When the name of the long-established Swedish company Husqvarna comes up, technology enthusiasts rave about motorbikes, lawnmowers or sewing machines. Now Husqvarna is launching an e-bike fleet, from sporty city bikes to e-mountain bikes. The collection is developed in Schweinfurt and the bikes are only available from specialist dealers.
Two model series are particularly interesting for e-mountain bikers: Light Cross (LC) refers to the sporty hardtail line, while the Mountain Cross series (MC) offers e-MTB fullys with 140 millimetres of suspension travel. Husqvarna uses Shimano's Steps E8000 drive on these bikes, perfect for sporty mountain biking and off-road challenges. Also installed in the LC and MC models: an innovative battery system called Linkage Battery. The batteries are foldable and can be removed via a small opening in the down tube.
Husqvarna Mountain Cross - the Fully
The three MC models from Husqvarna come with 140 millimetres of suspension travel at the front and rear, moderate angles and relatively short geometries. This promises a good-natured rather than extremely sporty riding style and riding position.
Husqvarna attaches particular importance to the electronic Di2 shifting system from Shimano in combination with the drivetrain from the same company, as the components are perfectly matched. The electronic coupling of Di2 and Steps makes shifting more precise and at the same time more gentle on the drivetrain. The Di2 is fitted to the top-of-the-range MC7 model, while the more affordable fully versions have mechanical shifting.
The brake system of the MC series, however, does not come from the Asian component giant Shimano. Husqvarna uses Tektro's OrionP, a combination of a powerful four-piston caliper on the front wheel and a lighter two-piston caliper on the rear wheel.
SR Suntour suspension forks are designed to ensure a smooth ride, with a Yari from Rock Shox only being used on the top-of-the-range MC7 model. A Rock Shox Deluxe RT shock absorber keeps the rear end in check on all bikes. The wide Alexrims rims are fitted with Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres in a width of 2.8 inches. All price variants come with a Husqvarna-labelled dropper post that offers 100 millimetres of drop. Prices range from 3999 euros for the entry-level MC5 model to 4999 euros for the top-of-the-range MC7 model.
Linkage Battery - innovative folding batteries
A real speciality of Husqvarna eMTBs is the mobile battery. Six cells are combined to form a mobile battery pack. This allows the energy carrier to be pushed into the bike through a small flap in the down tube. The advantage: the down tube is not completely cut up, which makes stiffer designs possible. The battery is guided by a rail, which keeps it in the frame without wobbling or rattling. In the bottom bracket area, the battery is automatically connected to the drive unit by means of a magnet. The frame has a separate charging socket, so charging can be done on the bike or with the battery removed. After 1.5 hours of charging, 80 per cent of the capacity should be reached.
The Linkage Battery offers 500 watt hours of capacity, a larger model is in the works. All Mountain Cross models and the more expensive models in the Light Cross hardtail line are based on this system and the batteries are compatible with each other.
Husqvarna Light Cross - the hardtail
Each bike in the Light Cross line is available in either a 27.5-inch or 29-inch version. Husqvarna does not rely on frames that can accommodate both wheel sizes, but builds a separate chassis with customised geometries for both versions - a considerable effort. The 29ers come on 2.6-inch-wide tyres, while the 27.5-inch bikes use 2.8-inch-wide tyres. Light cross riders have to make do with 100 millimetres of travel at the front. This is provided by a Rock Shox Reba RL (LC5) or Suntour Radion.
The two models with linkage battery cost 4199 (LC5) and 3499 euros (LC4). Below these are four models with an external battery and Shimano Steps 6010 drivetrain costing between €2299 and €2999. LC5 and LC3 shift electronically with Shimano's Di2.
Husqvarna is entering its first E-MTB season in 2018, with bikes due to be available from dealers from mid-January.
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
