Which is the very best ebike motors? Our consultants give their verdict

Brose, Bosch, Shimano, Fazua, Panasonic, Big e-bike methods… which has extra energy, which has extra battery punch, which is extra dependable? Our information to e-bike motors has the solutions. Whereas the motor isn’t the be all and finish all in relation to the very greatest electrical mountain bikes, the very best motors are sometimes discovered on the very best general bike fashions.

E-Bike motor torque and max energy at a look

• Brose Drive S-Magazine: 90Nm/565w
• Panasonic GXO: 90Nm
• Bosch Efficiency Line CX: 85Nm/600w
• Shimano EP8: 85Nm
• Shimano EP801: 85Nm/600w
• Big SyncDrive
• Yamaha PW-X2: 80Nm
• Shimano E8000: 70Nm
• Shimano E7000: 60Nm
• Fazua Evation 1.0: 55Nm
• Specialised SL 1.1: 35Nm/240w
• Specialised SL 1.2: 50Nm/320W
• TQ HPR50 (Trek Gas EXe): 50Nm/300w
• Forestal/Bafang Eondrive: 60Nm/400w
• Fazua Evation Trip 60: 60Nm/450w

Rule #1: Don’t purchase an e-bike primarily based solely on its motor

Sure, it’s straightforward to get caught up within the stats and fear about getting left behind in a drag race to the trailhead, however by no means lose sight of the truth that a motor is just one facet of what makes an excellent e-bike. The body, suspension, geometry, sizing, and parts all play an enormous half in creating the general trip high quality and dealing with efficiency of an e-mtb. So whereas the motor is vital, an amazing motor received’t make up for poor suspension or geometry.

Which Motor?

All of the essential tech specs, together with our tackle the relative efficiency deserves of the preferred drive methods in the marketplace. 

Bosch Efficiency Line CX

• Motor weight: 2.9kg (2.75kg for the Race model)
• Modes: Eco, Tour, eMTB, Turbo
• Energy: 600W 
• Torque: 85Nm
• Battery: 500Wh, 625Wh, or 750Wh
• Charging: 5.4 hours for 625Wh battery, with normal charger

Bosch’s appreciable expertise in client electronics and motors is apparent within the extremely polished Efficiency Line CX motor. There’s loads of energy, but it surely’s straightforward to manage and extremely responsive. The modes are nicely judged, with eMTB providing you with copious grunt while you want it, then dialling again the facility to maximise vary. In Turbo there’s loads of overrun, which helps you to increase over uphill obstacles. Bosch management models have been all the time its weak level, being huge and hulking, however the newest built-in high tube System Controller and wi-fi, Bluetooth Mini Distant are discreet and a pleasure to make use of. For much less weight, a hair set off response, and prolonged two metre overrun, the restricted version Race motor is one thing particular. 

Learn our full overview of the Trek Rail 9 with Bosch Efficiency Line CX motor

Brose S Magazine

• Motor Weight: 2.9kg
• Modes: Eco, Path, Turbo
• Energy: 565W
• Torque: 90Nm
• Battery: 500Wh or 700Wh
• Charging: 6 hours for 700Wh battery

That is the motor discovered on Specialised’s Turbo Levo, and whereas it has suffered from a excessive failure charge up to now, updates to the newest model appear to have cured the reliability points. Comparatively quiet because of its belt drive, there’s loads of energy and a properly calibrated response that feels utterly pure. Specialised’s Mission Management app enables you to customise the efficiency, and the brand new built-in high tube Mastermind TCU provides you entry to extra information then you definitely’ll know what to do with.  

Learn our full overview of the Specialised Turbo Levo Comp

Shimano EP801

• Motor weight: 2.7kg
• Modes: Eco, Path, Enhance
• Energy: 600W
• Torque: 85Nm
• Battery: 504Wh or 630Wh (third occasion choices differ, as much as 900Wh)
• Charging: 6 hours for 630Wh battery, with normal charger

Shimano has simply up to date its flagship EP8 motor, however you’d by no means know from taking a look at it. Energy and torque are unchanged, and the rattle when coasting additionally stays, however there’s higher sealing and a few new accent connections. EP801 can be appropriate with Shimano’s Auto Shift drivetrain if you wish to let an algorithm select your gears. The management unit and show are neat and unobtrusive, however there’s no % show for battery life, so it’s not apparent how a lot juice you’ve received left. Equally, the vary appears to be significantly better with third occasion battery choices than Shimano’s personal BT-8036 unit. 

Learn our first trip overview of the Shimano EP801 motor

Shimano EP6

• Motor weight: 3kg
• Modes: Eco, Path, Enhance
• Energy: NA
• Torque: 85Nm
• Battery: 504Wh or 630Wh
• Charging: 5 hours for 500Wh battery, with quick charger

A less expensive choice to the EP801, the EP6 will get the identical energy and torque however packaged inside a heavier casing. It’s nonetheless appropriate with Auto Shift. 

Yamaha PW-X3

• Motor weight: 2.75kg
• Modes: Eco, Fundamental, Energetic, Sport, Energy
• Energy: N/A
• Torque: 85Nm
• Battery: 625Wh, or 750Wh
• Charging: N/A

Yamaha’s newest motor is discovered on numerous Haibike fashions in addition to Big’s vary of e-bikes, badged because the Syncdrive Professional. We’ve had long run check bikes from each Big and Haibike fitted with this motor, and in each cases it has confirmed trouble-free. 

Learn our overview of the Big Trance X Superior E+1 with Yamaha/Big Syncdrive motor

Rocky Mountain Dyname 4.0

• Motor weight: 3kg
• Modes: Eco, Path, Turbo
• Energy: 700W
• Torque: 108Nm
• Battery: 720Wh 
• Charging: 3hrs 55mins for 750Wh battery, with quick charger

Rocky Mountain was making mincemeat of its rivals method again in 2017 with its revolutionary Dyname motor. Driving the chain off an loafer pulley, the motor packs a hefty 108Nm of torque and 700w of peak energy. And you’ll instantly really feel these numbers while you trip it – it’s a beast. One other advantage of the design is that it makes use of a typical BB and crank, so it’s serviceable and replaceable. It additionally permits Rocky Mountain’s designers freedom to place suspension pivots precisely the place they need, and preserve the geometry equivalent to their non-assisted counterparts. The most recent model has a lighter motor, higher sealing, improved calibration, a bigger capability battery and a neat show built-in into the highest tube.  

Bosch Efficiency Line SX

• Motor weight: 2kg
• Modes: Eco, Tour, eMTB, Turbo
• Energy: 600W 
• Torque: 55Nm
• Battery: 400Wh with elective 250Wh vary extender
• Charging: TBC

Bosch has lastly entered the ‘light-weight’ sector with the brand new Efficiency Line SX system. The brand new motor appears like a shrunken Efficiency CX unit with a magnesium casing and two-bolt mount. Weight is an affordable 2kg – which isn’t the lightest in the marketplace, however nonetheless aggressive with the 1.95kg Fazua and Specialised SL 1.2.. It pumps out a powerful 600w peak energy, making it on par with most full fats choices and method forward of its light-weight rivals. At 55Nm, peak torque is extra consistent with expectations, which means it received’t be capable to crawl up close to vertical pitches like a full fats. 

Offering energy is a brand new 400Wh inner battery backed up by an elective 250Wh vary extender. This offers it the largest potential capability of all of the light-weight models. With a battery weight of 2kg, you’re taking a look at a 4kg system – 3kg lighter than Efficiency CX – and full bike weights within the sub-20kg vary. 

Working the acquainted modes – Eco, Tour+, eMTB, and Turbo – is the present wi-fi mini-remote and high tube mounted System Controller. The latter makes use of a sequence of colored LEDs displaying the present energy mode and remaining battery cost. 

Friction throughout the motor has been lowered by a claimed 50% over the Efficiency CX, and the Q-factor is 15mm narrower to advertise extra environment friendly pedalling. An vital level as a result of the Efficiency SX provides essentially the most assist at excessive cadences. 

Being appropriate with the Bosch Good System means that you can tune motor traits within the Bosch Circulate app, in addition to giving detailed info on battery standing, security measures and in-ride navigation.  

A short trip revealed a motor that’s highly effective sufficient to maintain up with full fats e-bikes and a technical climbing prowess that mirrors Bosch’s Efficiency CX, even right down to the prolonged overrun that allows you to ratchet up rocky pitches with out clipping pedals. The largest query mark remaining is vary – we’ll let you already know as soon as we’ve had extra time on the system. 

Learn our first trip overview of the Bosch Efficiency SX motor

Fazua Trip 60

• Motor weight: 1.96kg
• Modes: Breeze, River, Rocket
• Energy: 450W
• Torque: 60Nm
• Battery: 430Wh (2.3kg)
• Charging: 3.5 hours for 430Wh battery, with normal charger

Fazua’s evolution of the unique Evation system ups the facility, torque and vary whereas remaining impressively gentle and low friction. Now you possibly can faucet into 450W of energy for as much as 30 seconds at a time, whereas the 60Nm torque is sufficient to wrangle up steep, technical pitches. The 430Wh battery will do 1,000m of climbing in essentially the most highly effective Rocket mode, which is spectacular, however the Ring Management distant feels worryingly fragile. 

Learn our overview of the Pivot Shuttle SL with Fazua Trip 60 motor

Specialised SL 1.2

• Motor weight: 1.95kg
• Modes: Eco, Path, Turbo
• Energy: 320W
• Torque: 50Nm
• Battery: 320Wh (160Wh vary extender out there)
• Charging: N/A

Specialised’s light-weight motor possibility has simply been upgraded and is now known as the SL 1.2. Headline updates are that max energy has risen from 240w to 320w and torque has elevated from 35Nm to 50Nm. Specialised additionally claims a discount in noise because of totally different inner gearing. The battery stays 320Wh, boosted by a 160Wh exterior vary extender, so don’t count on to go as far on a single cost with the up to date motor. 

Learn our first trip overview of the Specialised S-Works Turbo Levo SL with SL 1.2 motor

TQ HPR50

• Motor weight: 1.85kg
• Modes: Eco, Mid, Excessive
• Energy: 300W
• Torque: 50Nm
• Battery: 360Wh
• Charging: 3hrs for 360Wh battery

TQ’s HPR50 is essentially the most compact motor in the marketplace because of its harmonic design, the place the motor runs concentric to the underside bracket axle. Not solely is it exhausting to see, it’s nearly silent in operation, making it completely stealthy in use. The management unit can be compact and the highest tube mounted show provides simply sufficient information in an easy-to-read package deal. We received 800m of climbing out of the 360Wh battery in Excessive energy mode, so it’s fairly environment friendly too. The one draw back of the small footprint is that it may possibly get extremely popular. 

Learn our full overview of the Trek Gas EXe with TQ HPR50 motor

Forestal/Bafang EonDrive 

• Motor weight: 1.95kg
• Modes: Eco, Sport, Race, Nitro
• Energy: 400W
• Torque: 60Nm
• Battery: 360Wh
• Charging: 1hr 24mins to 80% for 360Wh battery

This petite Bafang unit has been tuned by Forestal and located on the model’s vary of light-weight e-bikes. In Nitro mode there’s stacks of energy and torque, so regardless of the load saving package deal, you possibly can conquer some spectacular climbs. There’s additionally a complicated color touch-screen show embedded within the high tube, and a compact distant on the handlebar. With the inventory 360Wh battery and no vary extender, we solely managed slightly below 700m of climbing in Nitro mode, so it’s not essentially the most environment friendly possibility in the marketplace. 

Learn our overview of the Forestal Cyon with Forestal/Bafang Eondrive motor