Competition for Bosch and Co.: Motor offensive with DJI and ZF
DJI Avinox - 850 watts, 2.52 kilograms
It's the drumbeat of this trade fair: The Chinese drone and entertainment giant DJI is entering the market with its own motor and also its own bike brand. Just looking at the facts, it is clear that DJI not only wants a slice of the market, but also to outstrip the competition. The Avinox motor, which weighs just 2.5 kilograms, is said to deliver a whopping 120 Newton metres and 1000 watts at its peak. This would not only make it lighter, but also significantly more powerful than the most important competitor on the market - Bosch's Performance CX. Admittedly: We were a little sceptical as to whether a newcomer with no bike experience could really score points straight away. However, during an initial check, the DJI system made a remarkably mature and smooth impression.
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
ZF Zentrix - 90 Newton metres in a compact package
With ZF, a real global player is also entering the e-bike market. The Friedrichshafen-based company has almost 170,000 employees worldwide and is showcasing one of the most exciting new drives at Eurobike. On paper, the Centrix impresses with promising values: the circular drive is said to deliver 90 Newton metres and weigh just 2.5 kilos. That would be a really strong weight/torque ratio. The round unit is also really small with a diameter of 88 millimetres. "Barely bigger than a 0.33 litre drinks can", the manufacturer advertises. Exciting: The Raymon Tarok. is also the first bike to be launched with the new ZF drive.
The facts about the ZF Centrix
- Mid-motor with max. 90 Newton metres and 600 watts peak power
- Weight: 2.5 kilos according to the manufacturer
- Installation dimensions: 88 mm diameter, 118 mm width
- 48 Volt technology
- Two battery options from ZF: 504 or 756 watt hours
- Open for third-party batteries and controllers
Prototype spotted: Is this the new Bosch Performance Line CX?
Another amazing thing at Eurobike: a masked, presumably new Bosch motor appeared at the trade fair without any announcement! There are no details or information yet, but it seems to be smaller than the current Performance CX, but wider than the SX. The mounting points are probably identical to those of the SX. Will this be the CX successor? At least the old logo is emblazoned on the masking tape. If you took a closer look, you could discover bikes with the new motor from a whole range of brands. For example at BullsSuperior and M1 Sporttechnik. It is not yet clear exactly when the motor will be officially unveiled. However, the new bikes at Eurobike 2024 suggest that the new motor will be part of the 2025 model year.
In addition to the prototype itself, Bosch did not miss the opportunity to officially present a few other innovations at the trade fair. The most important one: The new automatic gearshift system developed by Bosch in collaboration with TRP. Bosch also brings a comprehensive firmware update for CX and SX, which includes the Range Control feature and the new Eco+ support mode.
Pinion MGU: Now also with automatic gearshift
The Swabians presented the highlight of Eurobike 2023 with their motor-gear unit, MGU for short. For 2024, Pinion is improving the software in particular, and there was also a new bike from Moustache with Pinion to marvel at at the trade fair this year. The most important new feature is the automatic shifting system, which is simply installed on existing bikes with MGU via a firmware update at the dealer. In contrast to other automatic systems, Pinion's automatic shifting system is said to be capable of learning in the so-called Auto-Shift-Pro mode and adapts independently to the rider's shifting preferences. How well does this work? We are looking forward to the first tests.
BHZ by SEG - Same housing, more power
The Spaniards from Beistegui Hermanos - BH Bikes for short - are put their Light-Motor 2EXMag new. The housing remains the same as its predecessor, but the entire inner workings are said to be new. The motor now goes by the name BHZ by SEG and is also manufactured by the aforementioned automotive supplier in Europe. The most important key data: 65 Newton metres and 500 watts at peak power, with a weight of 2.1 kilograms. The BHZ would therefore be just above the performance level of a Fazua Ride 60 and would be correspondingly competitive in the light class. Initially, the motor will be available with familiar bikes such as those from the iLynx platform. This will allow BH to launch the new drive directly onto the market.
Fazua and TQ Systems: Battery updates from the Bavarian light motor experts
Already Fazua took the test victory in the last test of lightweight motors, After Eurobike, the Ottobrunner could extend its lead in terms of range even further. Thanks to new cells, the Upper Bavarians are packing 475 Wh into a new battery - with identical dimensions and weight as the previous 430. There is also a new remote and the long-awaited range extender will be on show for the first time at Eurobike. 215 Wh, 1.1 kilos, available from spring/mid-2025. All products can also be retrofitted to the Ride60, but the battery is only available in the permanently installed version for the time being. In line with this, TQ is also adding a larger battery (already tested here). The new one has a whopping 580 watt hours and therefore significantly more capacity than the familiar 360, weighs just under 2.7 kilos and is five centimetres longer and slightly thicker. Compatibility with existing bikes therefore hardly seems possible.
Acer, Delta, Preeto, MGM: More tech giants show off new e-bike motors
The most exciting motor news certainly comes from DJI and ZF. But apart from that, some manufacturers are also showing exciting e-bike motors at Eurobike, some of which are still in prototype status. It is striking that quite a few newcomers are already familiar from other sectors. Acer, for example, is establishing its own sub-brand for e-bike motors with Acer MPS (Mobile Power Systems). E-giant Delta, which is responsible for the motors in Volvo's e-cars, is also presenting its own motor with an exciting form factor. There will also be news in the lightweight motor segment from Preeto and Oli to the technically exciting newcomer without any gears from MGM. And Yamaha will also be making itself heard. The PW-Link as the successor to the PW-X3 still has concept status, but it is expected to be launched in 2025 with more power and new controls.
Raymon, Moustache and Bulls: these are the new E-MTBs from Eurobike
Amflow PL Carbon: Powerful motor and under 20 kilograms
Just presenting an exciting motor that you can't then buy was probably not very effective for entertainment giant DJI. Matching the supposed new Avinox super drive (up to 120 Nm, 1000 watts at 2.5 kg!) the Chinese company has therefore also founded its own bike brand. The Amflow PL Carbon is intended to be a really exciting bike in its own right, not least to demonstrate the potential of the new drive.
And indeed: the trail bike with 29-inch wheels and 160/150 millimetres of suspension travel makes an extremely promising impression. The geometry and details look well thought out, and the super-low weight of 19.7 kilograms in size M (EMTB measurement) with 600 watt hours in the battery, pedals and tubes is impressive. A price for the bike has not yet been set, but you can read all the details about the Amflow PL Carbon here.
Bulls Sonic EN-R and Sonic AM: New fleet with new Bosch motor?
Bulls is reorganising its entire E-MTB fleet for 2025. Only the more affordable aluminium E-Stream model remains untouched, while the sporty bikes from the affordable Copperhead to the new performance enduro Sonic EN-R with a full carbon frame are all equipped with the new Bosch drive. There is still little to say about the motor and battery capacities, but all the more about the bikes. The Sonic EN-R with 170 / 160 millimetres of suspension travel and short chainstays should appeal to a particularly trail-oriented clientele. Sonic AM and the new Copperhead-Fully now come almost entirely with a carbon frame and a new cornering light integrated into the head tube, as well as partly with Magura's new Gustav Pro brake, optionally also with ABS.
Raymon Tarok and Kyrok: A new start with a lightweight Bosch bike and ZF motor
R Raymon will simply be called Raymon in future and is repositioning itself for 2025. To this end, almost the entire product portfolio of the Schweinfurt-based brand has been revised. The brand's two new top models, in particular, clearly show the breath of fresh air. The Tarok, a 160-millimetre enduro bike with a mullet wheel mix, is the first production bike in the world to come with the new Zentrix drive from ZF. The Kyrok, on the other hand, relies on 150 millimetres and the familiar Bosch SX motor, but is said to weigh just 17.7 kilograms despite its removable battery. However, Raymon intends to maintain its strong price-performance ratio.
Moustache Project 46 - Enduro with Pinion MGU
Oh là là, the French are going off the beaten track! Until now, e-bikes from the Alsatian forge Moustache were exclusively equipped with Bosch motors. Now the team at the e-MTB specialist has a new project up its sleeve. On the Eurobike 2024 in Frankfurt Moustache presents the prototype of a downhill-orientated E-Enduro with the Pinion drive MGU.
And it's not just because of the new drive that Moustache is set to usher in a new era. While the French company's previous e-MTBs tended to roll over the trails in a comfortable and emphatically uncomplicated manner (The Moustache Samedi 29 Trail in the EMTB test), the new and as yet nameless E-Enduro is designed to rocket agilely and radically through the terrain. Downhill, fun, playful and action-packed: this is how Moustache envisions its new speedster. The bike is currently still a study, but the Moustache is set to go into series production in spring 2025.
Steppenwolf - Light and Full Power Tundras now in carbon for the first time
For the first time, the brand is showing e-mountainbikes with carbon frames. Steppenwolf is launching two platforms at the same time. The Tundra 10 relies on the Swiss Light drive from Maxon and should weigh less than 18 kilograms. The frame offers 150 millimetres of suspension travel and the equipment is geared towards trail riding. The Tundra 9, on the other hand, comes with a classic Shimano EP801 drive and 85 Newton metres as well as a full 800 watt hours in the battery. 170 millimetres of suspension travel should equip the Steppenwolf Enduro for rough terrain.
BH-Bikes ILynx: Fully focussed on lightweight construction
Hardly anyone is currently focussing on lightweight e-MTBs as consistently as the Spanish brand BH. At Eurobike, in addition to the super-light iLynx+ full-power bike with Shimano EP801 motor and allegedly well under 20 kilograms, they also presented the latest expansion stage of the iLynx Trail with the new BHZ by SEG drive.
Rotwild R.EX - Lightweight all-mountain bike with riding fun potential
Rotwild already caused a stir with the Enduro R.EXC, and now the Dieburg-based company is following up with the all-mountain version, the R.EX: 160/150 millimetres of travel, a mullet wheel mix and a large 820 watt-hour battery as well as Shimano's EP801 motor are on the plus side. Thanks to the super-short chainstays (436 mm), the bike should be really easy to handle and also extremely light. We were able to see the latter for ourselves at the trade fair: the bike weighs 22.2 kilograms including pedals, while the 820 battery also weighs in at an impressive 3.6 kilos. The biggest catch: the price. It only starts with the Pro version for almost 10,000 euros.
Orbea Urrun - More power for the light hardtail
As with the new Orbea Rise, the Basque company has also redesigned the Urrun light hardtail. It retains a high-quality aluminium frame with polished weld seams. However, the Urrun gets the same EP801RS drive from the Rise with a full 85 Newton metres and a choice of up to 630 watt hours in the battery. Prices start at 3899.
EMTB summary of the Eurobike 2024
Even though the price point for e-mountain bikes seems to have passed its lowest point, stocks are still well stocked and dealers are still offering substantial discounts on new bikes. It is therefore surprising to see the vehemence with which the industry is pushing the new technology at Eurobike. However, so many new players are presenting exciting products that many traditional manufacturers are also coming under pressure. ZF and DJI in particular are bringing a breath of fresh air to the market. In the end, this can only be good for bikers. More competition, better prices and more drive for innovation are almost inevitable in the future. - Adrian Kaether, Test & Technology Editor for BIKE and EMTB
Adrian Kaether
Editor
