To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by PEGASUS. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of PEGASUS products.
For those unfamiliar with PEGASUS, it is a sub company under the BULLS ebike manufacturer from Germany that offers many options with commuter bikes being their focus. Such is the case with the PREMIO CROSS we have today. It is a Bosch powered mid-drive that comes in a step-through (wave) and a mid-step version. There are a few differences between the two like the 54.4lb weight on the step-through and the 52.4lbs on the mid-step. But the obvious difference is that the step-through has the battery located in a rear rack housing, while the mid-step has it mounted on the downtube to keep weight more centered. It might sound like the mid-step would be better since the step-through also has some frame flex to it as well, however, it really comes down to preference… for example, the step-through has a more comfortable swept back handle bar where as the mid-step gets a more flat low rise handlebar, so choose the bike that fits you best. The good thing is that because it is sold under the BULLS brand, they have a network of dealers across the country and you can even test ride them to see which you like the most. All in all it comes in 3 sizes between the 2 frames and retails for $2,799. I think the CROSS is great as a feature complete commuter bike, it has a rear CarryMore rack with dedicated pannier hangers, plastic fenders with mud flaps, battery integrated lights in the front and rear, adjustable quill stem, and a kickstand in the rear to eliminate annoying pedal lock when reversing. While commuters are great with utility, this one also has comfort like the gel saddle, ergonomic grips, and full chain cover. The bike goes a step further with a front suspension fork with lockout and preload adjust. The fork is slim and minimalist which matches the tires well too. These are CST Super Ranger tires (so 700c x 40) that are ebike rated and feature a kind of all terrain tread.
Driving the bike is a Bosch Active Line Plus mid-drive motor. This motor is a step up from the regular Active Line and has about 50nm of torque. I like this motor a lot since it is a step up from the entry level, but still stays outside of the fancier line up, which is of course amazing, but they do have some reduction gearing that gives you some pedal drag. Since that reduction gearing is not here, it makes the overall feel smooth, natural, and efficient. Mechanically, the bike is operated by a 8 speed Shimano Altus system with 44 tooth chain ring in the front and 11-34 tooth cassette in the rear. So many bikes in this price range just go for tourney or altus… its nice to see a company build a bike with higher components than that. Anything higher end and you would be in mountain bike territory, so really this is one of the best you can get for cruising or commuting and you even get trigger shifters. Stopping the bike are these nice Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm in the front and 160mm in the rear, each with dual piston calipers.
Powering the bike is a high-capacity Bosch PowerPack 500 offering 36 volts and 13.4 amp hours for nearly 500 watt hours of capacity. It’s one of the most widespread electric bike batteries in the world right now and uses the same form factor and mounting interface as the older, lower capacity, Bosch PowerPack 400. This means that finding replacements, borrowing additional packs, or renting batteries when traveling becomes much easier. The plastic casing is durable but lightweight, especially compared to the new PowerTube 500 which weighs 6.3lbs vs 5.7lbs. With half a kilowatt-hour of capacity in this battery, the faster 4amp Bosch charger allows you to spend more time riding vs. waiting, and yet it’s about the same size and in some cases lighter than many generic 2-amp chargers included with cheaper e-bikes. I like the wide proprietary plug design as well, because it isn’t likely to be mixed up with other chargers or get broken as easily. You can charge this battery on or off the bike frame, making it great for commuters who need to charge inside at work, and you won’t be as likely to drop the battery during transport because it has a big plastic loop handle at the top. To maximize the life of this and most Lithium-ion batteries, try to keep it above 20% capacity and avoid extreme heat and cold. If you know you won’t be riding for some time, store at 50% to reduce stress on the Lithium-ion cell chemistry.
Activating the drive systems on this ebike is fairly straightforward. You charge and mount the battery then press the power button on the top edge of the little display panel, which is mounted within reach of the left grip. The Bosch Purion display/control pad is compact and easy to navigate. It keeps the handlebars open, and may not get damaged as easily if the bike tips or is parked at a crowded rack… but it’s not removable and lacks some of the deeper menus found on the Bosch Intuvia. Even though the display is a bit smaller than some competing models, it’s intuitive enough that you might not look down that often to read it and the really important readouts are fairly large (speed and assist level). I have grown to accept the Purion, but do have a few tips for use as follows. The + and – buttons, which raise and lower assistance, are designed to click in at an angle towards the right. They are attached near the left edge of the control pad and pivot in towards the LCD. With practice, I have found that the right edge is really the sweet spot for consistent clicking. Sometimes the lower left and middle areas can be inconsistent or non-responsive. The screen itself glows faint white at all times, which shouldn’t draw much power. Holding the + button would normally turn lights off and on if this bike had them. By comparison, the larger Bosch Intuvia display has a dedicated light button. Holding the – button will cycle through trip distance, odometer, assist level, and range. And, the range menu is dynamic, so you can see the bike calculate how far it thinks you can go before the battery completely drains based on the last mile of riding, your current state of charge, and the chosen level of assist. This helps to make up for the very basic 5-bar charge indicator on the left side of the battery and the display which isn’t as precise as a 10-bar or percentage readout seen on some competing displays. On the lower edge of the control pad is a walk-mode button. Press it once and then hold the + button to have the motor slowly assist you when walking the bike (you must be in Eco, Tour, Sport, or Boost for walk mode to work). It’s useful for crowded non-bikeable areas like parks, or if you get a flat tire, and not all companies have it enabled, so props for this. I’ve created an in-depth Bosch Purion review in the EBR forums for more information :)
I think the PEGASUS PREMIO CROSS is a solid choice given the features, pricing, and of course with the reliable Bosch electric setup. You even get hydraulic disc brakes! Years ago, $2,799 would only get you a less savvy hub-drive, mechanical brakes, and lower end drivetrain. But there are some tradeoffs, so let’s look at those. The tires seem out of place with the all-terrain tread and really offer neither puncture protection or a reflective sidewall stripe. I like the approachability of the step-through, but it is a bit heavier, has the weight shifted slightly in the rear for the battery, is missing bottle cage bosses, and has a little more frame flex. However, the step-through does have a more comfortable handlebar position in my opinion. Really, these are personal considerations, not massive flaws of the bike. I love that it is backed by the BULLS brand so you get a dealer network, 2 year comprehensive warranty, and 5 year warranty on the frame. I would like to thank PEGASUS for letting me check out the PREMIO CROSS and look forward to the other PEGASUS models coming out to review.
As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the PEGASUS ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)
Pros:
- From a company that specializes in commuter ebikes, PEGASUS is based in Germany and is carried in the United States under the BULLS brand with dealer network and complete warranty
- The bike is feature complete for commuters and uses a Bosch mid-drive, display, and battery system, really one of the most reliable and advanced companies out there powering ebikes
- Comes in a step-through and mid-step, the mid-step gets bottle cage bosses, mid mounted battery, and weighs less, where as the step-through is more approachable and gets a comfortable swept back handlebar
- Comes with a rear CarryMore rack with dedicated pannier hangers and a spring latch
- SIS plastic fenders in both the front and rear to keep you dry, they even have mud flaps which can also alleviate toe strikes when taking sharp turns
- Also features a comfortable gel saddle, ergonomic grips, adjustable quill stem, full chain cover, and a kickstand in the rear to eliminate annoying pedal lock when reversing
- Features a slim and minimalist front suspension fork with 63mm of travel, lockout, and preload adjust
- Rubber meets the road with 700c x 40 CST Super Ranger Ebike-rated tires with an all terrain tread
- I love the battery integrated lights here, they have them both in the front and the rear, safety has always been a priority for myself and other cyclists, so it’s nice to see that more and more companies are including these on ebikes
- Driven by the Bosch Active Line Plus motor, this is a step up from the entry level Bosch motor while ignoring the disadvantages of the high end motors like reduction gearing that can create pedal drag
- I still love the PowerPack series of batteries and the PowerPack 500 here is great, I love that they are interchangeable with other Bosch bikes using the PowerPack system, it may not look as sleek as the PowerTube series, but has a lot more utility
- The 8 speed Shimano Altus system is set up well for commuting and pairs perfectly with the Bosch system
- A big win here are the hydraulic disc brakes in both the front and rear, you get a nice large 180mm rotor in the front (which is where most the braking force occurs), and a 160mm disc rotor in the rear
Cons:
- The tires seem out of place with the all-terrain tread and really offer neither puncture protection or a reflective sidewall stripe
- I like the approachability of the step-through, but it is a bit heavier, has the weight shifted slightly in the rear for the battery, is missing bottle cage bosses, and has a little more frame flex…however, the step-through does have a more comfortable handlebar position in my opinion
- On the other hand, the mid-step has a more flat handlebar set up and you will have to get your leg over the top tube
- Small gripe here, but the bike is full of quality components, so I was surprised to see the ergonomic grips were non-locking, so you could in theory, twist them hard enough out of place
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