The POWER elephant in the room...Bafang 750. Just used it for a 1,300k tour of Scottish Western Isles, fully loaded tourer. 50 mile range, no hill refusals !!!
@@cosmokratoras they are definitely not 😄 I have ridden all sorts of bikes with all sorts of different motors and the bosch was also really really good. And I don't know if you even watched the video, because the bosch was the fastest motor Edit: 'always', not 'already'
The only one you can fix in most cases is the bosch. Everything else is not fixable in many situations. With Brose leading as no spares avaliable whatsoever. So any failure outside warranty is game over. However, there's another thing about e bike motors, that no one speaks about. Its the motor drag. If I reach 25 kph, my bosch motor stops working, but I can definitely feel it spinning and slowing me down. Which is not what I want to see from an speed restricted e bike. I believe brose motor is far less noticeable when disengaged.
5g Vaccinator the easiest way to find out if last gen or not, look at the chainring, if its the smaller one with ~15 teeth then its the gen 3 or older, the new ones have regular sized chainrings
Rob you should do a drag race test for the EP8 vs E8000. Be really interesting to see that comparison. I'm sure many subscribers would love to see that comparison!
I would like to see that too. I know Rob said not very scientific and that is so true. Each motor has a unique sweet spot for "claimed power output, torque and %assist" in each mode. Its so much more than a simple mode setting... software, gearing and cadence has so much of a say in the way each motor feels or delivers power. Hell you can up the power etc on all these aka a ludicrous mode but have a battery range of 2km.... too many variables here ( incl Robs riding style" to really say much on any of them IMHO.
Great review and I have a Cube Reaction Hardtail with a Bosch motor system and love it, I am 69yrs old and it is so much fun. I also love the Purion Display, tells you all you need to know. Not everyone wants to buy fancy bike computers on top of a purchase of an e-bike so I have ignored your negativity towards the Purion Display Unit.
I am very happy with my Brose motor on my Turbo Levo, very quiet, natural feeling in all the assist modes, cannot ask for a better overall package that Specialized provided with the Turbo Levo. I am more of a technical trail type of rider and this bike helped me become a better and stronger rider while keeping the smile to my face. Sections that six months ago I could only do in turbo mode I can now easily do it in Eco. Nice and fair review Rob. Thanks for keeping us in the known.
Same with me Dan. I know some people have had issues with the motor but after two years mine has not had a single issue. Maybe it has something to do with how you look after a bike? They have also increased the warranty to 4 years so that gives additional peace of mind. It is so powerful that I hardly ever use anything but Eco set at 20/30. Nice to have it there if needed on the steep stuff though. I have gone up from a 42 to a 46 on the cassette so I can spin a bit more. I really like that you can tune the motor in many ways using the App. It will not be an issue for a lot of people but I could not stand any motor that rattled when descending so I am glad I have the Brose. The thing is, once you have bought your bike you will get used to what you have and be happy with it as they all have plenty of power and they are all very good.
Agree 100%. The Specialized turbo levo with the Brose motor drives like a smooth sports car. Natural feeling power, quiet and predictable. I compare against a Shimano 8000 and I felt a noticeable difference.I’m sure they are all fun but I’m glad I ponied up I bought the specialized.And yes they offer the best warranty in the business, so I felt comfortable purchasing.
I wouldn't worry about the motor too much - all of them are plenty powerful. Before buying an ebike (Shimano E8000) I was obsessed with torque numbers watts. I ended up using LOW power mode 95 percent of the time. The only limitation on my bike is the rider.
This is why this channel is head and shoulders above the rest - reliable, honest comparisons. Sure, not 'scientific', but good enough for viewers to clearly see the differences. Would be interesting if Rob could get a Bafang Ultra emtb (from Frey) and see how it compares- yes, 750w motor and 150nm torque is unfair against 'nominal' 250w 80/85nm euro motors, but in the US it's perfectly legal...
If Shimano still has the same setup as with the previous motor, you have to make a Bluetooth connection with your phone and make sure it is set on the max setting. It has per setting on your bike screen (eco/trial/boost) 3 levels (low/medium/high). These can only be tweaked from the Bluetooth connection and by default they are all set on medium. So you probably didn’t get the max of power out of the bike
I just bought the 2020 Trek Rail 9.7. It has the Bosch ccx gen 4 motor with the 85nm update. I can tell you first hand, the controller is very useable and supremely simple to use. There is slight motor whine when in use. It is so minor it's almost not worth mentioning. The bike has loads of torque. In fact, I am in eco mode 90% of the time on the trails. So far, the bike is way beyond my expectations and the motor is so good, that like I said, anything over eco mode is very fast and almost too fast for tighter trails. I have used my buddy's Haibike 6.0 fatty emtb (2016 model) and I loved the bike...until I bought the Trek. This Trek with the Bosch motor blows it away. No contest. HIGHLY recommend the Bosch motor. Just as an FYI...I know why the have fairly good brakes on these emtb's...you use them A LOT...lol. These bikes are fast. Total game changer in the mtb industry. I'll never go back to a conventional bike.
I have a Focus Jam2 with a Bosch Gen 4 CX motor and agree with all of your comments. I ride in Tour mode most of the time except for very steep pinches where I'll switch up to EMTB mode. On tour mode, depending on the terrain, I can get about 60 - 70 kms out of the battery (625Wh). I weigh about 95kg fully clothed, so it's got to haul my heavy carcass up the hills.
@@redtobertshateshandles Well, let's hope not. I really don't know why some areas ban them. It's not like it's an MX bike with a throttle. This is the impression I get from other people's opinion of them. NOT TRUE. There is no throttle. It feels like someone is pushing you with these pedal assist bikes. I think people who have never ridden one think you just spin the back tire constantly because of the electric motor. Nothing is farther from the truth. Like I said, when the motor is in use, it feels like you are being pushed. Now, when you are in turbo mode, it does feel like the Hulk is pushing you...lol. Which is nice.
Thanks for the good comparison! I love my specialized turbo levo! I tried a shimano 8000 and although it was good, I felt the Brose motor on specialized was more natural feeling, quiet and responsive. And the Levi looks pretty cool I think. Rob, Next time you do an uphill test you should review heart rate monitors as well, lol.
Cracking informative overview Rob. Such a hard topic to cover scientifically without lab type conditions. We don’t ride in labs so your approach is the best I have seen to date on any channel.
I've converted a 2012 Brodie Bandit with a CYC Stealth Mid-Drive with torque sensor. 1,500 watts nominal, 2,500 watts peak. 150nm. I upgraded the drive train to a Box Components Box 2 eBike 1x9. I topped it off with a 21Ah Panasonic battery from ElectricBike. Top speed over 70kph. Climbs like a goat. 9 pedal assist modes. Crushes the bikes in this demo.
Dunno why several seconds is seen as an outlier for the EP8 when just the way he shifts can mean a difference of 1 second for the others. As he says, it is highly unscientific test and shouldn't be the determining factor for picking a motor/bike system. Besides what is most important for an eMTB is its handling and response in low speeds on technical terrain. You need to have the low end torque to keep it going while you remain focused on balancing the bike. If you want pure speed, an eMTB isn't for you.
@@RobRidesEMTB Yesss! And so beautifully filmed - wow! 👍 Only the driving-shots during the conclusion, sometimes showing another bike as you were talking about, was a bit confusing ... but overall a great video! Subscribed. Do you have any videos on so-called SUV bikes (i.e. street-legal e-MTB with lights, fenders etc.)?
Can't believe I'm writing this, but am researching which Bike/conversion I should buy, and am amazed at how many of the RUclipsrs/presenters who are obviously really keen cyclists, don't even know how to ride a bike. Combine that with manufacturers who produce undersized bikes (I imagine when considering weight saving, they're not considering ergonomics of the rider), which also doesn't help. Firstly it may be an Ebike, but if your saddle is not high enough your muscles will burn not because of the effort you're putting in but because the geometry of the bike is not designed to be ridden in this way. Your muscles will burn even more when seated and the pedals are equidistant to the heel as they are the toes. No matter which bike you ride, the ball of your foot should be central on the pedal. When seated even with the height set correctly if you do not cycle with the ball of your foot, the extra energy you will use is astonishing. I note as the video went on the saddle height appeared to increase, so I imagine someone has also pointed this out.
@@jamesm7721 I get your point. Spesh have offered 4 years on Battery and Motor now and admitted in doing this there’s an issue and addressed it. It’s not perfect but they are standing by their product and riders..They’ve just secured the value of my bike for another 2 years..!
@@TheBikePilot thats definately reassuring to hear from a consumers point of view. Without these videos and community comments these are basic facts you just don't hear about. Before today I wouldnt have considered any bike with a brose motor.
@@jamesm7721 It ain’t perfect man, but you can rest assured any issues will be dealt with and Spesh are on your team..If you’ve got a good LBS that order decent from Spesh you won’t be waiting long. Only thing with a Bosch issue is each motor or battery has to go back to them. Spesh allow dealers the latitude to make their own call so your off the trail for less time if it’s a good dealer. 10-14 days minimum on a Bosch but they are pretty bulletproof. All horses for courses..there’s no perfect system out there!! Oh, and Bosch warranty is also very good. You get a new warranty on any replacement part..New motor, new 2 years..
As an ebike service manager, if you judge these based on reliability, serviceability and availability of parts, Brose and Shimano would be dead last and Bosch would come in second to Yamaha. All the time. Errrryday.
I just put in the speed box 3.0 on my Niner wfo e9 with a Bosch motor. What kind of issues will I likely see? The reason for derestricting was the cut out was 18.5 and the real speed is 3.5mph lower than the display post. My last ride my max speed was 21. So basically I have not gone much over the limit anyways. Sucks I have to do this just to get the advertised speed. If I got the true 20 and was able to tweak it to 22mph I would have never bought the speed box.
I love my Trek rail 9.7 . No problems, it has more battery time than I can use in one ride. I am 61 years old and I’m passing nice young people on the trails, feels like cheating but it is so fun and I still get a good workout 😁
Your passing them because you're riding a motorcycle, even though a crap one. Your only cheating yourself. You're missing out on bicycle riding and motorcycle riding.
@@CosgroveNotts It was a bit harsh but imagining an old man on his battery Trek just screams cheating wife, and if she's not cheating on such a 'man' she was either never there or she died (probably of boredom).
This is such a great comparison, a really great service you're doing to the community and the manufacturers too. Essentially none of the motors are perfect and they all have work to do, I reckon in 1-2 generations of motors and batteries we'll see some proper good stuff. Personally I'm really finicky when it comes to power delivery and noise, and I like spinning rather than mashing so Brose is the one for me. No problems yet on my Brose T. I could see myself going EP8 in the future if they fix the rattle while descending and improve the high cadence power. The Bosch is disqualified for me personally for being too noise, otherwise a great and reliable motor I'm sure.
The comparison would be more valid as a measurement of motor capabilities, if the rider didn't do the tests after each other on the same day, since the rider's input becomes lower because of fatigue.
It would be interesting to know the efficiency of each motor: % of battery watts to motor output power. Which is most 'efficient'. What is the maximum efficiency achievable with an electric motor
So I notice not all bikes in the same rear gear, last bike in way smaller gear, no way it would beat the Levo in weight and power. All bikes should be in same gear. Bet I can beat Robes time at age 57! And I love Rob's channel. Maybe redo all in same gear ratio?
Great review The noise reduction by shimano is impressive given the E8000 is noisy. Reliability section was interesting, lots of bad press for the Brose but good to see the newer versions have improvements.
Hi. Thanks for the great review - it's really helpful. I live in the Alps and it's clear that this is the year of the ebike - everyone around here has one. They have transformed this place into a giant playground. Like you, I found the Bosch motor a complete monster and that is what I have gone for.
One thing you didn't cover was warranty/customer service. I took my Cube 160 action team to a local bike shop for a small service. The guy said I had a noisy bearing. I didn't even know. Because it was still under warranty, Bosch replaced the entire motor which I thought was amazing. Cheers Rob.
Thanks Rob for being willing to discuss the 2.1 Brose failure issue On another popular e-bike channel, if you write anything negative about their sponsors (i.e., specialized), they go into attack mode. I stopped watching that other channel because its become an informercial of BS.
I have Merida e160 2019 (Shimano e8000 motor), waiting for Levo 2021 (Brose 2.1) to arrive. One e8000 motor was replaced due to large freewheel travel (at 3000+ km), but then it was given for another guy who did 1000+ km his motor arrived (motor is still alive). Me and my mates used STUnlocker to tune motor to lower power, so I can't see why e8000 is bad, because even with decreased power input it was joy to ride. I'm 116 kg, so IMO e8000 is quick reliable motor if not derestricted. Decided on Levo (Brose 2.1) because I could order the size and color I like and wanted to try something else. I bet the EP8 will be really nice, and reliable powerful motor in use. I really appreciate the way Shimano integrates the whole system with Di2 wires: much-much-much cleaner that Brose, much more water resistant (we failed to kill e8000 in small river and power washing without a luck))). Hopefully, all other motor systems will follow Shimano path in integrating different components the way Steps does it - it's super clean, easy to mix and match parts from different series, huge options of display (it will work even without display BTW).
Yamaha for me too. 2 Years on my PW and over 1500km and never failed me - 2 years on my PW-X and over 1000km and no issues so far. There's a reason Sam Pilgrim uses it even though he has a choice of 3 motors with Haibike. Great comparison Rob. Mostly fair although I felt your ever so slight bias to Brose and Spesh. First love and all that.
I have the PW-X and after 2200km I still have no issues! It's an amazing motor. Girlfriend has the PW and approx 1000km and it's still perfect, mind you these were used 2017 Haibikes.
Purion is quite big and chunky but it's not that expensive. I smashed mine up at the weekend, crashing, and was quite surprised I could get a replacement for under £80.
Hey Rob Rides Emtb! Nice motor comparison vid! Good job on the testing parameters noise, power, integration and reliability! Riding some lately but First big storm of fall here today! Ride ride ride!
Here is the thing about climbing. All the motors will get you to the top. Unless you are in a race, speed means nothing. I don't waste much energy on hills, especially steep hills. Gear down, reduce my rpm's and let the motor do it's job. I can climb anything that I can keep my front tire down on (as can we all). Turns out the newton/meter ratings mean next to nothing to the average rider. I thought the other factors Rob mentioned were more important in picking out the motor. Lastly, the one factor left off was the whether or not the motor have a "automatic support mode," like the Yamaha and Bosch have. That mode is all I ride in for the most part. I have the Yamaha PWX-2 and I love that feature. All I ever do is change gears when I am riding. In fact, I would never buy a new bike that didn't have that feature.
The power output of the batteries will make a difference to how the motor performs. To truly test you'd have to have the same batteries with the same capacity and power output, and also the bikes would have to be the same weight at least.
It's not just the batteries (more to the point the ESR) but also the H bridge type and how the software drives the H bridge as well as the type of wire used (bad wiring can drop 3% easily). Very high frequency H bridge PWMing will also cause more heat loss in the H bridge AND more wire losses (skin effect etc).
shimano FTW per size/noise = stealth. they nailed 3 of the most significant advances in mtb history: spd pedals, indexed shifting & hyperglide. EP8 has all-metal gears, no belts or plastic cogs.
I Wanted to change my shimano steps E8000 motor with the new EP8 but now that I saw your great video, I’ve changed my mind . I would to go for Bosh or Brose
It's kind of a tradition, that shimano is always weaker than the competitors. So it's mostly interesting for sporty drivers, that like a very silent motor (at least at the uphills). It depends on your planned usage, which motor suits you best, I guess
Congratulations Rob, nice video! That's the kind of info people need, not spec sheets and assumptions based on it! Just two things missing, "motor drag" above 25km/h or with the motor switched off and battery consumption (efficiency test). Maybe something for your next video ;)
Cheers Nelson. I’d say that the biggest factor on drag above the limit is no longer the motor but the tyres. All the motors are really good above the limit!
I have the ep8 and its not really slow lol. But they want speed give them haibikes with 120nm. The ep8 I have is with a Husqvarna and I had my haibike like 2018 or 17 and it is dogshit in comparison to ep8 it has power. As much as I need on enduro riding.
back to back means you get tired every effort you put in. those few seconds are maybe not even legit. They all seem great.. the cadence difference is alot though bosch gen 4 has full cadence power with a nice 85nm. Yamaha doesnt react on higher cadences as you say, so it should need a more precise gearing change. right?
Agreed... I just bought a Trance E+ and that compact controller is awesome. Also, it outputs the battery % and the assist mode to my Garmin when I use it for longer rides and that’s all I need.
@@jeffforbess6802 Probably because they don’t want to mess with that, some Chinese company may be manufacturers and slaps a label on it it’s a done deal, no interest to expand. I think they would have a hard time keeping up with Bosch though
Nice simple test / review & the new Bosch & Brose in real trail riding are pretty equal , my riding buddies have a selection of these motors & this bears out my thoughts, keep em comming.
@@socialising6037 Batterie is often the most expensive thing to replace on an e-bike. Honestly as someone who does almost everything with his bike I would say only get an e-bike if you need to go a lot of uphill, if you live in hilly or a mountainous area its great otherwise no need.
@@woffordwolf2071 yh just been on a website messing around and to change a battery was 3500 lol I think I'll stick to getting a trek fuel ex but I do like the look of the new vitus e-sommet, think the yt is just a lil out my price range as I won't us it all the time due to other hobbies
@@woffordwolf2071 These downhill ebikes are intended to save you power when going uphill. For city riding I have custom built Cube Analog XXL 29" With 1000W central hub motor and 52V 2KW/H huge battery built into the mid frame. It gives me around 150km range with so much power, I carry kids and shopping stuff on my trunk and cruise around city daily. 1000km per month usually with almost no maintenance to electrical part
And after all Bafang Ultra (M620) eats these toys for breakfast! Not including Bafang motors clearly shows that sponsors don't want the people see Bafang as a competitor because they know which motor delivers real fun. Bafang Ultra rocks!
Really really enjoyed that technical analysis Rob I think one of the most informative videos you’ve done so far keep it going really enjoyed the content your producing.
If you want a DIY solution the TSDZ2 is a better fit. The Bafangs are a beast powerwise, but I don't like them on the trail, the TSDZ2 is smoother, way quieter, and keeps the bike feel when riding single track. The Bafang M500 looks really interesting through.
@@rfwillett2424 Wrong, bafang my620/g510 with 160nm and super smooth torque sensor will put the tsdz2 to shame, and it can take massive amounts of power, some people run 72v batteries with it up to 2000w
@@ricardorodrigues3508 Like I said the Bafang is a beast, but they are a totally different experiences to actually ride. The very smooth Torque sensing of the TSDZ2 to me is superior, my old GNG mid drive and my Bafang were both more like mopeds I could pedal, my TSDZ2 Gives me a bike that helps me along without me hardly noticing the motor. I repeat ,the Bafang is excellent, so is the TSDZ2 it's a matter of what you want.
It's pretty clear which engine is king. Also a name well renowned for Electric Reliability. The Bosch CX4 really works and the display I like. I'm waiting on a 6 amp charger to suit so I can ride when I am away without having to wait forever for a full charge. At my age getting up the bigger hills helps. Interesting with the motor noise I'm not hearing it as Rob describes it. Reliability and power is king and the EMTB mode is brilliant! Be careful with the kit on the bike you choose because the power is not kind to chains etc if you abuse the system, I'm still learning.
Great video Rob! These are the most popular motors. I personally have Bosch. I would like to see a comparison with other less popular motors, such as the Dyname 3.0 (Canadian), Polini EP3 MX (Italian) and Olieds sport (Italian). That would be really interesting :)
Rob, if you can e-ride uphill your belly? For the colossal 20-25 seconds?!? In a TURBO mode? That is what e-bikes are built for!😆 Nice video, btw!👍 You should be editing and narrating videos, mostly, instead of moving your belly in all possible clock and anti-clock wise directions... in front of our FACES!😉
Let’s see. Bafang started in 1998 and had product in 2003. Bosch started in 2009 and had product in 2010. I wonder why the granddaddy of ebike motor suppliers was left off this list? Probably because of the low performance limits in Europe. They don’t even bother looking at real powerful motors.
@@TheManShaker True...the more I got into electric builds, the more i became aware the CYC was too loud. Plus the cost was too much. I bought a Soma Riff frame for the build and decided not to go that way because of cost. I'm not paying more for a toy motor which cost more than my CRF230's motor. My Riff frame will be used on something cheaper but equivalent to the CYC. You have any Ideas?
We’ll…. As an old man, looking for an ebike to make my rides EAZY…… his breathlessness I find discouraging! He seems fit. I want to be less breathless!
Hey guys. Thanks for the review. It's well done. One thing that I was surprised to see is how badly integrated the motors are in terms of leaving gaps and nooks and crannies for mud and water to get in. I was expecting the bike manufacturers to take care of that with extra little plastic or silicone pieces to close all these gaps and reduce the overall reliability of the motors. It's not like you can go home and power wash these areas. It's not looking like a good idea to me. Do you feel the same or do you think its a non-issue?
Another great, informative video Rob'👍. I have a 2020 e160 9000 and have recently bought a Kenevo, partly due to you experiences (and the fact I tend to break bikes). For a heavier rider like myself at 100+kg, the extra torque of the Brose motor over the Shimano (E8000 not the EP8) makes a big difference to the ride experience.
Hi Rob, would you agree that the feel is more important than max power output? Low end torque and response (natural feel) above high cadence output? As in normal ride, i rarely go maximum power (me and the motor) for more than few seconds in technical section. In than regard, what would be be your pick?
My Bafang Ultra would put all of these ebikes too shame... it's insane that Specialized would have a 10,000 3bike and put such a small motor inside. i understand the one size fit's all idea behind ebikes so they are all standard, Internationally, but many people here in the states will not buy these ebikes for that purpose. It's like having a 200,000 dollar Lamborghini and have it come equipped with a 4 cyl. ford Pinto engine. BTW my Ultra has over 160 N.M. of torque and 2,500 watts. You will not breathe hard at all going up any hill! No "Hike-A-Bike' here in the States! We fly as fast going up the Hills as we do going down! You're missing out on half the fun! Great Video! take care brother!
Very interesting test and that confirmed what I sensed when I was testing the Bosch and EP8 back to back. I thought the EP8 was about as powerful, but only smoother. The Bosch felt more brutal, but again I thought that was just how the power was delievered. Now you confirm that there actually is more power coming from the Bosch which was very surprising considering the specs and that the EP8 is brand new! I still like the EP8 though, hopefully a firmware upgrade could make some difference.
Super test and the most important. It's not what brand of bike you like but what motor you want and then which brand has that motor. Bosch has been at it the longest and have made the most advances. Its the one to have...
I got a yamaha on my city bike, i actually love the motor whine. It gives me the feeling being on a motorcycle, if it would do 60km/h i would sell my motorcycle because that beast is going to cost me my license
Thanks! I really like real world comparisons. It would be interesting to see the current draw of these motors riding at a constant speed up a level road / hill to determine the efficiency of the package.
I have a Shimano motor Tried the Bosch and Yamaha as well and the Shimano just feels the most organic! The feel on the Yamaha was alright, but what I really disliked about the Bosch was that with every gear shift, there was this half-second delay where the power would cut off completely and the motor had to “decide” how much torque to give… It was extremely odd and really took me out of my riding flow, especially on uphill sections…. Whereas with the Shimano I felt like a more athlectic normal cyclist, with the Bosch you were rudely reminded of your own unfitness every time you shifted gears at an incline when the power would cut out for that half second…
Bought a Giant Yamaha 80nm syncrond drive Yamaha Motor,400on the batteri its ok 4 me.have a done bought a good one ,2020model and a Girl had IT onke gone 10kmt
Interesting review. I have a 2021 Turbo Levo Comp with the new Brose 2.1, and I have two friends - one with a Shimano E8000 and the other has an EP8. When we ride, I can hear them both riding next to me, but my brose is near silent. I thought it was interesting that your test EP8 was silent. I wonder if they did anything to the EP8 recently to make it quieter. Great review though!
Nice video and it's a nice bike too but since it is a paddle assist but due to my health I would like add throttle in my cube bike, please advise in detail on how to go about it ?
Great content as always Rob! I've always loved the Brose because it's quiet and feels natural but looks like I gotta try the Shimano EP8 Now! You should've done a Bafang too haha
Great comparison video. One thing you could of added is how the "resistance" feels when you pedal above the 25km/h cutout. I ride a Norco Sight VLT with a Shimano E8000. My 2 complaints are the rattle when coasting over rough terrain(descending), and the resistance when the assistance cuts out (also descending). I'm interested how the Rocky Mountain Powerplay compares. Probably the most non-e-bike feeling e-bike I've ridden.
So many positive comments for such vague journalism. Rob seems like a nice guy, but this feels more like a marketing exercise from the 'big 4' than a proper comparison test. Unfortunately 99% of people will never get to compare all 4 motors at once, so this is a huge missed opportunity and statements like "it's not very scientific" should be warning signs to Rob that he was heading in the wrong direction. It costs about $150 for a calibrated broadcast mic and preamp, so no excuses there. Such a setup could be used from a 3rd person POV for the noise tests. A 20 second 'drag race' proves very little - what’s wrong with a few different scenario's? eg Rocky climb, a long climb, a short climb, a smooth tight downhill to test on/off behaviour etc. There’s nothing wrong with subjective testing, so long as it is backed up objectively. Please do over for the rest of us that don’t have the access to bikes that you have Rob.
Hey Rob. Been watching your videos for a while now and let me just tell you, you provide some amazing content! Really appreciate the honest, well thought out reviews and your dedication to quality production. Bravo Sir. 👏
WOW “ You really do get stuck in , Thanks for this (congratulations) very informative......... I’m moving to Ireland soon near Lough neigh, You’ve made me realise how important choosing the right motor over the bike. Bosch seems to have the edge for me.
Really good comparison there, Rob, you covered all the important aspects. I still can't decide tho - I love the brute force of the Bosch, and I love the natural feel of the Shimano. Dayyum.
Hi Rob I have cube touring hybrid one 500 electric bike 2020 and it's a nice bike but since it is a paddle assist but due to my health I would like to add throttle in my cube bike, please advise in detail on how to go about it ? I would appreciate your expert advise in maintaining my passion of riding my bike despite my health limitations. Thank You,
What motor would you choose for 2021?
Bosche or brose 50/50
None. The tech just ain't there yet. Will be back on one in a couple years once thing have improved
Good review, enjoyed this. I drive a 2019 Brose 2.1 with no problems up till now ...
Abel Ramos - Would love to see Rob weigh in on the Dyname 3.0.
Brose all day . 💪
I was surprised Bafang wasn't included.
I’m not familiar with which brands are going with the Bafang in the bottom bracket-mounted motors.
I agree
@@Napalmdog watt wagon. Check it out.
Yeah, Bafang has become synonymous with quality and high torque. The M400 or M500 middrive with 80-90+ Nm torque are really capable.
The POWER elephant in the room...Bafang 750. Just used it for a 1,300k tour of Scottish Western Isles, fully loaded tourer. 50 mile range, no hill refusals !!!
We mostly sell Bosch motors at our shop and we almost never have problems with their durability, they last quite a long time without problems.
Cause they are slow...
@@cosmokratoras they are definitely not 😄 I have ridden all sorts of bikes with all sorts of different motors and the bosch was also really really good. And I don't know if you even watched the video, because the bosch was the fastest motor
Edit: 'always', not 'already'
@@cedrics1220 i am laughing at that cause i drove a bosch and own a bafang
@@cosmokratoras maybe you own a bafang with more than 250 Watts, which is illegal in most countries and therefore no one mentions it
@@cedrics1220 i am laughing on that as well, enjoy your rides
Yamaha PW-X2 for sure! It's just so good at climbing, doesn't have any annoying rattles like the others, and super reliable.
I agree with you!!
I dont get why its not popular, as he says.
Its the best motor ive tried.
The most important thing for me is long term reliability and the option for service and repair,these motors are not cheap to replace.
The only one you can fix in most cases is the bosch. Everything else is not fixable in many situations. With Brose leading as no spares avaliable whatsoever. So any failure outside warranty is game over.
However, there's another thing about e bike motors, that no one speaks about. Its the motor drag. If I reach 25 kph, my bosch motor stops working, but I can definitely feel it spinning and slowing me down. Which is not what I want to see from an speed restricted e bike. I believe brose motor is far less noticeable when disengaged.
5g Vaccinator the drag issue is gone in latest gen 4 bosch motor.
@@omnomnom1391 how new it has to be? My 2019 motor definitely has drag.
5g Vaccinator the easiest way to find out if last gen or not, look at the chainring, if its the smaller one with ~15 teeth then its the gen 3 or older, the new ones have regular sized chainrings
@@omnomnom1391 thanks! Mine has smaller one I think.
Rob you should do a drag race test for the EP8 vs E8000. Be really interesting to see that comparison. I'm sure many subscribers would love to see that comparison!
I would like to see that too. I know Rob said not very scientific and that is so true. Each motor has a unique sweet spot for "claimed power output, torque and %assist" in each mode. Its so much more than a simple mode setting... software, gearing and cadence has so much of a say in the way each motor feels or delivers power. Hell you can up the power etc on all these aka a ludicrous mode but have a battery range of 2km.... too many variables here ( incl Robs riding style" to really say much on any of them IMHO.
I would love to see this also!
+1 for this Rob
Yeah, definitely don’t try either of those next to the Bosch or Yamaha. The STEPS system would be dead on arrival.
Sometimes less is more !
Great review and I have a Cube Reaction Hardtail with a Bosch motor system and love it, I am 69yrs old and it is so much fun. I also love the Purion Display, tells you all you need to know. Not everyone wants to buy fancy bike computers on top of a purchase of an e-bike so I have ignored your negativity towards the Purion Display Unit.
I am very happy with my Brose motor on my Turbo Levo, very quiet, natural feeling in all the assist modes, cannot ask for a better overall package that Specialized provided with the Turbo Levo. I am more of a technical trail type of rider and this bike helped me become a better and stronger rider while keeping the smile to my face. Sections that six months ago I could only do in turbo mode I can now easily do it in Eco. Nice and fair review Rob. Thanks for keeping us in the known.
Same with me Dan. I know some people have had issues with the motor but after two years mine has not had a single issue. Maybe it has something to do with how you look after a bike? They have also increased the warranty to 4 years so that gives additional peace of mind. It is so powerful that I hardly ever use anything but Eco set at 20/30. Nice to have it there if needed on the steep stuff though. I have gone up from a 42 to a 46 on the cassette so I can spin a bit more. I really like that you can tune the motor in many ways using the App. It will not be an issue for a lot of people but I could not stand any motor that rattled when descending so I am glad I have the Brose. The thing is, once you have bought your bike you will get used to what you have and be happy with it as they all have plenty of power and they are all very good.
Agree 100%. The Specialized turbo levo with the Brose motor drives like a smooth sports car. Natural feeling power, quiet and predictable. I compare against a Shimano 8000 and I felt a noticeable difference.I’m sure they are all fun but I’m glad I ponied up I bought the specialized.And yes they offer the best warranty in the business, so I felt comfortable purchasing.
Bosch is the winner for me if for no other reason for its longevity reliability, and repairability.
I wouldn't worry about the motor too much - all of them are plenty powerful. Before buying an ebike (Shimano E8000) I was obsessed with torque numbers watts. I ended up using LOW power mode 95 percent of the time. The only limitation on my bike is the rider.
Buy a Speed box and unlock to reach 45-50 km/h
This is why this channel is head and shoulders above the rest - reliable, honest comparisons. Sure, not 'scientific', but good enough for viewers to clearly see the differences. Would be interesting if Rob could get a Bafang Ultra emtb (from Frey) and see how it compares- yes, 750w motor and 150nm torque is unfair against 'nominal' 250w 80/85nm euro motors, but in the US it's perfectly legal...
If Shimano still has the same setup as with the previous motor, you have to make a Bluetooth connection with your phone and make sure it is set on the max setting. It has per setting on your bike screen (eco/trial/boost) 3 levels (low/medium/high). These can only be tweaked from the Bluetooth connection and by default they are all set on medium. So you probably didn’t get the max of power out of the bike
I just bought the 2020 Trek Rail 9.7. It has the Bosch ccx gen 4 motor with the 85nm update. I can tell you first hand, the controller is very useable and supremely simple to use. There is slight motor whine when in use. It is so minor it's almost not worth mentioning. The bike has loads of torque. In fact, I am in eco mode 90% of the time on the trails. So far, the bike is way beyond my expectations and the motor is so good, that like I said, anything over eco mode is very fast and almost too fast for tighter trails. I have used my buddy's Haibike 6.0 fatty emtb (2016 model) and I loved the bike...until I bought the Trek. This Trek with the Bosch motor blows it away. No contest. HIGHLY recommend the Bosch motor. Just as an FYI...I know why the have fairly good brakes on these emtb's...you use them A LOT...lol. These bikes are fast. Total game changer in the mtb industry. I'll never go back to a conventional bike.
Unless they get banned for being too powerful. Lol
I have a Focus Jam2 with a Bosch Gen 4 CX motor and agree with all of your comments. I ride in Tour mode most of the time except for very steep pinches where I'll switch up to EMTB mode. On tour mode, depending on the terrain, I can get about 60 - 70 kms out of the battery (625Wh). I weigh about 95kg fully clothed, so it's got to haul my heavy carcass up the hills.
I have Trek Rail 7 and I agree with everything you said. I live in California where mountains are very steep and usually only use eco or tour mode.
@@redtobertshateshandles Well, let's hope not. I really don't know why some areas ban them. It's not like it's an MX bike with a throttle. This is the impression I get from other people's opinion of them. NOT TRUE. There is no throttle. It feels like someone is pushing you with these pedal assist bikes. I think people who have never ridden one think you just spin the back tire constantly because of the electric motor. Nothing is farther from the truth. Like I said, when the motor is in use, it feels like you are being pushed. Now, when you are in turbo mode, it does feel like the Hulk is pushing you...lol. Which is nice.
Me
I've tested the yamaha, shimano the Brose but the winner for me was the bosch in emtb mode....awesome.. my trek rail 9 arrives this week 😁
Lucky bastard😝
Thanks for the good comparison! I love my specialized turbo levo! I tried a shimano 8000 and although it was good, I felt the Brose motor on specialized was more natural feeling, quiet and responsive. And the Levi looks pretty cool I think.
Rob, Next time you do an uphill test you should review heart rate monitors as well, lol.
Cracking informative overview Rob. Such a hard topic to cover scientifically without lab type conditions. We don’t ride in labs so your approach is the best I have seen to date on any channel.
I've converted a 2012 Brodie Bandit with a CYC Stealth Mid-Drive with torque sensor. 1,500 watts nominal, 2,500 watts peak. 150nm. I upgraded the drive train to a Box Components Box 2 eBike 1x9. I topped it off with a 21Ah Panasonic battery from ElectricBike. Top speed over 70kph. Climbs like a goat. 9 pedal assist modes. Crushes the bikes in this demo.
That's not bicycle, but electric motorcycle.
Don't mix them.
They have entirely different regulation and legal requirements in most countries.
i love your Tests especialy the noise test. NO ONE DID THIS! its so important what noise they gave in a quiet wood!!
Shimano easily wins this one it seems.
Dunno why several seconds is seen as an outlier for the EP8 when just the way he shifts can mean a difference of 1 second for the others. As he says, it is highly unscientific test and shouldn't be the determining factor for picking a motor/bike system.
Besides what is most important for an eMTB is its handling and response in low speeds on technical terrain. You need to have the low end torque to keep it going while you remain focused on balancing the bike. If you want pure speed, an eMTB isn't for you.
The video we’ve all been waiting for 😁
Cheers Jay!
@@RobRidesEMTB Yesss! And so beautifully filmed - wow! 👍 Only the driving-shots during the conclusion, sometimes showing another bike as you were talking about, was a bit confusing ... but overall a great video! Subscribed. Do you have any videos on so-called SUV bikes (i.e. street-legal e-MTB with lights, fenders etc.)?
Can't believe I'm writing this, but am researching which Bike/conversion I should buy, and am amazed at how many of the RUclipsrs/presenters who are obviously really keen cyclists, don't even know how to ride a bike. Combine that with manufacturers who produce undersized bikes (I imagine when considering weight saving, they're not considering ergonomics of the rider), which also doesn't help.
Firstly it may be an Ebike, but if your saddle is not high enough your muscles will burn not because of the effort you're putting in but because the geometry of the bike is not designed to be ridden in this way. Your muscles will burn even more when seated and the pedals are equidistant to the heel as they are the toes. No matter which bike you ride, the ball of your foot should be central on the pedal. When seated even with the height set correctly if you do not cycle with the ball of your foot, the extra energy you will use is astonishing.
I note as the video went on the saddle height appeared to increase, so I imagine someone has also pointed this out.
Love my EP8 - it's natural which makes for a better riding experience imo, plus it looks a lot better than those Brose bulky units
Love how they glanced over the brose motors breaking down on a regular basis and just mentioned how clean and quiet it is 👍
Think he mentioned that in the piece with the Bearing Man dude at 15:43 ..?!
@@TheBikePilot he sure did, shame just for a very brief moment. Seemed more focused on the boschs display than a failing motor
@@jamesm7721 I get your point. Spesh have offered 4 years on Battery and Motor now and admitted in doing this there’s an issue and addressed it. It’s not perfect but they are standing by their product and riders..They’ve just secured the value of my bike for another 2 years..!
@@TheBikePilot thats definately reassuring to hear from a consumers point of view. Without these videos and community comments these are basic facts you just don't hear about. Before today I wouldnt have considered any bike with a brose motor.
@@jamesm7721 It ain’t perfect man, but you can rest assured any issues will be dealt with and Spesh are on your team..If you’ve got a good LBS that order decent from Spesh you won’t be waiting long. Only thing with a Bosch issue is each motor or battery has to go back to them. Spesh allow dealers the latitude to make their own call so your off the trail for less time if it’s a good dealer. 10-14 days minimum on a Bosch but they are pretty bulletproof. All horses for courses..there’s no perfect system out there!! Oh, and Bosch warranty is also very good. You get a new warranty on any replacement part..New motor, new 2 years..
@Rob you have a very good habit of making the vids that people want to watch, good work dude👌
As an ebike service manager, if you judge these based on reliability, serviceability and availability of parts, Brose and Shimano would be dead last and Bosch would come in second to Yamaha. All the time. Errrryday.
I just put in the speed box 3.0 on my Niner wfo e9 with a Bosch motor. What kind of issues will I likely see? The reason for derestricting was the cut out was 18.5 and the real speed is 3.5mph lower than the display post. My last ride my max speed was 21. So basically I have not gone much over the limit anyways. Sucks I have to do this just to get the advertised speed. If I got the true 20 and was able to tweak it to 22mph I would have never bought the speed box.
I love my Trek rail 9.7 . No problems, it has more battery time than I can use in one ride. I am 61 years old and I’m passing nice young people on the trails, feels like cheating but it is so fun and I still get a good workout 😁
You'd better love it at that price lol
Your passing them because you're riding a motorcycle, even though a crap one. Your only cheating yourself. You're missing out on bicycle riding and motorcycle riding.
@@stevek8829 that's a bit harsh. Trumps out now!
@@CosgroveNotts
It was a bit harsh but imagining an old man on his battery Trek just screams cheating wife, and if she's not cheating on such a 'man' she was either never there or she died (probably of boredom).
You lads commenting harsh stuff, one day you will be able to afford an E-Bike so much more fun to be had
This is such a great comparison, a really great service you're doing to the community and the manufacturers too. Essentially none of the motors are perfect and they all have work to do, I reckon in 1-2 generations of motors and batteries we'll see some proper good stuff. Personally I'm really finicky when it comes to power delivery and noise, and I like spinning rather than mashing so Brose is the one for me. No problems yet on my Brose T. I could see myself going EP8 in the future if they fix the rattle while descending and improve the high cadence power. The Bosch is disqualified for me personally for being too noise, otherwise a great and reliable motor I'm sure.
The comparison would be more valid as a measurement of motor capabilities, if the rider didn't do the tests after each other on the same day, since the rider's input becomes lower because of fatigue.
It would be interesting to know the efficiency of each motor: % of battery watts to motor output power. Which is most 'efficient'.
What is the maximum efficiency achievable with an electric motor
Wow! Congratulations Rob. Finally a motor comparison that makes sense. Good one thanks.
So I notice not all bikes in the same rear gear, last bike in way smaller gear, no way it would beat the Levo in weight and power. All bikes should be in same gear. Bet I can beat Robes time at age 57! And I love Rob's channel. Maybe redo all in same gear ratio?
For real, shouldn’t be so out of breath, spinning way too fast, limited by your cardio not the motor....
The segments filmed were to make a sequence so don’t think the gearing seen was what was ridden in the test if that makes sense.
Great review
The noise reduction by shimano is impressive given the E8000 is noisy.
Reliability section was interesting, lots of bad press for the Brose but good to see the newer versions have improvements.
We can see Rob's life passing away with each new uphill test.
Hi. Thanks for the great review - it's really helpful. I live in the Alps and it's clear that this is the year of the ebike - everyone around here has one. They have transformed this place into a giant playground. Like you, I found the Bosch motor a complete monster and that is what I have gone for.
Shimano wins in my book: silent, small and stealthy. Also very smooth power delivery. Who cares about winning a couple of seconds. I don’t.
That lack of motor whine from Shimano was really an "ear opener" :-D I really liked it.
but the rattle -.-
@@zakhodgson3455 They are trying to reduce the rattle. We will see.
One thing you didn't cover was warranty/customer service. I took my Cube 160 action team to a local bike shop for a small service. The guy said I had a noisy bearing. I didn't even know. Because it was still under warranty, Bosch replaced the entire motor which I thought was amazing. Cheers Rob.
Thanks Rob for being willing to discuss the 2.1 Brose failure issue On another popular e-bike channel, if you write anything negative about their sponsors (i.e., specialized), they go into attack mode. I stopped watching that other channel because its become an informercial of BS.
I have Merida e160 2019 (Shimano e8000 motor), waiting for Levo 2021 (Brose 2.1) to arrive. One e8000 motor was replaced due to large freewheel travel (at 3000+ km), but then it was given for another guy who did 1000+ km his motor arrived (motor is still alive). Me and my mates used STUnlocker to tune motor to lower power, so I can't see why e8000 is bad, because even with decreased power input it was joy to ride. I'm 116 kg, so IMO e8000 is quick reliable motor if not derestricted.
Decided on Levo (Brose 2.1) because I could order the size and color I like and wanted to try something else. I bet the EP8 will be really nice, and reliable powerful motor in use. I really appreciate the way Shimano integrates the whole system with Di2 wires: much-much-much cleaner that Brose, much more water resistant (we failed to kill e8000 in small river and power washing without a luck))).
Hopefully, all other motor systems will follow Shimano path in integrating different components the way Steps does it - it's super clean, easy to mix and match parts from different series, huge options of display (it will work even without display BTW).
Yamaha for me too. 2 Years on my PW and over 1500km and never failed me - 2 years on my PW-X and over 1000km and no issues so far. There's a reason Sam Pilgrim uses it even though he has a choice of 3 motors with Haibike. Great comparison Rob. Mostly fair although I felt your ever so slight bias to Brose and Spesh. First love and all that.
I have the PW-X and after 2200km I still have no issues! It's an amazing motor. Girlfriend has the PW and approx 1000km and it's still perfect, mind you these were used 2017 Haibikes.
Purion is quite big and chunky but it's not that expensive. I smashed mine up at the weekend, crashing, and was quite surprised I could get a replacement for under £80.
It proves how used to ebikes you get when a 20 second burst knackers you out. I must be fit as a fiddle going up hills all day on a 2010 gt avalanche.
Hey Rob Rides Emtb! Nice motor comparison vid! Good job on the testing parameters noise, power, integration and reliability! Riding some lately but First big storm of fall here today! Ride ride ride!
I would like to see you review the Rocky Mountain Powerplay line of E-bikes!
Here is the thing about climbing. All the motors will get you to the top. Unless you are in a race, speed means nothing. I don't waste much energy on hills, especially steep hills. Gear down, reduce my rpm's and let the motor do it's job. I can climb anything that I can keep my front tire down on (as can we all). Turns out the newton/meter ratings mean next to nothing to the average rider. I thought the other factors Rob mentioned were more important in picking out the motor. Lastly, the one factor left off was the whether or not the motor have a "automatic support mode," like the Yamaha and Bosch have. That mode is all I ride in for the most part. I have the Yamaha PWX-2 and I love that feature. All I ever do is change gears when I am riding. In fact, I would never buy a new bike that didn't have that feature.
The power output of the batteries will make a difference to how the motor performs. To truly test you'd have to have the same batteries with the same capacity and power output, and also the bikes would have to be the same weight at least.
I was also thinking that and also maybe different manufacturers may tune the motors different for different bikes
@@kevinkvs9746 yeah definitely use different levers etc to manipulate torque figures
It's not just the batteries (more to the point the ESR) but also the H bridge type and how the software drives the H bridge as well as the type of wire used (bad wiring can drop 3% easily). Very high frequency H bridge PWMing will also cause more heat loss in the H bridge AND more wire losses (skin effect etc).
@@gordonlawrence1448 yeah you've lost me there Gords that's past my comprehension of the subject 😅
@Click Bait What are you going on about? That comment does not seem to be relevant to anything in this thread.
shimano FTW per size/noise = stealth. they nailed 3 of the most significant advances in mtb history: spd pedals, indexed shifting & hyperglide. EP8 has all-metal gears, no belts or plastic cogs.
I Wanted to change my shimano steps E8000 motor with the new EP8 but now that I saw your great video, I’ve changed my mind .
I would to go for Bosh or Brose
It's kind of a tradition, that shimano is always weaker than the competitors. So it's mostly interesting for sporty drivers, that like a very silent motor (at least at the uphills). It depends on your planned usage, which motor suits you best, I guess
Come ON Profit 2020
Qu’est-ce que tu veux dire par là ?
Congratulations Rob, nice video!
That's the kind of info people need, not spec sheets and assumptions based on it! Just two things missing, "motor drag" above 25km/h or with the motor switched off and battery consumption (efficiency test). Maybe something for your next video ;)
Cheers Nelson. I’d say that the biggest factor on drag above the limit is no longer the motor but the tyres. All the motors are really good above the limit!
@@RobRidesEMTB I agree with Rob on this. Tyres change everything...
Small, light, relatively silent, good integration makes me forgive a little power loss on the Shimano. Brose being the alternative.
I have the ep8 and its not really slow lol. But they want speed give them haibikes with 120nm. The ep8 I have is with a Husqvarna and I had my haibike like 2018 or 17 and it is dogshit in comparison to ep8 it has power. As much as I need on enduro riding.
back to back means you get tired every effort you put in. those few seconds are maybe not even legit. They all seem great.. the cadence difference is alot though
bosch gen 4 has full cadence power with a nice 85nm. Yamaha doesnt react on higher cadences as you say, so it should need a more precise gearing change. right?
Rob you didn't test the giant bike, it's a tuned version of the yamaha motor plus the handlebar controller is waaay neater.
Agree about display. Not required on an emtb. Just need to know how much juice you have left. I reckon giant nailed it with the ride one controller
Agreed... I just bought a Trance E+ and that compact controller is awesome. Also, it outputs the battery % and the assist mode to my Garmin when I use it for longer rides and that’s all I need.
Great video Rob. I’d take the Bosch once again. They make great battery drills so always ahead with reliability.
ktm 300 And windscreen wiper motors. That was the first ever iteration of an Bosch eBike motor.
I know a fellow rider with a Bosch powered on a mountain bike 7000 miles and no problems.
Why don’t DeWalt and Milwaukee make them? Seems a no brained.
@@jeffforbess6802 Probably because they don’t want to mess with that, some Chinese company may be manufacturers and slaps a label on it it’s a done deal, no interest to expand. I think they would have a hard time keeping up with Bosch though
Nice simple test / review & the new Bosch & Brose in real trail riding are pretty equal , my riding buddies have a selection of these motors & this bears out my thoughts, keep em comming.
Great comparison, still loving my Brose even if not the quickest, 1350 miles and no issues so far
Good for you but that doesn't say much yet, a customer of ours rode his old Bosch motor for 30000km (18641 miles).
I do about 3k miles a year very skeptical about an ebike, if it brakes probz alot to repair and whats the battery life and cost for separate batterys
@@socialising6037 Batterie is often the most expensive thing to replace on an e-bike. Honestly as someone who does almost everything with his bike I would say only get an e-bike if you need to go a lot of uphill, if you live in hilly or a mountainous area its great otherwise no need.
@@woffordwolf2071 yh just been on a website messing around and to change a battery was 3500 lol I think I'll stick to getting a trek fuel ex but I do like the look of the new vitus e-sommet, think the yt is just a lil out my price range as I won't us it all the time due to other hobbies
@@woffordwolf2071 These downhill ebikes are intended to save you power when going uphill. For city riding I have custom built Cube Analog XXL 29" With 1000W central hub motor and 52V 2KW/H huge battery built into the mid frame. It gives me around 150km range with so much power, I carry kids and shopping stuff on my trunk and cruise around city daily. 1000km per month usually with almost no maintenance to electrical part
And after all Bafang Ultra (M620) eats these toys for breakfast! Not including Bafang motors clearly shows that sponsors don't want the people see Bafang as a competitor because they know which motor delivers real fun. Bafang Ultra rocks!
Really really enjoyed that technical analysis Rob I think one of the most informative videos you’ve done so far keep it going really enjoyed the content your producing.
Bosch all the way everyday...... Awesome reliability... And constant power without battery drain..... Combined in a trek
Out of wind rider, "It goes so quick." LOL. Next time, get a Bafang.
If you want a DIY solution the TSDZ2 is a better fit. The Bafangs are a beast powerwise, but I don't like them on the trail, the TSDZ2 is smoother, way quieter, and keeps the bike feel when riding single track. The Bafang M500 looks really interesting through.
@@rfwillett2424 Wrong, bafang my620/g510 with 160nm and super smooth torque sensor will put the tsdz2 to shame, and it can take massive amounts of power, some people run 72v batteries with it up to 2000w
@@ricardorodrigues3508 Like I said the Bafang is a beast, but they are a totally different experiences to actually ride. The very smooth Torque sensing of the TSDZ2 to me is superior, my old GNG mid drive and my Bafang were both more like mopeds I could pedal, my TSDZ2 Gives me a bike that helps me along without me hardly noticing the motor. I repeat ,the Bafang is excellent, so is the TSDZ2 it's a matter of what you want.
It's pretty clear which engine is king. Also a name well renowned for Electric Reliability. The Bosch CX4 really works and the display I like. I'm waiting on a 6 amp charger to suit so I can ride when I am away without having to wait forever for a full charge. At my age getting up the bigger hills helps. Interesting with the motor noise I'm not hearing it as Rob describes it. Reliability and power is king and the EMTB mode is brilliant! Be careful with the kit on the bike you choose because the power is not kind to chains etc if you abuse the system, I'm still learning.
Great video Rob! These are the most popular motors. I personally have Bosch. I would like to see a comparison with other less popular motors, such as the Dyname 3.0 (Canadian), Polini EP3 MX (Italian) and Olieds sport (Italian). That would be really interesting :)
Non-fancy, discreet display is a plus for me. Thefts leave them alone and it doesnt distract me in traffic.
Thanks for the test! You definitely gave it your best!
Rob, if you can e-ride uphill your belly? For the colossal 20-25 seconds?!? In a TURBO mode? That is what e-bikes are built for!😆 Nice video, btw!👍 You should be editing and narrating videos, mostly, instead of moving your belly in all possible clock and anti-clock wise directions... in front of our FACES!😉
What?
You forgot the Bafang motor, I see them everywhere.
👍 You have right
Yea man sort it out
Let’s see. Bafang started in 1998 and had product in 2003. Bosch started in 2009 and had product in 2010. I wonder why the granddaddy of ebike motor suppliers was left off this list? Probably because of the low performance limits in Europe. They don’t even bother looking at real powerful motors.
@@shockadellick CYC is too loud for a stealh build
@@TheManShaker
True...the more I got into electric builds, the more i became aware the CYC was too loud. Plus the cost was too much.
I bought a Soma Riff frame for the build and decided not to go that way because of cost.
I'm not paying more for a toy motor which cost more than my CRF230's motor.
My Riff frame will be used on something cheaper but equivalent to the CYC. You have any Ideas?
We’ll…. As an old man, looking for an ebike to make my rides EAZY…… his breathlessness I find discouraging! He seems fit. I want to be less breathless!
Hey guys. Thanks for the review. It's well done. One thing that I was surprised to see is how badly integrated the motors are in terms of leaving gaps and nooks and crannies for mud and water to get in. I was expecting the bike manufacturers to take care of that with extra little plastic or silicone pieces to close all these gaps and reduce the overall reliability of the motors. It's not like you can go home and power wash these areas. It's not looking like a good idea to me.
Do you feel the same or do you think its a non-issue?
Another great, informative video Rob'👍. I have a 2020 e160 9000 and have recently bought a Kenevo, partly due to you experiences (and the fact I tend to break bikes). For a heavier rider like myself at 100+kg, the extra torque of the Brose motor over the Shimano (E8000 not the EP8) makes a big difference to the ride experience.
Hi Rob, would you agree that the feel is more important than max power output? Low end torque and response (natural feel) above high cadence output? As in normal ride, i rarely go maximum power (me and the motor) for more than few seconds in technical section.
In than regard, what would be be your pick?
Awesome test runs Thanks, good to hear about some feedback on these motors. I am still old school.
johnfarmingdale Resistance is futile John!!
Would like to see the Bafang Ultra included.
My Bafang Ultra would put all of these ebikes too shame... it's insane that Specialized would have a 10,000 3bike and put such a small motor inside. i understand the one size fit's all idea behind ebikes so they are all standard, Internationally, but many people here in the states will not buy these ebikes for that purpose. It's like having a 200,000 dollar Lamborghini and have it come equipped with a 4 cyl. ford Pinto engine. BTW my Ultra has over 160 N.M. of torque and 2,500 watts. You will not breathe hard at all going up any hill! No "Hike-A-Bike' here in the States! We fly as fast going up the Hills as we do going down! You're missing out on half the fun! Great Video! take care brother!
Very interesting test and that confirmed what I sensed when I was testing the Bosch and EP8 back to back. I thought the EP8 was about as powerful, but only smoother. The Bosch felt more brutal, but again I thought that was just how the power was delievered. Now you confirm that there actually is more power coming from the Bosch which was very surprising considering the specs and that the EP8 is brand new! I still like the EP8 though, hopefully a firmware upgrade could make some difference.
Super test and the most important. It's not what brand of bike you like but what motor you want and then which brand has that motor. Bosch has been at it the longest and have made the most advances. Its the one to have...
Why not add a Bafang Ultra to the comparison?
I really don't understand why either. I have one, it's simply a monster.
arent they much bigger and stronger? so the comparison would be absurd?!
@@woffordwolf2071 first of all they are without stupid 25 kph restriction.
@@chriskros8858 xactly so whats the point of comparing apples to oranges?
@@woffordwolf2071 of course it is incomparable Bafang is higher level.
It was a very nice test, I chose Bosch 4 genes. Thank you👍👍👍👍👍
I got a yamaha on my city bike, i actually love the motor whine. It gives me the feeling being on a motorcycle, if it would do 60km/h i would sell my motorcycle because that beast is going to cost me my license
It's a great motor isn't it. Have a look at Volspeed..
ebike is not about controlling the motor by the legs :)
I used to have some monster bikes. GSX1400 was the most fun. Yoshi pipes the whole works.
Just change the position of the magnet and you'll get to 40-50 km/h. Search Yt how to do it, its out there.
Get a bafang motor m620 you will do 60kph no peddling or bafang bbhsd
Do eBike motors have a service schedule in order to maintainthe warranty as per forks & shocks
Thanks! I really like real world comparisons. It would be interesting to see the current draw of these motors riding at a constant speed up a level road / hill to determine the efficiency of the package.
I'll go with the quietest. It is very annoying to hear high pitch noises in nature. My Bafang BBs02 is super quiet. Love it!
I have a Shimano motor
Tried the Bosch and Yamaha as well and the Shimano just feels the most organic!
The feel on the Yamaha was alright, but what I really disliked about the Bosch was that with every gear shift, there was this half-second delay where the power would cut off completely and the motor had to “decide” how much torque to give…
It was extremely odd and really took me out of my riding flow, especially on uphill sections….
Whereas with the Shimano I felt like a more athlectic normal cyclist, with the Bosch you were rudely reminded of your own unfitness every time you shifted gears at an incline when the power would cut out for that half second…
Yes the most important test is feeling and smoothness...not drag racing.
Bought a Giant Yamaha 80nm syncrond drive Yamaha Motor,400on the batteri its ok 4 me.have a done bought a good one ,2020model and a Girl had IT onke gone 10kmt
Interesting review. I have a 2021 Turbo Levo Comp with the new Brose 2.1, and I have two friends - one with a Shimano E8000 and the other has an EP8. When we ride, I can hear them both riding next to me, but my brose is near silent. I thought it was interesting that your test EP8 was silent. I wonder if they did anything to the EP8 recently to make it quieter. Great review though!
Would love to hear about the Rocky mountain motor if you ever get the chance!
Nice video and it's a nice bike too but since it is a paddle assist but due to my health I would like add throttle in my cube bike, please advise in detail on how to go about it ?
How do you forget the most used and most popular motor of all time the Bafang. 🤔
good question. bafang does't need it. like xiaomi doesn't need too)))
Great job. This vid will get shared a ton no doubt. Awesome dive into durability and great that you tapped bearing mans knowledge on them all
Great content as always Rob! I've always loved the Brose because it's quiet and feels natural but looks like I gotta try the Shimano EP8 Now! You should've done a Bafang too haha
I tried one last week and was really impressed .very smooth
I hope they come up with a fix for the rattle noise on the EP8. That much noise will be a deal breaker for many.
I'll watch this with a cuppa in a minute.... 😋
Just doing the same now🚲😁
What happened? I have biscuits
Tea in my country sucks. No one knows how to prepare it. My great grandfather did. Miss him.
Great comparison video.
One thing you could of added is how the "resistance" feels when you pedal above the 25km/h cutout.
I ride a Norco Sight VLT with a Shimano E8000. My 2 complaints are the rattle when coasting over rough terrain(descending), and the resistance when the assistance cuts out (also descending).
I'm interested how the Rocky Mountain Powerplay compares. Probably the most non-e-bike feeling e-bike I've ridden.
So many positive comments for such vague journalism. Rob seems like a nice guy, but this feels more like a marketing exercise from the 'big 4' than a proper comparison test. Unfortunately 99% of people will never get to compare all 4 motors at once, so this is a huge missed opportunity and statements like "it's not very scientific" should be warning signs to Rob that he was heading in the wrong direction. It costs about $150 for a calibrated broadcast mic and preamp, so no excuses there. Such a setup could be used from a 3rd person POV for the noise tests. A 20 second 'drag race' proves very little - what’s wrong with a few different scenario's? eg Rocky climb, a long climb, a short climb, a smooth tight downhill to test on/off behaviour etc. There’s nothing wrong with subjective testing, so long as it is backed up objectively. Please do over for the rest of us that don’t have the access to bikes that you have Rob.
As always, a great video Rob. Keep up the good work.👍
Hey Rob. Been watching your videos for a while now and let me just tell you, you provide some amazing content! Really appreciate the honest, well thought out reviews and your dedication to quality production. Bravo Sir. 👏
WOW “ You really do get stuck in , Thanks for this (congratulations) very informative......... I’m moving to Ireland soon near Lough neigh,
You’ve made me realise how important choosing the right motor over the bike. Bosch seems to have the edge for me.
I really hate the 25km/h limitation. Anything above that is like trying to run thru a swamp!
I've wondered about that. Is there no way to access the governor?
Not here in Australia....I thought that was why you left the EU.....regulations.
Great job,Rob.1st time I see a report of Noise....Test..I wish manufacturers should take note.also weight.too
And now test the Yamaha motor with the Giant firmware ;-) Named as Giant Syncdrive it is the most dynamic motor you can have.
Agreed.
Yes. soft precise power delivery and in my case 20-30% less power consumption compared to Bosch.
You must try Bafang motor to test up the hill
Really good comparison there, Rob, you covered all the important aspects. I still can't decide tho - I love the brute force of the Bosch, and I love the natural feel of the Shimano. Dayyum.
( laughs in his 11KW motor thatll do this in 4 seconds )
Hi Rob
I have cube touring hybrid one 500 electric bike 2020 and it's a nice bike but since it is a paddle assist but due to my health I would like to add throttle in my cube bike, please advise in detail on how to go about it ?
I would appreciate your expert advise in maintaining my passion of riding my bike despite my health limitations.
Thank You,
WHERE IS THE BAFANG M600?