2023-12-02 13:02:25
Bosch is a German company founded in 1886. Initially specializing in the automotive industry, power tools and household products, the company launched into electric bicycle motors in 2009 with its Bosch eBike Systems brand. Bosch motors are today a benchmark in terms of quality and reliability on the VAE market. The brand offers a wide range of engines and to help you find your way around, we offer you this complete file.
Bosch is a German company founded by Robert Bosch in 1886. The company is known for its equipment in the automotive industry, power tools and household appliances products. In 2009, the company Bosch eBike Systems was created with the aim of developing motors for electric bicycles.
In 2012, Claus Fleischer took the reins of the company and transformed what was then just a startup into a true multinational. In the space of 20 years, Bosch motors have become the benchmark in the world of electric bicycles. The brand’s motors, installed at the bottom bracket, are efficient, robust and a guarantee of quality.
Through this file, we will explore the entire range of Bosch motors by focusing on their characteristics, their target from a customer point of view and the bike ranges they target.
What is a pedal motor?
The VAE, for Electrically Assisted Bicycle, more commonly called an electric bicycle, has two characteristics that differentiate it from a mechanical bicycle. A motor and a battery, quite simply. It is the engine part that interests us here with several possible configurations depending on the model. There are three types of engines. The rear wheel motor, the front wheel motor and the pedal motor.
Bosch brand motors are all, without exception, pedal motors. This type of motor is installed, as its name suggests, at the level of the crankset. Thanks to sensors integrated inside the device, the pedal motor is able to calculate the pressure exerted on the pedals and then adjust the level of assistance as best as possible.
Source: Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
With this motor system, assistance is triggered from the first pedal stroke and offers progressive and natural assistance. This type of motor provides much more pleasant and authentic pedaling sensations than with a motor on the rear hub associated with a rotation sensor.
The engine works in conjunction with the transmission. It can be coupled to a chain or a belt and to any gear system: Nexus type hub gears, external derailleur with Shimano Altus type pinion or Enviolo type continuously variable gears. Depending on the transmission, the behavior of the engine and its intrinsic characteristics may differ slightly.
Some engines will be restricted to a single type of transmission. These are engines with a specific use such as speedbike engines for example, which can reach a higher speed (45 km/h instead of 25 km/h) or engines specially designed for racing.
2nd generation or smart version?
Some of the motors in the Bosch range are available in two versions. The engines marketed until recently were 2nd generation engines. They still equip a good number of bicycles and are likely to remain in the Bosch catalog for some time. They are gradually being replaced by new generation engines, identified as intelligent systems.
The intelligent version has several advantages, including safety-related features such as the alarm or geolocation of the bike, intelligent walking assistance, higher maximum power or even better assistance at high pedaling cadences. We have written a complete file about it.
Active Line: the first prize
The Bosch Active Line motor is the brand’s first prize. It is therefore an “entry-level” motor which equips electric bikes costing around 2000 to 2500 euros, like the Mustache Samedi 28.1 (2299 euros). This is a high range for a first price which reflects the high-end positioning of the brand’s engines.
Features, advantages and disadvantages
The cost of the Active Line is lower than that of the brand’s other engines, which is its big advantage. It is also one of the lightest urban engines in the range at only 2.9 kg. The brand has motors that are even lighter than this Active Line but which are not intended for the same use.
With only 40 Nm of torque, it is an urban engine, ideal for short journeys or those with few elevation changes. The Active Line is capable of offering a maximum power of 290 Watts for the 2nd generation and 586 Watts for the intelligent version.
Regarding the level of assistance, the 2nd generation is able to go up to 240% compared to 340% for the intelligent version. The most recent version therefore benefits from a higher level of assistance, very useful on hills for example.
Active Line Plus: the ultimate version of Active Line
The Bosch Active Line Plus motor is more premium than the Active Line. It equips electric bikes whose cost varies between 2500 euros and more than 3000 euros on average. You can find it in particular on the Lapierre e-Explorer 3.4 2023, at 2500 euros.
Features, advantages and disadvantages
Its cost remains advantageous compared to the brand’s other engines, particularly the Performance and Cargo Line engines. However, it remains more expensive than its classic version. The other advantage of this Active Line Plus is its additional power which makes it more versatile. The Active Line Plus offers a maximum power of 415 Watts on the 2nd generation compared to 600 Watts on the intelligent version.
The level of assistance, for its part – and this is surprising – is lower on this Active Line Plus than on the Active Line in its 2nd generation version with 250 to 270% compared to 290% on the Active Line. Fortunately, on the smart version, the maximum assistance level is the same as the Active Line at 340%.
Whatever the version, the torque is 50 Nm, or 25% higher than that of the Active Line. This is the advantage of this version, knowing that 10 Nm has an impact on the power of the assistance and therefore on the behavior of this electric bike. This additional torque is an asset in the event of a change in altitude. The Active Line Plus is slightly heavier than the Active Line with a weight of 3.2 kg compared to 2.9 kg. So that’s an increase of 300 grams, or 10%.
Performance Line: a good compromise between price and power
The Bosch Performance Line motor is one of the brand’s premium motors. It is a powerful engine, ideal for urban or peri-urban use on routes with uneven terrain. It mainly equips urban bikes and VTC whose prices often exceed 3000 euros. We are thinking in particular of the Winora Tria 10 (3099 euros).
Source: Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
Features, advantages and disadvantages
Its cost is higher than the Active Line and Active Line Plus and is justified by a significant increase in power. This motor offers a maximum power of 600 Watts whatever the version.
The level of assistance on this Performance Line is higher than that of the Active Line in its 2nd generation version with 300%. On the smart version, it is identical with, again, with 340%.
The intelligent version of this engine is of significant interest with a greater torque of 10 Nm. The 2nd generation version offers 65 Nm of torque compared to 75 for the intelligent version.
Performance Line CX: raw power
This is Bosch’s flagship engine with the Cargo Line which we will present just after. It equips bikes which can well exceed 4000 euros depending on the brands and models. It is powerful and therefore suitable for all types of elevation. It accompanies the cyclist both on flat terrain and on climbs.
It can be found on very high-end urban e-bikes, like the Riese & Muller Charge4 GT Vario (5,499 euros) that we tested, but also on electric mountain bikes, like the Samedi Mustache Samedi 29 Trail 9 (5,299 euros). ) that we were able to take in hand. More affordable off-road or urban models can also integrate it.
Features, advantages and disadvantages
The power of this engine is clearly its advantage. It makes the bike on which it is installed more versatile and hyper dynamic. It provides excellent acceleration when starting and the assistance does not weaken on climbs.
This system offers a maximum power of 600 watts regardless of the motor version, like the Performance Line in the intelligent version. The maximum assistance level is 340% regardless of the version, so it is identical to that of the Performance Line.
It is in terms of torque that this engine takes the advantage over the previous ones with 85 Nm, compared to 75 Nm for the Performance Line in the intelligent version, or 10 Nm more. This gain makes this engine at ease both on flat terrain and on steep climbs, on all types of terrain (city, path, forest).
Cargo Line: an engine designed for cargo bikes
The Bosch Cargo Line motor is a derivative of the Performance Line CX, slightly boosted for cargo-type bikes. Cargo bikes being heavier than conventional bikes due to their structure and having the objective of transporting passengers or goods, their use requires more power to be able to assist the cyclist, whatever the elevation.
The price of bikes equipped with this engine exceeds 4000 euros and can even reach more than 6000 euros depending on the equipment. On Frandroidwe tested several models equipped with this engine, such as the Tern GSD S10 LR (5,590 euros) and the Mustache Lundi 20.3 Dual (from 5,300 euros).
Source: Jérémy FDIDA for Frandroid
Features, advantages and disadvantages
Its cost is higher than the Performance Line CX given its maximum level of assistance. This motor is more suitable for a cargo type bike than the Performance Line CX whose design is suitable for more classic bikes. This motor offers, like the Performance Line CX, a maximum power of 600 Watts regardless of the motor version.
The maximum assistance level is 400% compared to 340% for the Performance Line CX. This is an interesting development for cargo-type bikes which will have greater assistance when starting or in the event of a change in altitude. And this is also the main difference between this engine and the Performance Line CX. The torque of this engine is identical to that of the Performance Line CX, i.e. 85 Nm.
Performance Line Speed: to get to your destination very quickly
The Bosch Performance Line Speed motor is not in the same category as the motors listed above. It allows a higher top speed with assistance of up to 45 km/h compared to 25 km/h for previous engines. It therefore equips speedbikes, bikes whose speed is higher than classic electric bikes.
This type of bicycle is subject to different regulations than e-bikes, which are limited to 25 km/h. Speedbikes are subject to moped legislation and must be driven exclusively on the road. They are prohibited on cycle paths. The other disadvantage compared to a classic bicycle is that they must be registered and insured, like a motorized two-wheeler. Last point, the cyclist must wear gloves and a helmet approved for two-wheelers.
Features, advantages and disadvantages
The two main advantages of this engine are its top speed and its dynamism when starting. Its top speed is 45 km/h compared to 25 km/h for a conventional electrically assisted bike. This high speed makes it more suitable for peri-urban or rural use to save time on journeys exceeding 10 km for example.
This motor has a higher cost than the motors listed above. It equips speedbike type bicycles, as mentioned above, the cost of which varies between approximately 4000 and 7000 euros. It is therefore more expensive than a bike equipped with a motor whose assistance is limited to 25 km/h.
The maximum motor power, whatever the version, amounts to 600 watts as on the Performance Line CX. The level of assistance, too, is identical to that of the Performance Line CX, therefore 340% whatever the version. In terms of transmission, there is no choice: only the derailleur is compatible with this engine. It is not possible to opt for in-hub gears.
The motor, like the others mentioned above, offers a nominal power of 250 Watts. This is the regulatory power of an electric bicycle motor according to European law. The torque of the engine is identical to that of the Cargo Line, therefore 85 Nm.
Performance Line SX: ideal for light bikes
It is the new motor from Bosch, presented in June 2023, which impresses with its lightness. Only 2 kg on the scale, approximately 1 kg less than the other motors in the range. It shares a certain number of technical characteristics with the Performance Line CX, although there is a notable difference in torque: 55 Nm for the SX, compared to 85 Nm for the second.
The Performance Line SX targets specific electric bikes: light e-MTBs, gravel bikes and urban bikes that are also light and stripped down. It is found in particular on the KTM Macina Gravelator SX 10 and SX Prime gravel bikes, the Centurion No Pogo SL electric mountain bike and the Kalkhoff “L” for the city.
Source: Grégoire Huvelin – Frandroid
Features, advantages and disadvantages
The significant advantage of this engine is its lightness. Only 2 kg on the scale. With approximately 1 kg less than the brand’s other motors, it makes the bike on which it is installed lighter. On an electric bike like a gravel bike or a mountain bike, every kilogram can count: it is therefore a significant gain for manufacturers.
In return, the cost will necessarily be higher. It’s a miniature Performance Line CX and when you say miniaturization, you say an increase in price. Models that will be equipped with it will probably not have an entry-level price. As the Performance Line SX is a new model planned for bikes launched at the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024, it will only exist in one version with Bosch’s intelligent system.
The maximum power of this motor is identical to the Performance Line CX, i.e. 600 Watts. The assist level is also the same as the Performance Line CX at 340%.
Performance Line CX Race: to arrive first in the race
The Performance Line CX Race engine is an engine designed for bicycle racing. It mainly equips e-MTBs, therefore bikes generally exceeding 4000 to 5000 euros. It is almost identical in terms of characteristics to the Performance Line CX, while being lighter than the latter. In terms of transmission, only one option is on the menu: the external derailleur which is in any case the preferred transmission for e-MTBs.
Features, advantages and disadvantages
This engine has two major advantages. It is light at only 2.75 kg compared to 2.9 kg for the Performance Line CX. It’s a slight weight gain that’s always good to take. The other advantage of this model is its Race mode which offers 400% level of assistance to start strong and benefit from powerful assistance to go to 25 km/h in no time.
This motor only exists in one version with the Bosch intelligent system. The maximum assistance of this motor is identical to that of the Performance Line CX, i.e. 600%. The torque of this engine is also identical to that of the Performance Line CX, i.e. 85 Nm.
Bosch motors: a premium range and spoiled for choice
The Bosch motor range is complete and will meet the needs of the majority of uses. The Active Line and Active Line Plus motors will be perfect for city or VTC bikes costing less than 3000 euros on journeys with some elevation changes.
For journeys with greater altitude differences, the Performance Line and Performance Line CX engines are more suitable with torques ranging from 65 to 85 Nm. The Race version is lighter and offers an ideal driving mode for road races. VTTAE.
For families, the Cargo Line motor offers a maximum level of assistance at 400% to help with starting and climbing on bikes typically loaded with cargo or a person on the back.
If speed is what you are looking for, the Performance Line Speed is the ideal candidate for speedbikes with an assistance speed of 45 km/h maximum, much higher than other models which are limited to 25 km/h. h.
Finally, the engine that is likely to make a big noise in 2024 is the Performance Line SX, with only 2 kg on the scale and excellent technical characteristics. With its kilo less, the bikes equipped with it will be lighter while benefiting from excellent dynamism. It can be installed on city and VTC bikes but also on lighter and sportier gravel type bikes.
To make it easier to read between these different models from the manufacturer, here are two summary tables.
Bosch Active Line, Active Line Plus, Performance Line and Performance Line CX motors:
The Bosch Cargo Line, Performance Line SX, Performance Line CX Race and Line Speed motors:
ModelBosch Active LineBosch Active Line PlusBosch Performance LineBosch Performance Line CXBosch Cargo LineBosch Performance Line SXPerformance Line CX Race Limited EditionPerformance Line Speed UseCityCityCity and non-citiesCity, non-cities and mountainous terrainCity and non-citiesCity and non-citiesRaceCity and non-cities Elevation SlightMediumHighVery highHigh (depends of the weight of bike)HighHighHigh Weight2.9 kg3.2 kg3.2 kg2.9 kg2.9 kg2 kg2.75 kg2.9 kg Maximum assistance up to 25 km/h
25 km/h
25 km/h
25 km/h
25 km/h
25 km/h25 km/h45 km/h
Couple40 Nm50 Nm2e Gen : 65 Nm
Intelligent system: 75 Nm85 Nm85 Nm55 Nm85 Nm85 Nm Max assistance level 2e Gen: 250%
Intelligent system: 340% 2nd Gen: 250 to 270%
Intelligent system: 340% 2nd Gen: 300%
Intelligent system: 340%340%400%340%400%340% Rated power250 W250 W250 W250 W250 W250 W250 W250 W Maximum power2nd Gen: 290 W
Intelligent system: 586 W2e Gen: 415 W
Système intelligent : 600 W600 W600 W600 W600 W600 W600 W
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