Exactly one year ago Husqvarna presented its Mountain Cross all-mountain bike with great fanfare. A carbon fully with an innovative frame design and some unusual features. However, the first MC models were only recently spotted on the market. Now the Austrians are following up with the Hard Cross enduro model. And this is much more urgent than its all-mountain brother: the first Hard Cross models are due to hit the shops at the beginning of May.
The Hard Cross has gained the time advantage over the Mountain Cross due to Corona. The Mountain Cross was developed before the pandemic, but subsequently had to wait for crucial add-on parts. The Hard Cross enduro bike, on the other hand, was developed during the coronavirus pandemic and can now go on sale quickly thanks to the resumption of deliveries from component suppliers.
Heavy Duty: The Enduro Hard Cross was designed with robustness in mind
As the people's brand in the Pierer Group, the Husqvarna range is broadly diversified. The full-suspension range starts with the 120-millimetre Light Cross bike. The volume model is the Mountain Cross with 150 millimetres of suspension travel and a total of six model variants. The Hard Cross marks the top of the suspension travel scale in the Husqvarna range. Although the new Husqvarna enduro bike now has one centimetre less rear suspension travel than its predecessorbut at 170/180 millimetres, it certainly lives up to its status.
The HC was made for nasty trails and trips to the bike park. Like the Mountain Cross, the Hard Cross was also developed by the Munich design studio KISKA. The focus of the Enduro E-MTB, says lead engineer Mikey Rieder, was clearly on robustness. That's why all five Hard Cross models come exclusively with aluminium frames.
Although the geometry and frame design of the Husqvarna Hard Cross are said to be inspired by the Mountain Cross, the two E-Fullys differ significantly in important aspects: The avant-garde design of the MC with its two-part main frame and upward-facing Shimano EP8 e-bike motor cannot be found on the Hard Cross. With this design, the engineers succeeded in constructing a closed down tube from which the battery could be removed at the bottom. Advantage: weight. The frame construction of the Hard Cross is conventional in comparison: The Shimano EP8 is bolted horizontally to the down tube, the battery is hidden under a plastic cover and is removed at the front.
Despite the conventional frame construction, massive bearings and solid add-on parts, the total weight of the top model MC5 is said to be 24.6 kilos. That would be a decent figure for an e-bike in this suspension travel class with a 720 watt-hour removable battery. The bare frame weight of the new Husqvarna Hard Cross should even be 15 per cent less than that of its predecessor. The HC5 and HC4 models come with a 720 watt-hour Simplo battery (serviced by Shimano!), while the HC3, HC2 and HC1 models have to make do with 630 watt-hours (also Simplo). To ensure that the battery is well cooled and can therefore deliver its power evenly, a grille in the head tube allows air to flow into the inside of the down tube - a feature that the Hard Cross has adopted from the Mountain Cross.
The Husqvarna Enduro aims to score points with a mullet wheel mix and short chainstays
Thanks to the mullet wheel configuration with 29er front wheel and 27.5-inch rear wheel and the 445 millimetre short chainstays, the new Husqvarna Enduro bike should not only perform on rough downhill courses, but also hold its own in technical, winding terrain. In terms of kinematics, great importance was attached to high anti-squat. This means that the suspension should remain stable when pedalling and the rear triangle should not sag on climbs in steep terrain. The geometry is as modern as it is moderate: in size L, the reach is 480 millimetres, the seat angle is steep at 77.2 degrees and should therefore ensure good climbing characteristics. The rather short top tube length of 632 millimetres and the 674 millimetre high stack indicate a rather compact, comfortable riding position. At 64.5 degrees, the head angle is also not extremely slack.
There will be five models of the Husqvarna Hard Cross - the first will be on sale from May
All five models of the Hard Cross E-Enduro are still equipped with Shimano's "old" EP8 drive. On the features of the EP801 (Auto- and Free-Shift) you have to do without. On the other hand, the prices can be described as moderate by today's standards: The HC1 starts at 5499 euros, followed by the HC5, which costs 8199 euros. The equipment highlight in the top model is the Fox Factory suspension. All models will be available in sizes S, M, L and XL.
The facts about the Husqvarna Hard Cross 5
- 180/170 mm spring travel
- Mullet wheel mix with 29-inch front and 27.5-inch rear wheels
- Shimano EP8 drivetrain with Simplo Core S2 battery with 720 Wh
- Internal cable routing
- 24.6 kilos total weight (according to the manufacturer)
- Fox Factory suspension
- Shimano XTR 12-speed drivetrain
- Shimano XT brakes with 220 mm discs at the front
- DT Swiss wheels HX 1700 Spline
- Tyres: Schwalbe Magic Mary Evolution 29 x 2.4 inch, Hans Dampf Evolution 27.5 x 2.6 inch
The geometry data
Husqvarna Hard Cross: the models at a glance
Conclusion from Josh Welz, EMTB editor-in-chief
The Enduro Husqvarna Hard Cross is fast, at least on the market. While you had to wait almost a year for Husqvarna's all-mountain model, the Mountain Cross, to finally hit the shelves, the first Hard Cross models should be available in May. Husqvarna is positioned in the Pierer Group as the people's brand. Accordingly, few experiments are made with the Hard Cross. Robust aluminium chassis, good value for money, balanced geometry - the Austrians are playing it safe. If the series models reach the target weight of 24.6 kilos, that would be a good value for an e-MTB in this suspension travel class with a 720 battery.
Josh Welz
Editor-in-Chief
