Porsche eBike Cross Performance EXC: The slightly different e-bike test

When car manufacturers venture into e-bikes - and we have unfortunately had to experience this many times - the bikes are often not entirely convincing. For countless reasons, an e-bike is more complex than many automotive OEMs think. But Porsche is no ordinary automobile manufacturer. When the sports car manufacturer brings an e-bike onto the market and there is also a deer on the frame, we sit up and take notice. We tested the Porsche eBike Cross Performance EXC for you - in a special kind of test.

It is not unusual for bicycle manufacturers to send accessories such as drinking bottles, lamps, etc. with the test bike. The accessories for the Porsche eBike Cross Performance EXC were all the more unusual, but no less exciting: Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo including Porsche rear rack and roof tent!

We took this as an opportunity to do a slightly different test – 100% electric.

100% Porsche, 100% electric

We were amazed when Porsche told us that they would provide a corresponding vehicle for the test bike and took this as an opportunity for a little road trip through South Tyrol and Austria - of course with the Porsche eBike Cross Performance EXC on the rear rack. Since we are a digital specialist magazine for bicycles and e-bikes, we don't want to bore you with an automobile review, but the electric vehicle should be mentioned a little at this point. Especially since – and here we are already briefly looking forward to the e-bike ride report – some exciting parallels can be drawn.

A few key details of the test car: 761 HP, 93,4 kWh battery capacity, maximum 270 kW charging power, 0-100 km/h: approx. speed of light  

Sounds damn fast? It is! So fast that even our automobile-savvy editors got wobbly knees when accelerating. But what about the range? And here you can already draw the first parallel between e-cars and e-bikes, because both customers are probably afraid of range - at least at the beginning. When it comes to e-bikes, we as the editorial team can often reassure readers because we have years of experience with bikes; But we also know that a theoretical value often has nothing to do with practice. On your first long drive with the Porsche Taycan Turbo S: range anxiety! What should we do if we suddenly find ourselves stranded without a battery? Can we rely on the range information in the on-board computer? Of course we didn't get left behind, which is partly due to the now well-developed charging infrastructure and partly thanks to the car's extremely precise remaining range calculation. If, for example, the intelligent navigation predicts a calculated remaining battery level of 8% at the destination charging station on long journeys, then that was actually always true. Cheers! The calculation for e-bikes is nowhere near as precise.

The driving behavior of the Taycan Turbo S in a nutshell: Ultra-fast, precise, sporty and taut and yet comfortable and with driving dynamics that have never been experienced in any other electric car (quote from one of our car-loving editors). Why are we writing this? Remember the attributes for the e-bike's driving report...

Porsche roof tent and rear rack

Schuster, stick to your last... Before we finally talk about the really exciting e-bike, a quick word about the rear rack and roof tent. The special feature of the carrier, which costs 2.416 euros, is that it is connected directly to the chassis of the vehicle using two rods. This means that even two e-bikes are rock-solid and you never have a bad feeling when cornering faster (believe us, we've tried that many times...).

The roof tent, which costs 4.981 euros, attracts the attention of oncoming cars. Apparently sports cars are rarely used with roof structures... Handling in practice is extremely simple and two people can comfortably fit in the tent. However, we have to admit that, apart from a short test, we preferred the familiar environment of a hotel room (for convenience).

Porsche eBike Cross Performance EXC: In a nutshell

Enough words about the truly impressive Taycan and its accessories, now let's turn our attention to our core bicycle expertise. Here are the key data of the Porsche eBike Cross Performance EXC:

• Frame material: Carbon
• Suspension travel: 120 / 100 mm (front / rear)
• wheel size: 29 inches (frame size S: 27.5 inches)
• Engine: Shimano EP801
• Battery pack: 630 Wh integrated and removable (504 Wh in frame size S)
• Weight: 21 kg
• Maximum weight allowed: 120 kg
• Price: 14.200 Euros

High-quality carbon frame – developed with well-known partners

The heart of the Porsche e-bike is an independent carbon frame. If you look a little closer, you can see, in addition to the Porsche lettering and the typical emblem on the head tube, a well-known name from the bike industry: Rotwild. While the design – based on the lines of the Porsche 911 and Taycan – comes from Porsche, a renowned bicycle expert was brought on board for the technical implementation.

The frame provides 100 mm of travel via a horizontal damper at the rear, and 120 mm at the fork. Beautiful detailed solutions such as the integrated saddle clamp or the cables running in the frame make a high-quality and well thought-out impression.

Powerful Shimano EP801 motor and removable battery

Porsche relies on the proven and cutting-edge drive system Shimano EP801 engine. Beautifully integrated into the design, it provides up to 85 Nm of torque and can be customized to your personal preferences using the Shimano E-Tube app. The motor draws its energy from an integrated 630 Wh battery (504 Wh in frame size S), which can be removed using a lock and is located in the down tube and can be removed downwards. To control the drive system and display all relevant driving data, Porsche uses the popular SC-EM800 display in combination with inconspicuous but intuitive triggers.

Porsche eBike Cross Performance EXC: Noble equipment

Porsche didn't skimp on the equipment, which can be seen as mandatory given the price of the Cross Performance EXC. Chassis: Fox Factory, consisting of a 34 at the front and a Float DPS damper at the rear. Gearshift: Electronic and with 12 gears. The highlight of the Shimano XT Di2? Thanks to the brand-specific integration with the Shimano motor, you can - if you want - change gears even when rolling without pedaling (FreeShift).

But Porsche also relies on performance when it comes to brakes. The Magura MT7 brake system is extremely powerful and stable, which is also reflected in the generously sized 203 mm MDR-P brake discs. Carbon handlebars, carbon wheels from Crankbrothers, ergonomic contact points from Ergon and a dropper post round off the high-quality and harmonious package.

The Porsche eBike Cross Performance EXC in the practical test

Porsche itself sees the eBike Cross Performance EXC as a genuine e-MTB that “makes the dream of flowing trail rides become reality”. Given the thin, not too coarse tires and 120/100 mm of suspension travel, we were admittedly skeptical at first. “Not another useless wheel from an automobile manufacturer that is listlessly thrown onto the market without reflecting on reality” – some editorial colleagues probably thought. The initial skepticism changed quickly after the first few meters...

The first thing you notice is always the sitting position. This is sporty and modern on the Porsche e-bike, but by no means demanding (not even for beginners). You quickly feel comfortable, but – like its four-wheeled namesake – you are reminded that it is a piece of sports equipment. The rear triangle is tight, but works excellently in combination with the Float DPS shock. When it comes to braking performance, you never have to worry with the extremely powerful Magura MT7 and shifting with the Shimano XT Di2 is actually so much fun that after a long ride you can no longer imagine using a cable pull.

Even if you have already ridden countless e-bikes with powerful mid-engines, you will be amazed at how snappy the Porsche e-bike is when starting. The high-torque Shimano EP801 in combination with the extremely stiff frame and the stiff carbon wheels with narrow, easy-rolling tires make it easy to handle the bike. If the terrain becomes more demanding, these tires will of course quickly reach their limits. Experienced riders can “go anywhere” with the Porsche eBike Cross Performance EXC.

In summary, the driving characteristics can be described as sporty, firm, dynamic, balanced, powerful and the workmanship quality as excellent. Sounds somehow familiar...

Is the Porsche eBike Cross Performance EXC perfect? No. Would it be better off as a fully equipped, sporty trekking fully? Perhaps. Is it fun? Yes. Is it a good e-bike? Yes. Does it have a right to exist? Yes. Is it too expensive? Everyone has to decide that for themselves.

The fact is, the Porsche eBike Cross Performance has earned our renowned Velomotion test seal. It has a clear edge, is sensibly aimed at a specific target group and, above all, has what many (automotive) OEMs lack when it comes to e-bikes: a brand DNA.

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