Test KTM Macina Cross Street: As a special model for two-wheeler Stadler, KTM offers an inexpensive e-crosser with a powerful engine, which pleases with its sporty appearance and versatility - and offers positive surprises in the details.
With the purchase of a Bosch bike you are always right. Even the lower-torque versions of the mid-motor are lively and dynamic, and with the MTB version, given the strong support, you can pedal easily and fluidly even on double-digit gradient percentages. Of course, with an e-bike it's not just about the motor. But once this point has been clarified, it is all the easier to concentrate on the other aspects - what kind of bike it should be, what equipment you need, which gears you prefer, whether a suspension fork should be on it, etc. And Of course you have to decide how much money you want to invest in the electric bike.
KTM Macina Cross Street: versatile and powerful
Would you like an example? A brisk e-cross bike in the medium price range for everyday use and fitness, with StVZO-compliant equipment and a sporty appearance is being sought. And with as powerful an engine as possible. If you look around in a Zweirad Stadler branch, you should stop in front of the KTM Macina Cross Street, because it corresponds to what you are looking for in every respect. The bike has an extremely interesting structure compared to the KTM series bikes: the Austrians do not regularly offer a cross bike with Bosch Performance CX at this price. So it's worth taking a closer look at the bike.
Let's start with the frame, on whose streamlined down tube the partly integrated battery catches the eye. This makes the construction less complex and the battery is even a little easier to remove. With a capacity of 500 watt hours, this is only medium-sized, but its range should be sufficient for most purposes. If you want, you can also get the blue bike with a trapezoidal frame; If you look closely, you will discover, for example, that the gear cable and brake line run in the chainstays - not a matter of course, as it involves a certain amount of additional design work. This is how the KTM looks neat and tidy, which of course suits the sporty appearance.
Clean exterior
Of course, the frame is combined with a suspension fork, which is typical for cross bikes or trekking bikes with medium spring travel. Potholes, curbs or bumpy paths are no longer frightening, although real off-road use requires an air suspension fork with a little more travel - but the KTM is not built for that at all. Anyone who dares to venture out onto forest and field paths on the 42 mm wide Schwalbe tires with their strong profile will not be let down so easily by this bike.
KTM Macina Cross Street: Sufficiently wide gradation
In this context, a look at the gears: The nine-speed cassette is not too wide with 11-36 teeth, but you shouldn't work up a sweat even on steep mountains: If necessary, the motor support is so strong that you can even shift without much personal effort forwards - you don't need the super easy mountain gears of a "bio-bike" on an electric bike. Which also means that the provider can save a bit here without the function suffering for the user. There are also no surprises when it comes to the brake system: The Shimano MT200 are inexpensive, but tried and tested and functionally reliable, and their effect is not too harsh for everyday use.
Mudguards and light "decoupled"
So far, so sporty – the KTM only acquires its suitability for everyday use when it is completed with a side stand, mudguards and lighting system. And this is where it gets interesting, because the manufacturer completely separates the last two functions - the taillight is attached to the left seatstay, not the fender. And that means that you can completely remove the short sports mudguards, which makes the KTM look even more MTB-like. Normally this is not possible, because the power cable to the rear light is routed through the fender.
Of course you can also mount longer protectors, and a luggage rack could also be screwed on. But please don't hang a bag on the left of this - it would cover the rear people.
No porter? never mind
Speaking of luggage transport: Of course you can tow a trailer with the KTM, and it is practical that conventional quick-releases are used instead of quick-release axles. In this way, the coupling adapter can be quickly installed and removed again. You can definitely do a weekend's shopping with a trailer; the fact that the bike does not have a luggage rack does not have to be a disadvantage.
Bosch CX for every situation
Here, too, the powerful Bosch motor is on the spot: It makes starting with luggage towed child's play and willingly pulls the additional load up the mountain. KTM does without a large display on the stem of the Macina Cross Street. The small viewing window, which is integrated into the button block on the handlebar grip, provides information about speed, driving mode and charge level and is actually completely sufficient. It also has the advantage that you can mount a GPS speedometer in the middle of the handlebars if you wish, as is common today in sports and on tours. The handlebar stem is angle-adjustable and allows both a comfortably upright and a more stretched sitting position, so that the bike can be easily adapted to the respective purpose.
In the Stadler branch, it would now be time for a test drive at the latest, but you can actually save that in view of the well-known good drive characteristics. Anyone who feels attracted by the equipment details described will make a good choice with this e-crosser, especially since the price of a good 3.500 euros is quite attractive, especially in view of the Bosch CX motorization.
Website: shop.zweirad-stadler.de
