At 122 years of age Husqvarna is the oldest bicycle-brand in Sweden and yet it is best known for its chainsaws, lawnmowers and motocross bikes. Pulling the strings of Husqvarna’s bicycle department is a team lead by Susanne Puello who – as the director of the Winora Group – was responsible for Haibike’s huge success. Is the Puello-family writing a new success-story?
Husqvarna will launch three full-suspension eMTBs in the first model year. We took a closer look at the high-end version of the Mountain-Cross series which features a reliable Shimano STEPS E8000-Motor. Shimano’s own battery is replaced with a 500 Wh SIMPLO linkage-battery which consists of six small blocks connected by flexible joints. This solution allowed engineers to build a stiffer downtube from which the battery can be removed through a small opening. All Husqvarna bikes feature an easily-accessible on/off switch on the top tube and an ergonomic Shimano gear shifter to control the support levels on the handlebar.
Husqvarna MC7 in detail
The spec of the Husqvarna MC7 leaves very little room for criticism. The RockShox PIKE RC fork and a Deluxe RT rear shock are easy to adjust and perform smoothly. The Shimano Deore brakes might not be the most powerful option but deliver enough braking power with the 200 mm rear- and the 180 mm front-rotor. The Shimano XT Di2 drivetrain is a welcome addition and feeds directly off the main battery in the downtube. What really left us scratching our heads is the fork lockout-remote; it’s totally pointless in an eMTB context and the cockpit is simply too crammed to accommodate the remote in the intended mounting position. Another drawback is the Husqvarna branded dropper seatpost which only features 100 mm of travel.
Fork RockShox PIKE RC 140 mm
Rear shock RockShox Deluxe RT
Motor Shimano STEPS E8000
Battery SIMPLO Linkage 500 Wh
Brakes Shimano Deore BR-M6000
Drivetrain Shimano XT Di2
Seat post Husqvarna
Stem Husqvarna 40 mm
Handlebar Husqvarna 780 mm
Tires Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2,8”
Wheels Husqvarna/Alexrims MD40
Price € 4,999
The spec of the Husqvarna MC7 leaves very little room for criticism.
Husqvarna MC7 on the trail
The riding position on the Husqvarna MC7 is very comfortable and perfectly suited for long tours. The cockpit consists of a 780 mm wide handlebar combined with a 40 mm stem and offers superb control. On steep climbs, the front-end lifts a little too eagerly, which means you have to lean forward and put your weight over the front wheel to keep it on the ground. The centred riding position inspires lots of confidence on downhills and offers good freedom of movement in combination with the low standover. However, the short travel of the dropper-seat spoils this noticeably. The Husqvarna feels nimble and agile on narrow trails, the short stem lends the bike a comfortable descending-position and allows for a good weight distribution.
The Husqvarna feels nimble and agile on narrow trails!
On more demanding terrain and at higher speeds the Husqvarna MC7 reaches its limitations. The suspension runs through its travel quickly which makes the bike feel plush and comfortable and make it a great option for all touring-riders who spend lots of time on gravel paths. With a more proactive riding style however, the plushness results in a lack of feedback – the Husqvarna is clearly not the right choice for experienced mountain bikers who are after a bike for the rough stuff.
Conclusion
The Husqvarna Mountain Cross is the optimal choice for those tourers who want a comfortable full-susser with a good spec. With its comfortable and agile handling the Husqvarna likes smooth trails but shies away from rough terrain and high speeds.
Fun factor | Safety | Comfort | Quality | Value for money
Strenghts
+ great comfort
+ agile handling
Weaknesses
– crammed cockpit
– dropper-post is too short
For more information head to husqvarna-bicycles.de
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Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl
