Porsche on the Slopes | Testing the eBike Cross Reissue on Kitzbühel’s Famous Streif

The Porsche Lifestyle GmbH & Co. KG was founded 20 years ago by Porsche AG Stuttgart and Porsche Design Management GmbH Salzburg to maximise the potential of the Porsche name beyond just vehicles. It has been a 100 percent subsidiary of Porsche AG since 2017. The Porsche eBikes were developed in collaboration with the e-bike forge Rotwild, a brand of the German engineering firm ADP Engineering GmbH. Studio F. A. Porsche, headquartered in Zell am See, contributed the frame design inspired by the lines of the Porsche Taycan.

Last summer, I had the opportunity to test the second generation of the Porsche eBike Cross even before its official release. I wanted to find out whether the designer piece was also fit for real off-road use. To do this, I had the e-bike delivered directly to my door by freight truck in August. The bike was packed in a cardboard box with the most important parts protected with Styrofoam. After a few simple steps, such as mounting the pedals and adjusting the handlebars, we were ready to go. The battery came already charged.

UP THE FAMOUS STREIF AT HAHNENKAMM MOUNTAIN

To get the fullest sense of the Porsche eBike Cross, I tested it on a wide variety of terrain. Steep angular trails, jumps and hairpin turns, rocky forest paths, gravel roads – it was all covered. And on the commute to the office, it did also get some time on asphalt roads. The bike has a fairly sporty riding position, which makes it well suited for longer rides on the flat as well as for climbs and descents. I began the two-week test right where the world’s best downhillers glide down the Hahnenkamm mountain each year at the end of January: on the Streif. Only this time, I did the famous course backwards: uphill.

The Porsche bike is equipped with the Shimano EP8 e-bike system with an output of 250 watts and a maximum torque of 85 Nm. The motor amplifies its own pedal forces very evenly. This made riding feel natural, which was particularly helpful when setting out, as well as on more technically difficult climbs. By switching between the three modes to the left of the handlebars – Eco, Trail and Boost, I was able to dose the intensity of the support to my needs. Energy for the electric motor comes from a lithium-ion battery with 630 Wh. The mechanical Shimano XT 12-speed shifter worked flawlessly and made for smooth gear changes. Both the motor and the battery are visually unobtrusive and well-integrated into the full-suspension carbon frame, blending in well with the Porsche design.

Starting in the center of Kitzbühel, I covered the first few kilometres on the legendary Hahnenkamm MTB race course. After about three kilometres (2 miles), I turned right and reached the Streif just below the exit. After the roundabout, I was struck by an awe-inspiring view of the impressive mountain massif of the Wilder Kaiser. In front of me was the “Mausefalle” section, whose 85-degree gradient makes it the steepest section of the Streif. On the bypass road, I was able to clear this key section while enjoying the view from the Start House of what is probably the most difficult ski course in the world.

BACK TO KITZBÜHEL ON THE BIKE TRAIL HAHNENKAMM

For the way back to Kitzbühel, I chose the Bike Trail Hahnenkamm. To do this, I rode from the Start House of the Streif along the Hahnenkamm up a bit to the Ehrenbachhöhe mountain at 1,802 metres (5912 feet) above sea level. With a route length of 8.4 kilometres (5.2 miles) and a descent of around 1,000 metres (3,281 feet), the trail was not too difficult and had optimal conditions for the Porsche eBike Cross. Starting out a bit steeper, it then descended in long loops into the meadows. In the forest, the route got a bit trickier without overtaxing the bike. The Magura MT Trail Sport braking system bites very hard at the front. It was something to get used to, but once I did, it was fantastic. I found it easy to control and without much effort, the 1-finger brake levers always made for optimal braking. Soon after the stretch of forest opened up, giving me a great view of Kitzbühel, I had reached the end of the trail at Mocking meadow.

SLEEK HANDLING AFTER A FEW ADJUSTMENTS

The first off-road tests had shown me that the design of the chassis was a little too hard for me. The small bumps on the Hahnenkamm Bike Trail and on my downhill home track from the Lärchfilzkogel in Fieberbrunn were not absorbed smoothly, which made handling a bit too unsteady. But with a bit of fine-tuning, like reducing air pressure in the dampers, I managed to get it under control.

The eBike’s first upgrade from its predecessor is the new matte black 29″ Fox 34 Performance suspension fork with 120 millimeters of suspension travel. An air pressure of 85 psi and 9 clicks in the rebound adjustment was perfect for me with 77 kilograms of body weight. I thus had a very balanced ride and a maximum suspension travel of 98 millimeters. I could adjust the compression stage while riding by using a 3-way lever directly on the fork leg. This adapts the compression to the terrain.

I also reduced the preset air pressure to 130 psi on the Fox Float DPS shock with 50 millimeters of travel. For the rebound damping I set 10 clicks, and always had the 3-way lever for compression damping in the open position. With these settings, I managed a lift of 41 millimeters and thus used the suspension travel almost optimally.

The tire pressure is also key for handling. The eBike Cross is equipped with the 29-inch Continental Cross King SheeldWall tires. The width is 2.3 inches at the front and 2.2 inches at the rear. With 2.0 bar of air pressure, I didn’t feel enough grip in the front, especially on gravel, and overall there was too little damping. With 1.4 bar front and 1.8 bar rear, I quickly found the right setting for me.

UPGRADED WHEELS FOR BETTER OFF-ROAD PERFORMANCE

The previous wheels were definitely a visual statement with their sparse double spokes, which fit well with Porsche Design. However, when it comes to stability and off-road use, the new Crankbrothers Synthesis Alloy wheelset is no doubt the better choice. Different spoke tensions on the front and rear wheels also provide more comfort and control at the front and increased stiffness at the rear. The wider rims also ensure better grip at lower tire pressure.

ANALYZE YOUR RIDE WITH VARIOUS APPS

With the EP8 drive, you can record and retrieve all important ride data and tour progress via the Shimano app “E-Tube Ride” on your phone (see screenshots 1 and 2). The only thing I felt was missing was a way to see altitude covered in metres. I was able to figure that out using Strava and Komoot, two apps that I also use for other sporting activities (see screenshots 3 and 4). By transferring the bike data to the online Shimano Connect Lab, you can see even more facts and figures about your ride on the computer. With the additional Shimano app “E-Tube Project”, you can individually adjust the torque and response for the three drive modes – Eco, Trail and Boost. All great features, though it would be nice if Shimano combined all of them in one app.

RANGE IN PRACTICE

It wouldn’t be a complete EV review without addressing the e-bike’s range. According to the centrally mounted 1.6-inch LCD display, the range hovered between 59 kilometres (37 miles) in Boost mode and 178 kilometres (111 miles) in Eco mode with a full battery. In practice, I noted the following values: For the commute from St. Jakob in Haus to my office in Kitzbühel and back, I chose bike paths and side roads. On the 50-kilometer (31 mile) route, I used 41 percent of the battery capacity according to the Shimano app. The average speed on the outward journey was 24.9 km/h (15.5 mph), and 21.8 km/h (13.5 mph) on the return trip. I rode two-thirds of the way in eco mode. To avoid arriving at the office or getting home covered in sweat, I used the trail mode uphill. With a fully charged battery, you can expect 120 kilometres (75 miles) of range with some elevation gain on the road.

My MTB home route from Fieberbrunn up to the Wildalm pasture and on to the Lärchfilzkogel mountain runs uphill on gravel roads and dirt roads. Downhill, it takes forest roads and the Schweinestberg Trail. I rode most of the route in eco mode (77 percent). Over 29 kilometres (18 miles) and 992 metres (3255 feet) of altitude, I used 43 percent of the battery capacity (see screenshots). I found this value reasonable, as it also allows longer MTB tours with more than 2,000 metres (6562 miles) of altitude change. A completely empty battery will have reached 100 percent SoC again after about five hours plugged in. The battery can be charged either installed or removed.

ARMIN ELECTRIC CONCLUSION

The Porsche eBike Cross isn’t just a designer piece that works well in your living room or in front of a chic café. It’s also a sporty EV that can easily handle moderately difficult terrain or trails. Aside from not being designed for extreme terrain due to its moderate suspension travel and high stance height, it is certainly a well-rounded bike. It proved itself both on the way to my office in Kitzbühel and on the fast descent from the Lärchfilzkogel in Fieberbrunn. In total, I covered just under 200 kilometres (124 miles) with it. The range was always perfectly acceptable with the 625-Wh battery.

Price-wise, the second generation eBike Cross has been raised by just under 1,000 euros and now costs 8,900 euros in Austria and Germany (£9,000 in the UK, $9,500 excluding tax in the US). The increase is understandable considering the upgrade and the state of inflation. The new electric bike can already be ordered from Porsche’s online store and delivered directly to your doorstep. The bike can also be purchased directly from one of the Porsche Centers.

Text and photos: Armin Hoyer – arminelectric.com
Translation from German to English: Ethan Shenhar