The new Gocycle Connect smartphone application has been released today via the Google Play Store & Apple AppStore. The new Gocycle app brings a whole host of cool features. The previous Gocycle application allowed the user to view their Gocycle bike odometer, trip distance, battery capacity and adjust assistance modes. It was a pretty simple setup but was more than capable of doing the job. As of last night (Friday 5th May 2017) all Gocycle users new and previous can download the new V5.0 application to Apple or Android devices. Why hit the upgrade button? Here's why. New Gocycle Live Dash The Gocycle Live Dash allows you to affix your smartphone to the dash of your Gocycle and use it as the interface for your Gocycle eBike, reading out all the necessary parameters in a funky new Gocycle user interface. These parameters include your current speed, average speed, motor vs pedal power gear selection and battery state. You can also view and adjust your assistance level and daytime running light high / low beam on the fly. There's also some handy new features including cadence, calories burned & equivalent MPG. Behind the Scenes Improvements Obviously, the new UI is very fancy and far superior to the previous application design but behind the scenes, there are lots of other improvements too. Including bug fixes, there's also simple 'how to' videos for when new users register their bikes with the application. This includes how to set up the bike and how to get the most out of your Gocycle. The new update also brings a new platform for the Gocycle HQ to work from, so it opens up many future opportunities which can include more functions in further updates. Remember the beauty of the Gocycle and its connectivity is that it's an open platform, so Gocycle is always receiving feedback and working on new features which are fully up-date-able further down the line. You can update the bike as a consumer, ultimately making the bike future proof to any changes. How do I get setup with Gocycle V5? To get your Gocycle setup, just follow these simple steps. We've included a video tutorial below to help too. Before you actually update yourself, please read this article in full as there are some important details to note further down regarding speed and assistance modes. 1) Make sure you have your Gocycle smartphone mounts. If you don't already have the mounts, we have them available to purchase - Gocycle Smart Phone Mounts. 2) Download the new Gocycle V5 smartphone app for either Android or Apple devices. Click the links for either of the 2 devices for a direct download link to both the Apple Store and Google Play Store. 3) Run the app and follow the setup instructions. At this point, you will be prompted to setup your location details. Here is a quick video helping you to set this up:- IMPORTANT: If you have already previously registered your Gocycle you need to make sure the email address entered in the setup process is the same one that was used to register on your original registration. 4) As part of the new setup for the V5 application, you will be prompted to update your Gocycle to the latest v83 firmware update via Bluetooth. 5) Your Gocycle and smart device are now set up to operate the v5 application. Please Note: After the firmware update, the Gocycle will have ‘forgotten’ any previously programmed mode and will default to City Mode (Mode 1 = 25kmph (15mph) max speed, pedal motor control only). You may also need to select Custom Mode to re-define your preferences for the custom ride mode too. Important On setting up your Gocycle V5 application, the app will prompt you to select the firmware for your region. These regions are defined by the following 3 groups:- - North American Type 1: max speed 20 mph (pedal motor control only) - North American Type 2: max speed 20 mph (pedal and throttle motor control) - European EPAC: max speed 25 kph (pedal motor control only) Electric bicycle regulations relating to speed, motor power, pedal and throttle controls vary throughout the world, therefore it's important you select the correct region to comply with your location regulations. If you select European then your previous modes for throttle and assistance speed above 15.5mph will be lost and are irreversible. If selecting 'North American Type 2' the throttle can mode will be active and the maximum assistance speed will be set to 20mph instead of 15.5mph. Downloading V5.0 will not allow you to revert to V4 and your existing Gocycle settings including maximum speed will conform to one of above location configurations. We hope you enjoy the new application and many of its new features. It's certainly a big step forward. Not yet got a Gocycle? Read all about the latest Gocycle G3 eBike here.
We take a first look at the new Yamaha PW-X eBike system which will be introduced into some of the 2017 model year electric bike ranges. Faster, lighter & more powerful.. Yamaha has been in the electric bike game for some years now. One of the biggest moves was to bring the PW series into Europe for 2015. Now 2 years on; the PW series will evolve into the new PW-X for 2017 with some all new eBike features. Lighter & Smaller For 2017 the Yamaha PW-X eBike system will be 13% smaller in volume than it's predecessor. Not only have Yamaha been able to bring the size of the motor unit down but also been able to reduce the weight too using lighter materials. By reducing the thickness of the Yamaha drive gears and also using a wider hollow axle, the weight has come down by 11% which equates to a staggering 500 grams lighter in 2017. Yamaha has coupled the internals with a 128mm axle which is widely preferred on MTB's, the new 2017 system will move over to a ISIS axle, where it has previously been square taper on the standard PW series. More Responsive Yamaha has increased the overall responsiveness of the new PW-X system by using lighter components and also tighter gear pawls within the drive. This means that as the rider presses the pedals, the crank will engage a lot quicker. This in turn allows the Yamaha 2017 motor to assist quicker and with more more and torque than ever before. The PW-X eBike system is now more sensitive so the rider can really put the power down in the applicable areas. More response from the assistance, combined with the tighter pawl patterns and engagement of the cranks will work for a better ride overall. New User Interface Yamaha have really developed the display and controls for 2017 allowing more connectivity and a nicer way for the rider to read all the necessary information. The new Yamaha 2017 display is smaller and more rugged than previous systems. It sits below the bar out of harms reach with the control buttons neatly mounted over to the left. The new LED assist on the PW-X series allows the rider to see what mode is being used at a quick glance of the led at the top of the display, this should be a lot more simple than before when you physically had to read the screen to check assistance modes. Also for 2017 Yamaha brings more connectivity to the table. Which we will delve on a little more in a separate article. But this will mean that the system will be able to connect to smart phones and alike and should allow developers to bring more user applications to the table that connect with the statistics of the Yamaha electric bike system. More Power & Torque Yamaha ups the game by increasing the amount of torque available to 80Nm. At the same time we introduce a new riding mode - Code named 'Extra Power' (EXPW). Now 5 assistance modes available to the rider over the previous 4. The ride modes will be Eco+, Eco, Standard, High & Extra Power. The torque is also now more powerful across the entire range for 2017, not just at top end. The lighter movement and faster responsiveness mentioned above give the rider more control in tighter spots and the bike is more agile to manoeuvre. More Range Yamaha follow their competitors by introducing a larger capacity 500Wh battery for 2017. Previously 400Wh batteries available, now bikes will come pre fitted with either a 400Wh or 500Wh, depending on the bikes specification. Good news for riders on the current Yamaha system, the larger capacity battery is the same shape and size, so will be able to retro fit more range onto older models. Now allowing the rider to travel further on one charge, the limits of the new PX-W system are expanded. When can I get PW-X? The PW-X is not designed to replace the standard Yamaha PW series, it sits alongside the series as a slightly more advanced system. The Yamaha 500Wh batteries will be transferable across both systems. We expect Haibike will be one of the first manufacturers to announce the new Yamaha PW-X eBike system on their 2017 Haibike range later on today in the first preview. This will be officially announced later in the year, likely at Euro bike. Likely a few other manufacturers will also follow suit, for example Lapierre who have a current Yamaha range, but that's all we can say for the moment. Check out the latest 2017 Haibike sDuro bikes with the Yamaha PW-X system here.
We take a look at some of the new exciting Bosch eBike 2017 electric bike components. For 2017 Bosch make some changes to secure themselves as the eBike market leaders. We see Bosch eBike systems move forward year on year. With the most radical change last year over to the new higher performing Bosch CX eMTB specific motor & larger range batteries. As the latest battery and motor tech was only just released late last year we expected to see some revisions in other areas, focusing on charging, software and user interface. The official new Bosch eBIke components will of course be launched later this year at EuroBike, but until then we can take a sneaky peak at some of the new features: Bosch eBike Purion Display 2017 The new Bosch Purion display will predominately appeal to electric mountain bikers looking for a more compact display that will avoid any impacts and spills. The Bosch Purion display will also appeal to other genres of cycling and neaten up the handlebars in general. Its compact assembly resembles the first ever Bosch classic display. A step back from the larger Nyon display, this new unit is just enough to navigate the assistance levels and view all important on board parameters including speed and battery capacity. Notice the new Bosch Purion display is an all-in-one component. It merges the normally separate display and bar controls into one compact assembly located to the left that controls everything. It still features a USB port but this is just for dealer diagnostics and no longer can you charge auxiliaries like mobile phones etc. The new Bosch Purion backlit display is visible in low light or at night time and is navigated by fewer buttons. The power button to the top and walk assistance button re-located to the bottom. The battery capacity, speed and assistance mode are shown as standard. To scroll the assistance levels is just a quick tap of the plus or minus button and to navigate into further functions like range, distance, total odometer and when the next service is due the buttons are depressed for longer. We still think the features of the larger Nyon display will appeal to those more techy riders that make use of functions like the extra fitness tracking and satellite navigation features. Buy the Bosch Purion Display here - Performance Display / Active Display. Summary Advantages: +Compact Display +Cleaner Cockpit +Backlit +Lighter Weight +Retro Fittable Disadvantages: -No USB Charging -Less Functions Bosch eBike Nyon 2017 Updates Bosch has released significant incremental updates to the Bosch Nyon controls. With each update comes changes based on user feedback on eBikes across Europe. Every now and again Bosch release major eBike updates with the 2017 update being like no other. The eBike user interface has already taken a pretty radical design change which some users may have already noticed when updating their Nyon display a couple of weeks ago. Along with many visual revisions the major 2017 eBike changes are in the mapping with advanced controls to do with electric bike battery charge state and range. The Nyon can now take into consideration topical changes in the environment to ascertain better predicted eBike ranges. It will also take into consideration the assistance mode selected and even things like the conditions of road surfaces or off road resistance. We also see Bosch moves forward in the social aspect of Nyon for 2017 with things like gaming and more social media integration. Now Bosch Nyon users can stay more connected and share more than ever before. Some new features are added to the Bosch Nyon Online Portal, along with a fresh look as explained in more detail further down this article. Summary Advantages: +More Features +Gaming +Social Media +More Range Control +GPX Disadvantages: None - Same platform, better usability! Bosch eBike DualBattery 2017 Want more range? Bosch have the answer with their 2017 product offering, which now introduces the flexibility to add 2 Bosch power packs to your electric bike inventory. Bosch have 300Wh, 400Wh and the later 500Wh battery options in their range. With the new Bosch DualBattery option, you could effectively have the range of up to 1000Wh in sync. The new Bosch DualBattery cabling allows anyone eBike to take up two batteries, thus doubling your range! This unique setup allows both eBike batteries to be charged and used together, as one battery gets low the system can automatically switch between the two. This new Bosch DualBattery system will be popular with longer distance touring cyclists along with utility bikes, cargo electric bikes and alike throughout 2017. This setup will be officially launched later in the year and as such will be limited to OEM manufacturers using this on their Bosch electric bikes. So for the meantime you can't officially just add on another battery to your existing Bosch eBike as the bike itself will require modifications to the frame in particular. Worth noting here that the Bosch Dual Battery setup is not restricted to dual frame mounted eBike batteries, but can also be more versatile in accepting a pannier rack mounted battery and frame mount in tandem meaning much more convenient installation to manufacturers of future Bosch 2017 electric bikes without manipulating frames too much. Summary Advantages: +More Range +OEM Integration +Automatic Switch +Also Rack Mount Disadvantages: -Not Currently Retrofittable Bosch eBike Compact Charger 2017 Also new for 2017, Bosch release a new compact eBike charger that will be compatible with both the current 2015 / 2016 Bosch Active & Performance eBike systems and batteries. The new Bosch compact charger is a lot smaller any will be suitable for those wishing to take it out with them for a longer duration in the saddle, in particular long distance riders & eMTB'ers. With a 40% reduction in size to the already small Performance charger it'll take up a lot less room in any riders luggage bag or a back pack. It's also 200 grams lighter than the standard charger and thus only weighs in at approx 600 grams! As with all positives comes a negative and the new 2017 Bosch compact charger will take a fair amount of time longer to charge your battery. With the current charger charging a 500Wh battery full in approx 3.5 hours, the newer smaller charger will take around 6.5 hours. You can also use the new charger with the older Classic batteries using this Bosch Adaptor. Buy here - Bosch Compact Charger. Summary Advantages: +Smaller +Lighter +Compatible With All Bosch eBike Systems Disadvantages: -Longer Charge Time Other Bosch eBike 2017 Changes We will report back after the official launch with smaller revisions to the Bosch eBike ranges, but until then we do know that the following has also been revised for 2017: Walk Assist: This will be updateable so that the user doesn't have to hold the button down for continuous walk assist support, rather now you can switch walk assist on by a double tap and then a single tap to release. eShift: Electronic shifting will be compatible from more manufacturers across more ranges in 2017. In particular the ability to link up Shimano Di2 with auto downshifting and along with other manufacturers like NuVinci and Sram. The Bosch eBike system and gear changes will be more connected in 2017. Online Portal: Some of you will notice the Bosch Online Portal has been recently updated with a fresher look, now there will also be more functions to work hand in hand with the extra Nyon functions listed above. The user will have the ability to export routes in GPX format and also allow the user to create new routes out of previously un-recorded rides. You can now also see more parameters into each assistance mode and how they have been used across the ride. What do we think? Obviously we will be able to tell you a lot more after extensively testing the new components and performance tweaks later this year after their official launch but in the meantime we see many advantages. In particular riders with the DualBattery setup this would have been handy to have access to over a year ago when we set the new World eBike Distance Record! Although Bosch state it's not retro fittable, we are fairly confident our advanced in house eBike technicians will find a way! The new small Bosch Purion display setup is an obvious step forward for many riders in particular eMTB'ers but we feel some will still want the usability and functions of the slightly more in-depth eBike Nyon display. Whilst were on the Nyon, lot's of users will eagerly await the new updates for smoother operation and advanced functions on their electric bikes. The only thing we are not too sure about is the new Bosch Compact eBike Charger, whilst some will see this as a definitive advantage, we feel the weight and size reduction comes at a huge cost of charge time. The Bosch eBike charger is already one of the smallest chargers on the market! What does this mean moving forward? Well, not a huge change for 2017, but in fact some smaller revisions to user controls which will obviously be retrofittable as the end user specifies. So going into the 2017 Bosch electric bike ranges the actual Bosch eBikes (aside from DualBattery) will be the same in respect of power, assistance and range. Utilising the same motor and battery configuration we can tailor each eBike to the customers specification by way of fitting the new Purion eBike controller or the Bosch Nyon and visa versa. Keep an eye on our blog for more updates along the way, in the meantime, check out our range of eBikes here: - Latest Bosch Powered eBikes.
A preview at the newly launched Shimano Steps E8000 eBike system for 2016. This revolutionary system from Shimano is designed specifically around electric mountain biking. It's great to see a big competitor like Shimano join the market with an eMTB specific system. Up until now, the Shimano Steps system has been designed around city riding and thus has not been supported for electric mountain biking. A player like Shimano could be a game changer?.. Following a big launch, last year at EuroBike Shimano clearly put a big push on their standard Steps system, but we were anticipating Shimano to come out with a new system specifically for the mountain bikers, so let's take a look at some of the new features: Shimano Steps Motor Drive Unit Following the integrated look, the Shimano Steps E8000 eMTB motor is small and compact. Using a slightly different design to its competitors the drive unit is held in a triangle formation allowing for a slimmer bottom bracket width, better q factor (just 175mm) and a secure, efficient and direct power output from the rider to the cranks. The compact E8000 Motor has integrated cooling fins to disperse heat efficiently, a technology which derived from some of the newer Shimano disc brake systems. Plus it look's good! The way in which the motor is designed and integrated means frame manufacturers can position it just right to reduce chain stay lengths keeping things tight and nippy on the back end. This will add to the rider's manoeuvrability on the bike and ride like a typical mountain bike in respect of handling. It offers 250w of continuous output power and a whopping 70Nm of torque which gives good progressive power to the rider. This is adjustable with the power outputs as the rider can set and change the assistance mode whilst riding on the fly in 3 options - Eco, Trail & Boost. The Shimano Steps eMTB system also features a walk function should you ever walk next to the bike it'll push itself along (also handy for oiling the chain!). Using a more conventional but dedicated crank setup with technology from the Shimano hollow tech cranks. These are offered in 2 variants - A lighter hollow arm or a solid arm based on rider preference. The regular sized chainring on the front (34t or 38t) gives the rider easy compatibility between regular sprockets and chains which we will delve a little more into further down this article. Shimano Steps Battery Power Pack The newly formed slim power pack slots neatly into the downtube of the eMTB. This appears to slide in from the side rather than slot in from above allowing it to be mounted into smaller frame sizes. We also hear that although this is currently frame mounted there may be options to integrate into the frame in the near future. Shimano advertises a rattle free mount that should withstand even the harshest of conditions. The Shimano Steps E8000 eMTB battery has a larger capacity of 500Wh. We are still awaiting range figures based on the system's efficiency, but as with all things Shimano we expect it to be good. You should be good for a lifetime of around 1000 full charge cycles. The 500Wh power pack has 5 green LED's at the top to show current charge state and allows the user to see capacity when charging at a glance. Worth noting the Shimano Steps battery is also offered up as waterproof so no qualms when catching the odd rain storm or when cleaning the electric mountain bike. Shimano Steps eBike User Display / Controls Keeping in with the look of Shimano Di2 displays the eBike specific colour LCD version gives a clear and simple readout to the rider. Credentials like speed, assistance mode, power & battery capacity offer a crisp picture at a quick glance whilst out attacking the trails. The smaller display is neat and compact and just does the job it's intended for. Also integrated into the new display is gear selection and we'll delve a little more into this further down. It's also worth noting that the new E8000 eMTB display is smartphone/tablet compatible via Bluetooth, where the rider can change settings & customise the eBike to their liking. Nice! The handlebar mounted controls on the left act as the riders assistance selector for the rider and keeps in look with the current Di2 setup and looks. It means the rider's cockpit will be clean and sleek with potentially a Di2 shifter on the right and the assistance selector on the left. Quick sharp and precision shifting between assistance modes on the fly should be a doddle with the large grippy buttons. Shimano Steps Integration / Compatibility As with all things Shimano, the clear advantage is perfect seamless compatibility and integration with other popular controls. The fact that this system will work seamlessly with Shimano 11 or 10 speed cassettes, standard chainrings and Shimano chains is a big bonus. It means the user knows exactly what will work with each component. It also makes for handy transfer across to the normal Shimano drivetrains which users are already familiar with. Where this really means a lot is in the integration, with electronic shifting taking off and Shimano's already proven Di2 system firmly established, the clever bit will be with the synchronised electric shifting and motor assistance to create an all in one system to the rider. For example, a Shimano XTR Di2 Rear mech will be fully compatible with the system, using the power of the Shimano Steps system, information passed through the motor/controls and quick electric shifting to offer a completely integral system. Perfect! The new Shimano Steps system uses the well established Shimano eTube setup to communicate between components. This open system allows easy installation of extras like shifters, derailleurs and lights by simply unplugging existing parts, plugging in a Y-cable adapter and re-connecting the components. How does it compare? Likely to be a big question, so moving forward it'll be mostly compared to big system providers like Bosch & Yamaha. The motor is around the same size as it's competitors if not slightly smaller whereas the battery appears slightly bigger. It's clear it's designed in direct competition at both of the above. The power is similar between systems although the new Bosch CX will be slightly higher in torque, in real life conditions it'll be difficult to tell over specification on paper. Check out our Bosch / Yamaha comparison here. Some features of Bosch and Yamaha have clearly been taken into consideration to combine into a powerful system. The big chainring and side mounted battery are similar to the Yamaha whereas the controls/smartphone communication is more comparable to the Bosch. Offering 4 assistance modes seems to be the preferred figure too across Shimano, Bosch & Yamaha eBike systems. Battery capacity is on par / if not more than some, obviously depending on how efficient the motor and drivetrain are. We will be able to do a more comprehensive comparison article as the official facts and figures appear. What do we think? We believe the Shimano E8000 eSystem will exceed on the gear shifting integration and smaller display/controls. Although the Bosch system is also compatible with gear integration, the Shimano will be an easier switch and more brand specific. Having tested a Shimano Steps system with integrated Di2 gear selection early last year, the shifting was seamless & really made sense. It's fully interacted with both the rider & the system: If the battery power and signals already exist; it makes perfect sense to use them to power / control all aspects of the bike - An all-in-one system! It's also nice to see a big player like Shimano back in the game, with the launch many years ago of the first ever standard Steps system it never really took off, it's nice to see Shimano have been working hard to produce more modern specific city / eMTB systems that work for different riders needs. We are sure the eMTB specific system will live up to the Shimano name. When can you get it? Well, it's just been announced this week at the Lake Garda Bike Festival as a preview. We are sure Shimano will have a lot more to offer when it will properly launch at EuroBike later on this year (August) where we expect to see the first Shimano E8000 Steps eMTB's. What does that mean to the end consumer? Manufacturers will already be working closely with Shimano to produce prototype bikes in time to show off at EuroBike. You'll be able to get your hands on actual bikes later on in the year, we'd expect at least October time 2016. See our Shimano E8000 equipped Mountain Bikes here - Shimano Electric Mountain Bikes.
With the launch of the new Gocycle G3 a big question on the horizon will be, what's the difference between the Gocycle G2 & G3? You should find this article helpful where the difference will be explained. Gocycle have not changed the format of the bike completely - Why? Because if something works, why change it? Therefore the same design characteristics of the frame geometry, angles, wheelbase, wheel size, posture & overall size remain the same, great news! What has changed are some of the vital components and the technology used within, this article outlines some of the main differences between the G2 and the G3. Visuals The first step will be how the Gocycle G3 looks vs the G2. They look very similar, however you'll notice their is a fancy new colour scheme available - Electric Blue. This colour looks amazing in the flesh and is a great addition to the current palette of Black, White or Grey. Lighting The new G3 has completely integrated lighting cables, whereas the G2 has internal cables that extrude the frame on each end. This gives a cleaner look and neater installation. It's worth noting here that although the lights are available as an optional extra on both Gocycle G2 & G3. They look similar but there are not backwards compatible between models. The new G3 lighting system has different bolts and mounts. Daytime Running Light The new Gocycle G3 has an integrated daytime running light for extra visibility over the G2. The standard dash on the G2 does not have this feature, nor can it be retrofitted. On the G3 it's completely integrated within the dash module. Dashboard The dashboard see's some revisions for the 3rd generation over the Gocycle G2. Firstly we see an edge-to-edge display for a sleeker look. We also see some addition to the dash LED's too. The addition of the 4 blue LED's represent the front daytime running light settings. Along with integrated rotary shifters, re-designed brake levers and comfort grips. Battery Range The Gocycle G2 has a 10.75Ah battery whereas Gocycle have managed to fit a larger 13.5Ah battery into the same space on the G3. This leads to up to 25% more range whilst keeping the weight to a tee. The range figures calculated (depending on rider input) on the Gocycle G2 offer up to 64km (40 miles) whereas the G3 now hosts up to 80km (50 miles). Whilst we are on the battery we also see a new BMS for faster charging over the G2 and also a moulded in charger connector, so the charger connection will feel more positive and should prevent the rubber seal on the G2 ejecting the charger plug. Comfort The grips on the G2 are standard round grips, whereas the G3 offers oval ergonomic grips for greater comfort. The saddle on both G2 & G3 has some small revisions but remains the same comfort. The pedals on the Gocycle G2 were rubber moulded whereas the G3 pedals have been widened & added some extra grip on top, they also benefit from new quality sealed bearings. PitStop Wheels The wheels on the Gocycle G2 and G3 remain a similar shape, the lightweight wheels actually feature a different locking mechanism on the G3, as like the G2 the cam levers remain, but the user has a secondary Hex Lock system to show that the wheels are positively engaged. Weight Weight is always important on any portable / folding bike, but even more so on a electric bike version. The fact that the Gocycle is portable is key to it's design, it's actually one of the lightest / smallest compacted electric bikes on the market at 16kg. Therefore it's important that the G3 doesn't way lots more than the G2 even with all the new features and bigger battery. We are surprised that Gocycle have managed to keep the weight the same across both generations, the G3 only adds 300 grams to the overall weight! Conclusion As you can see there have been many changes between the Gocycle generations. Of course there are many other changes from the G3 over the G2, certainly too many to delve into detail. But to name a few: New high quality bearings, improved fitting hub cap, concealed lighting cables, integrated seat tube collar, kickstand tab for easier deployment, new and larger heatsink cap, motor vibration mounts, the crank wave washers have been reduced to one apart, new integrated steerer and stem adjuster, a pivot back plate, pedal rpm magnet is now removed, a new anti chain-slap module & even the gearbox bearing arrangement had been modified. Want to learn more? You can view the full specification / overview on both models here: Gocycle G2 & Gocycle G3. You may also find our in depth review of the G3 helpful here: Gocycle G3 Ride Review
There has been much speculation of what is expected for 2016, so as the UK's leading supplier for Bosch electric bikes. Here's a brief rundown of what we expect to see on the latest generation of Bosch eBike systems for 2016. Let's start by saying that Bosch only just saw the flow of Performance drive unit's onto production bikes early last year. This was the biggest advancement from the first generation Classic+ motor. For that reason, we don't expect huge changes for 2016. But we do expect some refinements to the existing system. The beauty of Bosch electric bike systems is that they are capable of being updated. So 2014 / 2015 Bosch eBike owners should see some of the new features on existing systems. There will however be some new hardware on offer: New 2016 Bosch 500Wh Battery One of the most talked about components - The PowerPack. New for 2016, Bosch will offer a higher capacity 500Wh battery alongside the current 400Wh, a step forward for owners with current 400Wh batteries to extend their range. It will be about the same size as the current pack, and from the outside looks much the same. It should fit into the existing frame mounts, so an option for current users to upgrade is essential to extend ranges, particularly for more serious MTB's. It's expected to weigh a little more and obviously sit at a higher price. For this reason, we don't expect all Manufacturers to adopt this into production bikes as it will increase the RRP's and weight slightly on the bike. As the current 400Wh pack gives a decent ride time, we expect it's the longer distance bikes that will adopt this larger capacity battery. This larger battery, with higher density cells will of course take a little longer to charge too. We are seeing figures of approximately 4.5 hours from fully flat to fully charged. Of course as with the 400Wh pack, it can be recharged in situ on the bike or removed from the frame. It will also be available in both Frame and Rack mounted options. We expect to see ranges extended by approx 25% using this larger capacity 500Wh Bosch battery in 2016. As always with Bosch eBike systems they give the most overall lifespan of any eBike systems, being able to cover 60,000 miles or 1000 full charge cycles before capacity loss. UPDATE: Now available for purchase separately here Bosch 500Wh Power Pack. Summary: +Backward Compatible +Increased Range +Neat Design +Long Life Bosch integrates e:Shifting for 2016 Although not totally new, there are certainly some new updates to the Bosch integration of electronic shifting. Used across the board by manufacturers like Nuvinci, Shimano & now Sram too. Electronic gear changes are the latest thing to both mountain biking and trekking alike. Why electronic shifting? Well, there are some positives, like concentrating on the ride ahead more than what gear you should be in. It's also more efficient as the computer can determine the correct gear, instead of the rider selecting, so can also increase range too. It's also simple enough for the non-gear friendly people out there - Leaving the technology to do the work. It also incorporates an automatic downshifting, for example when you stop at junctions, it automatically changes into a lighter gear, so you are already in the correct gear when setting off. We tried this on the Shimano Steps system late last year and it works tremendously well. We expect this to be more widely used on touring / trekking bikes at present, although it will likely cross over to MTB's at some point with electronic derailleur shifting as internal hub gears are not the preferred choice for off road riding. The shifting is cadence based and is optimized for maximum rider efficiency, most systems also allow the rider to enter a manual gear change mode too, should it be preferred. But we think this just defeats the point! Summary: +Improved Shifting +More Efficient +Fully Integrated +More OEM Compatibility New 2016 Bosch CX Drive Unit With improved integration, smaller housing and tweaked output levels, the new 2016 Bosch Performance CX Line motor will support the rider with increased 50 - 300% assistance levels. It also has updated dynamic power control, that smoothes the - now increased 75Nm of torque, into a smoother more, powerful and efficient ride. The direct flow power curve increases assistance across the RPM range, it's also easier going on the drivetrain. The torque is longer lasting and more powerful at higher speeds too. It's also better setup for larger gear ranges including Sram's 10-42 & Shimano's 11-42 gearing. Using a new style 14t front sprocket should also give faster acceleration on a eMTB over the more commonly used 16t. The 2016 CX drive unit itself is essentially a slightly slimmed down version of the current Bosch Performance motor. It should offer better integration and is slightly lighter (approx 200g) due to its compact design and by losing the plastic motor casing we are all used to. Instead the motor is bare - back to the metal - housing, with a high quality black powder coating. This coating is robust, with it's protective lacquer that's safe from corrosion, knocks and is scratch / weather resistant. The cable connections are covered by a smaller plastic protection plate. Depending on how the 2016 CX drive unit is mounted by manufacturers, it could also give a better Q-Factor and slightly higher ground clearance too. It's likely to be easier for full susser's too, as the rear chainstay pivot point can be mounted more direct, giving a shorter back end. Something Haibike for example have already addressed on the current 2015 line up. As the 2016 Bosch CX motor uses the same components as the current system. We expect lots of the above performance improvements to be available for current Performance line motors later in the year through a software tweak. Summary: +More Assistance +Improved Torque +Smoother Power Curve +Lighter Weight Updated 2016 Bosch Nyon Features The Bosch Nyon head unit actually came out on eBikes this year. However for 2016 there will be some software improvements and all new features. This little device currently gives features like satellite navigation, fitness training, ride logging & custom ride modes to name a few (You can read more on that here New Bosch Nyon Display). But new for 2016 comes refinements to Nyon itself, the Bosch eBike Connect Portal (PC based) and the smart phone apps. These extras are mainly on the mapping side of things. We see the ability to be able to plot up to 10 waypoints when route planning and you can see them on the map too when riding. New updates for mountain bike riders in particular include new optimised off road routing. You can also now save routes whilst navigating. So for example you come across a new track, you can start a new recording, then come back to your original route. That's a nice touch & will certainly come in handy! New Places of Interest also appear on maps, so you can navigate quicker and more easily. We (e-bikeshop) will also feature on this as a Bosch Expert Dealer in the UK! Also manufactures will now also be able to set service routines into the Nyon itself. So the user can keep on top of maintenance and servicing should it be required. For 2016 we will see an update to the Topo range, where the user can see the altitude of riding and plan exact routes based on the hills & battery capacity. This should give accurate mileage and make route planning in real time on real gradients a doddle. Probably the biggest update here, and certainly one we get asked about a lot - Finally the user will be able upload GPX format routes via the portal. This really opens up the mapping to everyone and doesn't just restrict to using the Bosch portal to plan routes, many riders already have GPX files from other navigation devices. So this will be a real bonus! Although we are listing this for 2016, it's likely these updates will be available in a few months for current bikes using Nyon. Just to be clear all of the above are software tweaks and use the same current Nyon hardware. It's also worth noting that with these updates, will come a smoother & easier to use front end, it seems to be getting better and more usable with every update! On top of this we predict that the smartphone functions will become more integral, with a music player control and text messages on screen functions will likely be part of the next substantial update too. Current users can update as soon as available by connecting your Nyon device to Wifi and selecting 'Update' within the Settings menu. Summary: +Upload GPX files +Improved Off Road Tracks +Topo Range +Plan Waypoints When can we expect all of this? It's likely that not all manufacturers will adopt these changes instantly. Particularly with tooling costs and the implementation of the Performance CX drive unit. We will likely see some manufacturers using this on the 2016 electric bikes, whilst some may be for 2017. We will expect to see 2016 bikes in around March / April time as usual. Also to note, that the Performance CX motor will probably only initially be on high end eMTB's, it probably won't be too practical for town / road / commuter bikes. This is where the eShifting will come into play. The Current Active line motor will likely follow through on most trekking / town bikes and as suggested above so will the Performance line for some 2016 mountain / road electric bikes. Remember the Nyon updates will likely be available late 2015 and all current bikes can be updated. From previous experience it will probably be possible to flash on a new software update to the current motor systems for some / if not all of the enhancements. What else is on the horizon for 2016? We believe some of the leading Bosch eBike manufacturers like Haibike, Lapierre & Scott to name a few, will adopt various new customised methods of mounting the current components for 2016. For example head unit & battery integration & possible customised / colour coded motor housings, for a more stealthy approach. We also believe that Bosch will unveil a few more ideas, most likely at Eurobike later this year. Considering the manufacturing process, anything further released will likely see its way through in 2017 given the traditional timescales. It's clear that Bosch is at the forefront as the leading eBike system and they show no signs of letting anyone else catch up. What could this be?.. We think a cheaper alternative system will emerge out at some point from Bosch, to compete more with other slightly cheaper systems like Shimano's Steps and Yamaha. Likely for use on lower spec models to offer a more price friendly option to the consumer, again probably looking at 2017 for this. Is it worth the wait? Considering the Bosch Performance drive was only really established late last year and most of the above mentioned will filter its way back down by way of software updates. We think it'll be the more serious / avid riders playing the waiting game for the latest kit.. That said, those guys probably already have current eBikes, so it means they are out riding this summer and already enjoying the great outdoors! Make sure to check back for regular updates. We are heading to go out to Germany in a few weeks time & are hoping to ride the new systems / models. We will further report back then. You can see our current full range of Electric Bike Models. UPDATE: E-Bikeshop first to Receive new Bosch CX powered eBikes in the UK. Click to view the latest electric bikes with Bosch CX on offer. UPDATE: New article for 2017 updates available to read here:- First Look: What’s New For Bosch eBike Components in 2017? Some of the views expressed above are our predictions, they are by no way backed by the manufacturers or suppliers & therefore should be treated as rumours rather than fact. Then again; we tend to be pretty good at this eBike lark - As the UK's largest eBike supplier. Enjoy!
Bosch have been working hard to create a user friendly 'on the fly' charger for their Bosch eBike battery packs. Today we announce the new 12v cigarette socket charger available. No longer do you have to use an inverter to charge your Bosch eBike battery pack in your car. The feedback from more serious customers to Bosch was that they would prefer the ability to be able to charge Bosch eBike batteries from their car. This is particularly useful for midday charges out on the trail or those who wish to charge their battery packs whilst out on the move. The neat new charger works seamlessly with later Bosch Active & Performance batteries, both 300Wh, 400Wh, frame mount & pannier rack mounted power packs. Its the same size as the original small Bosch charger but instead of the mains head on one end it features a direct plug 'n' play 12v socket to fit directly into every vehicles cigarette lighter socket. The cabling is also a lot shorter as you don't need so much length to reach the bike, you can tuck the battery away inside the car whilst on charge. The small unit weighs just shy of 800g and is easily stowable. For older Bosch Classic+ batteries, this new travel charger can also be used in conjunction with the Bosch Classic+ to Performance adapter here. We expect charging to take a little longer than when using ordinary 240v mains. Interestingly the new charger also features an internal discharge protection system for the vehicles battery to prevent it from completely discharging. Also we will take this opportunity to advise all customers to not leave their battery in direct sunlight, especially in the coming summer months, cars can heat up quite extravagantly and leaving your power pack in direct sunlight will cause further heat. Its not good for the battery to charge abnormally hot. So we suggest placing the battery on charge out of the way of direct sunlight and just leave the window ajar to allow a little breeze to flow through the car. In stock today! To learn more or to order yours click here - Bosch Travel Charger
So many of you may have used the new Bosch Nyon eBike computer by now, some of you may even own a Bosch Nyon equipped eBike. Learn 10 secrets you may not know about the functionality of the latest electric bike computer from Bosch. Some of this you may already know, but some of it is a little hidden within the Bosch Nyon system itself. E-bikeshop gives you a quick guide of these features. We bet you'll learn at least one thing you didn't know before about the new Bosch Nyon system features! 1) Use 'Ambient Light' for screen brightness Bosch have integrated transflective properties into the Nyon head unit's LCD display. If you haven't noticed, look closely directly above the joystick, there is a small light sensor (Highlighted in red circle below). This detects how bright the screen should be, for example if you are indoors, outside & at night time. You can automatically turn this on within the Settings tab on Bosch Nyon here: 2) Customise your ride screens Did you know that once connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth you can customise your ride screens with any preferential ride data you may want on the Nyon's 'Ride Screen'. This includes many features from Speed, Distance right through to feet climbed. Here's a great example: 3) Set the Home Button to a preferred screen You can actually alter what the 'Home Button' (highlighted below) does when pressed. Go into the settings within Nyon & select your preferred screen to navigate to with the use of the 'Home Button': 4) Use Nyon to map distance by battery capacity Why not make use of the Bosch Nyon's GPS receiver. You can actually produce a map of how far you can go depending on your Bosch battery capacity and current usage. This will re-adjust every 15 seconds and is based roughly on the last mile & riding conditions. To find this go into the 'Map & Navigation' Screen, then scroll right into the sub menu and select 'Battery Range'. Example here: 5) Create your own assistance levels Fed up of the pre set 4 modes? - Eco, Tour, Sport & Turbo. Do you like to tinker? Did you know that you can create your own assistance levels? You can customise up to 4 of your own modes, for example you can create different modes for fitness training or particular routes. Custom assistance modes are indicated in yellow as opposed to the normal blue bars as standard: 6) Automatically reset trip values Resetting the previous trip values before every ride can be tedious. Did you know you can set Nyon to automatically reset the last ride metrics every day at midnight? This wont delete all your map and fitness data, but will reset the basics of the 'Ride Screen' like trip distance, average speed & trip time etc. Do this by scrolling down to 'Auto Reset' within the 'My Nyon' tab in the Settings menu: 7) Use Bosch Nyon to determine effective fitness training When you set up the Bosch Nyon system for the first time, it takes certain physical fitness data from you, the rider. It then uses this data to determine your own personal performance profile. Did you know that all the time you are riding, Nyon tracks both navigation and fitness data in the background, even if you are not using the fitness or navigation features. This is then compared to your stored fitness data & displays the effect of your current physical endurance. Whilst riding this effect is displayed as the 'Training Effect'. This will change depending on the level of activity you are performing during the ride. Handy to keep an eye on because it will even tell you if you are Overreaching. The example below shows that we are 'Maintaining Fitness': 8) Use Nyon to predict your overall cost saving You may have noticed in the 'Dashboard' screen, that Bosch Nyon will track savings on CO2 and monetary values against using your car for example. Although a little gimmicky, you can even tell how many tree's you have preserved!. It goes further than this though, rather than just your current ride, did you know that you can see your overall data, since you very first stepped over your new eBike. To do this scroll right on the 'Dashboard' screen into the sub menu, then scroll to display over longer timescales: 9) Its easier to use your phone to create routes Although the Bosch Nyon display and controls are easy to navigate and intuitive, its much easier to use the smart phone app to create destinations and select routes, with a full keyboard. Did you know you can also preset a work address as well as your home address? Once created, choose if you would prefer a Scenic, Fast or Short route, then fire it straight over to your Nyon using bluetooth: 10) See incoming text messages on screen Once you link the Bosch Nyon system to your smartphone via the application. You can be alerted when an incoming text message comes through directly on the Bosch Nyon Display. This means you'll never miss a meeting again! For safety Bosch won't allow you to read the message until you have stopped cycling, it just alerts you: That sums up our top 10 hidden features of the Bosch Nyon system. Hope you enjoyed the read & most of all learnt something. E-bikeshop are fully trained Bosch technicians both in terms of the mechanical side and the software itself. We have been trained by Bosch themselves on multiple training courses throughout the year. Not tried it yet? Book an appointment with us to come as see this latest tech, or view the full range of Bosch Nyon equipped bikes here. Dont forget to stay glued to our blog for more updates, we are adding articles all the time. We have many more articles already live for you to learn more here. Coming Soon: How to use Bosch Nyon Music Player.. N.B: You must have the 'Bosch eBike Connect' application installed on your smartphone to use features 2, 5, 9 & 10 above. Some features require a one off in app purchase.
So with the new Bosch Nyon system now on our shelves for 2015, a lot of customers are asking if the new Bosch Nyon system can be retro fitted to their existing electric bike? E-bikeshop explains.. We have been testing the new Bosch Nyon satellite navigation advanced display for some time at e-bikeshop.co.uk. Its certainly a revelation in the eBike world, with features like smart phone integration, fitness tracker & sat nav mapping. We have the full article of Nyon features here. Many have been asking if this system can be retro fitted to their existing Bosch eBike? Well today we reveal all, as we manage to reverse fit the custom head unit onto a Haibike that comes as standard with the Bosch Performance Intuvia controls. So it can be done with some Bosch experience! Does Nyon work on all Bosch eBikes? Yes: Nyon will now work with both Active and Performance Line eBikes from 2014 onwards. You can tell what Bosch motor you have by checking the model year first. Most 2014 bikes come fitted with the later Bosch 250w motor. Nyon is not currently compatible with S Pedelec 350w Motor versions. How did we upgrade to Nyon? Firstly we need a 'donor' Bosch electric bike, to perform the upgrade on, we chose the Haibike NDURO PRO 2014 model that comes equipped with the Bosch Intuvia display as standard. Then, the easy bit, we fit a new Nyon head unit display and control buttons by taking off the old controls and installing the new control buttons with the little navigation thumb control on board and Nyon LCD display. Once fitted when you turn the Nyon head unit on; the Bosch system will immediately flash up with an error code. Error 414: 'This eBike is not equipped for the use of Nyon". You cannot operate any of the functions when the system is in this state. Now the difficult bit, we connect to our in house Bosch diagnostics computer and fool the diagnostics into thinking the electric bike comes as standard with Nyon. We can't go into too much detail here but it involves many software remaps to ascertain the correct functionality & container file. The photo above shows the programming in progress once we have the correct software map in place. Once done we can unplug the system, re start it & Voila! We have a working Nyon system on our 2014 Haibike. We have tested this and all functions can be used as new. We can also save the old container file in case you ever want to go back to the original Intuvia display. We can flash the original software back onto the eBike without any problem. When is Nyon available to upgrade? At present Bosch are not supplying the parts separately for users to upgrade their Intuvia displays. The Nyon head unit and control buttons are only available on a warranty 'like for like' replacement to support Nyon users at present if they damage their original controls. We are told by Bosch that this should be possible to purchase separately later in the year. http://youtu.be/jk9pnOmjLqg We will be allowing our EXISTING CUSTOMERS ONLY the option for us to upgrade their current Bosch Performance system Intuvia Display to the Nyon LCD & Controls within our Bosch workshops, by our Technicians. As usual we are not offering this service to anyone who has not purchased their bike from us. For more information why we only serve our customers, please read in the F.A.Q page here. UPDATE: Nyon can now be upgraded for our existing customers. You can upgrade the kit yourself by ordering the complete Nyon display system here. It is also possible to upgrade when ordering new bikes for a reduced cost by selecting this as an option on the bike pages.
On a daily basis I get calls asking what the differences between the Bosch & Yamaha electric bike systems are? What system is better you may ask? Well this is the full article that explains and compares each eBike system side by side. Bosch and Yamaha eBike systems work in a very similar way - They both operate using 250w crank drive electric bike motors. So let's see exactly what the differences are. We will start from the beginning. *** This article has been updated in spring 2016 to accommodate the new revised Bosch & Yamaha systems for 2016 model years onwards *** Who are Bosch? Bosch are a very large multinational company that bring a whole manner of products to market. They began researching and developing eBike systems many years ago, they brought their first electric bike system to market in 2010. The Bosch system has been constantly developed and improved as time has gone on. The latest eBike system is the Bosch Performance line so this is the one we will directly compare today. The Bosch system is now used in over 50 leading bike brands across Europe. Who are Yamaha? Yamaha was founded in 1955 and predominantly built motorcycles for the Japanese market. Today they make anything from eBike systems to Jet Skis with a wide product portfolio under their belt. It was back in 1993 when Yamaha released their first eBike system. This was a massive success. Yamaha now manufacturer over 300,000 electric bike systems a year and, to date, their system is implemented on over 2.7 million eBikes worldwide.In Europe the latest version of the Yamaha system is just used on both the Haibike sDuro range and the Lapierre Overvolt range of electric bikes. Let's compare the components across both systems Battery Comparison Bosch and Yamaha both use 36v Lithium Ion 400Wh batteries. Built using the latest technology to give the maximum range and longevity. Notice how similar they are in shape, also they both incorporate a carry handle at the top.Both batteries have LED lights on board to show the user the remaining capacity. Also the batteries are frame mounted on the down tube. The Yamaha & Bosch batteries lock into place using a key mechanism for security. The difference in mounting is that the Bosch battery slots in from the top down, whereas the Yamaha battery slots in at the bottom first then pushes in from the side. One benefit to this is that the battery can be mounted in smaller frames as there is no need for that extra room at the top when mounting.Also the Bosch battery sits in its own little cradle attached to the frame approx 1 inch up from the motor whereas the Yamaha battery is placed directly into the top of the motor. The Yamaha battery also features a small shock absorber so the battery does not rattle over bumpy terrain. Battery specifications, comparison side by side - Bosch Battery Yamaha Battery Capacity 400Wh / 11 Ah 400Wh / 11Ah Voltage 36 V 36 V Security Key Lock Key Lock LED Status 5 Lights (20%) 4 Lights (25%) Weight 2.6 kg 2.9 kg Type Lithium Ion Lithium Ion Warranty 2 yrs / 500 Full Cycles 2 yrs / 700 Full Cycles Op Temp -5 to 40 degrees -20 to 60 degrees So as you can see from the specs, the Yamaha & Bosch batteries are very similar, the Yamaha is slightly larger in size than the Bosch, the Yamaha battery is also approx 300 grams heavier. The Bosch has 5 LED lights to show capacity in 20% stages whereas the Yamaha battery shows it with 4 LEDs in 25% increments. Battery range in average conditions, comparison side by side - Bosch Battery Yamaha Battery Low 80 miles / 130 km 80 miles / 130 km Medium 50 miles / 80 km 53 miles / 85 km High 37 miles / 60 km 43 miles / 70 km Average 57 miles / 90 km 59 miles / 95 km As you can see the range predictions of each system are very close, the Yamaha system appears to offer a little more in the Medium / High area although this is marginal and they both average very similar. It's also worth pointing out that both Yamaha & Bosch batteries can be charged on or off the electric bike.Both Yamaha and Bosch offer a 2 year warranty on their electrics, Yamaha offer more 'Full' charge cycles than Bosch although remember that this is just the warranty, we expect the battery's overall lifespan to be a lot longer. User Interface Comparison The user interface and controls on each system are very similar in both size and operation. Both units have LCD backlit displays and use an additional button user control for the rider to navigate the settings without their hands leaving the handlebars. The Yamaha head unit is slightly taller than the Bosch display, it's also thinner in design, they both clamp on either side of the stem suitable for both 25.4mm & 31.8 handlebars. The control buttons are similar in size, and clamp on in similar ways. The actual LCD display area is slightly larger on the Yamaha system, each unit is easy to navigate and user friendly. The units are displayed in a clear, easy to read manner. Both head units can be removed from the bike, so when the bike is not in use or locked up somewhere the display can be removed and stored easily in your pocket, meaning no one can pinch it. Where the units do differ is that the Bosch system can be controlled on the head unit itself. You can navigate the settings, reset parameters, turn the lights on and of course power the system on/off. Control unit functions, comparison side by side - Bosch Controls Yamaha Controls LCD Yes Yes Backlit Yes Yes Display Buttons Yes No Control Buttons Yes Yes Clamp Size 25.4 / 31.8mm 25.4 / 31.8mm Removable Yes Yes Walk Function Yes Yes Light Function Yes Yes The remote buttons on the Bosch unit can navigate the information displayed, scroll up and down the assistance levels and also use the 'Walk Function'. The Bosch head unit can be turned on and scroll through the saved parameters when off the bike. The Yamaha display cannot be operated when off the bike, in fact it dims the screen and turns into a pocket watch when removed from the eBike. Obviously the display has no buttons on it so it can only be controlled via the remote buttons when it's connected to the bike. Both Yamaha and Bosch systems have a walk assist mode controlled by the remote buttons, so if the rider is walking beside the bike, the walk function can be used to push the bike along with little effort. Computer parameters, comparison side by side - Bosch Parameters Yamaha Parameters Assist Levels 4 4 Battery Bar 5 Scale 10 Scale Range in Miles Yes Yes Power Meter Yes Yes Cadence Meter No Yes Clock Yes Yes Thermometer No Yes Odometer Yes Yes Trip Distance Yes Yes Trip Time Yes Yes Maximum Speed Yes Yes Average Speed Yes Yes Gear Up Shift Yes No Language Adj Yes Yes Units MPH & KM/H MPH & KM/H Both Bosch and Yamaha displays offer similar parameters on their displays, the only differences are that Yamaha offer a more in depth battery capacity bar, a cadence meter and a thermometer. The latest Bosch Performance software update offers the use of a gear shift indicator for maximum efficiency. The LCD displays a small arrow to the user when it feels you could be making better use of a higher gear. This can be turned on or off in the settings menu.Both Bosch and Yamaha controls have a micro USB output for charging auxiliary items like a mobile phone or gps unit. You can use this cable to convert either Bosch or Yamaha to a Female USB output. Motor Comparison Both Bosch and Yamaha use 250w crank drive motors, they are integrated into the bottom bracket area and drive on the crank which gives full use of the gears and a natural efficient feel for the rider. Bosch and Yamaha use high performance crank drive systems that optimise the use of 3 sensors - Cadence, Torque & Speed. These sensors are measured 1000's of times a second to create a very responsive, efficient & natural rider experience. You will notice both the Yamaha and Bosch motors are similar shapes. They are also similar sizes. In fact the Yamaha motor is slightly smaller than the Bosch. The Yamaha motor is also approximately 500 grams lighter than the Bosch. The Bosch motor is internally geared, so it features a small drive sprocket. This sprocket turns 2.5 times to each crank rotation. This enables a higher ground clearance but still offers standard gear ratios. It's also near impossible for the chain to come off. You will notice the Yamaha motor uses a regular size sprocket and the drive is not internally geared. Yamaha have created this system to be compatible with a double ring set up on the front so you can have a larger gear ratio between the 2 sprockets. The Bosch uses a ISIS crank fitment whereas the Yamaha drive uses a square taper crank fitting. Motor specifications, comparison side by side - Bosch Motor Yamaha Motor Rating 250w 250w Torque 75Nm 70Nm Max Assistance 300% 280% Drive Sprockets 1 1 or 2 E.I Compatible No Yes Light Outputs Yes Yes Assisted Speed 15.5 mph / 25 kph 15.5 mph / 25 kph Weight 3.8 kg 3.5 kg Very similar specifications between both manufacturers. The Bosch Performance CX drive does have a little more torque and assistance in Turbo mode, we list a continuous torque figure but the Yamaha drive will actually peak at a whopping 80Nm!Yamaha advertise a quicker power delivery, so the user doesn't have to get a pedal in. Although the power curve is smoother on the Bosch system. Yamaha call this instant power 'zero cadence', it is there right from the off.Both Yamaha & Bosch systems allow the integration of lighting outputs. Something the Bosch does offer that is not mentioned in the table is a pedal back brake function, although this is not generally used in the UK. The Bosch motor also has gear shift detection so it reduces the power slightly when the user is changing gear to save wear on the drivetrain.On a side note you'll also notice the Yamaha system has been made E.I (Electronic Suspension) compatible. This is featured for the first time on some of the new sDuro Haibike's - the AllMtn RX & the AllMtn PRO. Battery Charger Comparison The battery chargers between Bosch and Yamaha are similar in that they have a low recharge time and are both mains operated 240v chargers. You will notice that the Yamaha charger is longer than the Bosch charger, Yamaha's overall size is a little bigger than Bosch's. The Yamaha charger is IPX4 water resistant.Both Bosch and Yamaha batteries can be charged when mounted in the bike or with the battery removed. When mounted on the bike the Bosch battery is charged through a charging port in the battery holder bracket. When the battery is removed it can also be charged directly by plugging the charger into the bottom of the battery.Whereas Yamaha's battery is charged through the same socket be it with the battery in or out of the frame.Battery charger specifications, comparison side by side - Bosch Charger Yamaha Charger Weight <800g 800g Charge Time 3.5 hrs 3.5 hrs Input Voltage 220-240v 220-240v Input Amps 1.5A 1.3A Output Voltage 32v 42v Output Amps 4A 3.6A Frequency 50/60Hz 50/60Hz Air Vents No No Dimensions L190 W86 H54mm L184 W86 H50mm Charge Temp 0 to 40 degrees 0 to 45 degrees Mains Plug Yes Yes The above recharge times are approx and based on the 400Wh batteries. This recharge time is from fully discharged to fully charged. Each charger can recharge the battery to approx 70-80% in 1.5 hours. Each charger can be used with a DC to AC inverter, for example if you wish to recharge the batteries in a motorhome or car using the cigarette lighter socket (inverter purchased separately). Battery and Motor Integration Compared As previously mentioned the Bosch and Yamaha systems are mounted in very similar ways, the headunit and control buttons are mounted in identical positions. The motors are of course crank drive; so they are integrated into the bottom of the bike's frame where the bottom bracket would normally be. As you can see the Yamaha motor is a little smaller when integrated into the frame, although the Yamaha battery is longer than the Bosch battery pack. As you can also see, the Yamaha motor sits directly into the top of the motor casing whereas Bosch's battery sits in its own holder mounted to the frame above the motor.Both have plastic protective skid plates on the Haibike in particular (not on all manufacturers' eBikes). Notice on the model pictured the Yamaha has the larger chainring and it's a double whereas the Bosch uses the smaller single drive sprocket. Each system gives a similar & good ground clearance. To sum up - What do we think? The specs across each system are very similar, we've explained the exact differences in this article. Having used and ridden both systems there are certain features that we like on both.. Integration and look - We prefer the head unit integration on the Bosch system, it certainly feels firmer than the Yamaha head unit display bracket. The bracket and the cable routing are a lot tidier too. The Yamaha display is a little more flimsy in comparison and the side control buttons feel more 'plasticy'. Hard to explain but the Bosch kit just feels more 'German'. It appears and feels better quality; that said it is a slightly dearer system to purchase. Both systems look pretty good in the way they are integrated into the frames. The Yamaha system does seem a little smaller and more integral to the bike. It's nice that the battery inserts from the side too so that we can offer the system in smaller frames, something which hasn't always been possible with the Bosch system. Also we like the fact that the Yamaha has the small shock absorber at the bottom of the battery to soak up any bumps, although after extensively riding each system we don't feel this is an issue on either. Actual ride time - When it comes to riding the bikes, they are both very much on par with each other and definitely two of the best systems around. The Yamaha certainly feels a little more powerful in respect of torque, with the power coming in just a second or so earlier than the Bosch motor, although when both motors are up to a decent RPM they feel just as efficient as one another. We like the fact that the Yamaha system allows the use of 2 chainrings at the front. Although we don't feel it essential on a crank drive electric bike, some users do prefer to have a larger array of gears, particularly when using the bike off power. However we can see why Bosch have opted for the smaller single ring option to increase ground clearance and make it near impossible for the chain to come off. Both systems are very easy to use, ride and navigate through the various assistance levels & functions on board. We like the fact that Yamaha breaks down the remaining battery capacity into more increments, it gives the rider more of a sense of what is remaining. But both work well in comparison to other systems on the market. Although the Bosch display breaks down the assistance levels to 4 as opposed to 3 on the Yamaha, we didn't feel that this had too much effect in the actual riding. That said we were comparing the 2 systems off road, an extra level of adjustment on the Bosch display could possibly come in handy, for longer distance touring for example. Small factors worth mentioning - The ISIS crank axle is our preferred mounting method for the cranks to the motor axle. The Bosch motor uses the ISIS drive setup & the Yamaha the square taper type. We much prefer the size of the Bosch charger as it's smaller than the Yamaha and would be easier to carry around to extend any range. The Yamaha charger is just a fraction on the large size for our liking. Also the Bosch charger has little rubber feet on the bottom, which is such a small factor but it stops it sliding off the workbench as easily. Worth pointing out that the Bosch system can be updated by the dealer via the USB diagnostics socket. We like this because it means future updates are always possible and likely to bring new features. The Yamaha system is set out the factory and not updateable. Bosch or Yamaha - Which is better? Now that's a toughie, again there are certain features we like on each system, we would suggest, rather than buy a bike dependent on the drive system used, steer more towards thinking about the style and specification of the electric bike that you require. You may even end up with 2 very similar bikes one using Bosch & the other using Yamaha. At this point it's time to give us a call and book an appointment to physically ride both systems, also have a look for yourself at the quality and integration. You can then make the decision as to what suits your requirements better. You'll be impressed with both Yamaha & Bosch eBike systems, as are we! Click here to view our range of Bosch & Yamaha eBikes Riding the new Bosch & Yamaha eBike systems in Schweinfurt, Germany
We are proud to announce that e-bikeshop.co.uk have a working tuning dongle kit to derestrict the 15mph cut off speed on all Yamaha powered electric bikes. For the past few years we have been extremely successful with our exclusive Bosch tuning kits that derestrict the electric bike so that you can reach assisted speeds of over 15mph.We can now use similar technology on our new Yamaha eBikes arriving shortly. These kits work in a similar way but plumb in differently. Not something you have to worry about as we do the hard work for you for free! How does it work? Basically the Yamaha speed tuning dongles trick the system into thinking its going half as fast as it actually is. This allows you the rider to pedal past the 15mph barrier and reach speeds up to 30mph assisted. Although a simple format, the technology behind it is a little more complicated! But you need not worry. How do you use it? All you have to do is plug it in when you want the bike derestricted. We plumb the wiring kit into the Yamaha bike before it leaves the workshop. Can you revert it back to normal? Yes of course, just unplug it. The cable kit remains but the bike reverts back to normal. When you want it to go faster just plug it back in. Where can I use the Speed Tuning Kit? Obviously the UK law states that eBikes should only be assisted to 15mph. Therefore the speed tuning kit is strictly for off road (private land) use only. Are there any side effects to using the kit? Yes the speed is halved on the display, therefore you have to double it for a true reading. For example if the display reads 12mph, you are actually going 24mph.. Simple! When you unplug the dongle it reverts back to standard. Why would I want to go faster than 15mph? Really the question is why not?.. But in all seriousness, it can be frustrating hitting the 15mph barrier, particularly off road when you are really going for it and the assistance backs off. Also a lot of people can average faster than 15mph, therefore the majority of their ride the rider is just riding a slightly heavier bike around with no assistance. The Tuning kit is the answer to sit at a comfortable speed assisted. Can I retrofit this to my Yamaha eBike? No, the tuning kit is exclusively available to our own customers. Just add the Yamaha electric bike of your preference together with the tuning kit to the basket, your bike will be set up with the tuning kit installed prior to leaving our workshops. If you decide not to get one at first, this is a not a problem, as long as you have your original bike sales receipt from us we can fit one for you at a later date, maybe free service time? Can I order the Yamaha Tuning Kit on its own? Yes you can, however, it will not be dispatched. It has to be fitted by our workshop technicians exclusively on our own eBikes. Remember you can unplug it, so to save a journey you could have it fitted from new, but unplug it for your first few rides. Then plug it in when you are comfortable with how the eBike performs. The Yamaha Tuning Dongles can be found here.Or why not take a look at our full range of Yamaha powered eBikes here.
Breaking News: We @e-bikshop visited Haibike in Schweinfurt to be one of the first to be introduced to and test the new Yamaha eBike system. This will be coming to the UK in the new 2015 sDURO electric bike line up. This new Yamaha system results from Haibike uniting with Yamaha to bring a whole new product range to the market. More can be read about this here - Haibike unite with Yamaha to bring new eBike system to European market. Scroll to the bottom of the page to view the exclusive prototype images e-bikeshop took whilst in Germany. Yamaha new to the Electric Bike scene? Yamaha have been in the eBike game for a long time, over 10 years in fact! They were one of the first manufacturers to introduce a crank drive electric bike system. But they never really left Japan. Yamaha actually has 53% of Japan's market share and had to date has produced over 2.7 million systems. So they really know what they are doing! Basically what we are getting at is although they seem fairly new to us, in Europe, they have been tried and tested and developed over many years to bring a whole new system to market. Yamaha eBike Series Overview Although already established in the market in Japan, the Yamaha eBike system has now united with the Winora Group (who own Haibike). Haibike have developed the new system alongside Yamaha to make several changes in terms of battery mounting and integration. Winora will also act as the service partners for Europe & will offer full service support, warranty and backup spares. The freshly developed system will be found in the new Haibike sDURO line up of eBikes for the 2015 season. Let's talk a little more in detail about the new Yamaha system and some of its features. We will break it down into the individual components. Yamaha Drive Unit The new Yamaha eBike motor is small and compact for a crank drive unit. It weighs in at just 3.5kg making it one of the lightest motors available on the market today. Yamaha have made the motor very unit slim and allowed the use of both single and double rings. This is handy for anyone looking for that extra gear on the climbs! The drive unit is a 250w motor, so it complies with European law. It offers support up to 25 km/h (15.5mph), obviously the rider can travel faster but with no further support from the motor beyond this speed. The new Yamaha drive unit offer an impressive 70Nm of torque which is claimed to actually peak at 80Nm! This is one of the most powerful units on the market and certainly packs a punch straight from the off. Also power is delivered in less stages than other systems to the crankshaft meaning there is no 'extra' gearing within the motor, so it can pull all this torque instantly. This also helps keep the actual overall size of the motor to a minimum. Yamaha market this as a '0 Cadence' system, meaning you do not have to get the motor up to speed with a few pedals, the power is there, instantly, every time. Yamaha Battery and Charger The charger is water resistant and operates at a frequency of 50/60Hz and allows an input voltage of 220-240v. It outputs at approximately 42 volts at a current of 3.6 amps. Although the prototype charger we handled had a European plug head, we are told by the product manager that by the time of release it will be available with a UK plug for the British market. The new Battery Pack from Yamaha has been totally redesigned. Haibike have been working with Yamaha for the past 2 years to develop the shape and integration of the battery. You can view how the battery is integrated in our exclusive gallery below. Interestingly Haibike have developed the Yamaha battery so that can be inserted from the side. This is a big improvement allowing the battery to be more integrated into smaller frames and does not have to allow a couple of inches of space above the battery to clip it in. The battery is available in one variant - 400Wh (11A). Interestingly when we probed the product manager about the true capacity of the battery pack, he said that most of the batteries were actually coming out at approx 420Wh, but they list them as 400Wh to be on the safe side! We learned that the battery had been tested for range on the 'Official Extra Energy Testing Route' in Germany. This route is made up of hills, mixed terrain and stopping and starting. The range figures are then published based on these findings, so they can be fairly accurate and not over exaggerated. So as you can see the estimated range is 130 Km (80 miles) in 'Eco', 85 Km (53 miles) in 'Standard' & 70 Km (44 miles) in 'High'. This range is really good and just shows how efficient the new system is. This Yamaha battery pack weighs in at just 2.9Kg, so like the motor it is one of the lightest units on the market. As expected the battery pack has 4 LEDs built into the pack to tell you the capacity. Another new feature of this battery is that it features a bump stop on the bottom mount, a small rubber suspension system that keeps the battery in place over even the roughest of terrain. The Yamaha battery carries a 2 year warranty and takes approx 3.5 hours to charge from flat. It can be charged both on and off the electric bike. Yamaha LCD Control Unit and Buttons Haibike have opted for the latest generation of the Yamaha head unit. It has a large removable LCD display screen that relates back all the necessary data & statistics. This new LCD display is backlit and ensures all the relevant data is relayed back to the rider in an easy to read and clear environment. It's very simple to use and the screen itself has no buttons on it at all. The rider controls this from the left hand control buttons. The buttons allow the assistance level to be selected with the up and down arrows. The assistance levels range from 'Off' (non assisted riding), 'Eco' (100% support), 'Standard' (190% support) & 'High' (280% support). The controls allow the use of a 'Walk Assist' mode, a power button to turn the system on and off, the 'S' button which scrolls through the LCD data & also a light activation button for trekking models equipped with lights. The Yamaha user displays the important data whilst out riding including - a power meter, range left, time, cadence, assistance mode, speed, temperature & battery capacity in a 10 scale bar and also percentage. In all the display is very easy to navigate and operate using the control buttons. It certainly makes things easier than taking your hands off the bars to navigate through the settings. The display mounts above the stem in the center of the cockpit so it is out the way of the rest of the controls and easy to see whilst riding. When removed from the bike it acts as a pocket watch. Exclusive Prototype Images We Took in Germany Check out the: First ride review on the Yamaha eBike system
Bosch announces their new Nyon eBike controller for 2015 / 2016. The new Head Unit will run on the current Performance eBike motor system but will be built with a larger screen and some all new features! Here we give you a brief overview of the new features and benefits in this latest eBike tech...The new Nyon system is the latest advancement the German manufacturers Bosch have been working hard on, it was announced at Eurobike last year to gauge interest from both suppliers and end users alike. The system went down well as the first all in one eBike computer that can perform navigation, fitness training/mapping & smartphone integration.The new head unit is to work on the Bosch Performance system, it mounts in a similar way to the current Intuvia display although this one features a much larger 4.3-inch colour screen and hosts a few new buttons; both on the display and the separate handlebar control unit to make operating the new features easy. Let's break down some of the new functions featured on the Bosch Nyon system... Bosch eBike Navigation - Nyon has a new built-in navigation system designed specifically for cyclists in mind. The maps are based on the Wiki Open Street Map platform. This is integrated into the new Bosch unit with GPS so it can perform live maps in both 2D & 3D styles creating a full user-friendly navigation device directly on your eBike powered from the Bosch battery.Interestingly the mapping doesn't just show directions but calculates the best route possible by eBike. This means that you can take more direct routes that might not be possible by car. Another adoption is the range indicator. This calculates not just range left but also factors in your route, topography & your personal riding style to indicate clearly indicate on the map how many miles you have left in the battery. Neat huh?Quick demo of the unit in action here - Smartphone Integration - The new Bosch Nyon system is designed with the latest integration for smartphone users. The idea is that you can leave your phone in your pocket and the Bosch system will connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth. This brings with it lots of new neat features that allow your phone to connect with your Bosch eBike. For example, you can control what music is being played on your phone directly from the Bosch Nyon head unit itself.If you are riding and get an incoming call, the Bosch system will present this to you on Nyons new super slick screen. It will show you who is calling so you can be in full control. If you get a text message it will even pop the message onto the large screen to say who has texted and the message itself. This means there are no excuses for not seeing that all important message!While we are talking smartphones, Bosch tells us that they are going to release a new mobile app so you can perform multiple tasks on your phone that affect Nyons user interface. For example, you can set up things like a 'Favourite Screen'. eBike Fitness Training - Alongside the new Bosch Nyon eBike system, Bosch will release their 'Online Portal'. This means users can pull up all their latest eBike data up on their home computer. This is a really neat feature, it will allow you to track the progress of your recent routes and share them with others online. By connecting a heart rate chest strap via Bluetooth to Nyon you can use the system as a fitness training tool. This will not only track your ride but combine them with signals such as your heart rate so you can progress with your fitness training all in one place.By combining data such as your heart rate & cadence the system can measure your eBiking performance and calculate your progress in the form of calorie consumption and training efficiency. The Bosch Online Portal will present all of this data to you in the form of nice graphics charts and maps of your ride.Check out this video for a short demo - User Interface Customisation - Above we have mentioned lots of new neat features of the Bosch Nyon system. There have also been certain advancements in the user interface with regards to user customisation.With each screen, you, the user, can customise the layout to your preference. This is really good as it means you can get all the data available in the format you prefer to see and read. We mentioned the mobile app above & this will allow you to alter things like a favourite screen, this is really important so you're not just stuck with one layout.On this new Bosch eBike system, for the first time, the motor assistance can be adjusted by the end user. This means you can add up to 5 riding modes which can each be set individually. So you can actually fine tune the motor assistance levels that support your riding, this has never been possible before. Conclusion - We @ e-bikeshop are very excited for the release of the Bosch Nyon system. Some of the features detailed above are a vast step forward in the eBiking world. This is the first system to integrate all of the features through an 'all in one' system.No longer do you have to run mapping and fitness apps on the side, everything can be operated in one place. To top it all off all of the functions can be operated on the 4.3 inch backlit display which is easy to read in all light conditions. We expect these features to be very useful on a eBike and we are sure that Bosch will make a tremendous job of making it all function well as is already proved on their current eBike system lines.We will be visiting Bosch later on in the year to test the new Nyon device and we will have some more feedback to report back once we have done this. When can we expect to see this tech on new eBikes?.. At current, there are only one of these systems in the world, built as a prototype to demonstrate the new functions. We expect it will be a while before Bosch produces this on a mainstream level and then filter down the chain to the eBikes on our shelves.The system may feature on some 2015 model year eBikes but more likely it will be the 2016 model year lines that take it on fully. Bosch tends to test their products extensively before taking them to market. Whereas some manufacturers bring out a product to test and refine on the market by the end user. The German manufacturer Bosch always make sure their products are 100% before the end user gets their hands on them.Please note: this new Nyon system is just a head unit change. It operates using the current Performance motor and Battery Pack. We can't be sure yet if it can be retrofitted. But the current Bosch Performance line Motor and battery will be powering this display.Expect a full review on here, so watch this space.To view all our latest Bosch powered eBikes please click here
A lot of people ask me - What exactly is the difference between the Bosch eBike 250w motor and the Bosch S 350w motor? So I have decided to make a little write up to provide more details and have all the differences explained, it should also save me a fair amount of time on the phone each day too! So to start off the Bosch 350w S motor on paper is more than the 250w.. Right?.. Yes. However, don't look at this as top trump cards and decide you need a 350w Bosch motor otherwise you won't be able to get up that huge hill you live on top of. Did you know that both the 250w and the 350w Bosch motor are exactly the same? They both share the same internals, they both use the same battery & head unit etc. Some rumours have spread that the 350w has 'metal internal gearing' and the 250w motors do not, again this is not true, both motors are produced using the same components. So exactly what is the difference you may ask? Well, they are programmed slightly different. The 350w speed pedelec has an assisted speed to 45 km/h and the 250w motor is assisted to 25 km/h. Everything else is exactly the same. The maximum and minimum assistance levels, the maximum torque & the motor RPM all stay the same between both types. Oh and the 350w motor has a Red Bosch logo on the side whereas the 250w has a grey logo, so they are easily distinguished.Also, it's worth noting the new CX line developed with more torque and assistance (not available in the 350w version. See the table below for factual differences:- Bosch Performance 350w Bosch Performance CX 250w Assistance 275% 300% Torque 60Nm 75Nm Assisted Speed 45 km/h 25 km/h (50 km/h Tuned) So whats the point in 2 drive types? Its simple.. One can reach higher assisted speeds than the other. Who uses Speed pedelecs? Some European countries have guidelines and procedures in place for Speed Pedelecs (eBikes over 250w & 25 km/h). For example in Germany certain laws allow you to register your 350w eBike and pay a yearly rate to ride a Speed Pedelec on the road. There are certain rules that stipulate a cycle helmet must be worn, the eBike must have a side stand, lights and a licence plate holder. Over here it is classed as a motor vehicle so you would have to be licensed and hold appropriate insurance. There is currently no regulations in place to license a Speed pedelec.It's worth noting at this point that the German market is way ahead of us here in the UK. So if their market is so advanced and they have regulations in place is everyone on an 'S' pedelec? You would think so, however, you'll be surprised to hear that out of the 400,000 electric bikes sold annually in Germany, only around 5,000 of these are Speed pedelecs. Only a tiny percentage ey? Is it illegal to use a 350w Bosch motor here in the UK? On the road... Yes (Unless you take the appropriate actions to license the eBike). You may wish to use the eBike on private land with the permission of the land owner. If you do use a 350w motor here on the road, you are riding your eBike illegally. You do run the risk of having your eBike taken by the authorities. If you are involved in an accident, you are responsible for the damages/injury involved for both yourself and the 3rd party. So I want a 250w Motor but how can I go faster? We do provide a Bosch speed tuning dongle for all of our Bosch powered eBikes. This is a device that is 'plumbed' into the motor that can alter the speed cut off of the eBike. It allows you to travel as fast as you want to be assisted by the motor off road (private land) of course. This can easily be unplugged when you are on the road, then easily plugged back into derestrict as required. By using a 250w motor it means that you have a legal bike that can be easily derestricted when needed. Remember the 250w Bosch motors give exactly the same assistance and torque levels as the 350w motors. In fact, a 250w motor with a dongle installed will travel at faster-assisted speeds than a 350w motor on its own. Crazy huh!?A little more can be read about the speed tuning dongles here - How to derestrict a Bosch Electric Bike. Also, it's worth noting that we are only supplying dongles for our own eBikes with the latest Bosch eBike motor.