2026 motor rumors

[Backflip]

Given the serviceability of the current Shimano product, would anyone seriously consider one again?

It is correct that the serviceability of a Shimano STePS drive unit is quite poor.
However, most probably there are quite a lot of people (like e.g. me) who seriously consider to order a new Shimano STePS based bike again or replace the current DU-EP801 against the maybe (hopefully) upcoming DU-EPX drive unit.
For me in the next future I definitely will stick to the Shimano STePS system, because the seamless integration of the compatible and perfect matching electronic Di2 derailleurs from Shimano is the most valuable and absolutely unique selling point of this system.
Since more than a decade I am riding all versions of these Di2 combinations and I am extremely happy with the precision of this system with the perfectly working great (and absolutely unique) FreeShift functionality as well as e.g. indication of the current gear on the bike display and all components powered via the main battery.
There is nothing else on the market which can beat this unique and for me unbeatable system.
Just my 5 cents.

 

[kla456]

BTW, I was at Thrive in Ballater this year (September) with my 1 year old Merida e160. Madison had a pitch with in-house bike meachanics (2) and a travelling workshop. I mentioned some movement in the cranks and got a complete pre-delivery inspection/service which checked and retightened all connections - fixed the issue - no charge!

 

[Montana St Alum]

For the U.S. market, I'm steering away from Shimano.

 

[Highland Wheels]

Given the serviceability of the current Shimano product, would anyone seriously consider one again?

Never mind the consumer.

What brands are really gonna continue with them when you have the likes of Bosch/Avinox on the market. Especially the latter with all the brands that have Avinox bikes coming next year.

 

[TimC7]

Can't believe nobody else besides Pinion has come out with an MGU! I can understand the lack of development for analogue bikes due to the slight drop in efficiency, but when 800+ Wh batteries are the norm these days that slight drop is irrelevant!

 

[steve_sordy]

Given the serviceability of the current Shimano product, would anyone seriously consider one again?

I have had two Shimano motors e8000 and EP8 since early Jan'19 (so that's 7 years, shy a few weeks). They have not given me a minute's concern. The only way I would get another EP8 is to replace the one on my current bike, which is now almost four and a half years old. But there is little sign of that purchase being required. The motor is still almost silent, without rattling and the BB is still solid. The battery's life, expressed as range in Eco, is the same as it was a few weeks after I bought it.

I don't believe that my next bike would have a Shimano motor unless and if their supposed new offering (EPX? or EP10?) is so good that it becomes the new "must have". Just looking at the bikes I like, most have a Bosch, none have a Shimano.

I understand the concern over Shimano motor serviceability. They designed them not to be serviced and they are sticking to it. Solely because of that I set out to buy my second emtb with an anti-Shimano outlook. I saw it as voting with my wallet. But then, after much study, the bike that I decided to buy had an EP8! Given my 100% good experience with the e8000, I weakened and bought the EP8 bike. And 4.5 years later it's all still 100%!

PS: You can get a Shimano motor serviced. Here:
Services – E-Motor Repairs

I only know the above place because of "just in case", but as I have said, I have never needed them.

 

[RustyIron]

Opening a thread for 2026 motor rumors and info, anyone in the know please share
Rumors I heard :
Shimano ep10 100nm
Full power TQ 90+nm
New full power Sram ?nm
Porsche ?
...

I haven't heard any of those rumors. I'm nobody, so the cool kids don't tell me their secrets. I liked my EP8. It was the shizz right after it came out. But then my homies all got Levos with Brose motors, and started kicking my ass. Then I got a Bosch CX Performance Gen 4, and started kicking their ass. Now many of us are on the Gen 5 Race, and the fastest times are not dependent on the motor, but on endurance and skill. The EP801 people are so far behind that we feel bad for them. Shimano is now the underdog. They would need to do something pretty spectacular to dig themselves out of their hole. What manufacturer wants to cripple their bike with substandard components?

 

[towzer]

Steve, re shimano servicing

you might want to read the bold bit near the top on this page

eBike Motor Repair and Service

At eBike Motor Centre, we believe in more than just repairs. We believe in sustainability, circularity, and keeping e-bike motors on the road for longer. We’ve proudly become the go-to destination for e-bike motor repairs, parts, and servicing, trusted by leading bike shops across the UK and...

www.ebikemotorcentre.com

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Never mind the consumer.

What brands are really gonna continue with them when you have the likes of Bosch/Avinox on the market. Especially the latter with all the brands that have Avinox bikes coming next year.

Exactly. Put youself in the shoes of an eMTB product manager. Unless Shimano have some next level technology in the pipeline, would you choose their motor over Avinox or Bosch? Anything else feels like a massive risk.

 

[gbcoke]

Exactly. Put youself in the shoes of an eMTB product manager. Unless Shimano have some next level technology in the pipeline, would you choose their motor over Avinox or Bosch? Anything else feels like a massive risk.

Seems like motor manufacturers wont necessarily chase Avinox on numbers but rather try to be small,light and efficient in order to create a new generation of "SL" bikes. Maxon. New TQ and Shimano and maybe others (??) are going up to 100nm and close to 2kg. If the motors are very efficient than they can also get away with smaller batteries creating up to 20kg bikes with good power and range ...
Interesting times

 

[CarolinaCrawler]

Seems like motor manufacturers wont necessarily chase Avinox on numbers but rather try to be small,light and efficient in order to create a new generation of "SL" bikes

I've said this for a while. Give me 85nm and 5-600 whr battery in a package the size and weight of Fazua. I don't care about power, I never ride in full power anyway.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Seems like motor manufacturers wont necessarily chase Avinox on numbers but rather try to be small,light and efficient in order to create a new generation of "SL" bikes. Maxon. New TQ and Shimano and maybe others (??) are going up to 100nm and close to 2kg. If the motors are very efficient than they can also get away with smaller batteries creating up to 20kg bikes with good power and range ...
Interesting times

Yeah these are super interesting. Full power, but SL weight.

Even now its happening - Unno have the "feather edition" Mith - 19.18KG / 1000w / 120Nm with the 600wh battery.

Must be the highest power to weight ratio trail legal ebike ever?

 

[steve_sordy]

£11300 (UK)

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/first-look-unno-mith-factory-feather-edition-the-lightest-full-power-emtb.html

 

[irie]

£11300 (UK)

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/first-look-unno-mith-factory-feather-edition-the-lightest-full-power-emtb.html

Put a lighter battery in a lower specced bike and get a lighter bike, and only £11,300

Gonna be a blood bath when (if?) solid state batteries finally turn up typically knocking a couple of kilos off bike weight.

 

[jever98]

Yeah these are super interesting. Full power, but SL weight.

Even now its happening - Unno have the "feather edition" Mith - 19.18KG / 1000w / 120Nm with the 600wh battery.

Must be the highest power to weight ratio trail legal ebike ever?


View attachment 172116

View attachment 172117

Everyone is different, but I am not interested in that. I run a Fazua system that gets me up to 5k vertical feet out of a 480wh battery. A strong motor like Avinox weighs extra (about 500-600g) and I would not want to use all that power because it would suck the battery empty, plus I still want to put an effort in. Plus some of the equipment choices (like the tires) aren't really suitable to a longer travel bike.

I'm most looking forward to manufacturers shaving more weight off motors and batteries in the 60-80NM and 450-600wh battery range.

But that's just me.

 

[Suns_PSD]

Put a lighter battery in a lower specced bike and get a lighter bike, and only £11,300

Gonna be a blood bath when (if?) solid state batteries finally turn up typically knocking a couple of kilos off bike weight.

They aren't going to save that much weight but will make a difference in time.

 

[Suns_PSD]

Everyone is different, but I am not interested in that. I run a Fazua system that gets me up to 5k vertical feet out of a 480wh battery. A strong motor like Avinox weighs extra (about 500-600g) and I would not want to use all that power because it would suck the battery empty, plus I still want to put an effort in. Plus some of the equipment choices (like the tires) aren't really suitable to a longer travel bike.

I'm most looking forward to manufacturers shaving more weight off motors and batteries in the 60-80NM and 450-600wh battery range.

But that's just me.

I mostly agree with you but think how many riders just older retired guys that are just cruising around. There is nothing wrong with that, we all age, and finally you can afford all of the nice toys to obsess over and have more time to boot.

So there is a place.

 

[irie]

They aren't going to save that much weight but will make a difference in time.

With widely quoted four times the energy density battery weight savings will be at least that much. When they finally arrive, that is.
.

 

[Suns_PSD]

With widely quoted four times the energy density battery weight savings will be at least that much. When they finally arrive, that is.
.

I think we are looking at Semi-SS batteries aftermarket in about a year, and full production in 1-4 years, and that will reduce battery weight about 25%. It will be about 5-10 years for full SS to be in production imo and that will cut battery pack weight about in half. Yes, the cells themselves are about 2x more power dense, however there is more to a battery pack that makes up the weight than just the cells.

My entire battery pack in my Fazua only weighs 2.7 kgs, you are not going to save 2 kgs off of that. Just the casing and other parts weigh that alone even if the cells themselves were made of air.

 

[TimC7]

I'm most looking forward to manufacturers shaving more weight off motors and batteries in the 60-80NM and 450-600wh battery range.

But that's just me.

I'm 70kg and find 70Nm with a 540Wh battery on a 22kg bike is as much power and range as I need, so a lighter bike <20kg with those power figures would be my goto. I'd happily pay more if it had MGU but that's not happening any time soon.

The base Amflow is tempting, but not because of its monster power.

 

[cream]

"Shimano Forever"
Shimano is developing a new eMTB motor, possibly called EPX or something similar, the successor to the EP801, with a planned launch in mid-2026 in the lightweight motor segment. Its key features include 20% greater compactness, a weight of 2.1-2.2 kg (less than 2.5 kg), 90-95 Nm of torque, a sustained 400% assistance ratio, and 30% greater efficiency thanks to improved heat dissipation and integrated AI. It is aimed at bikes under 18 kg (or flagship models under 15 kg), competing with motors like Maxon (88 Nm, 2 kg), and will be paired with future semi-solid-state batteries. Key advantages: Backward compatibility with EP801 mounts, batteries, shifters, and displays for seamless upgrades. Increased effective range: A 1000 Wh battery becomes equivalent to 1300 Wh (or 720 Wh to 900 Wh) through AI-powered mode management and Di2 predictive shifting. Versatile for XC trails, marathons, and light enduro, avoiding high-torque "power wars" (e.g., Avinox >105 Nm). Data remains unofficial, pending patent approval; no confirmed EPX details are available in Shimano's current 2026 developments.

Teewing Flux One/SC Vala/Bullit&AvinoxM1M2/CXG5/EP801/CentriX/MGM EMTB | Compra ahora el chasis premium EP801 rebajado y actualiza al EPX cuando salga, evitando pagar de más por motores obsoletos en bicis nuevas | Facebook

Compra ahora el chasis premium EP801 rebajado y actualiza al EPX cuando salga, evitando pagar de más por motores obsoletos en bicis nuevas. Shimano diseña para retrocompatibilidad, así que el cambio...

www.facebook.com

Here, the perception is different, at least for now. Shimano ForNever

Their system was good back in the days (although not reliable on Emtb scenario). EP series are a refinement of Ex000 series but nothing major, hardware wise. And the latest iteration (gen2) had no real hardware design changes (beside electronics, connectors) was plagued with problems stemming from 3rd party batteries/motor incompatibility.

Yeah sure 30% greater efficiency on electric motors/gears, somebody is hallucinating. Rumor is, Shimano will concentrate on their other (e)bike parts they manufacture, to get them closer to perfection

 

[Svarun]

Another happy Shimano EP801 owner reporting here. I'd buy a modern Shimano system in a heartbeat. Don't understand the Shimano hate prevalent here and on other platforms. Seems to be unique to Shimano products as people are more than fine excusing other manufacturers like Brose and Bosch, even TQ and Fazua for their many failings...

 

[steve_sordy]

Steve, re shimano servicing

you might want to read the bold bit near the top on this page

eBike Motor Repair and Service

At eBike Motor Centre, we believe in more than just repairs. We believe in sustainability, circularity, and keeping e-bike motors on the road for longer. We’ve proudly become the go-to destination for e-bike motor repairs, parts, and servicing, trusted by leading bike shops across the UK and...

www.ebikemotorcentre.com

Thanks for spotting that @towzer.
I'm sure that "Please note: We do not currently support Shimano motors." wasn't there when I first bookmarked that company's website, or I wouldn't have book marked it. I will remove it from my list and correct my post.

EDIT: I just went back to the link I provided and it opens on a different page to the one with the disclaimer. It's only when you page to "Repair and Overhaul Service" that it appears.

 

[irie]

Another happy Shimano EP801 owner reporting here. I'd buy a modern Shimano system in a heartbeat. Don't understand the Shimano hate prevalent here and on other platforms. Seems to be unique to Shimano products as people are more than fine excusing other manufacturers like Brose and Bosch, even TQ and Fazua for their many failings...

Do not see any 'hate' for Shimano motors as such, instead for the problems faced getting them repaired if they do fail.

 

[Svarun]

I do see hate and many absolutistic statements of never buying a Shimano equipped bike, post above mine is but one example. I find it disproportional considering Shimano reliability is definitely above average and there are other motor systems unable to be user serviced.

 

[Rando_12345]

"Shimano Forever"
Shimano is developing a new eMTB motor, possibly called EPX or something similar, the successor to the EP801, with a planned launch in mid-2026 in the lightweight motor segment. Its key features include 20% greater compactness, a weight of 2.1-2.2 kg (less than 2.5 kg), 90-95 Nm of torque, a sustained 400% assistance ratio, and 30% greater efficiency thanks to improved heat dissipation and integrated AI. It is aimed at bikes under 18 kg (or flagship models under 15 kg), competing with motors like Maxon (88 Nm, 2 kg), and will be paired with future semi-solid-state batteries. Key advantages: Backward compatibility with EP801 mounts, batteries, shifters, and displays for seamless upgrades. Increased effective range: A 1000 Wh battery becomes equivalent to 1300 Wh (or 720 Wh to 900 Wh) through AI-powered mode management and Di2 predictive shifting. Versatile for XC trails, marathons, and light enduro, avoiding high-torque "power wars" (e.g., Avinox >105 Nm). Data remains unofficial, pending patent approval; no confirmed EPX details are available in Shimano's current 2026 developments.

Teewing Flux One/SC Vala/Bullit&AvinoxM1M2/CXG5/EP801/CentriX/MGM EMTB | Compra ahora el chasis premium EP801 rebajado y actualiza al EPX cuando salga, evitando pagar de más por motores obsoletos en bicis nuevas | Facebook

Compra ahora el chasis premium EP801 rebajado y actualiza al EPX cuando salga, evitando pagar de más por motores obsoletos en bicis nuevas. Shimano diseña para retrocompatibilidad, así que el cambio...

www.facebook.com

Chatgpt has some good use cases, but getting it vomit out this BS and then post on a forum is not one of them.

 

[jever98]

The mention of ai to save energy is hilarious.

 

[Scott_123]

I could be wrong but my prediction is Shimano will be out of the EMTB market but will continue to support what is out there right now.

 

[DylanJM]

 

[ozzybmx]

I mostly agree with you but think how many riders just older retired guys that are just cruising around.

I know several older guys who moved to emtb after many years riding and absolutely refuse to ride in certain modes. Tour+ max, never emtb or turbo level. (just using Bosch modes as example)

I took a guided ride around an epic trail about a year ago, 4 of the guys over 65yrs old and decent riders in their day. 2 of them crashed due to being fatigued, 40km with 1500vm and they rode in eco/tour+ level the whole day, then crashed in the last 5km with over 50% battery left.