E-Bike review of 2021 Carrera Crossfire E 2.0
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
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This review omitted some useful inserts: removing and replacing the battery and a very short ride to demo display with electrics on. 21/7 video has all original plus these extras.
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Useful info, just bought one this morning and it will be my first one, so very helpful.
Found this review to be very helpful thanks!
I’ve had this bike for a month now and can’t recommend it highly enough.
I’m not your typical cyclist as I never really enjoyed it.
However this E bike assist has made cycling so much more enjoyable.
I’m out most days for an hour or so, which I never thought I’d ever do.
Fantastic bike and it’s a big thumbs up from me.
Brilliant!! Completely agree with you. So empowering, and health for so many reasons. Thanks for taking the time to comment!! Summer’s coming :)
Pls How tall are you and what size do you have?
As with other comments thanks for this very comprehensive review, I am picking mine up this Sunday, looking forward to it very much and have therefore found this to be very helpful. I have read reviews on Halfords advert for this bike, one of which mentions the battery shutting down and the reviewer giving a low rating because of this, I now suspect it’s been no fault of the bike but as you point out it’s a function of the battery. One thing I would have liked you to have covered is removing the rear wheel, but I’ll find this out on Sunday. Interesting to know it has a ‘walk’ feature, I wonder if Halfords know about this, I’ll ask on Sunday. I’ve been riding an electric bike for a few years now, one I converted myself. It has a 1000w motor and 46A/h battery. There is nothing wrong with it, other than it’s so heavy and it’s illegal to ride on the road and it does have a twist grip. I have always ridden it sensibly I.e. not going fast and peddling all the time giving the impression it’s using PAS, I have always used the throttle because I prefer just a gentle assistance when needed. I’m always concerned about it being ‘illegal’, although I never do more than the legal 15 mph, we’ll maybe when I do when I go off road, but do worry if anything happens and I am in an accident it can always be shown it’s legality to be on the road. Hence, investing in this bike as recommended by a very helpful man in Halfords. I’ll be 80 this year and don’t want any problems from riding my bike, which is another reason for buying this bike.
WOW! 80 this year and still riding. Very impressive! I’ll be 68 in April.
Yes, this bike certainly does have a walk feature. I use it to help ‘walk’ my bike up the 4 steps in front of my house. On the little handlebar control, simply press and hold the rocker switch down. The bottom of the switch. After 2 seconds, the motor comes to life. Once you let go, assistance ends.
Can’t remember if I explained it very well about the battery shutting down. I’m both cases, my bike and my girlfriend bike… same models but M/F frames, they both failed using the same method. We stopped at a pub and instead of completely powering the bikes down (press and hold the battery on/off switch until the screen goes blank, we both used the orange button on the handlebar control. Pressing it again to switch on, all looked normal, screen back on, indicator showing level 1 as selected but… no assistance! I eventually removed & replaced the batteries and both worked ok. Since then, I always switch the battery off directly and back on after a break. No problems. The battery will go into standby - similar to the orange switch - after 10 mins without being used and that can equally lead to loss of assistance. It’s a nuisance but no more. Removing & replacing the battery resolves it. Just on that, turning the key against its spring, and trying the push the unit up/forward to disengage the pins into its housing is not easy. It’s a good fit. You have to practice. I’m right handed so turn the key and hold with my left, then wedge my hand against the water bottle while using my fingers to move it. A strong sharp push is more effective than a gradual push.
I’m sure you’ll love it!! Thank you so much for your message and comments. I hear it will warm up a little from Monday :)
Happy riding!!
PS. Had the rear wheel off once. Straight forward, bike upside down. Spanner’s/sockets to undo the axle, manoeuvre around the chain. Not too bad.
Thanks for the overview. Just waiting on mine arrive this week. Hoping its not too complicated to build once delivered.
Should be fine. Enjoy your summer!!
Great review, Im looking at getting one of these and hopefully after viewing one in real life i will purchase, Seems that this bike is quite reasonable. Cheers
I just want to add, if anyone around 5"10 is looking at this bike, the recommended frame size is 21inch. 19 is for those up to 5ft8
Yes, I’d agree!! Made that mistake with my previous bike. Well said.
Thanks for saying this. About to buy one on eBay. Been worried about the sizing as I’m 5:10 and thinking of getting something smaller to size 21.
Hi Peter. Hoping to purchase one of these in the next few weeks. Been reviewing/researching e-bikes for a while now and i must admit i do like the look of the crossfire. Enjoyed your review and the tips, all very useful. I'm guessing as I'm 5' 11" i should be looking at the 21" frame, what do you think? Thanks for the review, spot on my friend 👍
Hi mate. Thanks for you lovely comments!!
Yes it’s a great bike and a good compromise between cheaper makes, and ridiculously expensive makes.
21” is probably ideal, you’re an inch taller than me. I’d look into Halfords, if you’re not buying from them, just say you’re thinking about a bike for spring but don’t know what size frame. They’ll have something for you to test out, usually in their car park. Great service. I’ve had 3 bikes from them plus 2 more for a close friend.
Thanks again!
@@peter-e2q yeah it'll definitely be my local Halfords. I was in there just before Xmas and the guy i was chatting to seemed very knowledgeable and very helpful. I even got a bit cheeky with him (that's my style) and said what about OAP rates like? Bless him, young lad didn't really get i was having a giggle with him. 😁
@@angusmecoatup9849 ha ha. Always worth asking!
At my local Halfords, I’d bought his & her Crossfires for me & my gf. Went back a week later for different pedals, panniers and all kinds. The lady who served us was chatty, my gf of the time, was also very chatty & funny. The lady used her own staff discount for us!
I took out the £25 (??) anywhere service insurance too. Used it after hitting a hole, tearing the tyre & inner tube. Walked a mile with it to a nearby halfords and they sorted it within 20mins. I paid for parts, but labour is free.
Have a good day!!
Are you from the Wirral or nearby? Just watched this video now coz I’m getting this bike tomorrow so just getting a few reviews on this and found yours the best one
Aww. Thanks Darren! Very nice of you to say that. Actually no, born and bred in Liverpool. Have walked and cycled all around Wirral coastline though, and inland paths including along the Dee to the blue bridge. Some great rides.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy this bike!! Mine is now 2 yrs old and the battery is around 90% of what it was new so doing really well. It only ever shows 52 on a full charge but keeps a bit in reserve just in case.
Another great ride is Rhos-on-Sea to Llandudno along the coast. And back.
Hope you have as much fun as I do!!
Excellent Video on the bike, can you provide the link to the mirror please?
I have one of these bikes I found when going up hill in high power even tho I can pedle it the power seems to cut out I have taken it back and they recommend to change down a few gears so your peadle spread is always quicker the problem is everything is built into the rear hub so there is no way to change the sensitivity of the peadle assist or anything else, I did fint that if you turn the bike on by the handle bar button then this problem prists so turn it on by the battery button witch resets the system and all is good, also I have found that the paint chips off very easily and the primer underneath is shiny as if it's not been prepared properly. But overall its not to bad a bike.
I wrote this whilst watching the video so I'm glad it's not just my bike that has the same qerks.great video 👍
Yes, that happens to me. I believe it's to do with torque. I went up a 1 in 10 and even in 1st gear, had to peddle a bit. 400w is the motor limit which is great for everything less than 1 in 10. Also, even on slight incline, too higher torque will cause motor to cut out, it's to reserve power by using it sensibly.
I find these reviews very interesting, but I can't understand why nobody has done a review of the Carerra e-road bike which came out about a year ago - I think it is called the crossroads. This would be of great interest to those who prefer the traditional road bike.
Was helpful thank you Sir .
Good Vid man, looking to test drive one this weekend, but i am looking to 100 miles... so am looking forward to testing this. anyways to get an improved battery do you know ?
Hey, good for you!! Absolutely! If you stay on low power (1 of 4) you should get around 50 miles unless hilly. It pleasantly helps you along. If you go to power zero, all via thumb switch, when going down an incline or just on the flat, that power stays in reserve. If you use higher settings going up incline, you’ll use more reserve. It’s exactly like your car. A gallon of petrol may do 35 miles at 56mph on the flat, or less with harsh driving or driving around hills etc. Good luck with your test!
Peter how many miles have you done I've had mine 13 months and have done 2250 miles already.
A lot fewer this year, tbh. 2 reasons. Split with gf a year ago, we used to got regularly with a group. And this year, I’ve been doing handyman work for people and been really busy so, less than 500 miles so far this year.
Great review About to purchase one, and this is the model im looking at.
Aww thank you! I really appreciate your comment! Just been out on mine. 2yrs old now and still perfect. Have a lovely summer :)
Actually a lot of those 3 grand bikes are up to 60 mile range some are even less.
Agreed. I did look at others when I bought this last year. One or two were greater… up to 100 but not nice looking bikes. Price, comfort, reliability, and looks, the Carrera does it for me, every time I go out on it.
Peter have you or anyone here had there battery right down to zero mines goes to 4 percent and that is it
Hi Thomas. Yes, I have. Riding home one day, I used max setting to deliberately see what happened. Rather than explain here, go to 7:37 minutes into this video where I describe what happened. Cheers
Hi. I have riden 2 Crossfires. First one a friend. Second a test drive at Halfords. Both responsive assist. I then went to buy a Second hand one. 6 months old. Very disappointed with the assist. He said the assist doesn't work on 8th and 9th gear's. Can that be right. What can you tell me please. Thanks Regards Dave
Hi Dave. If the assist isn’t working in some gears, it’s the built in intelligence and not usually a fault.
To get optimum battery life on a charge, it won’t waste energy. If you cycle up an incline without assist, you’ll gradually reduce the gear until it feels comfortable for you and you’re not using too much energy. The bike is exactly the same. It won’t try to push that mass up a hill if the gear is too high. Change down gears until you feel it kick back in, get more speed up before changing up.
Remember too, assist cuts off just under 16mph (by law) so you’re on your own above that.
Hope that helps.
In 8th and 9th your very likely to be doing over 15.5 mph hece why there is no assist
Does your front wheel get loose very fast? I have to tighten mine up everyday, is this normal? I read bikes with disk breaks shouldn’t really have quick release as it makes them lose quick and if the rider isn’t tightening it up they will crash.
That’s very odd. Never heard it before. Mine has never come loose. Perhaps next time you’re passing Halfords, nip in and ask how tight it should be or if something is missing… a washer maybe. As for disc brakes, makes no difference whether it’s disc or other. They all just convert kinetic energy to heat via friction. Finally, even if the locking mechanism comes loose, while the bike is being ridden, the axle can’t come out of the forks… unless you go over a big bump maybe. As they get looser, the wheel would begin to wobble noticeably so unlikely to cause you to crash. Interesting question.
@@peter-e2q I will go back. Do you ever turn your bike on and the assist doesn’t work at all? I turn it up to full and still nothing. I have to power the bike down wait 15 seconds then restart. Only had the bike a week and it’s just problems
@@kevl1747 yes. It’s a pain. But rare. My normal action is to simply power down the battery by holding the button for a few seconds until the display goes off. Leave it about 5 seconds then a 2 second press to switch it back on. Then it works. Very rarely, I have to switch off, remove the battery, put it back on again, and switch on. It works. I don’t have to do this regularly at all just occasionally. Switching off via the small hand control doesn’t usually work properly, I don’t use that on/off switch. Other switch functions work normally, including walk assist… hold rocker switch down for a few seconds and the bike will walk with you.
@@peter-e2q mine happens every few rides I’ve not had the bike long like 2 weeks. It’s happened more times than I’d like. I’m thinking of taking it back and getting a voodoo or something. I shouldn’t be having these issues already what’s it going to be like in a years time I can only imagine
@@kevl1747 yes I agree. Sadly. You shouldn’t be having those issues
anyone looking for the settings menu, hold the mode button as soon as the display is shown otherwise it will only show clear data page.
Good tip, cheers!!
Hi there I’ve recently got one of these as a replacement from Halfords but mine doesn’t switch on as easy as that I have to press and hold the button in a few times to try and wake it and eventually it kicks in and the orange button just turns mine off , any ideas? before I have to take it back and get on their nerves again.
I know exactly what you mean. It’s a bloody pain!
Me and a friend had the same bike, hers female version with lower cross bar. Everything else same. We stopped for an hour, got back on the bikes NEITHER would work on electric!
The secret is this… forget the on/off switch on the handlebar. Use the main switch on the battery. You can use the handlebar until as normal to select assist 1-4 or even 0 but use the battery switch to switch on/off. We took our batteries off and swapped them… bikes worked. Swapped back, still worked. Over following weeks, figured out how to get around it. Same with 10 min time out if assist not used. Can sometimes not come back on. Again, switch off battery then back on. Extreme cases, remove the battery and put it back on.
It’s probably a software issue so going back to Halfords would be pointless. This is the only issue I’ve had with this bike. Everything else is perfect and I love the bike. Hope that was useful.
I was wondering about the cadence sensor of these bikes? If I apply no pressure to the pedals but just enough to rotate the pedals. Does the bike give no assistance. I have only ever been on 1 ebike which had a speed sensor and it basically done all the work for me, I’d only need to rotate the pedals very slowly and soft and the bike would be flying down the road. Is it the same with this bike? I need to take one for a test ride I think
I’ll have to check. Not noticed.
Just tried that today. It seems to match my torque. Almost imperceptibly when very light. But just seems to keep it going. Interesting question!
@@peter-e2q I have ordered one today, how is it on the top assist level is like not even peddling and the bike just does all the work ? My only concern is the motor sensor type it’s a cadence which isn’t supposed to be very good, I’ll just have to wait and find out and I’ll just return it and get one with a torque sensor instead.
@@kevl1747 I must admit I don’t understand what you’re saying. However, I’ve had my bike for more than a year so understand it. I often just use level 1 which gives me ‘52’ miles. Going up an incline, I can increase to 3, 3, or 4 depending on the incline. As I peddle, effort required reduces with each level but… so does the projected range. Switching back to level 1 sees the range again increase.
I love the bike and how it works. It helped me around Llandudno on Tuesday, some inclined there!
Please what size is this bike and how tall are you ?
Hi. I’m 5’ 10” - 178cm. Frame is 19”. My last crossfire was 21” but this fits me better.
Just collected my Carrera Crossfire from Halfords, fitted mudguards, lights and better bell. The front reflector was removed and the threaded hole was used to secure the top of the front mudguard, I realise the front forks are telescopic but for my type of riding on roads they won’t travel very far so the stays have been tie wrapped on.
The rear mudguard was secured conventionally.
The problem I have now is changing the time. I opted for a grade A second hand bike, I hope I haven’t inherited someone else’s problem, but because it’s not the first time the screen has been turned on it doesn’t show the one with the time etc. have you any idea how to do it now please?
Hi. Yes. Try this like to the user manual on Suntour site. You can download it. Essentially, press and hold the ‘M’ button above the rocker for 3 seconds and you can set the time and other parameters. And reset previous ride data. Here’s the link:
www.srsuntour.com/service/download-area/consumer-downloads/e-bike-system-hesc/e-bike-system-hesc-manual/2022/
Would it be a 21 inch frame for a 6 foot 1 inch rider? Would you recommend?
I’d check with halfords or online. What I can say is my previous bike, Crossfire 2, was a 21” frame and was a bit high. I’m 5’10”. When I bought this bike, halfords told me I should buy the 19” for my height and inside leg. Only after buying it and riding it for a few miles did I realise the 19” was perfect for me. On that basis, yes I’d suggest 21” would be good for you. Halfords let you test ride before you buy.
@@peter-e2q Thanks, I will speak to them. I very recently bought a relatively cheap (£700) Hyper E bike for my wife from Amazon and it is quite phenomenal. I’ve just returned from a 12 mile cycle, with some big hills, and there is no breathlessness, sweating etc. It’s a bit small for me but it’s so easy to ride. I think I’m going to have to buy the one you have!
@@michaelinkster4977 beauty of the ebike is the ride home is as enjoyable as the ride out :)
I'm 6 foot 5 & ride the 21" model, It feel fine to me.
Hi did you get the rear rack from Halfords too?
Actually, I did. I bought it for my older Crossfire 2 which I bought in Feb 2019 so simply transferred it to my new ebike. Caution needed, some panniers have fixed mounting lugs and won’t fit where you need them too. The ones I finally bought (Halfords) have adjustable lugs to and bottom and are brilliant.
@@peter-e2q that’s great thank you, waiting for mine to be delivered to store and built, can’t wait to go and pick it up 👌🏻
@@stephenrutter5250 fabulous… you’ll love it!!
Great video👍👍 im trying to set my clock on mine,any help thanks
I think you turn it on by the battery then push the menu button it will take you into a separate menu which you will find the clock setting also there is a pin coad setting witch effectively locks the bike electrics if it was stolen so you put a pin coad of your choice in when you start the bike.
@@I2383R thanks for that yeah it sorted it for me👍👍
@@I2383R Spot on!
I have just watched this video, and i am sorry but you are just excusing them for badly thought out changes to how the bike is set up, i have had a Vulcan Pre Canbus version and it just worked, i now have a Vengeance, a Subway and a Crossfire and none of them work correctly
Sorry to hear that. I have no experience of other bikes, only 3 Carreras. Two normal and my ebike. However it operates, it works for me. I adapt to any idiosyncrasies unless obviously faults, in which case I got back to suppliers.
Hi how you finding the torque and power some people saying downgrade on previous versions thinking of purchasing
Sorry for the delay in responding, please see answer to your next question below.
Hi, is there any chance you could fit acceleration to the right of the handle bars? Thinking of getting one 👍
Hi. Interesting question. There’s space on the bar on the right but this unit doesn’t have an accelerator and I have no idea if it could be modified. Sorry.
This bike doesn’t have throttle it is pedal assist only
@@kevl1747 yh I didn't realise. I thought it was throttle, the more I did some research I found out hahaha 😅 was tempted take one out for a test drive at halfords but it's £100 deposit I think....
@@stokelegend414 yes it’s £101 deposit but you get it back when you return the bike after 6 hours. I’m either getting this exact bike or the voodoo one for £2300 think I’m going with the voodoo as it has a speed sensor motor which I prefer
@@kevl1747 I think the voodoo looks better but this bike is cheaper and does more miles in battery life. Id personally get the crossfire over the voodoo but just personal preference. Seems by the reviews they both have the pros and cons
You may feel safer cycling on the pavement but it's illegal.
You say that but police won't pull you up for it & it's far more than "Feeling" safer it is actually being safer, I think rider that aren't comfortable on the roads should ride on the pavements until proper bike infrastructure is in place around England.
Who cares