Here at Electric Bike Reportwe’ve been waiting for a race-specific eMTB motor. In our estimation, given the way eMTB racing has been growing, both abroad and here, we knew someone was going to release a racing-specific motor at some point, and while we weren’t sure who would do it first, our money has been on Bosch from the beginning.
Some of the features of the Performance Line CX Race Limited—like placing the controller in the top tube—are likely to trickle down to other product lines. Why? Having the controller positioned out of the way, where it would be difficult to damage in the event of a fall or crash, is a terrific idea; mounting an easy-to-replace Bluetooth selector on the handlebar means that the e-bike can still be ridden even if the selector is damaged, and because it won’t contain any of the critical circuitry or processors, replacing the switch is unlikely to cost much. This is an idea some companies, including Specialized and Orbea, have already adopted.
Extended Boost is a fascinating feature, one that promises to make eMTB riding and racing more dynamic. We can see its utility, not just in racing, but in all technical riding. The trails near our offices are exceptionally technical and often require dynamic movements to ascend sections that feel more like steps than slopes. Extended Boost is a feature that will allow riders to simply goose the pedals briefly and then focus on rider position, weight shift and steering. It’s a feature that will make riding safer in some places, but carries with it the challenge of figuring out how to ride an eMTB with a motor that keeps going after a rider has stopped pedaling.
We harbor some concern for just how much this new motor will drive up the price of an eMTB. Top-of-the-line eMTBs now go for more than $10,000, with a few running $15,000. Should this new motor propel pricing above the $15k, there won’t be much need to wonder why the Performance Line CX Race Limited includes that last word in its name.
While this new motor is considered a limited edition, we’ve placed our money on the idea that this motor isn’t a trial idea. There’s no way this will be the only race-tuned eMTB motor ever made. The “limited” strikes us a way to signal that this is simply the company’s first step in race-quality eMTB motors. This new product will make for excellent real-world focus group testing. Consumer feedback will guide the next iteration of this motor.
What are your thoughts on Bosch’s latest motor? Let us know in the comments below!
Source link
