The new DJI Avinox M1 motor is a big deal. And rightly so. With a peak output of 1000 watts and powerful torque, it puts the established competition in the shade. And these are not fabulous figures. In the big BIKE test, the motor also delivered a new level of e-bike thrust on the test bench and in the practical test.
But that alone would not be a huge issue. What makes the Avinox motor so exciting is that despite its extreme power, it is both lighter and smaller than the competition from Bosch and Shimano. Ever since the Amflow PL underwent its first tests, one opinion has persisted in forums and conversations among e-bikers: light e-MTBs have had their day, because the new DJI bikes are just as light - but without any loss of power. However, a closer look shows that this theory is not entirely correct.
The discussion was triggered by the Amflow PL Carbon. The promise made by the Chinese at the presentation at Eurobike 2024: 19.2 kilos with a 600 battery and a powerful 1000 watts of peak power. And all this in a genuine trail to all-mountain package and with solid equipment.
This is a value that is rightly causing a stir. Because average light e-MTBs are hardly any lighter - with a smaller battery and significantly less motor power. On the scales in the BIKE test lab, the Amflow PL Carbon Pro in size L weighs in at 19.75 kilos. That's still really strong.
The "problem" here is that Amflow has so far been an isolated case. And that is not so much a surprise as it is logical. The DJI system is indeed light - but not so light that such drastic weight savings compared to Bosch or Shimano bikes are realistic.
The hard facts - weights in comparison
If you add up the weights of the motor and battery, the Avinox system comes in at 5.5 (600 Wh) and 6.35 kilos respectively. Bosch's CX weighs 5.9 and 6.8 kilos respectively. In terms of the motor system alone, the difference of a good 400 grams is absolutely relevant and a big plus point for DJI. In terms of the total weight of a bike, however, it doesn't make as much of a difference as the bold weight specification of the Amflow PL Carbon would suggest.
By comparison, a TQ HPR60 Light drive unit with a 580 battery weighs in at 4.6 kg, just under a kilo less than the DJI Avinox. The Shimano drive unit in the Rotwild R.EX is even lighter than the DJI system with an 800 battery at 820 Wh and a total of 6.25 kg.
DJI Avinox M1 - 6.35 kg
- Motor: 2.57 kg
- 600 Wh battery: 2.89 kg
- 800 Wh battery: 3.78 kg
Bosch Performance CX - 6.78 kg
- Motor: 2.83 kg (2.73 kg CX-R)
- 600 Wh battery: 3.08 kg
- 800 Wh battery: 3.95 kg
Shimano EP801 - 6.25 kg
- Motor: 2.65 kg
- 600 Wh battery: variable depending on manufacturer
- Battery 820 Wh: 3.6 kg (red deer)
Specialized Turbo - 7.56 kg
- Motor: 3.18 kg
- Battery 840 Wh: 4.38 kg
TQ HPR 60 - 4.65 kg
- Motor: 1.95 kg
- Battery 580 Wh: 2.69 kg
This is how light DJI bikes really are
In the meantime, we have been able to E-MTBs with DJI Avinox on the scales in the BIKE test lab. And the values support the calculation example from the paragraph above.
- Megamo Reason CRB 01: 21.4 kilos
- Crussis e-Full 12.11 Pro: 21.9 kilos
- Rotwild R.EX Ultra: 22.2 kilos
These are all very good weights for power e-bikes with 800 watt hours. However, all of the candidates mentioned also tend to opt for lightweight parts and come with expensive carbon wheels. You will look in vain for thick downhill tyres or 38 mm forks.
Nevertheless, all bikes would remain well over 20 kilos even with the lighter 600 battery. Avinox bikes with less than 20 kilos? That remains the absolute exception in practice. And unrealistic with a solid design.
Also noticeable: almost all DJI bikes come with the 800 battery. This makes sense, because using the high power of the Avinox motor drains the battery quickly.
Conclusion
The DJI Avinox has not only revealed a new dimension in performance, but has also prompted manufacturers to pay more attention to the weight of their E-MTBs. And that's a good thing! A lot of e-power at a low weight is the successful motto in most development departments. However, even the current DJI drive cannot perform miracles in terms of weight. The very optimistic weight specifications with which some manufacturers advertise their new Avinox bikes should be treated with caution.
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
