Bulls Cross Rider Evo 2 review: Sporty all-rounder with Bosch CX

Test: The Bulls Cross Rider Evo 2 is a sporty e-trekking bike that should find many friends with the new Bosch CX motor and well thought-out equipment at an attractive price. We have taken on the 2020 version - does the bike live up to the promise of the equipment?

The Bulls Cross Rider is one of the "longest-serving" models in the Cologne-based manufacturer's e-bike portfolio. His first model was still equipped with the 1st generation of the Bosch mid-engine – it felt like an eternity ago. In the years that followed, the sporty all-rounder went through almost all stages of evolution in the Bosch universe: a new motor with an external battery and the direct predecessor then relied on the integrated Powertube battery and was given the suffix "Evo". The venerable Cross Rider will be back in 2020: Now with the new fourth-generation Bosch Performance CX motor and, of course, optionally with the new 625Wh battery in the down tube.

Proven concept and new technology

The rest of the basic concept of the successful model remains largely untouched: Thanks to off-road-capable tires and the decent air suspension fork, the bike is also well equipped for bumpy forest roads and exudes a light cross bike charm, while with the permanently mounted mudguards, luggage rack and lighting system it is also fully suitable for everyday use is. The mudguards and luggage rack are a little less "solid" than on a full-fledged trekking bike. This benefits the sporty look and the pleasingly low weight, but it is not entirely without disadvantages: the very short front and rear mudguards in particular are only partially able to keep the water away from the driver in heavy rain.

Bulls Cross Rider Evo 2 equipment

The approach of a sporty all-rounder is also reflected in the handling and is clearly noticeable after just a few meters on the bike. The geometry is not too extreme and you sit reasonably upright, but even those who are used to a sporty seating position should feel comfortable. In any case, the level of comfort is pleasantly high, which may also be due to the Suntour air suspension fork, which is really good for a trekking fork and can be adjusted to the rider's weight quite quickly. So you can let it rip even on bad roads without any worries, which does not require much effort in view of the powerful Bosch CX motor. Without going into greater detail about the characteristics of the latest Bosch mid-mounted motor at this point (more on this in the test), the powerhouse can undoubtedly be attested to be one of the most powerful e-bike drives on the market. The significantly shrunken form factor also allows the designers to construct a slim frame like that of the Cross Rider Evo. If you wanted to look for the hair in the soup; only the background noise of the engine could be unpleasant for one or the other, especially in turbo mode.

Many configuration options

Something has also happened with the new Bosch motors when it comes to batteries. The well-known Powertube 500 battery will be joined for the coming season with the Powertube 400 and the Powertube 625, each with a larger and a smaller variant - while many manufacturers do not give their customers the opportunity to choose the one for the purpose and wallet, Bulls leaves it Buyers have a free hand: From 400Wh to a whopping 625Wh, everything is possible here - the larger capacity is reflected in the price, however, and the 625 battery also weighs 300g more. Speaking of options: In the case of the Bulls Cross Rider Evo, this also applies to the frame shape. In addition to the version with a trapeze frame that we tested, a classic men's frame and a wave frame with a low step-through are also available.

During our test period, the built-in gears also emerged as a highlight on the Cross Rider Evo 2: The SX Eagle from US manufacturer Sram not only offers an extraordinarily wide range, with which even the steepest passages can be easily climbed, but also stands out in terms of performance and switching feel hardly inferior to much more expensive counterparts. We should see the group on many bikes in the 2020 season - and rightly so!