Mahle M40 e-bike motor: Highlight bikes with the compact powerhouse from the Bike Festival Riva

Riva del Garda has called again - and the industry has come. At the Bike Festival on Lake Garda, the annual first big show of the season, manufacturers, dealers and fans crowded between the test track and exhibition areas. Anyone who looked closely noticed: The Mahle M40 was in a conspicuous number of frames. No coincidence - the engine from the German automotive giant is developing into an exciting alternative in a market that DJI has really shaken up with the Avinox.

Mahle is known in the e-bike cosmos primarily for its compact hub motors for racing bikes and gravel bikes. The fact that the Stuttgart-based company - with its Smartbike development department in Spain - also wants to be taken seriously in the e-mountainbike segment is made unmistakably clear by the M40's bare figures: 850 watts of peak power and 105 Newton metres of maximum torque are listed in the data sheet, packed into a housing that weighs just 2.64 kilograms. By comparison, the current Bosch Performance CX (without the new power update) weighs in at 2.85 kilograms, delivers 100 Nm and 750 watts.

What makes the M40 interesting beyond pure performance data is an extensive software update that injects new intelligence into the engine: Smart Assist dynamically adapts the assistance to the driver's performance and the terrain, Traction Control permanently monitors the traction with 84 measuring points per rear wheel rotation and intervenes precisely, Hill Hold prevents rolling backwards in steep passages. Features that not only make the M40 stronger, but also significantly more versatile. The Bike Festival in Riva gave us a first taste of which models will rely on this little powerhouse in the future.

Fully transparent: Mahle provides insights into the entire ecosystem

The German-Spanish newcomer marks Mahles' entry into the full-power eMTB sector and combines an astonishingly low weight with plenty of power: the compact mid-motor delivers up to 105 Nm of torque and 850 watts of peak power on the trail.

The presentation at the Mahle stand itself was a real eye-catcher: In a glass bike from Messingschlager, visitors were able to view the entire Mahle ecosystem in detail as if on an X-ray - from the motor and battery to the integration of all components.

Abums E-001: Steel enduro meets high-power motor

Also the Abums E-001 should not be missing from our Mahle highlight show - if only because of its design language. The Spanish custom label combines a handmade steel frame with state-of-the-art e-bike technology, bringing an exciting alternative to the usual high-end enduro bikes to the trail.

Particularly striking next to the engine is the High-pivot rear trianglewhich causes the rear wheel to move slightly backwards during compression. This is intended to provide more traction and control, especially on rough trails. Handmade in Spain, only available in small quantities and with a price above the €10,000 mark, Abums is unmistakably positioning itself as a boutique brand.

HoheAcht Bazalto Monto: New E-MTB all-rounder celebrates its premiere

New product alert: The Bazalto Monto from HoheAcht celebrates its official launch at the Bike Festival in Riva del Garda. According to the manufacturer, it is a versatile e-MTB for sporty trail use. The centrepiece is the Mahle M40 drive. The compact mid-motor delivers up to 105 Nm of torque and scores with powerful acceleration combined with sensitive dosing. The system is complemented by the fully integrated 800 Wh battery, which offers plenty of reserves for long trail days. The bike is based on a carbon frame with 150 millimetres of travel at the rear, a 160 mm fork and 29-inch wheels at the front and rear. The top model with Fox Factory suspension costs 6999 euros - sounds fair!