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Crossover fullys are the stars of the bike shop. Their sporty frames with technically sophisticated rear swingarms and wide, knobby tyres awaken a desire for adventure. In fact, the full-suspension all-rounders can master almost any terrain. The all-terrain wheels allow you to discover rough terrain with ease, while their chassis leaves rough forest and field paths cold. The crossover tourers roll over kerbs, potholes and broken asphalt with inimitable ease. However, adventurers in search of the perfect all-round tourer should be aware of this: Crossover fullys can do a lot of things pretty well, but they are not all-rounders. The full suspension with rear swing arm and suspension fork makes the bikes unrivalled in comfort, but requires regular maintenance. Even though the full suspension and knobbly tyres allow you to ride on easy terrain, the bikes do not come close to the dynamics of thoroughbred e-mountainbikes. Wide tyres and rims increase the rotating masses, while the long forks mean that the steering angle is sometimes slack. The crossover bikes are therefore less agile than lighter city or all-round pedelecs. However, if you are looking for a versatile and comfortable touring pedelec that can also safely tackle detours on field and forest paths, a crossover fully is the right choice.
- BERGAMONT E-HORIZON FS EXPERT
- CONWAY XYRON C 427
- FLYER GOROC4 4.10
- KTM MACINA CHACANA LFC
- RRAYMON CROSSRAY E FS 6.0
- SCOTT AXIS ERIDE EVO
Plenty of suspension travel
Apart from the higher price, there are very few arguments against full suspension on touring pedelecs. Although rear swing arms and shock absorbers make the bikes somewhat heavier and almost 1,000 euros more expensive, they significantly increase riding comfort and safety. Heavy pedelecs in particular benefit greatly from full suspension. When rolling over obstacles, it improves the contact between the wheels and the ground. They therefore also roll more smoothly on rough surfaces and are easier to control. our test bikes cost between 3,500 and 5,200 euros. This suggests greater differences in the quality of the frame and add-on parts than actually exist. The majority of the pedelecs are well equipped for their intended use. There are greater differences in the suspension systems. These range from 100 millimetres of suspension travel on the Bergamont to 140 millimetres on the Conway, Flyer and Scott. The suspension travel gives an initial indication of whether the bikes perform better off-road or on tarmac. With 130 and 140 millimetre suspension travel, the Conway, the Flyer and the KTM are the most suitable for detours into rough terrain. The Bergamont and RRaymon manage with significantly less suspension travel. They work better on tarmac. The only exception: despite 140 millimetres of travel, the Scott Axis is more of a comfort-oriented tourer than an off-road specialist.
Whether on rough terrain or on tarmac: a prerequisite for good and safe handling is a frame that is as rigid as possible, especially for crossover pedelecs. Because with the rider and touring luggage on the carrier, you can quickly reach a system weight of a good 120 kilos. We were therefore surprised that only the KTM Chacana achieved satisfactory stiffness values on our test bench. We attribute the otherwise mediocre measured values to minimal play in the rear suspension bearings, as we were unable to determine critical riding characteristics on any of the pedelecs, even with 22 kilos of luggage on the rack. Whether 27.5-inch wheels (RRaymon, Flyer, Conway) or 29-inch wheels (Bergamont, KTM, Scott) are the better choice depends on the riding style and, to a lesser extent, the frame size. Wheels with a large diameter roll more easily over obstacles and offer a little extra grip on unpaved paths. On the other hand, 29-inch wheels are heavier than those with a 27.5-inch diameter. Their higher rotating mass makes the wheels somewhat slower and less agile, and the tyres also influence the riding experience. Schwalbe's new Johnny Watts crossover tyre (Conway, KTM, RRaymon) was specially developed for this bike class and offers sufficient grip on light terrain, while running extremely smoothly on asphalt. Hurricane and G-One (Bergamont, Scott) cope well on dirt tracks, but are better on tarmac. The Maxis on the Flyer is a thoroughbred MTB tyre, it rolls quite roughly on asphalt.
The motors tend to be powerful. The powerful Bosch Performance CX provides dynamic acceleration on almost all bikes. The Flyer is similarly motorised with the Panasonic GX Ultimate, and the slightly weaker but more sensitively controlled all-round drive from Yamaha suits the RRaymon very well. The trend towards the largest possible energy donors is also reflected in this test field.
With the exception of the low-priced RRaymon - which has to make do with 500 watt hours - the pedelecs are equipped with large batteries of over 600 Wh. Their ranges are close together. The rear derailleurs are predominantly from Shimano, only on the KTM does a twelve-speed derailleur from SRAM change gears. The hydraulic brake systems of the crossover tourers are also tried and tested and well matched to the intended use of the bikes. With discs measuring 180 and 203 millimetres across the board, they are highly effective. All bikes are fully equipped for the road with proven and approved components.
"The big difference between the two test winners is their character: the KTM scores particularly well off the beaten track, while the Scott is recommended as a high-end tourer for the road."
Uli Frieß Test editor
You can download the complete comparison test of the crossover pedelecs from MYBIKE 3/2021 including all individual ratings as a PDF below the article. The test costs 1.99 euros.
