Greg's Weekly eMTB Briefing - 18 May 2026The big one this week: Porsche has pulled the plug on Porsche eBike Performance, which is either a minor corporate reshuffle or the end of FAZUA as a meaningful motor platform, depending on how optimistic you're feeling. Elsewhere, Bosch dropped their Software Update 2.0 — and there's a lively thread here questioning whether Bosch are quietly using those very same update channels to police derestricted motors. Never a dull week.
The End of FAZUA? Porsche eBike Performance Gets Shut DownThis one deserves a proper sit-down. Porsche acquired FAZUA back in 2022 with what seemed like serious intent — the idea being that Stuttgart's finest would bring engineering muscle and deep pockets to one of the more genuinely interesting lightweight motor platforms on the market. FAZUA's Ride 60 was never going to embarrass a Bosch Performance Line, but it was compact, it was light, and it gave brands like Orbea and Rocky Mountain something meaningfully different to build around. Not everyone needs maximum grunt. Some of us just want a motor that doesn't make the bike handle like a loaded trolley.
Porsche has now shut down Porsche eBike Performance GmbH entirely. The corporate speak will no doubt involve phrases like "strategic realignment" and "portfolio optimisation," which is corporate speak for "we spent a lot of money on this and we'd rather not discuss it further." What remains genuinely unclear is what happens to FAZUA as a brand and a product line — whether the IP gets sold, folded into something else, or simply mothballed. The E-Mountainbike piece doesn't offer a clean answer, because there isn't one yet.
The practical concern for anyone riding a FAZUA-powered bike is parts and support continuity. Motor spares, replacement drive units, firmware updates — all of that sits in uncomfortable limbo right now. If you're shopping for an eMTB and a shortlist contains a FAZUA-powered option, I'd be asking some pointed questions of the brand before handing over any money. And if you already own one: probably worth keeping an eye on the forums for how this develops.
There's a broader pattern here worth acknowledging. FAZUA isn't the first alternative motor platform to struggle against the Bosch-Shimano-Brose axis, and it won't be the last. At this rate, the motor market will have consolidated to three suppliers by 2028 and everyone will be squabbling over Avinox geometry and Bosch torque figures forever. Make of that what you will.
Full story on E-Mountainbike
Bosch eBike Software Update 2.0 — First Ride ReviewBosch has pushed out what they're calling Software Update 2.0, which lands alongside some genuine curiosity about what exactly the update changes under the hood — and some suspicion (more on that below). The headline feature is revised motor mapping and improved walk-assist, which is either thrilling or completely irrelevant depending on how you feel about walk-assist. E-Mountainbike's first ride review is broadly positive: smoother power delivery, more natural feel at low torque inputs, and refinements to the eMTB mode that suggest Bosch have actually been listening to feedback rather than just incrementing a version number. Whether it's enough to close the gap on the more characterful Avinox feel is, predictably, debated.
Full story on E-Mountainbike
ROTWILD R.EXC — Because Someone Had to Build an Avinox Race BikeROTWILD have announced the R.EXC, an Avinox-powered machine with what the headline promises is "endless geometry tuning." Endless is doing a lot of heavy lifting there, but the adjustable geometry story is real and the spec sheet looks properly serious. ROTWILD don't do things quietly, and a race-focused Avinox build with German engineering sensibilities is either exactly what this segment needed or a very expensive way of making the same trails feel slightly more purposeful. Probably one for the lottery winners and dentists, but an interesting data point in how brands are differentiating on the Avinox platform.
Full story on E-Mountainbike
Mondraker Zendit RR S — TestedE-Mountainbike have put the Mondraker Zendit RR S through its paces, and the verdict is broadly what you'd expect from a brand that has spent years obsessing over forward geometry: it's fast, it's planted, and it rewards commitment. Relevant context for the forum this week given how many threads have been weighing up Zendit versus Amflow — more on that below. If stability and rough terrain capability are your priorities, the Zendit RR S makes a strong argument. If you want something that flicks around on flow trails, you're perhaps shopping in the wrong aisle.
Full story on E-Mountainbike
Atherton S.170E — An eMTB on Atherton TermsEnduro-MTB have tested the Atherton S.170E, and the short version is that it is exactly as singular and uncompromising as you'd expect from a brand that machine-lug welds titanium frames in a Welsh factory and absolutely will not apologise for any of it. The geometry is aggressive, the construction is genuinely unlike anything else on the market, and the price reflects both of those things candidly. Also this week: Atherton Bikes have appointed TilliT Bikes as their first German dealer, which is either the beginning of a European push or a very niche development depending on how closely you follow Machynlleth-based boutique eMTB manufacturers.
Full story on Enduro-MTB German dealer news on Enduro-MTB
Troxus Moves into Canada — Mid-Drive Market Getting CrowdedTroxus Mobility has announced a Canadian expansion, partnering with the Trailhead Axis Group for distribution. Troxus sits at the value end of the eMTB spectrum, which is a polite way of saying they compete on price rather than prestige. The Canadian market has historically been dominated by the usual European brands with the usual European price tags, so there's a genuine gap for accessible options. Whether Troxus can deliver the after-sales support that market requires is the real question — distribution partnerships are the easy bit.
Full story on Bicycle Retailer
Garmin Posts Record Revenue — GPS Overlords Remain UntroubledGarmin reported record revenue for 2025, with 17% growth in Q4. Nothing says "your navigation anxiety is someone else's profit margin" quite like a quarterly earnings report from a company that has successfully convinced cyclists they need a device that costs more than several decent wheelsets. The fitness and outdoor segment continues to be a significant driver, which will surprise absolutely nobody who has ever glanced at a trail car park.
Full story on Bicycle Retailer
Legal Drama: Colorado Multisport, Full Cycle, and Mike's BikesFormer owners of Colorado Multisport have filed a lawsuit disputing the terms under which their store was included in Full Cycle's sale to Mike's Bikes. The details are messy in the way retail acquisition disputes usually are — questions of what was included, what was valued, and what was agreed. Classic stuff, really. Worth watching as a signal of the ongoing consolidation pressures on independent bike retail in the US, which is a story that shows no sign of reaching a tidy conclusion.
Full story on Bicycle Retailer
FROM YOUR FORUM THIS WEEK
Bosch Blocking Hacked Motors — Rumour or Actual Policy?This is the thread generating the most heat relative to its reply count. @The undecided brought a Facebook claim to the forum: someone alleging to be from Bosch UK HQ posted that, due to widespread derestriction to US speed limits, Bosch will block the 120Nm update for Gen 5 motors and retrospectively dial back already-hacked units. Which is either a significant escalation in the ongoing firmware arms race or someone on Facebook being very confident about things they don't actually know. @Brawwp was sceptical, noting it would make a lot of Bosch owners very angry and pointing to reinstall issues as the more likely explanation for failed updates. The most measured take came from @Mikerb, who acknowledged the half-truths that might exist in the claim — updates do require internet and Bluetooth, and brands are obligated to resist derestriction in firmware — without confirming the nuclear option is actually live. Worth following closely if you've recently applied any "performance enhancements" to a Gen 5.
Join the discussion Amflow vs Zendit — The Eternal Dilemma Continues@Donncha is upgrading from a 2019 Vitus E-Sommet and has it down to two bikes: the Amflow and the Zendit, which he acknowledges are very different propositions but is wondering whether the Amflow's adjustable geometry closes the gap. @drive2race4fun offered the clearest framing of the week: flow trails, pick the Amflow; rocks and roots, pick the Zendit — drawing on direct experience switching between a Levo SL2 and Kenevo SL as an analogy. Donncha pushed back fairly reasonably, querying whether the 10% weight penalty and 10% extra travel on the Zendit really justifies the loss of playfulness if the Amflow's geo adjustability compensates. No consensus reached, because there rarely is. The Mondraker test published this week is directly relevant reading for anyone sitting on this fence.
Join the discussion Amflow vs Pivot Shuttle AM vs Shuttle AMpd — Too Much Choice at the Same Price@Bearfist has the kind of problem most of us would like to have: all three bikes at the same price point, two Avinox-powered, one on Bosch Gen 5, and genuinely unclear which way to go. @RustyIron delivered the most practically useful advice: when bikes are close enough that you can't decide on spec alone, weight your decision toward dealer support and parts availability in your time zone. Unglamorous advice, but correct. @bmwpowere36m3 jumped in with a reassuring note on reach anxiety — moving from 450 to 468mm with a stem change and not thinking about it after the first ride. A thread worth checking if you're anywhere near this price bracket.
Join the discussion The Second Bike Question: Gravel or Hardtail for Flat Terrain?@Plyphon posed a question many overly-biked flatland riders will recognise: when your eMTB enduro sled is comically overkill for local farm byways and forest tracks, what do you add to the fleet for actual fitness riding? @keton22 made a persuasive case for a flat-bar gravel bike with a 40mm fork — Bosch SX, 14kg with dropper and mudguards — as the zippy, nostalgic, actually-good-for-fitness answer. Plyphon wanted more detail, asking which specific bike keton22 had gone for. Thread still developing — check back if you're weighing up the same dilemma. Also relevant: the tyre pressure for commuting thread is quietly full of sensible advice, with @Tim1023 making a thorough case for a dedicated second wheelset for commuting duties, with the honest caveat that it's only financially rational after a very large number of worn-out knobbly tyres.
Second bike thread Tyre pressure thread
Ongoing: Forbidden Dreadnought E, Levo Gen 4, and Pivot Amp'd AvinoxThe Forbidden Dreadnought E thread continues to attract anyone who appreciates linkage forks and strong opinions in equal measure. The Levo Gen 4 megathread rolls past 2,300 replies and shows no sign of slowing — if anything the Bosch update news above will add fuel. The Pivot Amp'd Avinox thread remains the place to be for anyone who bought one and wants to know why their motor is doing that specific thing.
Big Thread UpdatesThe SZZS CEF50 megathread and the BLEvo thread remain the forum's two most prolific knowledge repositories — between them they represent an almost overwhelming volume of accumulated real-world experience. If you're troubleshooting a Specialized motor or trying to get more out of your Levo via Bluetooth, start there before posting a question that was answered in 2023. The Trek Fuel EXe megathread continues to be the definitive resource for TQ-HPR50 ownership, while the Official Levo SL thread and the Levo Gen 4 rumours thread are both seeing active debate — the latter particularly relevant given this week's Bosch update news and whatever is happening with firmware politics.
Stay muddy,
Greg
Got news I missed or spotted something good on the forum? Tag me @Greg Watts or drop it in my forum.
