AVINOX M1 VS M2S MOTOR
Can the latest drive unit improve on the original’s awesome performance?
19 mai. 2026
DJI-owned Avinox’s new M2S motor delivers huge gains in power and torque over the revered M1, but does it improve your ride experience on the trail, or just drain the battery quicker?
A bit of background
E-MTB motor development has followed a predictable path for several years – more refinement, slightly increased power, marginal gains in efficiency and a bit less weight. Then the Avinox M1 arrived in 2025 and blew the market wide open, outgunning existing options from Bosch, Specialized and Shimano on power, torque and user experience.
Now, the brand have released a new flagship. On paper, the M2S dwarfs the M1 and pushes performance into territory that makes you question how much power is genuinely useful on the trail. So,
I set out to see just how capable and practical it really is.
I tested the new motor and the M1 back-to-back, on the same trails and in the same conditions, over several weeks, using Amflow (DJI’s in-house bike brand) bikes – the M1 on their PL Carbon Pro and the M2S on the all-new PX Carbon Pro. Is the extra grunt a real advantage, or just headline numbers? And, more importantly, which one would I want on my bike?
A seismic shift
On paper, the jump from the M1 to the M2S is significant. Maximum output rises to 1,500W and 150Nm. That’s a 50% increase in power and 23.8% more torque, over the M1’s 1,000W and 120Nm. Both of these figures are when in timelimited Boost mode.
In Turbo mode – the highest continuous setting – the output climbs from 100W and 105Nm to 1,300W and 130Nm. That puts the M2S into a different league on raw data alone. Helping Avinox to achieve this is their new integrated 700Wh battery (FP700), which has a claimed weight of 3.18kg and, more importantly, an energy density of 220Wh/kg. Note that some bike brands are pairing the motor with Avinox’s removable RS800 (800Wh) or RS600 (600Wh) batteries instead, which don’t enable quite the same maximum power and torque.
Uphill performance
What surprised me most is how similar the M1 and M2S feel on the trail – not in outright power, but in how they deliver it.
Straight away, the M2S feels familiar. Power builds naturally and stays connected to your input. There’s no jerkiness or harsh surging when you press down on the pedals. Stamp hard and you get strong acceleration, but it’s never chaotic. Ease ož and the motor responds just as smoothly. That matters on technical climbs, allowing you to balance grip and power to clear steep sections or pick your way over roots and rocks.
Here, though, the gap between the M1 and M2S is smaller than you might expect. You don’t get a 50% boost in climbing ability, because the need for control through the pedals limits how much of that 1,300W and 130Nm you can use. Where the M2S stands out is in how it carries momentum. The added power helps keep the bike moving over roots, rocks and awkward step-ups. Instead of stalling or needing big pedal inputs, it just keeps driving forward. That extra speed also improves stability. With more forward momentum, the front wheel stays planted and is less likely to lift on steep pitches, leaving the bike feeling more composed and easier to control.
The M1 is still impressive. It climbs well, delivers power smoothly and handles technical terrain con¡dently.
But, ridden back-to-back, it lacks that top-end urgency. It feels slightly
atter and requires a little more rider input to keep things moving.
Where the power comes from
The M2S uses at copper wire instead of traditional round wire. This enables more copper to be packed into the same space. That increases the strength of the magnetic �eld, boosting power and torque without making the motor bigger. Avinox say the overall size is almost unchanged. The claimed weight of 2.6kg is also close to the M1’s 2.52kg. Power density is up by 26% and torque density by 20%.
So, how does that power feel on the trail? On mellower terrain, �reroad climbs or rolling trail-centre trails, the extra power isn’t a big advantage. The M1 already has enough grunt to hit the 25kph e-bike speed limit in its Turbo and Boost modes. Both motors turn climbs into something closer to ow trails, delivering proper uphill fun, which is still not common in mountain biking.
The M2S gets up to speed quicker. It also drives harder out of corners and up steep pitches. However, it’s not a huge diŠerence. The main bene�t is that it holds momentum with less rider eŠort.
Things change on steeper climbs. Here, the M2S starts to dominate, making a mockery of gradients that would usually need careful pacing and gear choice. It accelerates hard and holds speed, driving forward as resistance builds rather than bogging down or forcing you to shift.The extra torque is obvious, allowing you to stay seated and balanced, and let the motor do more of the work.
It’s almost ridiculous how quickly the Am ow PX ascends in Boost mode – it’ll hold the 25kph cut-oŠ on gradients that would otherwise feel like a grind. In Turbo, it still ies up hills where most e-MTBs, even those equipped with the M1, would start to slow. With its power and delivery, I was able to clear climbs on the M2S that I’ve never managed with other e-bike systems.
With power comes responsibility
There’s no getting around it – the M2S is incredibly powerful on climbs. But that comes with a reality check. Most of the time, you simply cannot use all that power. Not on shared trails. Not around other riders. Not when you’re riding in a group with people on less powerful bikes.
If you do, you’ll �nd you spend the whole ride either waiting for, or riding away from, your mates. Neither makes for a good day out.
The truth is, much of the M2S’s performance is only fully usable when you’re riding alone, or on quiet trails where you’re not aŠecting anyone else. That extra speed and drive is impressive, but it often ends up feeling more like a party trick than something you’ll use all the time.
There’s also a responsibility that comes with all that power. More speed uphill means more chance of surprising other trail users. It’s on you to manage that. Control your speed. Be aware of others. Ride within the constraints of the trail, not just the limits of the motor.
Gearing differences
Another signi�cant change is in the motor’s gearing. The M2S uses helical gears with a dual-engagement design, rather than the straight-cut gears in the M1. That does two things. It increases load capacity,
enabling the system to handle higher torque and power, and it also reduces noise and vibration, by keeping the gears meshed more consistently.
On the trail, even at full power, the M2S is quieter – impressively so. The M1 isn’t a loud motor, but it produces a noticeable whine in higher-power modes and a slight rattle on rough trails. By comparison, the M2S is almost silent on descents. It feels more re“ned and less intrusive.
Heat management and efficiency
One of the less obvious but more important upgrades is how the M2S manages heat. E-bike motors are often limited not by peak power, but rather by how long they can sustain it for. Once temperatures rise, most systems reduce output to protect the internal components.
Axinox address this with improved thermal management. New temperature sensors monitor heat more accurately, while revised internals and a smoother gear system reduce heat build-up and internal losses. Less energy is wasted as heat, and there’s improved dissipation through the motor casing. All of this means the M2S can stay at a higher power for longer.
Overall motor e…ciency has increased from a claimed 82% to 84.5%. On the trail, that translates to more consistent performance. The motor doesn’t fade as quickly on long climbs or repeated e‘orts. It feels just as strong near the top as it does at the bottom. Even riding consistently in Turbo mode, I couldn’t get the M2S’s thermal throttle to kick in. The M1 is still solid but it can’t match the same level of sustained output.
Speed test
On a 12km loop with 700m of climbing, the di‘erence between the motors was clear. In Turbo mode, the M2S completed the loop in 34 minutes – four minutes faster than the M1. In this time, the M2S used 56% of its 700Wh battery, while the M1 used 49% of its 800Wh battery. That means both systems used exactly 392Wh to complete the ride.
Despite the jump in power, both motors used the same amount of energy – the M2S just did it faster. That suggests real-world e…ciency is at least on a par with the M1, but it delivers that performance over a shorter period of time.
What changes is how that energy is used. The M2S draws power at a higher rate, so if you ride it hard in Turbo or Boost mode, it’ll drain the battery faster. You’re covering ground more quickly, but you’re also getting through the battery sooner.
Ride both motors at the same pace, and the range is likely to be similar. Use the M2S’s extra power frequently and the overall range will drop compared to the M1. That means the range depends less on the system and more on how tempted you are to use the full performance on o‘er.
Avinox M1 vs M2S apps
The M2S app builds on the foundation set for the M1, but pushes it much further. Its core layout and usability remain the same, and it’s still one of the easiest systems to navigate.
Where it has improved is in the depth it o‘ers. The ability for customisation has expanded signi“cantly – you can “ne tune the assistance level, start response, sustained support, torque limits and motor overrun. This feels less like selecting modes and more like re“ning the bike’s behaviour.
Boost mode is also more advanced. On the M1, it’s a simple maximumpower setting for 30 seconds. With the M2S, you can control how long it lasts, between 10 and 60 seconds. Navigation is another step forward. You can now import routes from third parties and follow them directly on the display, with turn prompts and live guidance. Heart-rate based assist adds a training element. When paired with a monitor, the system adjusts motor support based on your e‘ort to help you stay within a target zone.
There are also smaller usability gains. Maintenance mode improves safety when working on the bike, for example. The M1’s app already set a high bar – now the M2S maintains the original’s simplicity but adds a deeper level of control.
What’s not perfect?
One area that hasn’t changed signi“cantly is pedalling resistance above the motor cut-o‘. Like the
M1, the M2S still feels draggy once assistance cuts out. It’s not a dealbreaker, but is noticeable, especially on atter terrain where you’re riding above the limit – which is easy to reach with the M2S’s immense power.
Battery indicator accuracy at low charge could also be improved. The bike showed around 12% remaining, but this dropped quickly to 5% and the M2S then entered a reducedpower mode. I didn’t experience the same behaviour with the M1.
AND THE WINNER IS...
While the M1 and M2S motors are matched closely in some areas, they deliver very different riding experiences.
The M1 remains an excellent system. It offers smooth, intuitive power delivery, strong climbing performance and enough output to make most terrain feel manageable. For many riders, it already provides more than enough assistance, with a measured and predictable character that’s easy to live with on everyday rides.
However, the M2S builds on that foundation and pushes it further. It delivers significantly more power and torque, but crucially, it does so without losing the natural, controlled feel that made the M1 so impressive. On technical climbs, its ability to maintain momentum and stability gives it a clear advantage, and it also outperforms the M1 on steeper terrain.
Despite the increase in output, efficiency remains broadly comparable. Both motors used the same amount of energy over my test loop, with the M2S completing it faster. That means the difference in range comes down more to how you ride than the system itself. Use the extra performance frequently and your mileage will drop.
The M2S also moves ahead in terms of refinement and usability.
It’s quieter, holds power more consistently under load and offers far greater control through its software.
Are these motors worth their price? I’d argue yes, considering you can buy other systems that don’t perform as well for more money. But remember, a good e-bike isn’t good just because of the motor – how well it rides comes down to a sum of its parts.
If you value smooth power, simplicity and more than enough performance for most riding, the M1 still makes a strong case. However, if you want maximum capability, sharper climbing performance and a more adaptable system, the M2S is the clear winner. You don’t need the M2S, but once you have it, it’s hard to ignore what it can do. Luke Marshall
www.amflowbikes.com
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