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Bosch’s Improved eBike Performance Line System, Opinion on eBike Technology

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Bosch eBike PerformanceLine lifestyle

Bosch, after only beginning its eBike technological journey in 2009, has released a refined and improved electric system in their eBike Performance Line. The battery lasts longer. The Drive Unit now comes in multiple flavors to better integrate with the bicycle frame as a static chassis and in motion under different types of riders. The sophisticated controls are highly integrated on a level you don’t often see in the product of this industry and are highly user focused from a conscious and unconscious interactive standpoint. There is a reason why it won the Red Dot award for design excellence.

Let’s dig into this new system after the jump…

Bosch eBike PerformanceLine

Opinion – eBike Technology is worth a look:

The frustrating thing about the conversation surrounding eBikes in the US is that it is so overwhelmingly negative for political or emotional reasons. As an appreciator of bike technology and design, I think it’s important to go deep into new products to understand the opportunities that technology presents. It is disrespectful to the technology and, frankly, ignorant to completely dismiss or disregard that technology because at first glance it rubs you the wrong way. Hating on something is easy. Understanding it takes thought and consideration.

For eBikes specifically: they may not be your bag, and no one is telling you they should be. You may perceive them to represent a threat to your current way of riding and ride experience. But the threat of change is everywhere. The context of technology is constantly changing and change is really the only constant in our industry. Your personal context of riding is constantly changing as you grow or lose strength or flexibility and as new technology is developed, refined, or comes into vogue.

You don’t have to love a technology for yourself, but when you put it into that larger contextual framework you can appreciate and respect it within its place in the evolutionary timeline. It’s why looking back on older product is so fascinating. You find that the most polarizing technology in retrospect is the most interesting – the product of the industry either adapts to it, adopts aspects of it, or reacts against it. It’s all part of our product ecosystem. It’s healthy. At points carbon fiber, fat tires, suspension, and electronic shifting were each supposed to burn the industry house down… but the house is still standing. Heck, it’s enhanced by the diversity of dialogue that those technologies have contributed.

So within that context, let’s sit back a minute and talk about an example within an emerging technology that is currently impacting our product ecosystem and the opportunities its advancements present.

Bosch eBike PerformanceLine DriveUnit CX

 

First and foremost, the new Bosch Performance Line ebike system overall seeks to join the rider/bicycle experience as a harmonious player, seeking to enhance the activity of pedaling rather than as an additive aspect of the experience. While there is a walk assist function in the controls, there isn’t a throttle- it isn’t a “scooter.” The controls are designed to support each pedal stroke as an active rider, sampling data to the tune of 1000 readings a second from your power, cadence, and speed- reading the state of your body and of the machine in motion together to smoothly change the assist and gearing from within the motor.

The Drive Unit Performance comes in several flavors, each designed with gear change detection technology for rear derailleur configuration. Performance Cruise, 250W which tops out at 25km/h (~15.5mph) and Performance Speed, 350W which tops out at 45km/h (~28mph) share a body style, a high output torque of 60Nm, and weigh in at under 4kg (~8.8lbs), according to Bosch.

New and exciting for Spring is the Performance CX Drive Unit, where Bosch managed to shave 200g off the robust aluminum body style and modified the overall body to have more clearance and a better overall shape for integration into mountain suspension designs. They have also introduced this model with a tough matte black powdercoat finish for in-field resilience and to better visually interface with modern mountain product styling. This Drive Unit has already begun to appear on production models such as the Trek Powerfly + FS (available only in Europe).

Trek Powerfly plus FS (2)

The Lithium Ion battery pack is easily removable if you want to take it with you to charge or to prevent tampering or theft, can be charged on or off the bike, and is specifically designed to be resistant to overloading, undervoltage, overheating, and short-circuiting for a long operating life. The Performance line has two battery levels, the PowerPack 300 Performance and the slightly larger, nearly one pound heavier PowerPack 400 Performance (300Wh and 400Wh respectively). Both mount to the top of the down tube, but the PowerPack 400 also comes in a rack mounted flavor. Bosch boasts a full recharge on both battery levels after only 2.5 hours and a 50% charge after 1 hour with the PowerPack 300.

Where the active user interaction comes most into play is with the Intuvia computer display system, a feature consistent across the whole Performance line. It’s designed to be extremely intuitive, removable when not in use (again, to deter theft or tampering), and easily adjustable on the bike by the rider for different riding positions or to mitigate glare. Whether or not the drive system is assisting the rider, Intuvia still acts as a typical bike computer with clock, trip time, and speed functions and controls front or rear lights that can be integrated into the eBike system and powered by the battery. It has an independent 3.7v Lithium ion polymer battery that charges off of the system battery pack, but allows the display system to be functional when not installed. Intuvia also includes a USB port so users can recharge their phone or music player while they ride, a nice feature that we expect from modern automobiles so it’s interesting, and I think reasonable, that we see it here.

Bosch eBike PerformanceLine Intuvia

The Intuvia monochrome display is designed to be super easy to read (in English too) and offers readouts for the five states of power assist (Off 0%, Eco 50%, Tour 120%, Sport 190%, and Turbo 275%) with feedback on your distance range at current charge and power assist state so you don’t run out of juice before you get where you’re going. As opposed to a simple cycle computer, this system features a remote button pad mounts to the handlebar easy access while you have your hands on your grips (a stem cap mount is available for crowded drop bar cockpit scenarios).

This system a whole has the benefit of keeping the majority of the ~15lb of added weight low and center in the frame for added stability as opposed to a hub driven format, which puts more weight over the rear. It keeps your front wheel grounded in a more balanced loading scenario. It does its best to be a harmonious partner working to enhance the rider/bike experience at every interface, whether it is in dynamically adjusting power assist from your pedal stroke input or in making it simple to take your battery and display with your when locking up the bike. It has applications both in the city and in off-road performance, being endorsed by downhill racers such as Sabine Spitz, as a great way of getting back up the mountain without getting burned out when training- and a lot of fun on trails besides.

It has its limitations. While it’s lightweight for what it accomplishes, it’s still an extra fifteen pounds on your bike. Battery life, while improved, remains a limitation, especially under difficult riding conditions. You can ride it at its highest assist level, sure, but not for very long. And you won’t get insane speeds out of the system unless you put the effort in, and even then there is a maximum velocity programmed into the system (a limitation or a design feature depending on who you are with relation to the eBike in question).

Bosch eBike PerformanceLine ghost

But overwhelmingly, this technology, like other technology, intends to give riders a better experience on a bike. It’s undeniably helpful in hilly commuting or in hauling. In an industry dominated by able-bodied people making product for able-bodied consumers, it represents a way for those less able-bodied to continue to participate or enjoy the sport. It allows individuals to ride technical courses faster as they can do things like accelerate out of corners more quickly. Take it for what it is; a cleverly designed, thoughtful system intended to increase the joy of riding your bike.

For more information about this system, and for brands where it is in use, visit Bosch’s website.

Bosch-eBike.de

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Ryan
Ryan
8 years ago

E-bikes aren’t my thing and I don’t want them on my trails, but I support them for official use like park/law enforcement, search & rescue, emergency services, trail maintenance, etc. So that said, I see improvements and advancements in e-bikes important.

craigsj
craigsj
8 years ago

Not sure seeing these on trails is great, either, but as a commuting solution it could be welcome. It could enable longer commute distances and help achieve better speed parity which would be good for safety.

It would be cool to see this with internal gearing so the rear shifting could be deleted. It’s heavy and requires custom frame already so integrate it with a Pinion!

wuffles
wuffles
8 years ago

Ug- dear Bosch: I am not against change. I am not against innovation. I think e-bikes have serious potential, and are kinda cool, even if they look a bit dorky at the moment.

That being said, e-bikes are already creating a s&%^storm of access issues for MTBers. As far as the BLM is concerned (see: Moab) they are motorized vehicles. Every public meeting I’ve been to regarding trail access there has been one or more angry hiker/equestrian with lots of political clout ranting about how “all the bikes just use motors now”, and land managers are listening to them.

If you have to push e-bikes, do it in a responsible manner and emphasize to your user base that they cannot and should not be used on non-motorized trails.

JBikes
JBikes
8 years ago

Ryan –
I agree, although I will add that I see the biggest benefit for commuting. My commute is a hilly 10 miles. When it gets too hot, I question using my bike as I have no shower facilities and need to be business casual at work. Besides that, there are many that can’t/won’t make the 10 mile ride due to time or fitness constraints. E-bikes could serve that market and promote more bikes on the road – a good thing.

Now that said, I think bicycle road use training by both bike riders and automobile drivers could improve (obviously). Maybe nothing formal, but an education campaign for such. I’ve seen many recreational riders that jump on their bikes do some incredibly dangerous and foolish things in and around road traffic. Adding an e-bikes speed an accessibility could make this more lethal than it already is, and potential ruin the benefits for others.

scentofreason
scentofreason
8 years ago

If it has a motor it’s, by definition, not a bicycle. Look, we all already suffer from the 1% of us who are morons and don’t respect other trail users. Giving those jerks a motor to add to the abuse they can dish out on the trails is a very bad thing. These will cause issues in our park systems, and will increase the chance for trail closures to standard bikes. For a commuter I think these are genius. Just set them up with city tires and make sure they aren’t off road capable. (As for the 1% jerk factor, it applies to all groups – hikers, horseback riders, bicyclists, etc. In every group there are always a few jerks who can’t think of anyone but themselves).

Greg S
Greg S
8 years ago

I’m with wuffles on this one, it’s stupid to mate the ebike technology with mtn bikes and it can only hurt the legitimacy of the sport with public land managers. This will only provide an avenue for less capable riders to remain less capable if they get an e-assist to go faster beyond their skill set. Not to mention that anyone riding an offroad e-bike will more than likely have no investment of volunteer time giving back to the sport.

Thanks Trek, you are screwing it up just to make a quick buc!

wako29
wako29
8 years ago

haha, you guys forget that the area of the world that has welcomed e-MTB (majority of Europe) is where these bikes are actually being sent to. Can you buy that Trek e-MTB in the US? Noooope. People calm the ef down.

DCT
DCT
8 years ago

This would be awesome for commuting to supplment power (I start getting hot if I’m putting out > 100 watts, which is an issue with work clothing on as it is a PTIA to take a shower there). It would be fun for super endurance riding, although it would cheapen the accomplishment of riding 100 or 200 miles.

Chris S.
Chris S.
8 years ago

Just make it last for 60 miles for my out-and-back daily commute at 40 miles per hour and we’ll talk. I have $400 worth of gas a month that could go somewhere else.

Larry
Larry
8 years ago

Totally pumped about these bikes finally making a splash in the US. Could totally open up the bike market and would make a lot of rides a lot more fun. Sign me up for the first good full-suspension version!

Cheese
Cheese
8 years ago
ceebee
ceebee
8 years ago

Completely ridiculous and unnecessary.

bart
bart
8 years ago

This is truly a hot topic, from talking with Bosch they believe that the big difference between their e-bike and a motorized vehicle is the lack of throttle. Lots of e-bikes have throttles and can be ridden without pedaling and effectively you could remove the cranks and is essentially a light weight motorbike. with pedal assist they are just giving your legs more power. And from an out of shape guy it means i could now go riding with my buddies who race and I could keep up. I still get a work out, we can stay together and have a great day. I realize that policing the trail network to keep people with full throttles off the trails and ruining them would be very difficult but i do think that more people out on bikes of any kind is a good thing.

Jack
Jack
8 years ago

I think that it is wonderful that a company like Bosh is so dedicated to the needs of the suspended license community. No insurance, no registration, no license, NO RULES! Yeeeehaaw! Bike path here I come!

Roy Wallack
8 years ago

WAKE UP, EBIKE HATERS

Over the years, I’ve tested many ebikes. For an article in my column in the LA Times last fall, I went for a ride with a non-athletic friend of mine who abhors sweating so much that she won’t even go to a yoga class. But on the ebikes I was testing, she rode with me for TWO hours. At the end of the ride, she said to me, with a gush of pride, “I just climbed that hill WITHOUT the motor on.”

Guess what: That little non-athletic Asian women in her 40’s who had never even seen the Back Bay despite living 5 miles from it for 20 years just became a “real” cyclist for a few seconds. And now, she wants to do more.

That’s why I think that if you are in any way against e-bikes, you’re a short-sighted fool. Ebikes will bring millions more people into cycling, creating more demand for bike paths and bike-friendly legislation. Ebikes create more cyclists, giving many non-cycling couch potatoes their first taste of movement and athletic activity without killing them on the hills, and giving them the curiosity and courage to try a non-motorized version.

Out of sheer self-interest, all us non-electric cyclists should be encouraging the ebike revolution, not standing in its way.

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-gear-ebikes-20140924-column.html#page=1
roywallack.wix.com/bike-for-life

henry
8 years ago

Mr Wallack I am 100% behind you.

Most North American cities have way less than 5% of the population using cycling for commuting. Unfortunately cycling is seen on this continent as more of an athletic / sport activity or something for more hardcore granola types when it comes to commuting. The cycling population will only grow when cycling has more safe infrastructure. You will never get these major increases in bike paths until there is there is a dramatic bump in the population of people who need them. Hmm I wonder where that could come from? Calm down all you haters. Has it actually been that bad being shoulder to shoulder with a fellow cyclist who is on clean electric, efficient and future forward transportation who flashes you the same cyclist nod/wave that warms your heart? What if that wave comes from Bob in the next cubical who ditched his Camry for an ebike ride to work? Why don’t you spend that useful hater energy and direct it at anything that is spitting noxious fumes out the tailpipe at you. Did you know that the four stroke engine has been around since 1870? Talk about a technological Dinosaur. The great thing is that the bicycle industry has this relentless push for real innovation and advancement. Would you rather not have electric shifting or electrically controlled suspension? I’m sure there is a fluid line between manual and electric bicycles. How many people do you know who have a full suspension, fixie, road, retro beater….and maybe an ebike because they are fun too?

delnerdo
delnerdo
8 years ago

What’s up with the ghost ebike?
Probably not the intended marketing message.

Jim
Jim
8 years ago

Just remember everything’s not black and white, I just got an ebike (mtb)

As an ex road racer who developed a fairly serious heart condition from hardcore cycling over many years , (my own stupid I suppose) I haven’t been able to ride for the last two years while awaiting surgery.

Now I’ve got the ebike I can at least get back out gently and not push my HR to high and still get round. Hopefully I can stay out of “Ryan’s way” 😉

If my surgery works I’ll go back to just muscles and cranks but won’t too quick to put the ebikers down. Live n let live

Peace

markogts
markogts
8 years ago

“If it has a motor it’s, by definition, not a bicycle.”

No. In Europe there is a clear legislative niche made on purpose. If:

-there is no throttle/the motor stops as soon as the cyclist stops to pedal
-the maximum continuous power is 250W
-the motor switches off above 25km/h

then in it is considered a bicycle in any respect (allowed roads, insurance etc).

Exactly as Roy said: is a way to have more cyclists. I for me, I’d make about 500km a season. Now with the e-bike, I am at 2000. I can use it to go to work, to carry the son in the kindergarten, but also to go to that trail WITHOUT USING THE CAR to reach the start of it.

Plus, the Bosch system, with its continuous torque metering and proportional, instant response, is terrific on off-road use, you really feel like the Six Million Dollars Man.

Try it before criticizing, believe me.

Pking1
Pking1
8 years ago

I guess those who don’t want ebikes on their trails want them on the streets fighting cars. Sounds too dangerous. We need to find a common ground that will provide safety to all.

Steve
Steve
8 years ago

Hi All,
Well I have been riding MTB for over 25 years in the UK and was diagnosed with M.E (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ) two years ago and haven’t been out much since. Last week I bought an e-MTB and I can now ride again (although not far yet!). These things mean I and many others can get out on the trails and enjoy our sport!. I was a single speed rider before so anything that gets people like me out can’t be all bad

JCook
JCook
8 years ago

We have one of the biggest Ebike dealerships in Michigan. Our customers purchase our electric bikes for many reasons. Including but not limited to age, physical abilities, fun factor, commuting, the new fad, Etc. Our most common buyer would be a mid to upper age couple who wants to get back into biking but doesn’t want the daunting task of having to go up hill without assistance. We have folding models that the RV and voting communities are all over because now they don’t have to rent or tow a car.

If I had to share one success story I would share the one about the dad and his son. These two guys came to our shop a couple months ago and I would put them at 40 and 60 something-year-olds. They introduced themselves as a dad and his son. Over the last 10 years they always went on Saturday morning bike rides. But the dad was getting up there in years and couldn’t keep up with his son at the pace his son liked to go at. They purchased one of our ebikes for the father. I talk to them a few weeks later and they both had smiles. This isn’t the first or last time I have encountered a situation like this.

If I could encourage one thing for everyone that hasnt experienced an ebike it would be to go to a dealership that carries them and try one out before you jump to any conclusions. Don’t judge the industry on what the 1%s do.

RICK
RICK
8 years ago

I am a 40 year old male that was a past Pro-Motor-Cross racer. 10 years ago I bailed off a very, very, large jump & fell about 35′ to 40′ foot fall! shattering & breaking every bone in both legs & heal, dis-locating knee-cap, compound fractures, etc., etc. I think you get the point of how bad my legs were injured, if not…I’m confined to a wheel-chair most of the time. I have had count-less surgery’s, (including cutting both legs in half, extending one length of worst leg, straitening the other). I been to a dozen Doctors begging for knee replacements & no Dr. will touch me! I can still walk a very, very, little with a walker, shopping cart, etc. about 15 minute TOPS! due to the pressure of weight on my knees. Very, very, Painful to stand. (Thank God!! for a good pain management Dr. & Curse those who abuse medication illegally & the FDA). This is also compounded by the fact that I have gained approximately 50+lbs. due to lack of exercise. I used to trail ride (MTB/Florida, yes there are hills in FL., & closed dug out mines turned into bike parks) before accident about a 100 miles of trail riding a week for endurance & of course FUN!. I live within a hour of over a 1/2 dozen+ of the best Florida trails. (look-m up) I still ride a street legal dirt bike (Honda XR-650L), I can still wheelie, endo’s, ride very fast, etc., sitting down of course. Standing up for whooped de do’s & jumps is very short & very painful, but partially do-able.

But…when I try to ride the bike park trails on my normal 40lb + or – full suspension bicycle, I have found that I CANNOT climb any of the hills & gully’s & steep short climbs. Technical & Downhill trails I am very fast, but…CANNOT stand & pedal at the same time & the pain leaves me bed-ridden for days, lots of pain killers taken before & after trying to ride. The other, lighter, mostly younger riders, on better, lighter, more expensive bikes, at the bike parks make me feel that I am in there way of having a good time & ruining there experience on the trails. I tried lighter, much more expensive bikes than mine, but this made no difference due to my extreme injures of my condition. This is more mentally frustrating for me than I hope anyone else ever has to endure. They / Them were not near as RUDE! to the Women that walked sections of trails? (lol) If your wondering why I don’t just give up a fun thing like MTB riding & racing with others? Well…you have to be a Winning racer to understand! To be really, really, Great at something & have it striped away & end overnight really SUCKS! I think every day & night that I am going to buy a new (Honda CRF-450) & go to my local night race track & get the Hole-shot every weekend & smoke’m for one lap! & then pulling off track…well that’s what I Dream about a lot! I put Hole-Shot on the back of my riding pants for a reason! And then about a month ago…

Then one day I meet a stranger, who was an (amputee) with one artificial leg said he knew exactly how I felt & recommended that I take a ride on his full suspension bike…It was a Haibike (pedal assist) bike. At the time I had never heard of a bike like this? A 50+ lb. bike that would be easier to ride with my bad legs? He was taken a lunch break & said have FUN! WOW! after the first pedal rotation, it was like having (Lance Armstrong) legs! or who ever that famous bicycle rider was. I followed a group of the locals: (really fast & knew all the trails frontwards & backwards). We went on all the Funnest, harder, black, double-diamond trails. There were spots on the trails where passes could be made, uphill’s that had more than one line to be made, I picked the locals off one by one, over came some sections by passing more than one at a time, after a while I had past all the carbon frame bikes that cost more than 3 x times the bike that I was riding! It was a dusty day & I made them all eat dirt! I reframed myself from laughing out loud, ( No…I wasn’t rude, like they were to me) but I had the Biggest Grin on my face for a very, very, long time! when I returned the bike back to the owner, he wasn’t all smiles like me after riding his bike for so long. Way done with lunch & looking at his watch. I smooth thinks over by telling him what a life changing experience I had & gave him a $20.00 dollar bill, (that’s all I had, would have paid much more!) & apologized for using up any of the battery charge. He said that he understood & did not expect his bike back any time soon & told me where I could buy one for myself.

I have spoken to all the park rangers I can find & Management of them, explained the type of bike that I want to ride at their parks, that it has no throttle control, that the bike only moves by pedaling it, & its legally a Class One Rated Bicycle, all parks (at this time) say I have just as much right to ride there as anyone else. I abbreviate at this time, because no one is complaining yet to them. I did however get more than one rider that I had passed in my somewhat short ride, that said it wasn’t fair that I beat them riding a motorized bike. I explained that they got beat by a guy with two broken legs, a rod in each, several pins, over a dozen screws, & a titanium cage for a heal, also that I weighed 225 lbs. I removed my knee/shin pads & showed off my deformed legs with over foot long+ surgery scars & I told them that I didn’t think it was fair that a 150 lb. rider who spent a unlimited amount of money on a sub 30- lb. carbon fiber bike, handle bars, levers, cranks, deraillers, rims, etc., They seemed a little embarrassed for bringing it up. I asked them for their names & they said why? I said so I can list the people to the local news & paper & what park was preventing a disabled handicap from riding at it. They said that they were still going to complain to the park rangers that I was riding a motorized bicycle that did not belong in their park, (what sympathy). I spoke to the rangers on my way out of the park & told them all about my experience…the Major up & then the down, he told me something that I had seen many times in my history of racing…There are Winners & Losers! I just happen to meet the worst, POOR LOSERS!! And that’s what I think of all you people that are trying to stop pedal assist bikes from riding on MY TRAILS.

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