Yamaha CrossCore RC Review, 2024

We teased the bike’s great Range Test performance in the introduction to this Yamaha CrossCore RC review, but now we can share the full picture. To evaluate the bike’s range potential, we rode it on our network of local bike paths until its battery expired when using the maximum and minimum level of pedal assistance.

Without further ado, our results suggest that riders can expect to cover between 35.2 and 111.7 miles on a single charge of the 36V, 500 Wh battery! It’s worth noting that we started our low-PAS Range Test in Eco+, but we increased this to the standard Eco setting after 20 miles. This was done for two reasons: first, the motor’s output was minimal and we think most riders will want more power; second, with such a slight drain on the battery, our test would have taken an unreasonable amount of time.

Regardless, the CrossCore RC’s Eco mode distance was one of the longest results we’ve ever measured! Our data evolves constantly as we test more e-bikes, but at the time of writing, the CrossCore RC is only beaten out by a single e-bike and only by a handful of miles. During our test, we measured over 2,000 feet in elevation change, which undoubtedly reduced our potential range; riders who live in flatter areas may achieve even better results. Those choosing Eco+ mode will undoubtedly get even more out of the battery!

Compared to similar e-bikes we’ve tested, the CrossCore RC’s max-PAS results in High were firmly in our expected range of results. Based on the bike’s battery and motor specs, we estimated that the duration of this test would be roughly 2 hours with a result of roughly 40 miles. In terms of both time and distance, our real world test differed by only 3 minutes and 5 miles, showing that the bike was roughly as efficient as expected. To learn more about our methodology, read our guide to calculating the range of e-bikes.

Our contact at Yamaha shared some details about the bike’s “quad sensor system” that dictates and informs motor output. The CrossCore RC uses a speed sensor, a cadence sensor, a torque sensor and a slope sensor that allows the bike to detect if it is riding uphill, downhill, or on a flat surface. This combination allowed them to program the PAS to be 30% more efficient, thereby extending the bike’s range to reach the impressive distances we recorded.

The results of our Range Test suggest that, when using a low-PAS setting, riders with shorter commutes might be able to go all week before needing to recharge! Those using the maximum amount of assistance should still be able to cover a single extended commute and possibly multiple shorter rides.

With no throttle, we performed a single Hill Test with the CrossCore RC in its High PAS setting as explained in the graphic above. Justin, who performed the test, reached the top with a moderate level of effort in 1 minute and 35 seconds with an average speed of 11.4 miles per hour.

Comparatively speaking, this result is firmly in the middle when compared to other e-bikes we’ve tested with relatively low-powered, 36V, 250W or 350W mid-drive motors. Many factors impact an e-bike’s hill-climbing ability, including its weight, peak motor wattage and torque, riding position, gearing, tire pressure, and tire size/tread. Many of these elements are also middle-of-the-road with the CrossCore RC, but I’ll compare its results directly with those of the Yamaha Wabash RT (our full review of this bike is coming soon), which is the brand’s latest road/gravel e-bike.

The two bikes are prime for comparison; their frame designs are similar and both use the same 36V, 250W Yamaha PW Series ST motor with 500W of peak output and 70 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. With the CrossCore RC running 7 seconds and 0.9 mph slower than the Wabash, its weight (5 lbs heavier) and riding position (significantly more upright) made a noticeable difference in its performance.

Despite running slower than its cousin, the CrossCore RC’s “average” performance felt very solid. A 36V electrical system with a 250W motor will never feel as powerful as a 48V, 500W motor, but the PW Series ST made pedaling uphill feel smooth and easy. The CrossCore RC – and any e-bike with a mid-drive – will certainly require some degree of effort to conquer steep roads or paths, but by amplifying the rider’s effort, the job can be enjoyable and invigorating.

After gathering three sets of data using the process described above, the CrossCore RC’s Brake Test results were 22’-9”. This result is slightly beyond our current average for all commuter and city e-bikes we have tested previously (22’-1” at time of writing), but well within our expected range of results.

According to the bike’s webpage, the CrossCore RC should be equipped with Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes with a 160 mm rear rotor and a 180 mm front rotor. Our test bike used the stated Shimano rotors but the brake levers and calipers were the HD-M275 or “Draco” model from Tektro. Both systems use 2-piston calipers and are rated for use on mountain bikes, so we would expect their results to be similar.

In practice, the Tektro M275 brakes felt fantastic, providing rapid and responsive stopping power. We noticed some fishtailing when braking hard, though the bike still felt firmly under control. This brake system felt appropriate for the bike, and our test results suggest it is quite safe and effective.

In terms of comfort, the bike strikes a good balance between a city bike and a commuter, though it takes a larger influence from the former. It has a forward-leaning riding position that places some of the rider’s weight on the handlebars; we found that the large ergonomic grips enhanced the ride by spreading out that weight.

The saddle, while on the slim and performance-oriented side, was more plush and accommodating than expected! I spent roughly seven hours on the bike over two consecutive days when performing our range test, and was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable it remained even after such a duration.

In terms of fit, Yamaha offers three sizes of frame to accommodate riders from 5’-1” to 6’-7”. Our test bike was a medium frame quoted to fit those from 5’-5” to 6’-0”, though as a 5’-11” rider it felt somewhat on the smaller side in terms of reach and top tube length.

The sizing helped to give the bike a nimble and responsive – even playful – feel that I thoroughly enjoyed. With 640-mm handlebars, steering felt quick, and with 27.5”x2” CST street tires, the bike was highly maneuverable on paved surfaces. Wider tires added stability and additional shock absorption to what was already granted by the SR Suntour NEX suspension fork with 63 mm of travel.

In the spirit of a minimalistic city bike, the CrossCore RC is relatively light on included accessories; the integrated headlight is all that the bike is equipped with aside from reflectors and a bell. Buyers can choose to add simple fenders (front and rear sold separately) or equip the rear wheel with a fender/rack combination that includes an integrated taillight. With or without this optional accessory, the bike does not include brake lights, which we consider to be essential on an e-bike sharing the roads with automobile traffic and other cyclists. We appreciate the ability to further outfit the CrossCore RC with accessories, but we challenge Yamaha to add brake light functionality to its taillights.

We liked the bike’s cockpit layout, with a rapidfire Shimano Altus shifter on the right bar and the display/control panel on the left. Considering the CrossCore RC’s price of around $3,000, we would have preferred a color display with a more accurate battery percentage readout and range estimate, but we liked the equipped display’s ease of use.

One of the most unique and appealing features is the Auto-assist mode. By holding the up arrow button, this “set it and forget it” system can be activated, which allows the rider to pedal naturally while getting a varying amount of power as needed. This system amplifies the feedback from the torque sensor – when pedaling harder, the PAS moves to High and when soft-pedaling, it reduces output to Eco. Due to the bike’s quad sensor system, this mode felt smooth and intuitive, ultimately making the bike easier and more fun to ride.

The overall feel of the motor and the bike’s pedaling experience were other highlights; even with full power, the CrossCore RC never lost the feel of an analog bike. The motor output felt dialed-in, responsive, and completely natural!

We give the CrossCore RC extremely high marks in terms of its overall ride quality.

Our favorite aspects of the bike were its spirited handling, its natural-feeling pedal assistance, and its impressive range. We found a few minor areas that could be improved, but these paled in comparison to the overall enjoyment we experienced during our testing. It’s clear that Yamaha knows what they are doing when it comes to e-bikes, and we would have expected nothing less from a brand that has been making them for over 20 years.

In our standardized tests, the CrossCore RC proved highly capable. It has a generally-intuitive pedal assist system, great brakes with serious stopping ability, a motor with plenty of uphill power – but not a tendency to overwhelm the ride, and an efficient motor/battery pairing that resulted in one of the longest range tests we’ve experienced.

We highly recommend the CrossCore RC for those with long and short commutes alike, as well as for riders who prefer an e-bike that feels like a “regular” bike.

Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions down in our comments section or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Yamaha CrossCore RC.