Ghost Square Cross 1.8 Overview
Ghost Square Cross 1.8 is by far one of the best money-can-buy hybrids in its price range!
Buying a new bike is a considerable investment both for your budget and your health which requires a fair amount of time to do the research in order to get the best bang for your buck. Usually, when people are thinking of getting a new entry-level bike, they’ve set the bar to $500 or $1000.
The good news is, that the Square Cross 1.8 is indeed the perfect bike in between those popular price categories and luckily it exceeds most recreational cyclists’ expectations.
About the brand. Ghost Bikes specializes in hardtail and full-suspension MTBs, hybrid and full-suspension E-Bikes, whereas all their models are equipped with suspension. Everyone who has seen Ghost bikes before has guessed right, behind that solid frame is actually decent craftsmanship and proper set-up.
The Square Cross 1.8
The Square Cross 1.8 Is Available As Step-Through For Women As Well!
MSRP: $699
- Best Use: Recreational commuting – 50% gravel / 50% road
- Bike Type: Fitness/MTB-focused hybrid
- Best Features: 700c wheels, Aluminum frame, 50mm fork travel, 27 gears, Hydraulic disc brakes, Alex TD19 Rims
Overview
After all, the Square Cross 1.8 with its set-up is designated for recreational use, while having enough capacity to use it as a fitness/light trail bike too. It’s truly hard to find such a versatile bike as the Square Cross is in its stock set-up! Both the men’s and women’s step-through models look equally nice, which obviously plays a big role too.
- GHOST 3050 DRN saddle – Easily adjustable seat post. The saddle can be adjusted forward and backward for the perfect fit with an Allen-key (Included in the box)
- Flat bar handlebar for a comfortable upright riding position. Shimano Altus offers smooth and precise shifting.
- Tektro ACC 003 hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors offer a precise and smooth bite.
- Forks by SR Suntour SF 16-NEX-DS 700c with 50mm travel – the ideal range for city and gravel roads!
- TIRES: Kenda Flintridge Sport K1152 – 35mm wide gravel crushing tires that are preferred by their durability and versatility! It’s a perfect choice for a hybrid as there’s a flatter section in the middle and light knobs on the sides!
- DRIVETRAIN: 3×9 Shimano Altus offers as many gears you normally see on mountain bikes. The Altus series is well known for its smooth-shifting qualities, and experienced riders can tell that they are also lighter and create fewer problems in the long run. The Altus is Shimanos’ top entry-level component series.
FULL SPECS
| Bike Frame Material | Aluminum | Brake Type | Hydraulic Disc Brake |
| Fork | SR Suntour SF 16-NEX-DS 700c 50mm travel | Brakes | Tektro ACC 003 hydraulic disc 160mm rotors |
| Fork Travel | 50 millimeters | Rims | Alex TD19 |
| Crankset | Shimano FC-M371 48/36/26 | Front Hub | GHOST hub QR |
| Shifters | Shimano Altus SL | Rear Hub | GHOST hub QR |
| Front Derailleur | Shimano Altus | Wheel Size | 700c |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Altus 9-speed | Tires | Kenda Flintridge Sport K1152 42-622 |
| Rear Cogs | Shimano CS-HG200-9, 11-34 | Tire Width | 35 millimeters |
| Gears | 27 gear(s) | Handlebar | Flatbar – GHOST Low Rizer light 680mm 31.8mm |
| Stem | GHOST AS-GH2 31.8mm | Saddle | GHOST 3050 DRN |
| Seat Post | GHOST Light SP DC 1 31.6mm | Pedals | Sold separately (Most reviewers received the pedals with the bike though) |
| Chain | Shimano CN-HG53 | Weight | Approx 30 lbs. 3.3 oz. |
SIZE Recommendations
XS – 4’9″ – 5’3″ / 145-160cm
S – 5’1″ – 5’7″ / 155-170cm
M – 5’5″ – 5’11” / 165-180cm
L – 5’9″ – 6’3″ / 175-190cm
Square Cross 1.8 Pros Over Any Other Hybrid
People buy hybrid bikes due to their versatility – which means that the bike has to perform well on different elements; from paved to cobblestoned streets, gravel roads, and why not a single-trail which runs through the forest.
Square Cross 1.8 is a mountain bike-focused hybrid, which means it is very well suited to take a light beating on uneven roads. I’d even go as far and say this is where it’s designated field of use really is!
The tough build includes Alex TD19 Rims, 160mm rotor hydraulic disc brakes, and an upright riding position that not only make the Square Cross a perfect all-rounder, but also a great choice for serious fitness rides! There’s a bit forward-leaning sitting angle on the bike which also enables you to get more torque than you’d get from a regular hybrid.
Conclusions:
Ghost Square Cross 1.8 outperforms most hybrid bikes due to its mountain bike focused build which makes it a great companion both on- and off the road. It’s a tough build inside out with plenty of gears for long-distance and trail riding.
What do the 2021 Square Cross 1.8 owners think of the bike?
Square Cross 1.8 Cons
Considering the value and versatility, it’s really hard to come up with something I personally don’t like about this bike. It’s really one of the best hybrids you could get for that kind of money, hands down.
What might push some potential buyers off could be the fact that it’s quite heavy, and no option to lock the front suspension which is useful when riding on paved roads only. You might also want to zip-tie the cables together in the front to get a more aesthetic look.
Why Should You Buy The Square Cross 1.8?
What was the first thought that came to your mind when you first looked at the bike? I’m sure the tough-looking design and the dark matte finish might have given you an idea that it’s some sort of a high-end bike that might fall out of your list. If you thought so, you were right about everything but the actual price! It sure is a quality build by a known brand whose bikes cost about $2500+ on average.
The bottom line. Deciding which bike to buy comes down to the price tag, and to ease off your doubts – we really had a hard time figuring out which could be as good as this hybrid for $700! It’s a superb bike equipped with 50mm fork travel that’s ideal for light trails/city riding, modern hydraulic disc brakes, and Alex Rims. The whole combination of the Square Cross proves that there are still “too good to be true” bargains on the market.
I recommend reading through the bike reviews from REI, as there’s no better feedback than from the actual owners!
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