Scott Solace Gravel eRide 10 Vs Solace eRide 10

Introduction

At Westbrook Cycles, we always get excited when new bike models are launched into the industry and when Scott unveiled the Solace range, we treated it as two different models being found. However, this is only half right, with the Solace range sharing a frameset and the rest of the bike's specification dictating whether it’s the roadgoing Solace or the Gravel variant. In this post, we compare the top specification of both bikes - the Solace eride 10 and the Solace Gravel eRide 10.

Observations

The first thing to note about these two (slightly different) bikes is how good the fit and finish feel. Both bikes feel well screwed together, and there’s been a clear and compelling effort and making these bikes look non-electric. There’s no massive head tube - which is the usual hallmark of an electric-powered bike.

Both cockpits of the bike look incredibly clean, but it’s the gravel variant of the bike which wins in this department with the fantastic Sram Force eTap AXS, which eliminates the requirement for wires and cables. The cabling for the disc brakes is also internally routed. The internally routed cables do not provide the usual disadvantages that many bikes have of being unable to swap stems.

Solace 10 Gravel Observations

We rode the Solace 10 gravel on the singletracks and gravel of the North Yorkshire Moors, providing us plenty of space and terrain to try this bike out on. The bike behaved really well, it tackled singletrack, fire roads and gravel well. The bike's geometry inspired confidence, with plenty of loose surfaces to test the bike on, we could get the balance of weight over the front wheel just right to keep everything surefooted.

The power delivery from the TQ HPR50 was excellent, smooth, and natural. There was no sudden surges which can see you hit the brakes on rough terrain. As you would expect, the motor made the hilly terrain feel less harsh, and the bike felt at its best at higher speeds. The electric motor was very quiet, and we opted to keep the bike in full power mode - to save having to switch power modes when cycling across uneven and loose terrain.

Solace 10 Gravel Observations

Riding the road-going version of the solace, it’s noticeable that the same feeling of confidence and comfort we had on the trails carries over to the road performance. This bike is predictable, you know where it’s going, and after a short time on the bike, you can understand how to get the best out of the bike.

One of the things that caught us out, is just how fast this bike is without even using the electric motor - we were flying along certain stages at such speeds that the electric motor was giving no input. The motor did, however, perform very well on steep climbs - which was welcomed. At the top of the hill and on the way back down, the bike felt quick - no doubt thanks to the extra weight of the electric motor, however, remained stable.

If you live somewhere hilly, like us - this bike is well worth the investment. However, if you live somewhere flat - it’s hard to justify carrying the extra weight if you already have a decent level of fitness and pace.

Gravel Vs Road Solace

It’s important to note that the shared technology and design of these bikes - make both great choices. Both bikes are incredibly well-engineered and built. They flattered the rider - whilst allowing the rider to improve skills, with all of the usual electric bike benefits of being able to ride further, for longer.

It’s the Gravel variant we prefer, mainly because we noticed the electric motor is not always required on the road version. The e-gravel bike feels playful, tackled everything we asked it to do - and put a massive smile on our faces, which is what it’s all about.