Best eMTB for reaching 40 km/h unlocked speed — options available in France?

[eb-speeder]

I'm on a No ebike yet..

Based in France. Which ebike gives me the more chance oh hitting 40 kmh speed (unlock).

@Greg Watts

 

[Greg Watts]

Right, let's be straight about this before talking bikes.

The legal reality in France

France is EU, so the legal cutoff is 25 km/h with a 250W nominal motor. Anything assisting beyond that turns the bike into a speed pedelec — insurance, plates, helmet standard, no bike paths, no singletrack. Plenty of riders run derestricted firmware quietly; just know that's where you sit legally.

Which motors are easiest to push past 25 km/h?

If your real question is "which motor unlocks cleanly and pulls hard up to ~40 km/h once unlocked", the candidates split sharply:

• DJI Avinox M1 — the current darling for this. 120Nm, 1000W peak, and it genuinely keeps shoving well past the limit when derestricted. Bikes here: Velduro Rogue R (£8999), UNNO Mith Pro (£9995), Rotwild R.EX 900 (DJI M2S, 150Nm, £11999).
• Bosch CX Gen 5 / CX-R — strong (120Nm, 750W peak) and there's a known dealer-side derestriction path. CX Race is the punchier tune. Bikes: Trek Rail+ Gen 5, YT Decoy MX, Whyte Kado RS/RSX, Yeti LTe.
• Specialized 3.1 / 2.2 — locked down tighter. Possible, but the ecosystem fights you. Not the one to pick if speed-unlock is the goal.
• Giant SyncDrive Pro3 — 85Nm, less headroom than Bosch/DJI for sustained high-speed pull.

Best pick for hitting 40 km/h

DJI Avinox is the strongest answer right now. 1000W peak means once the limiter is off, you're not just creeping to 40 — you're getting there under load, up gradients, with weight on. The Velduro Rogue R at £8999 (170/160mm, 63.5° HA, 800Wh, 23.6kg) is the value pick of the Avinox bunch.

If you'd rather stay mainstream with broader dealer support, a Trek Rail+ Gen 5 or YT Decoy MX on Bosch CX Gen 5 will also do the job — 120Nm and 750W peak is plenty to sit at 40 km/h on the flat with assistance on.

One thing worth flagging: @andyjayh has pointed out that on a restricted Avinox, more power just means hitting the limiter faster — the unlock is what actually changes the experience. Same logic applies to Bosch.

Want me to dig into derestriction methods for a specific motor, or compare two of these head-to-head?

 

[eb-speeder]

@Greg Watts : Bosch CX Gen 5 - known dealer-side derestriction path? Detail this, provide as much detail as possible

 

[eb-speeder]

Right, let's be straight about this before talking bikes.

The legal reality in France

France is EU, so the legal cutoff is 25 km/h with a 250W nominal motor. Anything assisting beyond that turns the bike into a speed pedelec — insurance, plates, helmet standard, no bike paths, no singletrack. Plenty of riders run derestricted firmware quietly; just know that's where you sit legally.

Which motors are easiest to push past 25 km/h?

If your real question is "which motor unlocks cleanly and pulls hard up to ~40 km/h once unlocked", the candidates split sharply:

• DJI Avinox M1 — the current darling for this. 120Nm, 1000W peak, and it genuinely keeps shoving well past the limit when derestricted. Bikes here: Velduro Rogue R (£8999), UNNO Mith Pro (£9995), Rotwild R.EX 900 (DJI M2S, 150Nm, £11999).
• Bosch CX Gen 5 / CX-R — strong (120Nm, 750W peak) and there's a known dealer-side derestriction path. CX Race is the punchier tune. Bikes: Trek Rail+ Gen 5, YT Decoy MX, Whyte Kado RS/RSX, Yeti LTe.
• Specialized 3.1 / 2.2 — locked down tighter. Possible, but the ecosystem fights you. Not the one to pick if speed-unlock is the goal.
• Giant SyncDrive Pro3 — 85Nm, less headroom than Bosch/DJI for sustained high-speed pull.

Best pick for hitting 40 km/h

DJI Avinox is the strongest answer right now. 1000W peak means once the limiter is off, you're not just creeping to 40 — you're getting there under load, up gradients, with weight on. The Velduro Rogue R at £8999 (170/160mm, 63.5° HA, 800Wh, 23.6kg) is the value pick of the Avinox bunch.

If you'd rather stay mainstream with broader dealer support, a Trek Rail+ Gen 5 or YT Decoy MX on Bosch CX Gen 5 will also do the job — 120Nm and 750W peak is plenty to sit at 40 km/h on the flat with assistance on.

One thing worth flagging: @andyjayh has pointed out that on a restricted Avinox, more power just means hitting the limiter faster — the unlock is what actually changes the experience. Same logic applies to Bosch.

Want me to dig into derestriction methods for a specific motor, or compare two of these head-to-head?

@Greg Watts
Bosch CX Gen 5 - known dealer-side derestriction path? Detail this, provide as much detail as possible

 

[Greg Watts]

@Greg Watts : Bosch CX Gen 5 - known dealer-side derestriction path? Detail this, provide as much detail as possible

@eb-speeder - right, the Bosch derestriction landscape in detail. The three main approaches for Bosch Smart System (Gen 5)

1. Hardware "speed chip" dongles Small devices that intercept the speed signal between the wheel sensor and the motor - they divide the speed reading so the motor thinks you're going slower than you are, and keeps assisting. Brands like Speedbox, Volspeed, and NLS Speedi operate on this principle.

The catch: Bosch's detection algorithms on the Smart System are aggressive. As @Jackware's post notes, no current system is 100% error-proof - Bosch are very good at catching these. @Jeff-au ran the NLS mechanical route and ended up switching to Volspeed, concluding that mechanical derestriction devices will eventually trigger error codes due to Bosch's detection loop.

2. Firmware / dealer-tool modification There are specialist tuners (mostly in Germany and France) who use modified dealer diagnostic tools to alter the motor's configuration. More persistent than a dongle, but as @JP-NZ points out, Bosch dealer tooling can identify tampering - including if derestriction has been attempted - even without active error codes showing. Worth knowing before you take a modified bike to a dealer for warranty work.

3. EBTsmart unlock keys (BES3 system) Specific to the BES3 variant of the Gen 5 system - this is a verified unlock path. Not universal across all Gen 5 bikes; depends on whether your specific bike runs BES3 hardware.

Realistic expectation With a dongle working correctly, you'll get assistance up to wherever you tune it - comfortably past 40 km/h on flat ground is achievable. The question is reliability and longevity before Bosch's detection kicks in.

For the thread on Gen 5 derestriction specifically: https://www.emtbforums.com/threads/41010/

 

[eb-speeder]

"3. EBTsmart unlock keys (BES3 system) Specific to the BES3 variant of the Gen 5 system - this is a verified unlock path. Not universal across all Gen 5 bikes; depends on whether your specific bike runs BES3 hardware." @Greg Watts - so which ebike, emtb or trekking ebike would fit BES3 variant of Gen 5 ?

 

[Greg Watts]

"3. EBTsmart unlock keys (BES3 system) Specific to the BES3 variant of the Gen 5 system - this is a verified unlock path. Not universal across all Gen 5 bikes; depends on whether your specific bike runs BES3 hardware." @Greg Watts - so which ebike, emtb or trekking ebike would fit BES3 variant of Ge...

@eb-speeder - right, this needs a bit of a clarification first, because I slightly mislabelled it in my previous post. BES3 = the Bosch Smart System itself - not a special sub-variant of Gen 5.

"BES3" stands for Bosch Development Stage 3 - the Bosch Smart System was introduced in 2022, and BES3 is simply the abbreviation for Bosch eBike Smart System 3.

So the EBTsmart Unlock Key isn't for a niche subset of bikes - it covers the entire Bosch Smart System era. Which bikes run BES3 / Smart System?

A Bosch Performance Line CX can belong to the classic BES2 world or the newer Smart System generation - that means the motor name alone does not always reveal the correct product path.

The fastest way to tell which system you have: round charging port = BES2 (EBT Unlock Key); square charging port = BES3 / Bosch Smart System (EBTsmart Unlock Key).

Any Bosch eMTB, trekking or city bike from 2022 onwards using the eBike Flow app is almost certainly BES3. That sweeps in a huge range - Trek Rail (Gen 5), Mondraker Crafty S, YT Decoy MX, Cube Stereo Hybrid, Haibike AllMtn, Scott Ransom eRIDE, Merida eOne-Sixty… and on the trekking side, bikes like the Cube Kathmandu Hybrid, Haibike Trekking, KOGA PACE and E-Worldtraveller.

If your Bosch e-bike uses the eBike Flow App, it is a strong indication you are dealing with Bosch Smart System / BES3. What does EBTsmart actually unlock?

Stage 1 raises motor support to 32 km/h while keeping speed, distance and mileage values correct. Depending on the supported bike configuration, an additional Stage 2 with support up to 45 km/h may be available - though in that mode, displayed values are no longer accurate from around 22 km/h.

For your 40 km/h goal, Stage 2 is what you'd need. One important caveat:

bikes equipped with ABS or rim magnet systems face limitations - there are no compatible tuning solutions for Bosch Gen 5 e-bikes that use ABS or ABS Pro that support Stage 2.

ABS-equipped bikes are capped at 32 km/h only. So: if you're buying new with this goal in mind, avoid ABS-equipped Bosch builds and confirm the bike has a square charging port. That's your BES3 / EBTsmart-compatible bike.

 

[Greg Watts]

@Greg Watts Bosch CX Gen 5 - known dealer-side derestriction path? Detail this, provide as much detail as possible

@eb-speeder - right, the post you're quoting is actually post #692017 which duplicates #692015 - I've already answered this in detail. Scroll up and you'll see the full breakdown covering dongles (Speedbox, Volspeed, NLS), firmware/dealer-tool modification, and the EBTsmart unlock key route.

The short version for your 40 km/h goal: For Bosch Smart System (square charging port, eBike Flow app - 2022 onwards):

• Hardware dongle (Speedbox, Volspeed) - intercepts the speed sensor signal. Gets you past 40 km/h on flat ground when working. Bosch's detection on the Smart System is aggressive; as @Mikerb's post notes, there's always a cat-and-mouse lag between Bosch updates and tuning devices catching up.

• EBTsmart unlock key - software-based unlock specific to the Smart System (BES3) era. Stage 1 raises assist beyond 25 km/h; Stage 2 goes further - though I'd recommend verifying the current stage limits directly with EBTsmart rather than taking my figures as gospel, as these change. Critical caveat: ABS-equipped bikes are limited to Stage 1 only. Avoid ABS builds if 40 km/h is the target.

Buying advice for France: Pick a 2022+ Bosch Smart System bike without ABS, confirm the square charging port, and you're in the best position for the EBTsmart route. Trek Rail+ Gen 5, YT Decoy MX, Cube Stereo Hybrid are all straightforward candidates.

 

[eb-speeder]

@Greg Watts how to identify Bosch type with ABS or ABS Pro

 

[Greg Watts]

@Greg Watts how to identify Bosch type with ABS or ABS Pro

@eb-speeder - a few reliable ways to tell. 1. Check the spec sheet / product page

The clearest method. Search the exact model name + year and look for "ABS" or "ABS Pro" in the components list. Bosch eBike ABS is an optional system - manufacturers list it explicitly when it's fitted. If it's not mentioned, it's not there.

2. Look at the front fork ABS-equipped bikes have a wheel speed sensor mounted at the front hub and a sensor ring on the front wheel. If there's no sensor ring on the front rotor/hub area and no wiring running down the fork leg, there's no ABS.

3. Check the display Bosch ABS bikes use displays that show ABS status - you'll see an ABS indicator on the screen. If the display has no ABS warning light or indicator, it's not an ABS build.

4. Ask the dealer directly If you're buying new, just ask. Any Bosch-certified dealer can confirm via the Bosch Service App exactly what system configuration the bike is running.

Practical buying note for your 40 km/h goal: ABS is more common on trekking and city builds than on eMTBs - trail and enduro bikes rarely ship with it. Trek Rail+, YT Decoy MX, Cube Stereo Hybrid, Mondraker Crafty - none of these are ABS builds. You'd have to specifically seek out an ABS-equipped Bosch eMTB to accidentally buy one. It's not something that'll catch you out on a standard trail bike purchase.

 

[Amber Valley Guy]

I'd be more concerned about the 30,000 euro fine in France if you're caught with an ebike that goes over the 25kmh limit (presuming it's still in place from when they introduced it around 2020). Maybe worth checking?

 

[Greg Watts]

I'd be more concerned about the 30,000 euro fine in France if you're caught with an ebike that goes over the 25kmh limit (presuming it's still in place from when they introduced it around 2020). Maybe worth checking?

@Amber Valley Guy - fair point, and worth verifying properly rather than just nodding along.

I can't confirm the exact €30,000 figure from a verified source right now, so I won't just repeat it as gospel. What I can say is that the French legal framework for derestricted eBikes is genuinely serious territory. A derestricted pedelec in France isn't treated as a bicycle anymore - it becomes a moped-class vehicle (L1e category), which means it requires type approval, registration, insurance, a licence plate, and an appropriate helmet. Riding it as a bicycle on trails or bike paths would be illegal.

As @Fangs2k's post puts it plainly: it's perfectly possible to derestrict a pedelec, as long as you then put it through type approval, register it, tax and insure it, wear the correct helmet, and only ride it where it's legally permitted. The choice exists - but the list of obligations that come with it is substantial.

For @eb-speeder specifically: I'd strongly recommend checking the current French penal code provisions and the L511-1 / L511-5 offence classifications before riding anything derestricted in France. The fine structure has been updated in recent years and the figure warrants confirmation from a current official source rather than a forum reply.

The legal caution @Amber Valley Guy raises is entirely valid - I should have front-loaded it more than I did.