Husqvarna Hard Cross 8 Review

As a component giant, Shimano is mostly known for its dominant position in bicycle gears. But with the EP8, the Japanese are clearly showing that they can look beyond their own plate too. The natural motor control and the gentle power output characterise the character of the Shimano motor. Fans of XXL tours are greatly restricted by the Hard Cross 8 with only an average range.

The good Fox chassis absorbs even larger roots with the calmness of a Buddhist monk. The thick 38mm stanchions on the fork provide an extra dose of steering precision and performance. The mid-range brakes from Shimano do their job but could be a bit firmer. The power of the four pistons setup is only average. The drivetrain and components have a subordinate but not to be neglected importance when it comes to EMTB. Even the bike brand product managers know this and don't aim too high with mostly average components. The moderate head tube angle provides a good compromise between stability and agility when going downhill. The reach is also right there in the middle ground. The low bottom bracket height is a party pooper for the handling on the trail. On other bikes, you are more centrally located behind the handlebar. It's no use beating around the bush: the geometry of Husqvarna doesn't suit our taste. Competitors are closer to the cutting edge here.