An e-bike drive comparison of the brands Bosch, Shimano and Yamaha is particularly exciting for fans of e-mountain bikes , as these manufacturers have a large market share in off-road cycling. We would like to provide purchasing advice on the three flagships of the brands Bosch, Shimano and Yamaha. In detail we present the Bosch CX motor, the Shimano Steps E8000 and the Yamaha PW-X motor. All three motors have a 500 w watt/h battery and a torque of 75-80 Newton. We asked ourselves which engine for which purpose and are there big differences? The units in the e-bike drive comparison are very individual and have their strengths and weaknesses. Depending on the area of use of the e-bikes and preferences, you will have to choose one motor or the other. If you live in the Alps or in the low mountain ranges or on the North Sea, this can also play a role in the decision-making process.
Bosch Performance CX
In the e-bike drive comparison, the Bosch CX motor is slightly larger than the other two motors, which means that the chainstay length is slightly longer. What does that do? The wheelbase becomes longer and the bike is no longer as agile. However, it is more stable on fast descents that are otherwise intended for downhill bikes . As the saying goes, length runs. Since the 2017 model year, Bosch has given the CX engine new software. There is now a new E-MTB mode. The engine now starts more gently when you want to start on steep climbs, so the front wheel no longer rises. This is progress, but it is not possible to drive off on very steep terrain in Turbo mode. There is too much power on the rear wheel. The rear wheel either spins or the front wheel rises. What sounds like a disadvantage is not necessarily a disadvantage, because when I'm driving and there's a steep ramp and I switch to turbo, I take it with full power and can climb almost any incline. That means I have more of an advantage on undulating terrain. The engine is very powerful and is very suitable for undulating terrain or longer forest road climbs. The engine is more on the economical side of energy consumption. The battery lasts longer than the Shimano battery, depending on your riding style. The four modes Eco, Tour, E-MTB and Turbo leave nothing to be desired; I can drive very economically or very sportily. You have to be careful with information about battery life. Since it also depends on the driving style, differences of 10% can occur for the same route and the same mode chosen due to the different pedaling style of the individual driver. As a rule, you can say that you can climb approx. 1500 meters in altitude with the 500 W/h battery. Our test route was over 70km and around 1200 meters in altitude. The Bosch drive did this easily.
Bosch Performance CX
The display is very large and is easy to use and read, but you should not turn the bike upside down as the display could be damaged because it is a little above the handlebars.
Shimano Steps E-8000
Now we come to the e-bike drive comparison to the second motor : The Shimano Steps E-8000 is a masterpiece, the Steps E-8000 is very compact and therefore allows the chainstays to be made shorter. This has the advantage that the bike becomes more maneuverable. A big advantage on trails and hairpin bends. Here we come to the intended use. The Shimano motor is ideal for MTB use in the mountains on technical trails; it starts very gently but still has real power in boost mode. Even on very steep terrain, briefly tap the pedal and the bike starts moving slowly. Once you have the balance on the bike, the motor only delivers full thrust. This means there is no front wheel rising or rear wheel spinning. The software is optimally tuned for MTB and I can tackle enormous climbs. I can choose between three modes on the display. The Eco, Trail and Boost modes. The modes are not quite as variable as those of the two competitors, but it is not necessary as the software works better. In terms of battery consumption, the SHIMANO Steps E-8000 motor with the 500 W/h battery is not quite as economical as the competition. Here we don't quite manage our test lap, the battery is empty at 68km, we have to pedal the last two kilometers without support until we came to the charger. Nevertheless, the Shimano drive also manages the 1500 meters altitude. So the difference is not serious.
Yamaha PW-X engine
The Yamaha PW-X motor is slightly more compact than the Bosch motor and is closer to the Shimano motor. It is also possible to install slightly shorter chainstays. The new generation of the PW-X is a little lighter than the PW motor (380 grams) and the display is a little more robust. In terms of pure power, the Yamaha engine is perhaps the most powerful, but that is more of a subjective impression. With its 5 modes Eco Plus, Eco, Standard, High and Extra Power, you might think that you have more power at your disposal. But basically all three engines don't offer much in terms of maximum power. In Eco Plus mode the support is very low. This has the advantage that the sporty driver can cover long distances and uses little battery. Overall, the PW-X motor has a little more options to customize its intended use thanks to its five modes. However, the Yamaha PW-X doesn't quite come close to the Shimano motor in terms of drivability. Thanks to the Eco Plus engine, the Yamaha engine managed our test route without any major problems, and it also managed the 1500 meters in altitude easily; good tires were helpful.
Yamaha PW-X drive
Conclusion e-bike drive comparison :
All three of them are fun, none of the engines are particularly bad. The engines don't differ much in terms of maximum performance, but the differences in drivability and in the operation of the display and the individual speed levels are considerable. However, as already mentioned in the article, the intended use must also be pointed out here. In the middle of Germany I don't necessarily need the absolute drivability of the Shimano motor; here I often have short, sharp climbs where I simply switch to turbo and then shoot up. In the low mountain ranges or on the North Sea, the battery power is more important so that I can sometimes go for distances. Basically you can say that it is very important that you get good advice from your dealer and test the individual engines to determine which engine suits you best. After all, it is the subjective impression that will decide. Anyone who has the choice is spoiled for choice. Have fun testing, please protect the drive components when changing gears and change gears with feeling.
More about the manufacturers :
Performance CX engine :
STEPS E8000 :
Yamaha PW-X :
Yamaha Ebike
