Though the new EP8 motor is claimed to be more efficient than its predecessor, there is of course more power too. Appreciate the level of detail in this article, good work. Compatible with all Shimano drivetrains whether Di2 or mechanical, derailleur or internally. Also the bikes will be heavy as f*ck with an 820Wh battery. Shimano display at 1 bar. At my age 69, if it isn't fun, exciting, and challenging, count me out! Power less, battery smaller, it lighter is.. Would "every time you push the on switch" have been more understandable? The new Phase MX features a brand new and improved frame and the Shimano EP8 drive system with the 630Wh integrated battery, offering 25% more capacity for even longer rides. I want to use the Shimano EP8 motor for a small production of solar bikes. I'm 56 with a long term knee injury. I mean, one of the most beautiful things about the bicycle is how efficient and capable it is of traveling long distances under our own power. In comparison, the MasterMind TCU display on the new Specialized Levo offers a significantly more customisable and overall user-friendly experience. The new assist algorithm is so effective that riders will find that they no longer need to rely on BOOST mode to clear the most difficult sections of the trails they ride. Great for climbing, on the descents the weight changes how I ride, not better or worse. It features the new Shimano EP8 motor and a 630wh battery. Furthermore, having the battery life displayed as five bars is positively rudimentary. Fitness hasn't a big effect because of all the muscle weight to motor has to carry but doesn't assist pedalling. I rode an e bike and suffered a little bit yesterday. FEATURES. Can they make it swappable with a gear box? Maximum power output sits at 500W, although the continuous power output is set at 250W like most motors. if you success increase speed. Pickup is faster too, with less hesitation between pedalling and torque being delivered to the rear tyre. BT-E8016 External Battery With 630Wh, you'll be able to ride further without having to stop and recharge. E5003 Cycling Computer This is the new Focus Jam2 and Sam2. Its the Orbea Rise that achieves the most discreet integration however, with a frame that was purpose-built around the smaller EP8 motor, rather than having been retrofitted from a previous E8000 drive unit. Make sense. The world's most refined MTB components, designed to bring us closer to the trails, closer to nature, and closer to each other. 2 bars left on the Shimano display. Put on i9 Hydra hubs, annoying motor rattle sounds disappears. 720 WH - 77,7 km 1.681 m elev. With the Spectral:ON for example, which has very short chainstays and a relatively slack seat tube angle that puts your weight further over the rear axle on steep climbs, it helped to dial down the Assistance Character (to 6/10), the Maximum Torque (to 78Nm) and the Assistance Start (to 4/5) to soften the bikes power and acceleration. The cheapest Specialized Levo is the Expert model, which sells for just shy of $16K. This adjustment has the biggest impact on the motors performance and your total range. Here youll find three sliding scales for each of the three assist modes (thats Eco, Trail and Boost). *When compared with a standard Shimano EP8/630Wh battery combo. Shimano tried to take the Apple approach to antennaegateyou're holding your phone wrongyou're coasting your bike wrong. Just remember to manually unpair your phone from the bike before you start riding again, as the motor wont engage while the system is paired to the app. Across our range of E-MTBs, you'll find both 504 Wh and 630 Wh internal battery options with some models in our Torque:ON range including a dual battery option for long-lasting adventures that extend into and beyond golden hour. Shimano battery issues with EP8 motor. Indeed Specialized actually built the new Levo around a mullet setup with a 27.5in rear wheel, in order to shorten the chainstays. When youre at those 30-40km/h descending speeds, EP8 doesnt punish you for stamping on the pedals to build some extra speed in the lead-up to a jump or dropoff. Thus when I'm carrying a spare battery I can get up to 60 mile rides in, which e-bike or not, is still a hell of a day in the saddle. So then it gets really confusing as it seems like the first bar lasts 30% and the last one 10%. I doubt that, based on my experience with the E8000 and 504 Wh battery. Mine gets very hot. I thought ebikes were supposed to enable us to do more fun stuff in less time. Estimated range is 5125 feet for EP8 motor with 630wh So these results are shocking so this test needs to be repeated. Along with a new larger 630Wh battery option, plus updated hardware and software, Shimano certainly hasnt held back with its much-anticipated return fire on the highly competitive and fast-moving electric mountain bike market. e-bikes remove the only non-financial barrier for entry into a sport that historically required at least some small amount of fitness. @tomdesoals: Ah, thanks I get it. What's your experience on this? SM-CRE80. One of the more intriguing aspects of EP8 is the ability to fine-tune the motors performance via Shimanos E-Tube Project app. For the type of riding and trails I do, battery power is not an issue, in fact would look at a smaller battery and weight savings on my next rig. Their new ride algorithms make the EP8 one of the most natural feeling motors out there, with plenty of power to propel the bike over obstacles, even if Bosch and Brose are still a bit punchier and deliver slightly more power. With 630Wh of power on tap, the BT-E8036 is the largest internal battery that Shimano now offers and matches the size of the batteries that Bosch offers for its eMTB system. Along with the EP8s magnesium casting, heat sinks and polished logos, it affords a classy look not an easy feat for an e-MTB. For a refined and integrated aesthetic, SHIMANO STEPS BM-E8030 battery mount integrates into the downtube of compatible E-BIKE frames. With 21% greater torque than E8000, the EP8 motor delivers substantially more punch on the trail, and it feels more usable too. Why so delicate, bro? Unlike Bosch, Shimano's EP8 motor can be paired with third-party batteries. But would the noise stop us from recommending an EP8-equipped bike? Three battery options including 900Wh Wheel size: 29" only Travel: 160mm front, 150mm rear 64-degree head angle 78-degree effective seat angle 462mm chainstay Weight: 25.6 kg. Our batteries are designed to keep you out on the trails and riding further. By Ralf Hauser Anyone knows what's are those white (ish) shoes the reviewer is using on some of the pics? Component categories and series of GRAVEL, Component categories and series of LIFESTYLE, Component categories and series of E-BIKE, Your smartphone to cycling computer on the bike, SHIMANO bicycle ride data collection/analysis service, SHIMANO AGAINST THE TAMPERING WITH E-BIKES, * BT-E8036 for Japan (16.2 Ah, 583 Wh) ** By EC-E8004 (*** In case of 100 V AC) **** with SM-BTE80 or EW-CP100, BM-E8030-A BM-E8030-B BM-E8031-A BM-E8031-B, Durable battery retains max. The totally revamped E-TUBE PROJECT app provides new customization options in a more user-friendly layout thats easy to access for quick and easy changes. Absolutely. It's a powerful unit with a huge reach, but it has a little problem: it rattles when riding downhill or, simply put, there is no power on the pedals. They need to get their old skunk works team back together and gain real world feedback before promoting vaporware. I'm honestly flabbergasted that people complain about it tbh lol. The middle of the range VRS gets the EP8 motor and 630Wh battery. People know you're not running some old E8000 or E7000 motor. The Shimano E8000 was faster than the EP8 up the climb. Maybe it's specific to the commencal frame design transmitting sounds? In the article it is not considered that much of an issue as supposedly trackstands are less common on e-bikes, but if I'd get one (if ever) that would be just what I can imagine myself do. Garmin shows 30% battery left, 900 meters elevation completed, 20km distance completed and the Garmin estimates I have 10km distance remaining (it actually estimates slightly higher as I have a bigger battery in the Meta, but these figures are close enough). . If a dynamo can be worked into the wheel hubs, you may even get near perpetual charging while the system is in use. This allows bike companies to engineer a single frame, while offering cheaper models with a 504Wh battery, and high-end models with a 630Wh battery. Weve noticed this while pedalling along forest double tracks and on the road to and from the trailhead, but its also apparent when sprinting along faster sections of singletrack. Couldn't agree more. I have tested a few ones and to me best one is Specialized in terms of ridding feeling and refinement. However, we couldnt get the display to pair with our Wahoo ELMNT Roam head unit. So many issues that can be simply solved by not having a motor. The biggest change has been with Trail mode, which now gives you access to the full 85Nm of torque if youre pedalling hard enough. 630Wh internal battery offers more capacity so you can keep your focus on the next switchback, not the battery indicator. I feel like I've been missing out on so much! @tomdesoals: Yeah, I get that now that bikes have become more silent anything new that makes noise can become annoying. . Make it 100 mile range, and I'm in. DISCONTINUED PRODUCTS, SHIMANO SERVICE CENTERS | MANUALS & TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS | DISCONTINUED PRODUCTS, Privacy Policy | Cookies Preferences | Terms of Use | California Transparency in Supply Chain Act | ADA Compliance, Shimano Introduces its Most Advanced E-Bike System for Mountain Bikes. . The complaints of charge bars on the display and the bike starting without any assistance are non issues for me. ECO mode has also gotten much more economical thanks to the new algorithm as well. However, you do pay for all that refinement and integration. Screen display options show detailed riding metrics in ECO, TRAIL and BOOST modes plus new functions including ride history, live maps, and user-friendly graphical updates. One note on range Shimanos range estimation is not reliable. Side-by-side, the EP8 motor is slimmer around the belly and so offers a skerrick more ground clearance. For 2021, Merida has added the EP8 a larger 630Wh Shimano battery and improved the wire and cable routing to make it a little neater. Along with the fault-free performance weve experienced so far, wed have no hesitation in recommending a bike built around Shimano EP8 this is a high quality and well-rounded e-MTB system. This is particularly noticeable on traction-poor climbs, even when starting from a standstill. From what I get from the article, what would actually bother me more is how it kicks in from a standstill or trackstand. Meta Power with EP8. SL ebikes such as the Orbea Rise use a 360Wh unit, while Norco's. Still, given the lengths that bike and drivetrain manufacturers have gone to stealthify mountain bikes over the past few years, we found the noisy EP8 motor to be infuriating during the first few rides just as we did with the Bosch Gen 4. Also a big improvement over the prior motor is that the EP8 freewheels easily, so on flats or downhill you can blast away without motor resistance. That would be awesome to do laps on. Its a little different though, with Orbea detuning the motors power and assistance to improve efficiency so it can use a smaller and lighter 360Wh battery. Certainly of all the full-power motors weve tested, Shimano EP8 affords the most seamless feel as the power fades in and out around the assistance cutoff. For a lighter pedal feel than the E8000, the one-way bearing has reduced its rotational resistance, creating a free play. Good thing with Shimano is warranty,at least here in Madrid is almost instantaneous. Stab happy!". More power, less weight, even more efficient and the biggest battery Shimano offer. The frame itself is unchanged, but an adjustment to the receiver hardware allows the bigger 630Wh battery to fit inside the same downtube cavity. The World's largest electric mountain bike community. this dude knows how to write a review, well done. FEATURES Supports sleek frame design Same mount as current BT-E8035 This is due to the internal clutch mechanism, which allows the motor to disconnect from the cranks when not in use, thereby decreasing drag and resistance. It isnt a huge difference, but sometimes its just enough for your rear wheel to make it up and over a stubborn tree root or rock ledge. Basically any minor impact that causes the chain to bounce and tug at the chainring will result in noise. There is zero stickiness at the pedals that we could detect. Limiting the maximum torque is something youll notice more at low cadences in high-load applications rather than general trail riding. I tried to find out the cause of this. system so what I'd like to see is if in a real world ride the increased battery capacity and reduced drag of the EP8 and 630wh battery lead to significantly greater range and vertical climbed. Overall its a vastly neater execution compared to the likes of Bosch and Yamaha with their Kinder Surprise-style switch units. This is because the assistance drops off quite quickly when you stop pedalling, particularly compared to the Bosch motor, which continues to push on for just a fraction longer. However, when coasting on rough terrain the unloaded system can exhibit a 'NORMAL' clicking sound that may be detectable to the rider. JavaScript is disabled. But yeah, different people. - Numerous battery options, both from Shimano & 3rd parties This simple concept improves the ride quality in all situations, eliminating the lurch forward and wasted energy as the bike accelerates while also continuing to provide additional assistance when the trail gets tougher and the rider works harder. EP8 EP800 The lowest setting sees the motor responding slower to your pedalling inputs. Filter. Indeed Shimano EP8 is starting to become available across quite a wide range of bikes at various price points. > Occasionally it can feel a little peakier compared to EP8, but for the most part both motors are easy to get used to within a few rides. It is the most underrated comment ever on the pinkbike. In terms of improvements, EP8 is marginally lighter (300g) and smaller in volume (10%) over the old E8000 motor. For riders scoping out bigger rides than that, youll want to consider dialling down the Assistance Character to improve efficiency. This says the E8000 has more efficient and will have more range with the same battery size. Anyone having problems with the charger? No, the BT-E8036 Shimano 630Wh battery used in the Bullit is about 70mm longer than the 504Wh version used in the Heckler. Power delivery is immediately intuitive thanks to the new MasterMind firmware that Specialized developed specifically for the 2.2 motor, which reduces power spikes from rapid changes in crank speed and pedal pressure. - High quality display & controller Ebikes are great as a self shuttle, especially for time limited people. EP8 delivers up to 85 Nm of torque, a 21-percent increase over the STEPS E8000 motor platform. Our batteries are renowned for keeping you out on the trails and riding further. It also benefits from a RockShox ZEB Select RC fork paired with a RockShox Super Deluxe Select R shock. It even surpasses them in terms of noise (very quiet under load) and weight. Easy fix. I think we lost grit when we all got smart phones. They must be under pressure to deliver units as this is at best rushed. Weve ridden the latest Bosch Performance CX Gen 4 motor on a variety of e-MTBs, including the Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 and the Trek Rail. What settings you end up will depend on your personal riding style, and your expectations of range and power output. It is a feature bro, the sound of pure class. What's left is just a plain old mountain bike with a weight around 14kg. But please don't anyone kid themselves that it's as much of a work out as an analogue bike, if there was no mechanical advantage over analogue what would be the benefit. With the introduction of the new Shimano EP8 platform, the bar has been raised again with significant gains in the areas that matter to e-mountain bikers the most: Leading power-to-weight ratio, with 21-percent more torque (85 Nm) available in both TRAIL and BOOST modes in a smaller and lighter package featuring a magnesium drive unit case Breakthrough assist algorithm that delivers the right power at the right time, organically matching the riders efforts allowing them to tackle the toughest terrain with full support while also extending range Designed with customization in mind allowing riders to personalize the character of their bike in new ways. It's kinda frustrating. The Pivot Shuttle, for example, employs a huge 726Wh battery made by a third party company called Darfon. ON CFR with a 720Wh battery is 21.84 kg, 610g lighter than its 630Wh battery-rocking predecessor. This means its impossible to tell whether you have 21% or 39% battery remaining. Display integration is still the best on the market, even if it only shows five bars of battery level and could easily integrate some more user-friendly features. Its almost as if the battery drains faster in that final 20%. Delivering a sleek design, the battery also charges quickly and retains its max capacity longer throughout its lifespan. Not the first time Shimano has screwed the pooch with recent launches. But on the premise of further, faster, more fun, that range at full noise is not gonna outdo the range & fun I get outta my bowl of cereal and some old fashion pedal power. Shimano Cues - New 9/10/11 speed lower tier drivetrain components. The svelte motor casing provides more clearance for the rear wheel and suspension components, allowing brands to build their bikes with shorter chainstays. Learn what to expect. Ive only charged 2x. THIS WEBSITE USES COOKIES TO IMPROVE YOUR USER EXPERIENCE. Can't see the equivalent of a ribbed chainstay protector happening. Hopefully this option will open up to non-Garmin users in the future. How stuff like this gets through what I would like to think was extensive testing I will never know. The all-new Shimano EP8 engine takes a leap in performance, comfort and compactness. No mention on the worldwide recall of the motor due to issues? - Strong but very well-tuned power delivery Range will depend on your riding style, ambient temperature and weight. A downside of the 2.2 motor is that it is noticeably draggy above the 25km/h cutoff though something we experienced during back-to-back between the Levo and Canyon Spectral:ON. Oh, how the humorous aspect of your comment has been missed. New batteries recently released by Shimano are available for EP8, including two 630Wh battery options, the external BT-E8016 and internal BT-E8036 battery. You are using an out of date browser. It was one of the most fun bikes to ride. On top of that, you cant tune the Bosch motor like you can with EP8 theres no fancy app, and the stock assist settings arent adjustable at all. I've had a go on ebikes and think they're fantastic and good fun. Our advice is not to rely on the range estimation in the first place. 900WH - 97,2 km 2.132 m elev. If you got it set to Eco and the motor is using half its power, you might get at least 4 hours if it sucks up only about 125W per hour. Bunny hops were absolutely a blast on this bike. "Unquestionably, Shimano has the cleanest and sleekest display integration on the market". Weve found the first two settings to be too weak for e-MTB use, though conversely the highest setting can feel a little too peaky for some riders. Ebikes are cool but not quite refined enough to jump in yet. Get directions. Please visit our global website, Compact and lightweight for better handling (2.6 kg), More ground clearance for technical trails, Smooth, direct power to ensure youre always in complete control, Responsive, allowing for a smoother cut-off when pedaling above 25km/h, Quiet motor lets you enjoy the trails without distraction, Durable and weather-resistant for riding in all conditions, Customizable power and battery management with the E-TUBE PROJECT Cyclist Cyclist App, Streamlined mount position provides easy visibility, Connect wirelessly to the E-TUBE PROJECT Cyclist Cyclist or E-TUBE RIDE app, Retains 60% max capacity after 1000 full charge cycles, Quick charging to get you on the trails sooner, Internal mount options for sleek frame designs, LINKGLIDE drivetrains have been engineered to be more durable while delivering smooth shifting, Shorter cranks help prevent pedal strikes to maintain smooth cadence and motor assistance, Available crank lengths: 160mm, 165mm, 170mm or 175mm, Light and strong chainrings with DYNAMIC CHAIN ENGAGEMENT+ for improved chain retention on bumpy terrain, Chainring teeth options: 32T, 34T, 36T or 38T, Equipped on a wide variety of brands and models.