Origine Crossline M2 Review

The Crossline M2 is, above all, an excellent frame. This all-road hybrid keeps a conventional derailleur transmission, which is more versatile and straightforward to maintain than a belt-driven alternative. The result is an electric bike that feels lightning-quick around town and responds the instant it is asked to. That lightness comes with clear trade-offs.

Origine does not do things by halves when it comes to paint. The brand's frames and forks are painted by hand in its own workshops in northern France, using water-soluble paints of automotive quality. That choice pays off: on the machine covered here the finish was very well executed, both on the welds of the 6061-T6 aluminium frame and on the paint itself. The latter proved particularly resistant, as a few unfortunate knocks from a lock failed to chip it.

The configuration covered here used the Yeye Green shade with a satin varnish and a Crossline Medium White decal set, but Origine runs an in-house configurator that allows almost everything to be personalised: frame colour from around twenty shades, varnish type in satin or gloss, decor, and also the saddle, the pedals and the accessories.

The true signature of the Crossline M2 remains its weight: 14.71 kg for the tested configuration in size M, a figure that comes close to a high-end non-assisted bike. It is no exaggeration to say the bike is handled with disconcerting ease, whether carrying it up a staircase or slipping it between two parked cars.

On braking, Origine does not economise: the Crossline M2 carries large 180 mm Shimano hydraulic discs front and rear, mounted on flat-mount calipers, for bite and efficiency that leave little room for doubt. The transmission uses an 11-speed Shimano Cues derailleur, paired on the tested model with a 40-tooth chainring and an 11-50 cassette, and it responds precisely to every input. There is nothing to criticise in that choice of proven, reliable components.

The equipment also includes two bottle-cage mounts and eyelets on each side of the carbon fork, useful for attaching bags or extra bottles. A front light completes the picture, with an output of 50 lux and a 35-metre reach that suits riding at night in peri-urban surroundings that are sometimes poorly lit.

Carrying luggage, on the other hand, means reaching for the wallet: the Crossline M2 has no rack as standard and one is charged as an option. The build covered here used a Selle Italia X3 Flow Boost saddle, a sporty fitting that is demanding over long distances; the Royal Essenza Plus saddle fitted by default should be considerably more comfortable day to day. Non-slip Wellgo Urban C293 pedals complete a build that stays consistent with the urban character of the bike.

An excellent mobile application from Mahle, the motor supplier, accompanies the Crossline M2, with integrated navigation, electronic locking of the motor and fine configuration of how the assistance behaves. The package is unfortunately let down by the LCD control screen, which is not backlit and is therefore hard to read at night. It is removable, which means taking it off at every stop to limit the risk of theft, and it also has to be switched on and off independently of the bike's main power, which quickly becomes tedious in daily use.

This is where the Crossline M2 distinguishes itself: its frame. Excellent, very stiff and impressively efficient, it turns every pedal stroke into immediate acceleration. In the size M tested here the bike feels lively and agile in urban traffic. It answers instantly when asked, a genuine pleasure to ride that demonstrates once again Origine's expertise in frame building.

The Mahle X30 motor installed in the rear hub develops 45 Nm of torque alongside a small 250 Wh battery. Its position in the hub brings one substantial advantage: there is no drivetrain friction, which considerably reduces consumption and makes the pedalling feel, once assistance is switched off, almost identical to that of a conventional bike. No more power is needed to cover distances similar to those of bikes twice as heavy, which require far beefier motors. The system also benefits from ANT+ connectivity, able to link directly to a GPS unit or a heart-rate strap through a dedicated application so that assistance adapts to the terrain and the effort being made.

That motor does, however, feel rather soft despite its quoted 45 Nm. The assistance is very natural on the flat and on gentle gradients, but it shows its limits clearly as soon as climbs become harsher. Even with the generous gearing to help, it does not take much elevation before the rider is working hard. That behaviour is a world away from a powerful mid-drive unit, but it remains consistent with the light, sporty philosophy of the Crossline M2, and a compact hub motor being less muscular than a crank-mounted version is entirely reasonable.

The other side of that excellent efficiency is comfort, or rather the lack of it. This is a very stiff electric bike, particularly in the size M tested here, and nobody should expect a magic carpet. That is the flip side of such an effective frame, further accentuated by the sporty saddle fitted to that configuration.

Despite its very small 250 Wh internal battery, which is not removable, the range of the Crossline M2 proves entirely acceptable in testing: 40 km was covered with assistance at maximum. That is a good performance, explained above all by the bike's light weight and excellent efficiency, since the rider very often exceeds 25 km/h, the speed beyond which the electrical assistance cuts out automatically.

That range nevertheless remains a little tight for long routes, or for anyone who would rather not charge the bike every day. Origine does offer a solution in the shape of an optional additional 185 Wh battery in bottle form, but it remains optional. There is a further constraint to bear in mind: because the main battery is not removable, the bike itself has to be carried indoors to charge it for anyone living in a flat without a garage or a bike store. The Crossline M2 is therefore aimed first and foremost at riders who have suitable storage space at home.