Testing the industry’s two best eMTB motors showed me the most important thing about any ebike isn’t the motor itself.
Bosch’s Performance Line CX Gen 5 and DJI’s Avinox M1 are the current motors to beat, both offering loads of torque, power and a natural-feeling ride.
Conquering a technical, steep and long climb can be one of mountain biking’s most rewarding feelings. Done at the speed and with the finesse an electric mountain bike permits, it feels even better.
But while the motor’s doing a chunk of the heavy lifting in terms of propulsion, the rest of the bike’s doing more than you may realise. In fact, it’s generating grip, comfort, smoothness, facilitating line choice and keeping you happy.
The motor could have all the power in the world and offer the most finessed support out there, but it would all be wasted if the bike it was bolted to sucks.
Looking back
You only need to cast your mind back 8 short years to see what I mean.
I’ll concede motor tech was also behind where we are now, but the difference between 75Nm back then and today’s 100Nm isn’t as big as the shifts we’ve had in general bike performance.
Without singling out a specific brand, Scott’s E-Genius from 2017 epitomises how compromised bikes were.
Ignoring the external battery for one second, it had geometry that crippled performance. The large sported a 441mm reach – over 40mm shorter than today’s averages for a similar bike – and a 67.5-degree head angle, a figure that would make modern-day XC racers wince.
Maybe even more surprising are the 490mm chainstays, which threw the front-to-rear balance of the bike into disarray.
Now, I don’t think bolt DJI’s Avinox motor to the 2017 Genius would make it ride any better. Yes, you might be able to climb hills quicker, and the long back end would likely make wheelies virtually impossible. But overall, that bike will not ride any better whether you’re climbing, riding on the flat or descending, even if it had the best motor currently on the market.
Modern-day marvels
I hear the phrase “it’s hard to make a bad bike these days” batted about regularly.
For the most part that holds true. It is hard to make a bike that sucks, but it’s just as hard to make one that’s truly amazing.
DJI’s Amflow is the perfect example. Nothing about it is bad; the geometry raises zero eyebrows, the suspension is solid, performing predictably, while the frame looks sleek and well-made. But ride one and – except for the awesome motor – it’s missing personality, the wow-factor, something to get your heart racing.
Back-to-back testing the Amflow and Pivot’s Shuttle AM really highlighted this.
The Pivot was smooth, turned well, was quick to pick up speed and felt like a bike worth its rather large price tag. It was engaging and fun to ride regardless of whether you were climbing, going along the flat or descending.
And despite it having the lesser-powered motor, it’s the bike I looked forward to riding out of the two.
So what should you do?
Finding the right electric bike motor is crucial – trust me when I say you can’t go far wrong with Bosch or DJI’s systems – but finding the right bike for your needs is even more important.
A few years ago most brands moved to Bosch motors. The knock-on effect of this is there are hardly any manufacturers without a drive unit from the German powerhouse in their lineup. And it’s only going to get better. Avinox motors are now fitted to increasingly more bikes beyond the DJI house brand Amflow. Consumer choice has never been better.
So consider the bike first and try one before you buy. It may have all the right geometry figures and the right suspension travel, but that’s not a guarantee it’ll be fun and engaging to ride.
One you’ve settled on the bike model you want, then think about the motor.
While the immense 1000W peak power of DJI’s system is undeniably amazing, it’s never going to make up for a compromised rig elsewhere.
