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It's all about the motor! This much is clear: a new e-drive can have more influence on the overall market than any new bike. And in the motor sector in particular, the industry was already in turmoil in the summer. With DJI and Zf, two new players had appeared on the market, declaring war on the established drive manufacturers. Two large, globally successful companies. A reason for Shimano, Bosch & Co. to be in awe? At Eurobike 2024, DJI and ZF showcased their new power units, both of which make a similar promise: lighter and smaller than the established competition - and yet more powerful! The German automotive supplier ZF has opted for a particularly compact design. The circular motor called Centrix is barely bigger than a drinks can. At 2.5 kilos, it is said to spit out 90 Newton metres. DJI is orientated more towards the classic shape of well-known e-bike motors, but goes one better in terms of power. With 105 Newton metres and 850 watts, the Avinox is a real powerhouse. And sensationally light too.
Now also in the test: the engine highlights 2025
But top dog Bosch also had a hot ace up its sleeve for 2024. The Swabians launched the latest generation of their CX drive. Has Bosch managed to make the model student CX even better with the Gen5? The Swabian may not boast sheer power like the DJI, but the latest generation is lighter and, above all, quieter than its predecessor. In addition, the Stuttgart-based company has finally launched new batteries - something the industry had been eagerly awaiting. The PowerTube 800 replaces the 750, which was outdated due to its high weight and bulky dimensions. The 800 not only has a greater range, it also weighs a hefty 400 grams less.
There was also a lot going on in terms of drive electronics in 2024: after Shimano and Sram, Bosch and Pinion now also opted for automatic shifting. While this is certainly an important innovation from a technical perspective, it remains to be seen whether the feature will ultimately catch on with the sporty clientele.
DJI Avinox: A Star is born
When companies from outside the industry try their hand at a drive system for e-bikes, bikers are initially critical. And often rightly so. But when the company is called DJI, you should listen up. And the bike industry definitely did in the middle of the year. 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 know their way around electronics, batteries and motors.
With the new DJI Avinox electric drive, the company now wants to shake up the bike industry. The motor promises a powerful 105 Newton metres of maximum torque, which is 20 Newton metres more than the classics such as the Bosch Performance CX and Shimano EP801. These are worlds apart. In the BIKE lab test, it delivered a whopping 850 watts of peak power on the test bench, and even 980 watts for a short time in boost mode. This is also significantly more than the established competition, where the data sheet usually lists around 600 watts. A small revolution might be overlooked by the uninitiated as a side note: DJI supplies a 12-amp charger with the Avinox. Until now, chargers with four amps have been the norm. In the BIKE test, we were able to charge the DJI battery about twice as fast as a Bosch battery. This opens up completely new possibilities for e-mountain bikers.
Surprisingly high performance output: The DJI Avinox nevertheless appears more compact than the renowned competition and is integrated quite slimly into the chassis. It is also very light at 2575 grams (BIKE measurement).
The BIKE editorial team tested the spectacular drive extensively on the laboratory test bench and in practice. The following questions were particularly exciting: What range can the motor achieve with these enormous performance data? And what about the heat resistance of the unit under full load? The test results with all the performance data are now also available here, just a click away.
https://www.bike-magazin.de/komponenten/e-bike-motoren/dji-avinox-im-test-endlich-fakten-das-kann-der-e-bike-motor-aus-china/>> DJI Avinox in the test: Facts at last! What the e-bike motor from DJI can do
ZF Centrix: Size of a beverage can
Weighing just 2.5 kilos and yet full e-bike power: the renowned automotive supplier ZF wants to gain a foothold in the e-bike market with the Centrix. The circular e-bike motor from Friedrichshafen also impresses on paper with promising values. The drive is said to deliver 90 Newton metres and weigh just 2.5 kilos. That would be an excellent ratio of weight to torque. In addition, the round unit is really small with a diameter of 88 millimetres. "Hardly bigger than a 0.33 litre drinks can", the manufacturer advertises. The peak power is said to be 600 watts, which is on a par with Bosch's Performance Line CX (85 Nm, 2.85 kg) and Shimano's EP801 (85 Nm, 2.65 kg).
Shortly before the start of Eurobike 2024, the technology company from Friedrichshafen unveiled its big new product. E-mountainbike veterans will remember that this is not ZF's first foray into the bike industry. In 2018, ZF was part of the newly founded Sachs Micro Mobility joint venture. The brand then entered the e-bike motor market in 2019 with the RS motor. ZF later purchased all shares in Sachs Micro Mobility. ZF is therefore not entering the e-bike market out of nowhere.
The ZF Bike Eco System uses 48 volts, whereas most classic e-bike motors run on 36 volts. The circular shape, which is inevitably reminiscent of the motors from TQ, is particularly striking. The Centrix comes with two battery variants of 504 and 756 watt hours respectively, with the Core Controller located in the top tube as the control unit.
Bosch Performance Line CX 2025: Good things made better
After a long wait, it was finally unveiled to the trade press in September: Bosch's 5th generation E-MTB drive. Just as powerful, just as heavy and just as big as its predecessor. Disappointing then? Not in the least. Why the new Swabian motor is a big step forward was in the detailed laboratory and practical test of BIKE magazine clear.
For years the Bosch Performance Line CX the best-selling e-MTB motor. High reliability, a good ride feel and a long range have made the Swabian drive unit a success. With the new edition of the CX, the question is: How do you make the most popular and probably best e-MTB motor even better? Of course, by addressing the biggest criticisms. And that's exactly what Bosch has done with the new Performance Line CX.
While with the latest new edition of the Performance Line CX While the wait for a "rattle-free" motor was still in vain, the Swabians have achieved exactly that with the latest expansion stage. Just how difficult this supposedly banal goal is to achieve is demonstrated by the fact that most competitor products, from Shimano to Yamaha, also struggle with rattling from the gearbox. This has also been the case at Bosch for years. For the new CX, they have now developed a patented freewheel that does not rely on a classic pawl system and makes no noise when pedalling backwards. The result: the inside of the motor is completely decoupled from the drivetrain. This means that the transmission is not stimulated by external influences and remains absolutely rattle-free.
And the second major point of criticism has also been addressed: the weight of the very heavy batteries, which in the past usually turned Bosch bikes into real hulks. New are the Powertube 600 and Powertube 800, which have even more capacity than their predecessors thanks to new 21700 cells with a lower weight. The new 800 battery weighs a whopping 400 grams less than the old 750 PowerTube.
Top results from the BIKE lab also in terms of pedalling resistance: the motor and drivetrain only consume 9.1 watts instead of the 13.8 watts of the previous model. Anyone pedalling over 25 km/h or cranking without the motor benefits from a freer ride. Bosch claims that even a classic bottom bracket does not have less resistance.
Not a new motor, but many improvements to a unit that has already set the benchmark. The bottom line: not a spectacle like the DJI, but still one of the top innovations of 2024.
Bosch automatic gearstick: Taiwan connection
Shimano and Sram led the way, with Bosch following suit in 2024: Since then, e-mountainbikes equipped with the Performance CX have also been able to shift gears automatically. With eShift, Bosch is opening a new chapter for a somewhat outdated topic. The automatic mode has existed in the Bosch portfolio for some time, but it had not yet made it onto sporty e-mountainbikes.
The fact that the Swabian e-bike giant enlisted the help of Taiwanese component giant Tektro for eShift is no coincidence - the two manufacturers had already worked together on Bosch's ABS brake cooperates. What unfortunately faded into a side note when the Bosch automatic gearstick was announced was the fact that TRP (Tektro's premium brand) is launching an electronic gearstick with wireless communication between the shifter and rear derailleur. This is because electronic shifting is a prerequisite for the Bosch automatic mode.
The three competitors on the market are very similar in terms of their basic functions. How Shimano EP 801 with Autoshift and Srams Eagle Powertrain the Bosch-TRP combination also enables automatic shifting and gear changes while rolling. The Bosch smart system can access various data such as the current speed, cadence, power, torque and the gear engaged. On this basis, an algorithm calculates the appropriate gear to provide the rider with the desired cadence at all times. This cadence can be adjusted to individual preferences via the app or directly on the display.
It is also possible to shift gears while rolling, without turning the cranks, as the motor drives the chainring for the shifting process. Bosch calls this "Rollshift". As with the competition, the rider can of course manually override the shifting or switch completely to manual mode by pressing a button on the TRP shifter.
Pinion MGU with automatic shifting: All in one
Pinion's motor gearbox unit, or MGU for short, was the first of its kind, the top theme at Eurobike 2023. Instead of heavy, wear- and defect-prone derailleurs and sprocket sets on the rear wheel, the gear changes in the MGU run directly in the motor in the encapsulated gearbox.
Motor and gearstick in one system - but that also has another advantage. This is because both parts can communicate and interact perfectly with each other. After Shimano, Sram and Bosch, Pinion presented its fully automatic gear shifting system in the MGU in the summer of 2024. All that was needed was new software. And since then, this can simply be installed at the dealer. Pinion has thus drastically expanded the range of functions of the MGU without any additional costs for existing users.
And how does the Pinion automatic transmission work? The Pinion MGU transmission already had the so-called Pre.Select function, which automatically changes gears when rolling. With the update, however, the functionality has been expanded to include two fully automatic modes: AutoShift and AutoShiftPro.
In AutoShift mode, the MGU automatically shifts to the appropriate gear based on a preset desired cadence. However, automatic gearsticks cannot anticipate off-road situations. This is where AutoShiftPro comes into play. For example, in order to have the right cadence right at the start of a climb, you manually shift into the desired gear in AutoShiftPro mode, for example one or two gears down. The new cadence in the easier gear is then automatically adopted as the target value and the shifting logic is optimised for the ascent.
The top innovations from the complete bike market
The light bike is dead, long live the light bike! Industry experts are divided on which light category the future belongs to. Until now, light e-MTBs were understood to be bikes that could afford small batteries thanks to weak motors. Less motor support equals less energy consumption: this means that acceptable ranges are also possible with small, lightweight batteries. However, although most e-mountain bikers want a lightweight e-mountain bike, they don't want to do without uphill riding fun.
This is why classic light bikes are still struggling, and why more and more e-MTB models are becoming established that manage to achieve a light overall weight despite full motor power. One way of achieving this is through consistent lightweight construction and smaller batteries. To ensure that your day on the bike doesn't end too soon with this combination, you need either a removable battery or a fast charger. The standard 4-amp chargers are too slow for such tactics. DJI proves that there are technical alternatives with its 12-amp charger. This refills the battery twice as quickly as with conventional chargers. We have filtered out the most exciting e-mountainbikes from the flood of 2024 models.
BH iLynx+ SL: full power under 19 kilos
Less than 19 kilos, full power and a large battery. Can that be true? In Spain, the climate seems to awaken particularly creative spirits. Alongside Orbea, BH Bikes is also going its own way when it comes to e-mountainbike concepts.
The latest addition is the iLynx+ SL. The hard facts: It starts at just under 18.9 kilos without having to sacrifice motor power (Shimano EP801) and too much battery power (630 watt hours!). An extremely good value! There's no cheating with the suspension elements either: with Fox 36 and Fox Float X shocks, there's still plenty of tuning potential for gram-foxers. According to the Spaniards, the frame weight of the iLynx+ SL is 2150 grams - that's a lot! And of course, the Shimano EP801 is one of the lightest of the power motors. It weighs just 2.6 kilos, delivers a full 85 Newton metres of torque and is also on a par with Bosch's Performance CX in terms of peak power.
To save additional weight, the 630 battery is permanently installed. If this capacity is not enough, an additional battery in water bottle format is available. An additional 180 watt hours can be stored on the bike. This means that up to 810 watt hours are available. The iLynx+ SL is available in a total of seven equipment variants, three of which come as an enduro bike with 160 millimetres of travel and four in trail trim with 140 millimetres. The cheapest version costs 6999 euros, the top model 10999 euros. Special feature: With the exception of the two entry-level models for 6999 euros, the Range Extender is included on all bikes.
Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL: Light premiere from the Canadians
The bikes with the maple leaf have often impressed us in practical tests. The expectations for the first Light E-MTB from Rocky Mountain were correspondingly high. 150/145 millimetres of suspension travel and 29-inch wheels promise a wide range of uses.
Particularly exciting: a new proprietary motor with 65 Newton metres of torque, up to 550 watts of peak power and 480 watt hours in the battery. The new Dyname S4 Lite Drive adopts the design of its power brother. With 65 Newton metres and 550 watts of peak power, it offers nominally slightly more punch than the light competition from Bosch, Fazua or even TQ. In keeping with this, the battery is also slightly larger at 480 Wh. If you want, you can significantly increase the range for extra-long rides with the Overtimepack (314 Wh / 2 kg). The battery can be pulled downwards out of the frame if required. The geometry of the Instinct SL is based on the Rocky Mountain obviously on the Instinct without motor. The head and seat angles are a modern 64 and 77 degrees, the reach is 480 millimetres in size L. In addition to the reach and stack, the chainstays also increase with the frame size. With the Ride-4-Flip-Chip in the shock rocker, both the geometry and the suspension kinematics can also be fine-tuned. The new Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL is available in six model versions. The three cheaper bikes come with an aluminium frame. Prices start at 5500 euros - unusual by Rocky standards. The models with full carbon frames range up to 12500 euros.
Cube AMS Hybrid One44: Cube makes light bikes affordable
Germany's largest bike manufacturer has taken its time with its first lightweight e-mountainbike. But: The wait for the Cube AMS Hybrid One44 (>> available here) was worth it. The trail racer with Bosch SX motor impresses with a super-light frame, great performance and a great price!
The developers of the Cube AMS One44 probably also realised that the platform has potential. That's why they offer the bike in two versions: SL and TM do not differ in terms of the frame, but in terms of the equipment and therefore the range of use. Both versions have 140 millimetres of suspension travel and 29er wheels. As a trail bike, the Cube AMS Hybrid should impress with its pop and playful handling. But while the SL versions are designed for maximum lightweight construction with slim suspension and fast tyres, the two TM models feature the Fox 36, the Float-X shock with reservoir and robust, grippy tyres. This shifts the focus towards off-road riding. The lightest SLT model with XTR equipment and one-piece carbon cockpit as well as carbon wheels weighs in at a very light 16.2 kilos. It costs 7999 euros - "only", it has to be said. With the competition, you are easily in the five-digit euro range for such equipment and such weight ranges. Incidentally, it starts at 5999 euros with a real 17.4 kilos (EMTB lab measurement, size M).
Santa Cruz Vala: Cult brand relies on Bosch for the first time
Santa Cruz is breaking new ground with the Vala. Not only is the motorisation with Bosch CX new, there is also a paradigm shift in the rear triangle design: instead of the Californians' almost iconic VPP rear triangle, the Vala comes as a classic four-link. The Santa Cruz Vala is, for example available here.
According to the manufacturer, this was a necessary consequence resulting from the installation of the Bosch motor. This would have blocked the ideal pivot points on the VPP rear triangle. The Bosch motor in the Vala is also a first for Santa Cruz. The decisive factor was not only the performance data and battery options of the new Bosch, but also the fact that the Bosch is extremely quiet.
For the battery, Santa Cruz relies on a permanently installed PowerTube 600, the smaller of the two new Bosch batteries. The small battery is doubly noticeable in the overall weight: The 600 is almost a kilo lighter than the PowerTube with 800 watt hours. On top of this, the frame has also been designed to be slimmer and correspondingly lighter. The most expensive version of the Santa Cruz Vala is said to weigh less than 21.5 kilos, which would be very light for a Bosch bike. Even the cheapest model should weigh less than 22.5 kilos. If the 600 battery is not enough, the 250 watt-hour range extender can also be clamped into the frame triangle.
The Vala is therefore the Bosch alternative to the Santa Cruz Heckler with Shimano drive. In terms of suspension travel (160/150 millimetres), mullet setup and range of use, the two bikes are the same. However, the option of fitting a large 29er rear wheel, as on the Heckler, is not available on the Vala. It might come as a surprise that the Americans are talking about the Vala as the best e-bike in their history - after all, the Californians have celebrated their Lower-Link VPP as the best rear suspension system for years. In the BIKE test, however, the new Santa Cruz was fully convincing.
With five sizes from S to XXL and reach values from 435 to 525 millimetres, an extremely wide range of sizes is covered. The short seat tubes, which allow a free choice of size, and the chainstays that grow with the rider are striking. The two flipchips on the shock mount and rocker link allow you to make slight adjustments to the angles as well as changes to the progression of the shock. Both can be adjusted independently of each other.
Amflow PL Carbon: first bike with DJI drive
Without doubt the most talked about bike of 2025, the Amflow PL Carbon with the new DJI motor shouldn't really have existed. At least that's what DJI has always said. Why did things turn out differently? DJI must have advertised the new Avinox motor to many mountain bike companies in advance. But none of them really wanted to bite at first.
In order to prove what their engine is capable of, the Chinese quickly launched their own bike brand for the new engine, Amflow. And the electronics specialists from the Far East have also managed to do this really well. In the BIKE test, the Amflow PL impressed with its high performance and low weight.
The lightweight trail e-bike with carbon frame is therefore at the forefront of the latest trend: lightweight e-mountainbikes with full motor power. And full motor power has a special meaning with the Amflow. With a maximum torque of 105 Newton metres, the power unit from the Far East is a real powerhouse. In the BIKE lab test, the motor delivered a whopping 850 watts of peak power on the test bench, and even 980 watts for a short time in boost mode. And yet the top model of the Amflow PL remains well under 20 kilos. Wow! How is that possible? Despite its sheer power, the DJI drive is really light at 2575 grams, as is the 600-cell battery at 2.87 kilos. For comparison: the Bosch PowerTube battery, also with 600 watt hours, weighs 3080 grams.
With its 160/150 millimetres of suspension travel, the Amflow is also equipped for difficult terrain. A 29er wheel rolls at the front, while at the rear you have the choice between a 29er or 27.5er rear wheel. The geometry can be adjusted accordingly using a flipchip. The Amflow doesn't dare to experiment with the geometry itself. The values meet classic trail bike data. The only special feature: size M is the smallest size with a reach of 452 mm. This is presumably due to the long 800 mm batteries for which the bikes are designed.
A touch display is integrated into the top tube of the Amflow, which is easy to read and intuitive to operate. The remote on the handlebars is slim, gives good feedback at the touch of a button and is connected wirelessly to the system. It all looks harmonious and of high quality.
Amflow is launching two equipment variants of the PL Carbon. The brand will rely on direct sales via its own website as well as a network of bike shops. Prices start at 6499 euros for the Amflow PL Carbon with an 800-cell battery. The top model costs 9799 or 9999 euros, depending on the battery size >> available here. All models are equipped with Fox suspension, Magura brakes and Sram gears.
Josh Welz
Editor-in-Chief
