2020 Watt Wagons CrossTour Review

Video Review

Written Review

The Watt Wagons CrossTour is an extremely high-end, reliable, do-everything fat tire electric bike that’s built to tear through the back country and mow down everything in it’s path.

Power — 1,000 nominal watts, 1,600 peak watts

The Watt Wagons CrossTour electric bike has a powerful, custom tuned Bafang Ultra mid-drive motor with 1,000 nominal watts of power and approximately 1,600 watts of peak power, with an incredible 160 Newton meters of torque. This is a great hill climber.

Instead of a chain, the CrossTour uses the Gates Carbon Belt Drive system which is quiet and virtually maintenance free.

This setup does not use a throttle because of the possibility of damage from the 160 Newton meters of torque when using the throttle, although you can add one if you wish. The 750 watt version of this bike does have a throttle, however, and there is another version coming out in May that will have an incredible 3,000 watts of power.

Speed  — 28 mph

The Watt Wagons CrossTour electric bike has a top speed of 28 mph, which can be reached using the pedal assist, making this a class 3 electric bike and therefore not legal to ride in some areas. That being said, it’s pretty easy to get this bike up to around 40 mph if you change the max speed.

Battery and Range — 52 volt 17 ah, 45 miles

The Watt Wagons CrossTour electric bike runs on a 52 volt system and has a massive 17 ah battery for an estimated max range of 45 miles with pedal assist at full speed cruising at 28 mph. The battery is located on the downtube to keep a good center of weight. The battery is also locking and removable. You can also add an additional battery for $900 to double the range.

Pedal assist sensor — Torque sensor

The Watt Wagons CrossTour electric bike is equipped with a torque sensor that measures the torque placed on the cranks. There is virtually zero latency with this system and it leaves the rider feeling like a superhuman. 

Display — LCD

The Watt Wagons CrossTour electric bike display is a solid Bafang display with full color and is located on the middle of the handlebars with plenty of electronic feedback including speed, distance, battery level, wattage output and more.

Frame and weight — Titanium, 68 pounds

The Watt Wagons CrossTour electric bike has five frame sizes and one color — silver — with a curb weight of nearly 68 pounds, which is incredibly light considering the massive motor, battery and suspension. The various frames can accommodate rider heights from 5’2” to 6’9”. Frame sizes in include small, medium, large, extra large and a custom size. Custom sizing costs $300.

The CrossTour can also support riders up to 350 pounds.

Suspension —  Air suspension, 150 mm of travel

The Watt Wagons CrossTour electric bike has a superbly capable Maintou Mastodon Pro air suspension with up to 150 mm of travel. These are super cush suspension forks that offer a lot of flexibility on ride style.

Gearing — Rohloff, 14 speed

The Watt Wagons CrossTour electric bike has a Rohloff Speedhub with 14 gears. This internally geared speed hub shifts smoothly and effectively. It’s paired with a Gates Carbon Belt Drive, which makes for seamless shifting and quiet operation that is practically maintenance free.

Brakes — Dominion, hydraulic disc

The Watt Wagons CrossTour electric bike has Dominion A4 hydraulic disc brakes in the front and rear with 203 mm rotors. These brakes are quad piston and offer an abundance of stopping power.

Warranty — 2 year comprehensive

The Watt Wagons CrossTour electric bike has a 2 year warranty.

Price — Starting at $7,299

Starting at $7,299, the Watt Wagons CrossTour electric bike is quite expensive, but is aimed at those who are looking for a longterm investment for an electric bike that can do it all. There is also an additional $300 shipping fee for U.S. deliveries, and prices vary for International deliveries. 

Who’s it for — Touring experts and bike packers with money to spare

This feels like a good choice for those who love touring and/or bike packing and need an electric bike that can go the distance. The fact that this bike won a Guinness Book of World Records certificate for going 400 miles in a 24 hour period is proof in and of itself that this bike is designed with maximum durability in mind. The price tag is hefty, but honestly, like with most things, you get what you pay for; with the CrossTour you’re getting excellence.