DJI Avinox e-bike motor: Try it out! The new motor from Chinese tech giant DJI

Update: This article was first published on 3 July 24. In the meantime, we have been able to get a more detailed impression of the new DJI Avinox and have already completed our first test round. The new info is here!

When companies from outside the industry try their hand at a drive system for e-bikes, bikers are initially critical. Often rightly so. But when the company is called DJI, you should listen up. After all, the Chinese company is the global market leader for drones and one of the largest suppliers of action cameras. That shows: They know what they are doing and are familiar with electronics, batteries and motors.

With the new DJI Avinox e-drive, the company now wants to shake up the bike industry. The motor is said to deliver a powerful 105 Newton metres of maximum torque and a whopping 850 watts of peak power. That is significantly more than the classics such as the Bosch Performance CX and Shimano EP801which each have 85 Newton metres and 600 watts on the data sheet.

Surprisingly, the DJI Avinox still looks more compact than the renowned competition and is integrated quite slimly into the chassis. At 2.52 kilograms (manufacturer's specification!), it is also said to be significantly lighter. That would be amazing, and of course we want to test it as soon as possible. We have already gained a first riding impression of the brand new DJI Avinox e-bike motor, see below.

For comparison: Here are eight current E-MTB motors in laboratory and practical tests!

But that's not all. In the press release, the manufacturer writes about a boost mode that is activated for 30 seconds at the touch of a button and is said to release 120 Newton metres and 1000 watts of power. This means that the DJI would deliver power like a real power motor à la TQ HPR 120 - with significantly lower weight and more compact installation space.

Speaking of modes. In addition to the three support levels Eco, Trail and Turbo, there will also be a smart Auto mode. Here, the assistance is automatically and continuously adapted to the riding resistance. In addition, the levels can be customised to individual wishes and needs via a smartphone app.

The batteries for the DJI motor

DJI offers two different batteries for its e-bike drive. The batteries have either 600 or 800 watt hours. The smaller 600 watt-hour version is said to weigh a slim 2.87 kilos - that would be a very heavy weight and a better capacity yield per kilo compared to the usual Bosch or Shimano batteries. With 625 or 630 watt hours, these weigh closer to 3.5 kilograms.

Display and controls of the DJI Avinox

DJI is also focussing on integration and intuitive operation with the Avinox. This can be seen, for example, in the touch display in the top tube. The relevant information about the system is displayed on a two-inch screen. There is also a wireless remote control that allows the system to be operated conveniently from the handlebars. Communication takes place via Bluetooth. This is still very rare on the market; most shifters are currently connected to the drive unit by cable.

Also special: DJI wants to offer an optional fast charger with a whopping 12 amps. This should fully charge the small battery in just one coffee break. Will this be at the expense of the service life? Not necessarily, say battery experts and have been predicting e-bike chargers with around 10 amps for some time. DJI is now the first manufacturer to put this into practice.

The facts about the DJI Avinox e-bike motor

• Maximum torque of 105 Newton metres (manufacturer's specification)
• Up to 850 watts peak power (manufacturer's specification)
• Motor weight: 2.52 kg (manufacturer's specification)
• Two battery options with 600 or 800 watt hours
• Touch display
• Wireless remote
• Fast Charger with 12 ampere charging current

Look and feel: First impression of the DJI Avinox

Whether drone, gimbal or action cam: DJI products are known for their intuitive operation and high-quality look. This also applies to the DJI Avinox. Display, motor, remote, app - nothing here looks unfinished or crude, but rather absolutely well thought-out and mature. Intuitively swiping across the display or changing the support level with a tap on the mode - no other display on the market works like this. Even if this is not hugely relevant on an e-mountainbike, it leaves a high-quality, well thought-out and innovative impression.

Very important on the trail: the crisp and easy-to-read display on the Avinox screen. It continues with the remote levers, which are slim and wireless on the handlebars. The pressure is defined and crisp, the ergonomics are very good. If you turn the cranks backwards, you'll notice that the Avinox doesn't make a classic freewheel noise. When you pedal forwards, the freewheel engages immediately and the power transmission starts without any idle travel. Unfortunately, this does not mean that the motor is rattle-free when travelling downhill. If you drop the rear wheel to the ground when stationary, you will hear a clacking noise from the motor. A little more discreet, but very similar in character to the Shimano EP801 and the Bosch Performance CX.

The 1st riding impression: This is how the DJI Avinox e-bike motor rides

At the Eurobike in Frankfurt, we were able to take a first spin on the DJI Avinox e-bike motor. Not a serious off-road test - but a meaningful first impression. And it follows on seamlessly from the successful first contact. The tuning of the drive seems mature, the ride feel is smooth and the power delivery is well controlled. No rough engagement, choppy coasting or impetuous acceleration. The Avinox is not lacking in power - but our initial impression is that it is not in a completely different league to Bosch and Shimano. However, it certainly doesn't need to hide when it comes to performance. Also top: At high cadence, the DJI Avinox accelerates very well and only loses power late on.

The boost function is intuitive to use and delivers a noticeable increase in performance. In terms of noise, the new power unit is no slouch either. We were unable to detect an above-average noise level, and the Avinox even tended to be slightly quieter than the competition from Bosch and Shimano. However, it is audible at every support level. In addition, during our first dry test, we could already guess that the Avinox might make a slight rattling noise when rolling over obstacles.

Amflow: The new E-MTB brand relies on DJI Avinox

DJI has also founded the new e-mountainbike brand Amflow. The first complete bikes with Avinox drive are being launched under this label. The brand is backed by a product team made up of former DJI engineers and experts from the e-bike industry.

The first bike with the DJI Avinox is the Amflow PL. With a slim carbon frame, 160/150 millimetres of travel and 29er wheels, it should inspire on the trails of this world. The weight specification of 19.2 kilos with a 600 battery sounds almost too good to be true, given the powerful motor. But we have already been able to put the newcomer on the scales!

Here you can find all the information about the Amflow PL Carbon in a detailed article!

CONCLUSION on the DJI Avinox motor

DJI's entry into the e-bike market can safely be described as awesome. And the Chinese tech giant is not stingy with superlatives. The performance values in combination with the low weight initially make us sceptical about the new Avinox motor, as the power-to-weight ratio is so far above the market standard that it hardly seems realistic at first. But we are happy to be proved wrong and say: Let's have a test bike! The sleek appearance and stylish system integration definitely whet the appetite for more.

Update: After the first contact at the Eurobike in Frankfurt, we can say: Rarely has the first appearance of a new e-bike player been as promising as the one from DJI. Haptics, operation, riding experience - in addition to the impressive data, the Avinox system also scores highly in terms of soft skills. Next step: A detailed EMTB test! - Florentin Vesenbeckh, Head of Test and Technology at EMTB Magazine

The BIKE live blog from Eurobike 2024

As in the previous year the BIKE team, together with our sister magazine TOUR, presented the latest Eurobike products, the events at the show and everything that happened around it. Read everything from the first three days, which were reserved for trade visitors, in our live blog. Have fun reading!