2023 Thok TK01 R Review | A surprising package from an Italian e-MTB specialist, 2022 Canyon Spectral:ON Review | A better e-MTB in almost every way, 2023 Trek Fuel EXe Review | This brand new lightweight e-MTB is the stealthiest weve ever tested, Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Review | Power is nothing without control, This website requires Javascript for optimum viewing purposes. Unfortunately frenchies and Germans are not masters of marketing. On my older gen Bosch motor with a 500wh battery I can get about 30 miles out of a battery charge if I only turbo up the steepest climbs and do the other bits in low/mid power settings (and I'm about 100kg's / 16 stone which sucks battery). In the winter my range has decreased on the battery due to low temps, if I keep it in eco mode I get greater distance than boost and as I loose a bit of weight in can go further. Also worth noting is that you can create two riding profiles, which you can alternate between via the menu and push-button on the display. Shimano battery issues with EP8 motor. Still, given the lengths that bike and drivetrain manufacturers have gone to stealthify mountain bikes over the past few years, we found the noisy EP8 motor to be infuriating during the first few rides just as we did with the Bosch Gen 4. While midly annoying, it only takes a couple button presses to get back to get an 800% stabbing strength increase! A bit like chain slap when you don't apply force on the pedals. Your own weight is really the one thing that effects the battery capacity together with tires and the ground surface. > According to Shimano, the EP8 motor offers a 36% reduction in drag over the old E8000 motor, and were inclined to believe that claim. This BT-8036 battery only needs a 4mm hex key to be released from the frame for charging separately, which is unlike Bosch that requires a special key (potentially something else to lose/forget). Learn what to expect. It's the same. So when the new version is so much better Refinement is all relative. Yeah but who needs all that power? What is the range of the battery? Absolutely. First revealed to the world in September of last year, Shimano EP8 finally arrived on the e-MTB scene as the successor to the very popular Shimano E8000 motor. If a dynamo can be worked into the wheel hubs, you may even get near perpetual charging while the system is in use. Riders can save all of their settings as a profile in the E-TUBE PROJECT app and choose two of their favorite profiles to load onto the bike for easy access on the fly through the handlebar mounted display. I think the only way it can get even close (And still doesn't) to that statement, is riding 25km on an analogue, or 50km on an ebike. Get directions. 720 WH - 77,7 km 1.681 m elev. In the article it is not considered that much of an issue as supposedly trackstands are less common on e-bikes, but if I'd get one (if ever) that would be just what I can imagine myself do. Garmin shows 30% battery left, 900 meters elevation completed, 20km distance completed and the Garmin estimates I have 10km distance remaining (it actually estimates slightly higher as I have a bigger battery in the Meta, but these figures are close enough). Funny that motor has a gear box, but only one gear? Power delivery is immediately intuitive thanks to the new MasterMind firmware that Specialized developed specifically for the 2.2 motor, which reduces power spikes from rapid changes in crank speed and pedal pressure. IMO Shimano bikes are good,but they are 2 steps down compared to Specialized and Bosch. The EP8 system is compatible with Shimano's bigger 630Wh batteries. Santa Cruz's 2021 Bullit electric mountain bike is built around 170mm of VPP rear wheel travel and Shimano's EP-8 electric motor with an in-built 630Wh battery. Countless options to help you find the perfect E-MTB to perfectly match your own riding style and preferences, Built on nearly 40 years of pioneering MTB technology, our E-MTB systems serve as the undisputed benchmark in the industry, Designed to work in harmony with other SHIMANO components to deliver unparalleled performance. Its a little different though, with Orbea detuning the motors power and assistance to improve efficiency so it can use a smaller and lighter 360Wh battery. Visit the high-res gallery for more images from this review. From my experience range is determined by climbing and cadence. This is due to the internal clutch mechanism, which allows the motor to disconnect from the cranks when not in use, thereby decreasing drag and resistance. New shared architecture Drivetrain components from Shimano. The low profile EM800 display takes up minimal space next to the stem, featuring a crystal-clear screen with colour-coded graphics to easily identify which assist setting youre in. Designed specifically for SHIMANO's STEPS system, the BT-E8036 battery integrates smoothly into the down tube and features 630 Wh capacity. What's your experience on this? "but since I have to hit the small button repeatedly when my battery charge becomes critical on some rides". Heat dissipating materials, increased surface area in the case, and a refined heat management algorithm improve heat resistance, allowing more torque to be applied even as the conditions become more challenging. This says the E8000 has more efficient and will have more range with the same battery size. I wish real bike reviews were this detailed. Appreciate the level of detail in this article, good work. All e-Bike assist mode gets disabled during the downhill slopes. Pickup is faster too, with less hesitation between pedalling and torque being delivered to the rear tyre. With the Spectral:ON for example, which has very short chainstays and a relatively slack seat tube angle that puts your weight further over the rear axle on steep climbs, it helped to dial down the Assistance Character (to 6/10), the Maximum Torque (to 78Nm) and the Assistance Start (to 4/5) to soften the bikes power and acceleration. Aim for a cadence between 70-90 RPM for maximum efficiency and response from the motor. . Wowzers! And you can take the motor together with a battery out in matter of seconds. Their new ride algorithms make the EP8 one of the most natural feeling motors out there, with plenty of power to propel the bike over obstacles, even if Bosch and Brose are still a bit punchier and deliver slightly more power. 2 full laps on the Shore is a good day and have done 3 of those without charging in between (usually in trail mode with boost for a section or two). I suppose pedal assist allows you to tackle the more fun/steep/tech climbs but to be effective it needs to be subtle too. There is zero stickiness at the pedals that we could detect. Maximum Torque This allows you to limit the maximum torque, with 10 levels of adjustment from 20 Nm to 85 Nm. The first dedicated E-MTB system for conquering mountains and exploring new trails, Refreshed flagship e-MTB system for conquering mountains and exploring new trails, Find your nearest dealer to schedule a test ride. I tested a few Merida bikes with Shimano motor and they have some bugs in first versions,quite annoying stupid things force you to reset the bike sometimes. SM-CRE80-12-SB. I also have Commencal 2021 meta power sx. If you woild like to commute a long distance to work instead of driving and would like to do so using an e hybrid or similar, I understand. If you aren't climbing steeps and requiring the torque, you would get way longer distance. Ebikes are great as a self shuttle, especially for time limited people. Alongside the launch of the new EP8 motor, Shimano has increased the battery capacity to a mega 630 Wh. Try to tackle crazy steep tech climbs. Same with brose 2.1 & their motor failures. On top of that, Shimano also appears to be cool with brands building their bikes with non-Shimano batteries. Funny that Shimano now budget e-bike motor builds? Start with a full battery, select the Trail mode, and see how far you can go before you run out of juice. I own the Levo SL, and it is the most refined ebike I have ridden so far. COMPONENT I have to admit some of the comments make me laugh out loud while others score some points for being helpful and based on fact, not hearsay fiction. The lowest setting sees the motor responding slower to your pedalling inputs. And that's with the big heavy battery too. This gives a very wide and flexible power band that does well to match what your legs are doing, making this the go-to, set-and-forget mode for proper off-roading. The MasterMind TCU head unit on the top tube is also as good as it gets, with a sharp and clear, but unobtrusive display that reduces clutter on the handlebars. Estimated range is 5125 feet for EP8 motor with 630wh So these results are shocking so this test needs to be repeated. The EP8 (EP800) drive unit delivers smooth, direct power to ensure you're always in complete control while experiencing a natural ride feeling. E5003 Cycling Computer This means its impossible to tell whether you have 21% or 39% battery remaining. Rattling and lack of update to the battery monitoring is a no go for me, I would just upgrade the battery to the new 620s if i could fit it. By Ralf Hauser You can hear it in the workshop just by lifting the rear wheel and dropping it on the ground, where it sounds a bit like a loose pebble bouncing around inside a wooden box. The complaints of charge bars on the display and the bike starting without any assistance are non issues for me. EP8 delivers up to 85 Nm of torque, a 21-percent increase over the STEPS E8000 motor platform. The World's largest electric mountain bike community. I get under 3 hours in eco, so I guess it's taking up more than 150 W per hour on average. HOME So that would include rocks, hops, trackstands but also sudden boosts from a standstill. What a misstep by Shimano to join Bosch in its failure. Click on a component to learn more. The new EP8 drive unit provides incredibly quiet assistance under pedal load. Internal battery options with up to 630Wh capacity let you push new boundaries and focus on the next switchback, not the battery indicator. Shimano Steps E8036 E-Bike Battery Brand: Shimano Type: E-Bike Battery Model: Steps E8036 Frame . Was thinking the same thing. Total power isnt quite as brutish as Bosch and Brose, but the real beauty about EP8 is that it retains the smooth and intuitive performance that we loved about the old motor. Environmentally I think they're a disaster as well - rare earth elements in the batteries for one thing. Mine gets very hot. Chuckle. In comparison, you can get a Polygon Mt Bromo N8 with a Shimano EP8 motor for $7,899 AUD. Its easy to modulate via how much pressure youre putting through the cranks and the power delivery is progressive, giving it a very natural feel as a result. I'd do way more on a big day. However, when coasting on rough terrain the unloaded system can exhibit a 'NORMAL' clicking sound that may be detectable to the rider. If thats the case for you, start at Level 5 and work your way down a notch at a time. Maybe in a next generation they can implement an optional solution analog to what we're already seeing f bicycle chains. This means that if you ride in the default Trail and Boost settings, youll actually end up with a similar total range as the old E8000 motor, albeit with the benefit of more power and assistance throughout the ride. If you don't like e-bikes for whatever reason, you really have no business even commenting on this review. Shimano EP8: More power, more range. I can concur with the range, it's not as good as I expected. As much as I want an emtb right now, I am waiting until the technology is perfected. For a lighter pedal feel than the E8000, the one-way bearing has reduced its rotational resistance, creating a free play.