BH AtomX Cross Pro-S E-MTB on test: Basque interpretation of an all-rounder

Test: SUVs are a very popular and up-to-date eBike category: mountain bikes suitable for everyday use. The automotive industry has created a trend that continues on two wheels. Great thing? The BH AtomX Cross Pro-S definitely surprised us!

To get straight to the point: I'm not a fan of car SUVs! They fail off-road, they are confusing in city traffic, the space available in the passenger compartment and trunk does not correlate with the external dimensions, they use more fuel than other vehicles... So why are they so popular? They create the illusion of being able to do anything. So I didn't have high expectations of the BH AtomX Cross Pro-S. And yet I was taught better.

The fact that the name SUV is also finding its way into the bicycle sector is of course not lost on anyone. And yet you have to make a clear distinction between cars and bicycles with the suffix SUV: every bicycle has a certain degree of off-road mobility, apart from racing bikes with their minimalist tires. With an SUV bike, driving on bad roads works wonderfully. The use in everyday urban life is similar to that of a city bike, no XXL dimensions, no extremely much higher weight. Perhaps the current SUVs could also be described as a kind of trekking bike 2.0. Long before the e-age, these were the bikes that were available for almost anything.

Looking for an SUV e-bike? Take a look at our top 10 for 2021:

So is the BH AtomX Cross Pro-S up for anything?

Most striking is the silhouette of the BH AtomX Cross Pro-S. The frame shape is already known to us as a mountain bike from the BH lineup. The shape allows the large 720WH battery to be easily removed from the top, and it is unlocked with a key or a bracelet with an integrated chip. The Brose motor in the S-Mag variant was developed for sporty e-bikes and represents the spearhead of Brose technology. If you want, you can order an additional GPS tracker from BH - a great feature for such a high-quality bike.

Gears and brakes are provided by Shimano. The SLX circuit, lever and rear derailleur is absolutely reliable and proven. The cassette with 10-51 teeth would be sufficient for almost all climbs even with a bike without motor support. On the way down, the four-piston brakes with large brake discs decelerate powerfully and can be dosed well.

The chassis and the wheels are particularly important for the driving experience. The latter are visually successful: Rims, hubs, spokes and nipples are built in black. The hubs from their own shelf are not particularly noteworthy, the rims are. The Alexrims Volar 3.0 TR, with an inner width of 23 millimeters, is suitable for wide tires and can also be ridden tubeless. At 440 grams, it is not only very light but also very robust, which underlines its approval for enduro use. The tires come from Schwalbe: wide "Smart Sam" offer plenty of volume and a sufficiently coarse profile for bad roads, but thanks to a center tread strip they also roll quickly on tar.

The BH AtomX Cross Pro-S is fun!

The first contact with the AtomX Cross was successful. The Ergon grips and the Selle Royal saddle, a Selle Royal EZone is installed, are of high quality and feel that way. The seating position on the Cross Pro-S clearly shows the relationship to the Basque mountain bike and, together with the adjustable stem, allows a relaxed to moderately sporty position on the bike.

The wheel can be moved quickly. With a total weight of 28,2 kilos, you shouldn't expect an "agility miracle", but the Brose motor pushes you very hard and you set a decent pace. Thanks to the very successful and well-protected control unit, the driver has all the information at a glance. The parameters, such as support levels, can be personalized via the BH app. The large battery ensures a powerful range, so that not only can you choose almost anything when choosing the surface with this bike, but the distance can also be greater. So there is absolutely nothing to complain about here, everything is tip top!

We didn't find the choice of suspension quite perfect. BH approves the bike up to a total weight of 165 kilos. If you push that to the limit, you have to tinker with the chassis, that's not unusual and would be the same with any other eBike, regardless of the manufacturer. Most bikes are not approved for such high total weights anyway. So all in all a plus.

The air damper at the rear is super adjustable and actually works excellently, only the suspension fork at the front comes with a steel spring and is therefore not optimally adjustable to the rider's weight. It's a shame, because that's the only small flaw that spoils the otherwise outstanding impression that the BH AtomX Cross Pro-S leaves in test mode.

Gears and brakes come from the component giant Shimano and come from the SLX series. Unfortunately, this is often wrongly underestimated. on the BH, too, it proves once again that it is right to be right behind the XTR and XT on the podium, in front of numerous other component lines from the Japanese. Function and ergonomics are absolutely flawless.

The circuit shines with 12 gears and a large range of translations. The brake system can be finely dosed and, if desired, can also be used extremely powerfully. Thank you, dear BH team, for the large 200 brake discs!

Of course, an SUV also has what such a bike needs for everyday use and travel. The BH AtomX Cross Pro-S leaves nothing to be desired here either. The lighting from Busch and Müller with the IQ-XS headlight with a total of 70 lux at the front and the Toplight Small at the rear has proven absolutely reliable. The side stand from Ursus is a solid aftermarket product, even here the Spaniards do without a cheap OEM solution. The mudguards and the luggage rack are stable and shapely. They are sold under the name Wingee and come from Racktime and Hebie.

The BH AtomX Cross Pro-S is a pretty great overall package and was able to significantly reduce my skepticism about (bicycle) SUVs. The concept works well here, much better than the namesake on four wheels. The BH comes very close to the idea of ​​an eBike for all situations.