Name: ElectroBike Cross Review
Item: ElectroBike Cross
Author: Court Rye

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ElectroBike Cross Review

Electrobike Cross Custom Downtube Battery Pack

Electrobike Cross Lcd Display Trigger Throttle

Electrobike Cross 21 Speed Drivetrain Shimano Tourney

Electrobike Cross Ergonomic Locking Grips

Electrobike Cross Suspension Fork With Lockout

Electrobike Cross Zoom Suspension Seat Post

An affordable, hardtail electric trail bike with clean integrated battery pack and average sized 350 watt geared motor
Decent suspension fork with lockout, seat post shock, 650b wheel size and larger knobby tires plus ergonomic grips with lockers
Good overlap of trail kit with city features like the integrated headlight and kickstand, 21 gears for plenty of pedal speeds and good climbing ability, quick 10 magnet cadence sensor
The Cross uses lots of low-end generic parts including the pedals, motor, battery cells and drivetrain (Shimano Tourney TX) but you do get a one year warranty, throttle power is limited by assist

Make:

ElectroBike

Model:

Cross

Price:

$1,599

Body Position:

Forward

Suggested Use:

Urban, Trail, Mountain

Electric Bike Class:

Throttle on Demand (Class 2)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

1 Year Comprehensive, 7 Year Frame

Availability:

United States, Mexico, Worldwide

Model Year:

2016

Total Weight:

46 lbs (20.86 kg)

Battery Weight:

4.9 lbs (2.22 kg)

Frame Material:

Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

17 in (43.18 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

17" Seat Tube, 22.5 Reach, 30.5" Stand Over Height, 72" Length

Frame Types:

High-Step

Frame Colors:

Matte Black, Gloss White

Frame Fork Details:

Suspension Fork with Lockout Adjust

Attachment Points:

Bottle Cage Bosses, Fender Bosses, Rear Rack Bosses

Gearing Details:

21 Speed 3x7 Shimano Tourney TX, MF-TZ21

Shifter Details:

Shimano Triggers

Pedals:

Aluminum Alloy Platform

Handlebar:

Low-Rise

Brake Details:

Shimano Mechanical Disc with 160 mm Rotors, Shimano Levers with Motor Inhibitors

Grips:

Ergonomic Rubber with Lockers

Saddle:

IUOE Active

Seat Post:

Zoom HL Suspension, Aluminum Alloy

Seat Post Length:

300 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

27.2 mm

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, Black

Tire Brand:

Kenda, 27.5" x 1.95"

Wheel Sizes:

27.5 in (69.85cm)

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Integrated LED Headlight

Other:

Locking Removable Battery Pack, Quick Release Front Skewer

Motor Type:

Rear-Mounted Geared Hub

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

350 watts

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

9 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

324 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

4.5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

15 miles (24 km)

Estimated Max Range:

30 miles (48 km)

Display Type:

Fixed Backlit LCD

Readouts:

Speed, Average Speed, Battery Level (4 Bars), Odometer, Trip Distance, Clock, Trip Time, Assist Level (0-5)

Drive Mode:

Trigger Throttle, Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist (10 Magnet Disc)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)

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Make or Model

Model Year

Body Position

Suggested Use

Frame Type

Drive Mode

Availability

Price Range

$0 (0 €)$18,000 (16,920 €)

Total Weight

0 lbs (0 kg)227 lbs (103 kg)

Top Speed

0 mph (0.0 km/hr)50 mph (80.5 km/hr)

Battery Watt Hrs

0 watt3,456 watt

Frame Size

0 in (0.00 cm)432 in (1,097.28 cm)

Motor Power

0 Newton meters250 Nm

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The Cross is my second favorite e-bike model from ElectroBike (at least at the time of this review) because it looks beautiful, almost like a regular bicycle, and it’s relatively cheap… like most of their products. Cheap means you aren’t breaking the bank but you also aren’t getting the same premium or even mid-grade parts. I have no idea who makes the motor and battery but both offer average performance at 350 watts nominal on the geared hub and 36 volts ~10 amp hours on the battery. Again, that’s average and for an active rider it’s probably plenty in exchange for lighter weight. I love that the battery pack is integrated into the downtube and that it features bottle cage bosses on top so you can add a water bottle rack, folding lock or mini-pump. This electric bike truly is a “cross” in the sense that it’s also setup well for urban riding… there are rear rack bosses, a kickstand, integrated LED headlight and ergonomic grips. The suspension fork and seat post shock improve comfort on or off-road and it has a lock-out adjust so you can reduce bob and energy loss if you’re on pavement the entire way. Great features all around.

I was really impressed with the cross and enjoyed testing it because the frame fit me pretty well (I’m 5’9″ and ~135 lbs) but that’s not going to be the case for everyone. There is only one size available at ~17 which is on the small/medium end. You get two color choices and I’d probably opt for white to improve visibility at night. This is the kind of bike I’d ride to work and have fun cutting across dirt paths and possibly doing weekend trail rides with. The motor felt a bit under powered for steeper ascents but the 10 magnet cadence sensor performed much better than the lower end ElectroBikes that only had 5. The brake levers have motor inhibitors and you get 21 speeds (with shifters on the left and right cleanly integrated into the brake levers). That’s more speeds than I usually see and on the one hand it sounds nice and indeed will provide a wider range of pedaling speeds, but it also means increased maintenance. Given the entry level Shimano Tourney derailleur I’m not sure 21 was necessary vs. 14 but that’s alright.

For me, the biggest trade off with this electric bicycle is that you get both throttle and pedal assist but the throttle is limited by the level of pedal assist that you choose! Why have a variable speed throttle mechanism if you cannot use it to choose your speed and power? For me this meant frequently riding in assist level 5 so I could access all of the bikes power with the throttle but occasionally I’d pedal forward and forget about assist, finding myself destabilized and a bit surprised. My personal preference is to ride in assist level 2 or 3 and use throttle up to the max when passing fellow riders or topping small hills. At least the throttle mechanism is a trigger vs. a half-twist because that allows the grip to be solid and reliable which is important for bumpy terrain. So there’s definitely room for improvement with this ebike but with many hardtail electric bikes Foregoing throttles in 2016 this is still a unique offering and one that’s well priced.

Pros:

Nice suspension fork, it offered a good amount of travel and rode smooth off curbs and over bumps, I like that it can also be locked out for improved efficiency riding on flat surfaces
The suspension seat post on the Cross might be a little nicer than the Promax posts used on the other ElectroBike models and adds even more comfort, I also like the locking ergonomic grips which are wider and more comfortable
Locking removable battery (that does not require the key to be left it!) which is great for reducing weight during transport or charging at the office when your bike is locked outside at the rack
Trail ready tires, nothing too fancy but the tread provides decent traction and helps to absorb bumps, I like that the front wheel has quick release for doing trail maintenance or making the bike smaller when storing in the back of a car
This electric bike actually has threaded bosses integrated onto the top of the battery pack for mounting a water bottle cage, mini pump or lock! There are even mounting points on the seat stays for adding a standard rack if you wanted to use this as a commuter
Utilitarian extras like the kickstand and integrated headlight are useful and make the bike more versatile… it’s not a hard core mountain bike so I’m glad they included these extras because I the extra weight is outweighed by the convenience and safety they offer
The cadence sensor used on this model has 10 magnets and is much more responsive than some of the other ElectroBikes (that use 5 magnets), this is important for off-road use where terrain might become unstable and the path could be narrow and rigorous
ElectroBike has 30+ franchise dealers in Mexico and the US where you could rent the Cross e-bike or buy it without having to pay shipping, you can also order online and it’s only $50 to ship within the continental USA
Nicer Shimano shifters + brake levers with motor inhibitors! This keeps the handlebar area clean compared with some ebikes that have separated system, considering it’s a 21 speed the cockpit was clear and intuitive to use, even the LCD display panel was minimal and stayed out of the way
This is an electric bike that blends in, the hub motor is fairly small and concealed by the disc brake rotor and cassette and the battery is integrated so it wouldn’t raise suspension the same way some other ebikes might

Cons:

It’s great that the battery is integrated into the downtube, this is clearly a purpose-built electric bike but I was bummed that the brake cables and electrical wires were not run through the frame – just tacked on along the top tube and down tube
Generic hub motor and battery cells, I’m not sure who makes them or what kind of longevity they will offer but at least you get a one year warranty
The pedals are pretty lame, while they do offer a decent area for your foot to press down I felt that they were slippery and possibly made of plastic vs. metal, consider replacing with Wellgos like these if you cycle in a wet environment or plan to go off-road more frequently
No throttle-only mode on this system, I love that you get pedal assist and throttle mode (and that the throttle is trigger here vs. grip-twist since you might be going off-road and need to really hold on) but was disappointed that throttle power is limited by the assist level you choose
The display panel was not removable but I like that it’s backlit, the mechanical disc brakes use more generic parts and are on the smaller side (which is alright given the medium-sized frame that only comes in one size), the derailleur is also bottom of the line (Shimano Tourney)
All of the ElectroBikes I tested out seemed to have their brake levers operating the reverse brake of what I expected, usually the left brake is for the front and the right brake is for the rear in the USA but that was switched here and might take some getting used to or potentially be a hazard for tight situations off-road where instincts kick in
While the bike is only available in one frame style (high step) and one size, it does come in two colors (and the pedals and light housing are colored to match…) and the diamond frame is going to be stiffer and easier to use with some hanging style bicycle racks

Resources:

Official Site: http://store.electrobike.com/products/cross-350w-the-electric-mountain-bike
More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/TFHVXUgx7rTGWu6P6

January 29, 2024 (11 months ago)

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Gabriel Nieblas

8 years ago

Here in Mexico it’s worth the equivalent of 1400 dlls. Overall, you think it’s the best option from Electrobike? Thanks for your honest reviews, they’re excellent.

Court Rye

Yeah, I liked this model best and felt the price was good. If you can find it locally and enjoy the trail style of a hardtail then it could be a solid choice, especially because the battery and motor blend in so well. Glad the reviews here have helped you, thanks for your kind words :)

kevin

Hi, i am about to buy this bike right now. I live in a very hilly area of PA. I was wondering how this bike works on hills? The hill I live nearby is around a 20~ 25 grade about a mile long and I’m hoping this bike will make my life a little easier. Comments and thoughts are very appreciated.

Hi Kevin! In my experience ALL ebikes make hills easier and even the “weaker” 250 watt motors offer double what you put out as a rider… just in a more steady way, like when you pedal each push is strong but then fades as your foot comes down. If you use the throttle or assist and pedal along you should have a much easier time climbing! If however, you only rely on the bike for support, it might feel like the battery is draining quickly and the bike is going slow. The key with lighter models like the Cross here is to work with the bike vs. relying on it like a scooter.

Sandy B

5 years ago

Does anybody know where to get replacement parts for the ElectroBike Cross (white version). I called a bike place in Atlanta that originally sold this and they said they are no long made in the US and and now foreign. I tried the website listed on the bike and they keep emailing me in spanish with no help. I need a new kickstand, pedal and such. No idea where to find them. Also a battery charger, but dont know which volt ect to look for. Does anyone have the original charger with a part number on it I could use to look up?

Court

Hi Sandy! I think you could find many of the standard bike parts on Amazon or at a local bike shop. Chargers could be a bit more difficult and I am so sorry that I did not take a picture of the charger when I did this review. Perhaps I show it in the video and you could take a screenshot? In any case, I found their website that shows Mexico as the place of manufacture, so maybe emailing them in Spanish by using Google translate could lead to some better help. Here’s that site, good luck!

Sandy

Thank you for replying. I already did exactly as you suggested days ago. I have emailed them multiple times using google translate. Just this morning they finally tried to send me a link, but it did not look like the old charger that got lost. I will keep trying. I know there are a vast amount of bike parts online, but with no knowledge of bikes or a manual, it has been hard. So much easier when you have a part number to search with. I will rewatch the video and see if I can see any info on the charger. Thanks again!

Marcus

4 years ago

Hi Sandy – I have an ElectroBike Cross that I purchased in 2016 (after reading Court’s review of here on electricbikereview.website – thanks Court!). The charger that came with my Cross is a 36 volt, 2 amp charger with a 5.5mm x 2.5mm barrel plug; the manufacturer label states:

Manufacturer: Kunshan ST Electronics
Model: SHC-8100LC
Input: 100-240 VAC 50/60 Hz 90 W
DC Output: +42V 2A

Hope this information helps!

You’re awesome! Thank you so much for taking the time to read Sandy’s comment and reply with an organized answer. Rock on, Marcus :D