E-bikes with automatic transmission are all the rage. Whether you think of Cowboy bikes (like its latest Cross), the Moustache J (equipped with an Enviolo Automatiq hub), or the much more affordable models from Decathlon (LD 920 E and Rockrider E-ACTV 900), the choice has been expanding in recent months. It must be said that the argument for such a transmission mode is perfect for city use requiring numerous stops and starts; and has something to appeal to beginners who aren't always comfortable with a derailleur. It's in this context that Intersport has decided to make a big splash with this ideal model, sold at just €2,100. An ultra-competitive price, especially when compared to its most direct competitor: the Rockrider E-ACTV 900—although already considered affordable—actually comes in at 2,7000 euros!
However, the Crossover GT is not a low-cost model, boasting comprehensive equipment, especially in terms of comfort. It is indeed equipped with a Rockshox Judy fork with a nice 120 mm of travel and an SR Suntour NCX seatpost, using a deformable parallelogram system - rarely seen at this price level - with 50 mm of travel. The engine is the manufacturer's top of the range: a Naka E-Power Max (an Ananda model customized by Intersport) with a torque of 100 Nm. To ensure the automatic transmission, the manufacturer made a different choice than that of Decathlon which integrates it directly into its Owuru engine block. Its competitor has in fact decided to rely on a 3-speed Bafang rear hub instead.
Watch your panniers
As for the frame, the Crossover GT plays on familiar territory by simply using the frame of the already excellent Crossover XA. The look, however, is more discreet, having adopted the manufacturer's new stylistic trappings. The lines are taut and dynamic; this e-bike did not fail to seduce a few friends to whom we were able to show it. On the rear fender, the minimalist luggage rack is a disappointment with only 10 kg of possible payload. Especially since, in the absence of any mounting standard, its parallelepiped bars, rather than round ones, will not be suitable for all pannier systems, which is a shame.
At the front, the in-house HeadFix system allows you to easily add a basket, also supporting up to 10 kg. In terms of finishing, nothing very advanced, but the visible welds are nevertheless very well executed, as is the paint. The assembly of the whole thing is done at the Manufacture française du cycle that 01net.com recently visited, located in Loire-Atlantique.
On safety, Intersport hasn't skimped either, with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, 180 mm at the front, 160 mm at the rear. Enough to stop quickly and powerfully with complete confidence. Especially since the Schwalbe Green Marathon tires (using 80% recycled materials) offer excellent grip on asphalt, whether dry or wet. With their 60 mm section, the contact patch is indeed large. They also help to filter out road hazards.
A "flying carpet"? Almost
Because one of the Crossover GT's great qualities is clearly its comfort. Intersport even goes so far as to highlight a "flying carpet" feeling. A perception that deserves a lot of confidence, as the bikes capable of this can be counted on the fingers of one hand, starting with the impressive Moustache J. And yet, without reaching this perfection, this Nakamura comes very close. It must be said that the impressive 120 mm travel Rockshox fork effectively handles potholes and cobblestones.
But even more so, it's SR Suntour's excellent NCX seatpost that really drives the point home. With its deformable parallelogram system (which is protected by a neoprene cover), the damping sensation is close to perfection and what a full-suspension mountain bike can offer. Behind the handlebars of the Crossover GT, there's not much to fear in the city; even getting on or off a sidewalk is easy and safe.
Especially since the E-Power Max mid-engine provides more than enough power at start-up and acceleration to allow this type of maneuver. It is also very quiet and discreet during walks in nature. Be careful, however, while its suspension is adequate for going off-road, its city-type tires are much less so when it comes to riding on gravel or worse, in mud. Off the tarmac and relatively smooth earth, you quickly reach its off-road capabilities. Too bad, a more versatile pair of tires would have easily overcome this limitation.
Coupled with the Bafang three-speed automatic transmission located in the rear hub, the motor is also extremely pleasant to use. The start is straightforward and the progression smooth. The gears automatically change between 10, 15 and 20 km/h. You barely feel yourself starting to pedal in the air when the higher gear engages efficiently. You can even allow yourself to exceed 25 km/h for a while using pedal power, for example, to overtake a bike in front, limited only by the bike's weight of 27 kg. But the limitation doesn't come from the transmission as is the case on the Rockrider E-ACTV 900. Despite everything, the development provided by the Bafang transmission and the 24-tooth chainring reaches its limits beyond 30 km/h where we start to turn the cranks much too fast for our liking.
Readable screen, limited app
To control the motor, you use the central color screen located on the stem. Readable in all circumstances, it naturally displays the speed and the selected assistance mode (identified by its own color), but you can also scroll through all sorts of information: odometer, trip meter, remaining range, average speed, motor power, and even instantaneous fuel consumption. There's even a bit too much information for our liking, especially since the selected section doesn't stay in memory after each time the e-bike is turned on. Fortunately, it's possible to customize the information to be scrolled through in the menus. We have therefore chosen only the odometer, the trip meter and the autonomy, which makes navigation much easier.
The Naka E-power app connects to the Crossover GT via Bluetooth, but provides little additional information. Without guidance, journeys can simply be recorded. However, it is possible to lock the motor to prevent anyone from turning it on from the bike's controls. The correct information comes from the battery percentage, which is unfortunately not indicated on the screen, only represented by a relatively approximate gauge.
Very well managed battery life in Smart mode
Finally, the last good surprise comes from the battery life. Tested at an ideal temperature of around 15°C and on a relatively flat route, the 460 Wh battery allowed us to travel 65 km! For this, we exclusively used the Smart assistance mode which adapts the motor power to the effort required, thus reducing it significantly on the flat for example. It is ultra efficient and certainly allows us to exceed 100 km in Eco mode.
The battery is recharged with a powerful 4A transformer and thus takes less than 3 hours to reach 100% capacity again. On the other hand, its relatively long size of around fifty centimeters and the fact that it cannot be held upright for storage make it cumbersome when you take it with you.
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