Hepha All Mountain Review

Bosch is Germany’s most popular motor. However, the dominance of the Schwaben is wavering because more and more competitors are entering the market with their own motors. And the Hepha P101 motor in the Hepha Bike is definitely worth a look.

The Hepha P101 delivers 100 Nm of torque and reaches over 670 watts of output in turbo mode – and that’s with a moderate input of just 150 watts. This clearly surpasses current leaders like Bosch (570 watts) or DJI (580 watts) with the same input.

Remarkably, it delivers its maximum power with just the modest pedaling effort of 150 watts. In contrast to other motors like the Bosch CX or the DJI Avinox, the output does not increase with higher input – demonstrating that Hepha has tuned the system for efficiency and instant power. Bosch and DJI can also achieve these power levels but require 200 or even 250 watts of rider input to the motor.

Despite its high power, the motor remains pleasantly quiet and provides a natural, harmonious riding experience. It feels most comfortable between 70-85 crank revolutions per minute. At high cadences above 90 revolutions per minute, it can’t quite harness its full power potential.

In the down tube of the Hepha All Mountain lies an 804-Wh battery, which under realistic conditions (100 kg system weight, 150 W input power) is enough for 1,990 meters of elevation gain — plus an additional 140 meters after the motor power is dialed back. It’s a solid, albeit not record-breaking figure. Bosch or DJI systems also achieve a comparable value.

However, it’s important to note in this comparison that the motor in this test delivers more output power than the mentioned competitors. So, the consumption remains comparable, even though the performance in our test scenario with 150 watts of input power is higher. The Hepha motor is therefore slightly more efficient.

The battery is removable without tools, secured with a key, and fully charged in approximately 4.5 hours — thanks to the 6A charger. Additionally, the charger is compact enough to carry in a backpack without any issues.

The motor responds sensitively to different riding scenarios and accurately interprets input through the cranks. This results in a smooth riding experience on the trails. Even though the P101 is Hephas’ first e-bike motor, you wouldn’t notice it.

However, on consistent climbs on asphalt and gravel, it’s noticeable that the motor delivers its power in slightly undulating pulses—especially at the dead spots of the crank rotation (pedals at the very top or bottom). Other systems maintain power more consistently here. This is only noticeable in direct comparison—those unfamiliar with other motors will hardly notice it. It’s possible that Hepha could fix this with a software update.

When riding, the motor is significantly quieter than the DJI system and roughly on par with the Bosch CX (Generation 5). The sound is low-frequency and thus more pleasant than many competitors. However, downhill, you can hear the gearbox rattling – a sound that’s familiar from motors like the Shimano EP801 or older Bosch models. This is normal and no cause for concern.

With a weight of 24.9 kg, the Hepha All Mountain is no lightweight – but that’s intentional: the focus is on durability. This is ensured, for example, by 36-spoke wheels or a Shimano CUES drivetrain with 10 instead of 12 cogs, which makes the chain more stable.

The geometry is comfort-oriented, and the bike is designed for touring riders. Despite having 150 mm of travel, it is not aimed at enduro or trail riders. Slack head angles, a slightly progressive rear end, and the absence of a bottle cage mount clearly indicate: this is all about relaxed but powerful touring, not jumps or steep lines.

If you’re addicted to snappy singletracks, you should definitely mount tires with more tread. Nobby Nic tires perform very well on hard surfaces. However, on loose terrain, you need more grip.