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6 E-Bike Motors in Comparison

The motor is the component that most influences the riding characteristics of an EMTB. That’s why in our video series, we focus on comparing the most exciting full power motors of 2025. In the second part of our series, we cover motor management and the ride feel conveyed by motors from Bosch, DJI, Shimano, and others.

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The most exciting full power e-bike motors in 2025 will come from Bosch, DJI, Shimano, Yamaha, and Brose Motors. Some of them, like the DJI Avinox or the Bosch CX of the fifth generation, have recently caused quite a stir. Others, like the Brose (Specialized 2.2) or the Shimano EP801 motor, have almost been somewhat overlooked in media attention. For this reason, we organized a test of the most exciting models where you can compare the performance of the newcomer motors one-to-one with those of the slightly older motors.

Currently, e-bike buyers face this exact decision. Do I get a bike with a brand-new motor, or are certain compromises with older motors acceptable if it fits my bike budget? Following our first video on noise levels, we focus exclusively on motor control and riding feel in this video.

E-Bike Motors Test — The motor control of an e-bike motor is more complex than you might think. This is because an e-bike doesn't have a finely adjustable throttle. The motor, along with its control system, must accurately assess the dynamic input from the pedals and the riding situation to draw the appropriate conclusions.

These motors are included in our comparative test

Bosch CX Gen 5

Bosch CX Gen 5 Sounds Bosch CX Gen 5 motor control
The Bosch Performance Line CX received an update in the fall of 2024. The latest version (Generation 5 or also called BDU38) has since then big shoes to fill. Because the predecessor was Germany’s most popular motor. Bosch mainly tinkered with the soft skills of the motor for the new edition. While power and torque remain at the well-known 600 watts and 85 Nm, efforts were primarily focused on an update of the motor control and soundscape. Is it enough to keep up with the latest competitors?

The motor was installed on the M1 AM 600 test bike.

Bosch CX Gen 4

Bosch CX Gen 4 motor control Bosch CX Gen 4 Test
The Bosch CX of the 4th Generation may already have a successor, but it is still being sold on many new complete bikes. It has captured the hearts of EMTB riders primarily through its carefree character. The performance figures of 600 watts and 85 Nm of torque are still state of the art. Even in terms of weight and installation space, this motor is still on par with its successor. But can it still impress with the soft skills?

The motor was installed in the Radon Render 9.0.

DJI Avinox

DJI Avinox Motor Control DJI Avinox weight
The DJI Avinox is undoubtedly the rising star among current motors. It combines up to 1000 watts of peak power with 110 NM of torque while weighing just 2.5 kilograms. Touch display and high-resolution sensors set a new standard in the industry. But what about the sound? Can the supposed Chinese super-unit compete with the competition? During the test, we were surprised by an incident.

The motor was installed in an Amflow test bike.

Shimano EP801

Shimano EP801 motor control Shimano EP801 Test
The Shimano EP801 motor has been on the market for over 4 years, yet it remains Shimano’s most current unit. When a manufacturer aims to build a lightweight, affordable full-power bike, this motor is still frequently used. Offering slightly more output than the Bosch competition (about 600 W) and identical torque (85 Nm), the motor is significantly lighter. Furthermore, manufacturers have free access to third-party batteries.

The motor was installed in the Canyon Spectral:ON.

Giant SyncDrive Pro2 (Yamaha)

Giant SyncDrive Pro 2 motor control Giant SyncDrive Pro 2 Review
Yamaha has been a part of the EMTB scene for a long time, but as a motor manufacturer, it doesn’t get as much attention as Bosch or Shimano. Giant, as a major bike manufacturer, increasingly relies on these models, but adds its own software to the Japanese hardware. Under the SyncDrive label, Yamaha motors have achieved significant popularity and relevance. Is there untapped potential in the SyncDrive motors?

The motor was installed in the Giant Trance X Advanced E+.

Specialized 2.2

Brose motor test Specialized 2.2 Motor Test
Just like Yamaha, Brose is experiencing a surge in popularity. The German motors have developed a strong following under the Specialized label. The combination of German hardware and American software set early benchmarks in the young eMTB scene. With 90 Nm of torque and just over 600 watts of power, it slightly outperforms motors from Bosch and Shimano in these areas. However, the significant advantage lies in the belt drive. But is this technology really as quiet as commonly claimed?

The motor was installed in the Specialized Turbo Levo.

We conducted all tests with uniform tires from Schwalbe. Additionally, X-Power power meter pedals from SRM were installed to monitor cadence.

Uniform requirements for every motor

To ensure consistent conditions for each motor, we didn’t just ride on standardized test tracks. We also mounted the same Schwalbe tires on every bike. Up front, we used a Magic Mary, while the rear was equipped with a Big Betty. And to check the cadence (and for further tests also the power), we worked with X-Power with SRM watt measurement pedals. We thank all partners for their support in this test. Additionally, the online retailer Alltricks was a crucial partner in making this extensive test possible.

E-bike motor test — Our soundcheck and the test of the motor control were just the beginning. More tests are yet to come.

These tests are still to come

In addition to the first test on the sound of these motors and this episode on motor control, further tests with the same test field but with different focuses will follow. Specifically, more videos on the topic of range and motor performance will be released in the coming weeks. Subscribe to our newsletter in the footer of the website to ensure you don’t miss the videos on performance, range. This will give you a complete picture for your E-MTB purchasing decision.

About the author

Ludwig Döhl

... has spent more than 100,000 kilometers in the saddle of over 1000 different mountain bikes. The bottom line from many hours on the trail: mountain bikes are awesome if they match your personal preferences! With this insight, he founded bike-test.com to help bikers find their very own dream bike.