DJI Avinox Software Update

DJI has given its Avinox motor a comprehensive software update. The motor now produces up to 1000 watts—and that’s even without boost. But what’s really behind the update? What features are new? And: How does the riding feel change? And under what circumstances are the 1000 watts even available? We put it to the test.

The update can be conveniently installed via the DJI app. Even with a moderate internet connection, the installation was completed in just under eight minutes. Our tip: it’s best to perform the update over Wi-Fi, as some data will be transferred. The necessary DJI app is not available in the Playstore but must be downloaded directly from DJI.

The strategy of launching hardware early and improving it later with software updates is well-known in the tech world – however, it is still rather unusual with e-bikes. Here, DJI is taking a modern, update-based approach that, in terms of innovation speed, is likely to give the major industry players – like Bosch – something to think about.

The update introduces a feature that few other systems offer: if you’re riding a bike with an electronic SRAM AXS drivetrain, you can now shift while coasting – the motor lightly moves the chainring to enable the gear change. This is practical on flow trails, before tight corners, or during sudden terrain changes.

Important: This only works with electronic shifting – not with mechanical cable-actuated versions.

Particularly exciting in terms of durability: The motor temporarily reduces power when shifting to preserve the chain and cassette. Sporty riders might feel the dip in power, but those who think long-term (and ride expensive T-Type components) will appreciate this feature.

A clever idea for more tranquility at the rear: The motor can preload the freehub in the rear wheel—this eliminates the typical rattling noise often associated with e-bikes.

If you enjoy tweaking your setup, the update offers new options: Ride modes can now be arranged individually, and data screens with up to 8 pieces of information can be freely configured—all directly in the app. Convenient, but rather secondary compared to the motor performance.

During our tests, we explored the performance range of the Avinox motor under realistic conditions:

We always determine the motor’s output power over a test period of about 2 minutes. The specified values are smoothed over this period. At peak, the motor even delivers over 1000 watts.

In short: If you want to unlock the full potential, you have to pedal—and do it quickly. At around 90 RPM, the motor really kicks in. At times, during sprints, the display shows that over 1000 watts are available—even when measured consistently, we’re at about 950 W.

If a cadence of 90 is too high for you, you can still access the motor’s full power at lower cadences with the Boost function. The additional 15 Nm of torque in Boost mode makes maximum power possible from about 70 RPM.