Maxon e-bike motor with 90 Newton metres: Bikedrive Air S - power package with only 2 kilos

With the new Bikedrive Air S, Maxon is not aiming for maximum power or minimum weight, but rather the ideal mediocrity. If the key data is correct, the Swiss would have the lightest power motor ever at the start. Bikes from smaller brands such as Thömus, Transalpes and Instinctiv were on the Maxon stand at Eurobike.

Maxon, the Swiss specialist for drive technology, is exhibiting at the Eurobike 2025 presents the second generation of its compact e-bike mid-motor. The Bikedrive Air S is said to score points with a high torque of 90 Newton metres and a motor weight of just two kilograms. According to the manufacturer, the system has been developed for the most natural riding experience possible, with the frame and drive unit forming a visual and functional unit. One thing is clear: Power e-MTBs have never been so slim.

Precise support and versatile use

The Bikedrive Air S is designed to support the rider precisely and evenly, even at a high pedalling frequency, without resonance or delay. The design is extremely compact and is similar to its predecessor, the Bikedrive Air (reviewed here)as well as the Fazua Ride 60. Special feature: Part of the elongated motor disappears out of sight in the down tube of the bike.

Thanks to its ability to be fully integrated into the frame, the system is suitable for use in various bike categories - from mountain bikes to gravel and urban platforms. The peak output of the motor is said to be 620 watts. That would be a little more than the classic motors from Bosch and Shimano have produced in recent years. However, Bosch has significantly increased the power with its power update, which means that the Performance CX is now considerably more powerful.

Minimalism also applies to the battery and interface

The system is currently available with a 400 watt-hour battery. However, a larger option with 600 watt hours is close to being finalised and, according to the manufacturer, should be available this year. The batteries are permanently installed in the bikes currently on display. Batteries with around 800 watt hours are currently common in other power drives. Here too, Maxon seems to be focussing on a compact and minimalist system rather than maximum performance.

The system can also be supplemented with an optional 250 Wh range extender. As with its predecessor, the bike is controlled via a minimalist interface on the handlebars and in the top tube. The Maxon app is available for fine adjustment and visualisation of the riding data.

The facts about the Maxon Bikedrive Air S

• Torque: 90 Newton metres
• Peak power: 620 watts
• Motor weight: 2 kilogrammes
• Battery options: 400 and 600 Wh
• Optional range extender: 250 Wh
• Minimalist controls on the handlebars and in the top tube
• Maxon app for fine adjustment and data visualisation

Experience from high-tech sectors

When communicating about the new engine, the Swiss company is naturally self-confident. During development, the company not only focussed on internal coordination, but also used methods from areas with the highest reliability requirements - such as aerospace, robotics and medical technology. Dominik Stockmann, Head of R&D at Maxon, explains: "Our aim was to combine maximum power density with efficient, precise control and a compact design. This is precisely where our strength lies - whether in satellites, aeroplanes, Formula 1 racing cars or now in e-bikes."

The bikes with Maxon Bikedrive Air S

Various bikes with the new drive were already on display at Eurobike. But you won't find any big brands among them at the moment. As with the predecessor motor, the Swiss companies Thömus and Transalpes rely on the system. There are also smaller brands such as Instinctiv, Spherik, Bikelab, Goobz and CDuro. Here's a detailed test of the Transalpes E1 with the predecessor motor from Maxon.