuff Piccola Carbon brakes, known for their low weight, top performance, and smooth lever feel. The fully machined design of these brakes also adds an element of beauty to the build.

For the wheels, Dangerholm opted for the Pi Rope wheels, featuring Duke Lucky Jack SLS4 Ultra 28 rims (the lightest version offered by the French brand) and Nonplus hubs with synthetic fibre rope spokes.

The ultimate riding experience?

Dangerholm's Scott Lumen eRide 900 SL has surpassed expectations, achieving not only remarkable weights but also an unparalleled riding experience. Dangerholm said the bike feels incredibly close to a regular mountain bike, challenging the perception of e-bikes as "unrideable" without assistance.

"All in all, my Scott Lumen eRide 900 SL ended up being a thing of dreams. So is the stock model, but this build takes something already great and pushes it to the next level,” Dangerholm concluded.

For more information on Dangerholm and his bike builds, visit his website.

www.dangerholm.com

Author block

Suvi Loponen

Tech writer

Suvi joined off.road.cc in 2022 as a tech writer and brought in her enthusiasm for gravel and long-distance riding. She's a lover of underbiking and exploring on the bike both on and off-road, especially if it means finding more great cafes and some good viewpoints.