Husqvarna Mountain Cross 5 Review

In the automotive and motorcycle world, Japan has always had a reputation for being a breeding ground for excellent engines. Shimano is doing its utmost to live up to this reputation in the e-bike world with the EP8 engine. The Shimano motor takes away the fear of even the steepest ramps. The combination of a well-rounded riding feeling and a harmonious power delivery characterises the Shimano EP8. Fans of XXL tours are greatly restricted by the Mountain Cross 5 with only an average range.

Rough descents take away some of the fear thanks to the average chassis. 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. At the drivetrain components and the rest of the parts, Husqvarna uses average parts. When it comes to the geometry, Husqvarna does not go completely crazy. The head tube angle and reach values were chosen with care. The result: A balanced riding behaviour with a good combination of playfulness and straight-line stability. The bottom bracket is high, which costs handling points. This tends to make the rider stand on the bike. On other EMTBs it feels better integrated. Due to the short chainstays , when climbing steep sections, it requires active weight shifting to prevent the front wheel from lifting.