Avinox’s latest M2S motor delivers huge gains in power and torque over the revered M1, but does it improve your ride experience on the trail, or just drain the battery quicker?
Ebike motor development has followed a predictable path for several years: more refinement, slightly more power, marginal gains in efficiency and a bit less weight.
Then the Avinox M1 arrived in 2025 and blew the ebike motor market wide open. It outgunned existing options from Bosch, Specialized and Shimano for power, torque and user experience.
Now Avinox has released its new flagship M2S motor. On paper, it dwarfs the M1. It pushes performance into territory that makes you question how much power is genuinely useful on the trail.
So, I set out to see how capable and practical the new M2S is. I tested the new motor and the M1 back-to-back, on the same trails and in the same conditions over several weeks.
Is the extra grunt a real advantage, or just headline numbers? And, more importantly, which one would I want on my bike? A small clue: the new motor won me over.
- Read more: Avinox is taking over – here are 14 bikes you can buy with its incredible new M2 and M2S motors
Avinox M1 vs M2S details
On paper, the jump from the original M1 to the M2S is huge. Maximum output rises to 1,500W and 150Nm. That's a 50 per cent increase in power and 23.8 per cent more torque over the M1’s 1,000W and 120Nm. Both figures are in time-limited Boost mode.
In Turbo mode, the highest continuous setting, the output climbs from 100W and 105Nm to 1,300W and 130Nm. That puts the M2S into a different league on raw numbers alone.
Avinox has managed to achieve this by introducing its new FP700 integrated 700Wh battery, with a claimed 3.18kg weight and energy density of 220Wh/kg. This enables you to reach those enormous power and torque figures.
If worth noting there’s a second new motor, the M2. It’s powered by removable RS800 (800Wh), or RS600 (600Wh) batteries. These don’t quite deliver the same energy density or enable the maximum power and torque of the FP700. This means the M2 motor outputs 1,100W and 125Nm peak torque.
Avinox M1 vs M2S performance
What surprised me most is how similar the M1 and M2S feel on the trail – not in outright power, but in how they deliver it.
Straight away, the M2S feels familiar. Power builds naturally and stays connected to your input. There is no jerkiness or harsh surging when you press on the pedals. Stamp hard and you get strong acceleration, but it never feels chaotic. Ease off and the motor responds just as smoothly.
That matters on technical climbs – you can balance grip and power to clear steep sections or pick your way over roots and rocks.
Even so, the gap between the M1 and M2S on tight, technical climbs is smaller than you might expect. You don’t get a 50 per cent boost in climbing ability; the need for control through the pedals limits how much of that 1,300W and 130Nm you can use.
Where the M2S stands out is in how it carries momentum. The added power helps keep the bike moving over roots, rocks and awkward step-ups. Instead of stalling or needing a big pedal input, it just keeps driving forward.
That extra speed also improves stability. With more forward momentum, the front wheel stays planted and is less likely to lift on steep pitches. The bike feels more composed and easier to control as a result.
The M1 is still impressive here. It climbs well, delivers power smoothly and handles technical terrain confidently. But, ridden back-to-back, it lacks that top-end urgency. It feels slightly flatter and needs more rider input to keep things moving.
Where the power comes from
The M2S uses flat copper wire instead of traditional round wire. This enables more copper to be packed into the same space. That increases the strength of the magnetic field, boosting power and torque without making the motor bigger.
Avinox says the motor size is almost unchanged. The claimed weight is 2.6kg – very close to the M1’s 2.52kg.
So, how does that power feel on the trail?
On mellower trails, fire-road climbs or rolling trail-centre terrain, the extra power is not a big advantage. The M1 already has enough grunt to hit the 25kph ebike speed limit in Turbo and Boost modes.
Both motors turn climbs into something closer to flow trails. Both deliver proper uphill fun, which is still not common in mountain biking.
The M2S gets up to speed quicker. It also drives harder out of corners and up short, steep pitches. However, it's not a night-and-day difference. The main benefit is that it holds speed with less rider effort.
Things change on steeper climbs. Here, the M2S starts to dominate. It makes a mockery of gradients that would usually need careful pacing and gear choice. It accelerates hard and holds speed, driving forward as resistance builds rather than bogging down or forcing you to shift.
On steep climbs, the extra torque is obvious. You can stay seated, stay balanced and let the motor do more of the work. It's almost ridiculous how quickly it climbs in Boost mode. It will hold the 25kph cut-off on gradients that would otherwise feel like a grind.
In Turbo mode, it still flies up climbs where most eMTBs, and even the M1, would start to slow. With its power and delivery, I was able to clear climbs on the M2S that I've never managed with other motors.
Power and responsibility
There's no getting around it: the M2S is incredibly powerful. In the right setting, it can feel almost limitless on climbs. But that comes with a reality check.
Most of the time, you simply cannot use all of that power. Not on shared trails. Not around other riders. Not when you're riding in a group with people on less powerful bikes.
If you do, you will spend the whole ride either waiting for, or riding away from your mates. Neither makes for a good day out.
The truth is, much of the M2S’s performance is only fully usable when you are riding alone, or on quiet trails where you're not affecting anyone else. That extra speed and drive is impressive, but it often ends up feeling more like a party trick than something you use all the time.
There is also a responsibility that comes with it. More speed uphill means more chance of surprising other trail users. It is on you to manage that. Control your speed. Be aware of others. Ride within the trail, not just the limits of the motor.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Avinox M1 vs M2S motor gearing
Another significant change is in the motor’s gearing. The M2S uses helical gears with a dual-engagement design, rather than the straight-cut gears in the M1.
That does two things: it increases load capacity, enabling the system to handle higher torque and power; it also reduces noise and vibration by keeping the gears meshed more consistently.
On the trail, even at full power, the M2S is quieter – impressively so. The M1 is not a loud motor, but it produces a noticeable whine in higher-power modes and a slight rattle on rough trails.
By comparison, the M2S is almost silent on descents. It feels more refined and less intrusive.
Avinox M1 vs M2S heat management and efficiency
One of the less obvious, but more important upgrades is how the M2S manages heat. Ebike motors are often limited not by peak power, but by how long they can sustain it. Once temperatures rise, most systems reduce output to protect the internal components.
The M2S addresses this with improved thermal management. New temperature sensors monitor heat more accurately, while revised internals and a smoother gear system reduce heat build-up and internal losses. Less energy is wasted as heat, and there's improved dissipation through the motor casing, enable the M2S to hold higher power for longer.
Overall motor efficiency has increased from a claimed 82 per cent to 84.5 per cent.
On the trail, that translates to more consistent performance. The motor does not fade as quickly on long climbs or repeated efforts. It feels just as strong near the top of a climb as it does at the bottom. Even riding consistently in Turbo mode, I could not get the M2S to thermal throttle.
The M1 is still solid, but it cannot match the same level of sustained output.
Avinox M1 vs M2S speed
On a 12km loop with 700m of climbing, the difference between the two motors was clear. In Turbo mode, the M2S completed the loop in 34 minutes – four minutes faster than the M1.
The M2S used 56 per cent of its 700Wh battery, while the M1 used 49 per cent of its 800Wh battery. That means both systems used exactly 392Wh to complete the ride.
Despite the jump in power, both motors used the same amount of energy – the M2S just did it faster. That suggests real-world efficiency is at least on a par with the M1, but it delivers that performance over a shorter period of time.
What changes is how that energy is used. The M2S draws power at a higher rate, so if you ride it hard in Turbo or Boost mode, it will drain the battery faster. You are covering ground more quickly, but you are also getting through the battery sooner.
Ride both motors at the same pace, and the range is likely to be similar. Use the M2S’s extra power frequently and the overall range will drop compared to the M1.
That means the range depends less on the system and more on how tempted you are to use the performance on offer.
Avinox M1 vs M2S apps
The M2S app builds on the foundation set by the M1, but pushes it much further. The core layout and usability remain the same and it's still one of the easiest systems to navigate. Where it has improved is in the depth it offers.
The ability for customisation has expanded significantly. You can fine tune the assistance level, start response, sustained support, torque limits and motor overrun. It feels less like selecting modes and more like tuning the bike’s behaviour.
Boost mode is also more advanced. On the M1, it's a simple maximum-power setting for 30 seconds. On the M2S, you can control how long Boost lasts between 10 and 60 seconds.
Navigation is another step forward. You can now import routes from third parties and follow them directly on the display, with turn prompts and live guidance.
Heart-rate based assist adds a training element. When paired with a monitor, the system adjusts motor support based on your effort to help you stay within a target zone.
There are also smaller usability gains. Maintenance mode improves safety when working on the bike, for example.
The M1 already set a high bar and the M2S maintains the original's simplicity, but adds a deeper level of control.
What's not perfect?
One area that has not changed significantly is pedalling resistance above the speed limit.
Like the M1, the M2S still feels draggy once assistance cuts out. It is not a deal-breaker, but it is noticeable, especially on flatter terrain where you're riding above the limiter – which is easy to reach with the M2S’s immense power.
Battery accuracy at low charge could also be improved, too. At around 12 per cent remaining, the M2S dropped quickly to 5 per cent and entered a reduced-power mode. I did not experience the same behaviour with the M1.
Avinox M1 vs M2S Key specifications
Avinox M2S
- 1,500W peak power
- 150Nm peak torque
- 800 per cent power asssit
- 2.6kg
- IP66 rating (dust and waterproofing)
- Avinox FP700 battery (700Wh)
- £8,999 (Amflow PX Carbon Pro as tested)
Avinox M1
- 1,000W peak power
- 120Nm peak torque
- 800 per cent power assist
- 2.52kg
- No official IP ratings
- Avinox 800Wh battery
- £8,999 (Amflow PL Carbon Pro as tested)
Avinox M1 vs M2S bottom line
The Avinox M1 and M2S motors are matched closely in some areas, but they deliver very different riding experiences.
The M1 remains an excellent system. It offers smooth, intuitive power delivery, strong climbing performance and enough output to make most terrain feel manageable. For many riders, it already provides more than enough assistance, with a more measured and predictable character that is easy to live with on everyday rides.
The M2S builds on that foundation and pushes it further. It delivers significantly more power and torque, but crucially, it does so without losing the natural, controlled feel that made the M1 so impressive. On technical climbs, its ability to maintain momentum and stability gives it a clear advantage, while on steeper terrain it outperforms the M1.
Despite the increase in output, efficiency remains broadly comparable. Both motors used the same amount of energy over the test loop, with the M2S completing it faster. That means the difference in range comes down more to how you ride than the system itself. Use the extra performance frequently and the range will drop.
The M2S also moves ahead in terms of refinement and usability. It's quieter, holds power more consistently under load and offers far greater control through its software.
Are these motors worth their price? I’d argue yes. Considering you can buy other systems that don’t perform as well for more money. But remember a good ebike isn’t good just because of the motor it has, it’s very much a sum of its parts and how well it rides.
If you value smooth power, simplicity and more than enough performance for most riding, the M1 still makes a strong case.
However, if you want maximum capability, sharper climbing performance and a more adaptable system, the M2S is the clear winner.
You do not need the M2S. But once you have it, it's hard to ignore what it can do.
