Maxon Drive Air S Review

Until now, e-MTB riders had to pick their poison: either the full grunt of a heavy motor or the natural ride feel of a quiet light-assist system. Swiss motor specialist Maxon aims to end that dilemma with the Drive Air S. The motor is said to deliver the same punch as a Shimano EP801, while being as compact, lightweight, and whisper-quiet as a TQ HPR 60.

In our standardized test setup (100 kg system weight, 150 W input, 85 rpm), the Drive Air S cranked out an impressive 470 watts. That puts it almost on par with a classic 4th-gen Bosch CX (480 W) or the Shimano EP801, and clearly above light-assist motors like the TQ HPR 50 (around 300 W) or the Bosch SX (370 W).

Motors like the DJI Avinox or the 5th-gen Bosch CX are now pushing well over 600 watts—and peaking at up to 1000 watts. As a result, bikes with these motors are moving further and further away from a natural ride feel and more toward being outright powerhorses. The debate is in full swing, and not everyone thinks this kind of power flex makes sense on rigs that are mostly ridden on forest roads. We also ran an opinion piece that very clearly calls the whole thing into question.

The power delivery on the Maxon Drive Air S is deliberately tuned for a sporty ride. If you just want to cruise along at a low cadence, you won’t get much assist out of the motor.

Its cadence “sweet spot” starts at 85 rpm. It also asks for solid rider input: only from around 175 watts of your own power does the system unlock full output. That makes the drivetrain especially interesting for riders who still see mountain biking as a sport and don’t want to be riding at full assist all the time. If you’re willing to put in the work to access maximum support, the motor will give you a solid 320% assistance in return.

From the 400 battery hardwired into the Dirtlab’s downtube, we got 1,056 vertical meters of range again under standardized test criteria at full-assist. That’s plenty for most rides, but for truly big days in the saddle it definitely pays to save battery by dropping into the mid support mode. Output drops by roughly 30%, and range should increase by about the same margin. In mid mode, you’re power-wise on par with a Fazua Ride 60 or a Bosch SX.

For comparison: from a Bosch SX motor with a 400 battery, we squeezed out 1,244 vertical meters under completely identical conditions before the battery tapped out. A TQ HPR 50 motor paired with a 360 Wh battery manages 1,098 vertical meters here. All figures were always measured in each system’s maximum motor support, which is noticeably lower on the two systems mentioned than on the Maxon Drive Air S.

The 250 Wh Range Extender is a must for tour riders.

In the video linked above, we’ve included comparable sound files that clearly show one thing: when it’s boosting, the Maxon Drive Air S is actually quieter than the TQ HPR 60. And up to now, that motor has been the sound benchmark. Motors like the Shimano EP801, the Bosch CX, or the DJI Avinox are noticeably louder.

No motor delivers its power more discreetly. Even charging down a singletrack, the motor’s gearbox doesn’t rattle. That’s proper mountain bike feel right there. Instead of cassette chatter, you’re back to hearing the sounds of nature while you’re ripping through the woods.

Maxon is all about minimalism. Instead of a bulky display, you get an ANT+ interface that streams data straight to your existing GPS head units (Garmin, Wahoo, Sigma Sport, etc.). That saves weight and keeps the cockpit clean and clutter-free.

The charger concept is a two-part setup: a compact 2-amp unit for your pack and a 6-amp fast charger for home that tops off the battery in 4–5 hours.

The mode-switch lever for selecting assist levels is just as pared-back and has a great tactile feel. The Swiss don’t leave anything to chance here.