

This is especially important for full-suspension mountain bikes because smaller motors leave more room for suspension, better tire clearance, and fewer geometry compromises. And with more and more road and mountain bikes becoming “electrified,” brands are looking to add power without adding a bunch of weight or taking up a ton of space on the frame. What’s New With E-Bike Motors?Īs the momentum of the e-bike trend continues, advancements in motor technology is the obvious next step. But watt hours (Wh) is perhaps a more important figure to use-it takes into account battery output and life to give a more accurate reflection of power (higher Wh equals bigger range). Just like car engines, more torque equals more power off the line and more boost to your pedaling. Look for motor output (in torque), which will give you an idea of total power. Some, like the Yamaha system, have more torque, and others, like Bosch’s Active Line, are nearly silent. (Some bike brands, like Specialized and Giant, use motors that are made specifically for their bikes-the Specialized SL 1.1 is made by Mahle, and the Giant SyncDrive Pro is made by Yamaha.) A few other brands exist but are less reliable or powerful.

Tested: The Best Cheap E-Bikes A Wide Variety of Motors and BatteriesĮ-bikes mostly use motors and battery options from a few major suppliers: Bosch, Yamaha, Shimano, and Brose.
