Derestrict Shimano EP801

[ck7_]

What software can I use to safely derestrict this shimano motor, I only want to change the speed assist limit from UK to US regional settings.

Also if I was to run into troubles and changed it back to UK to be sent off would this still void the warranty, TIA.

 

[Backflip]

You can use the eMax - SOFT to speed up your EP801. I´ve done that too and quite happy with it.

 

[Ozone08]

You can use the eMax - SOFT to speed up your EP801. I´ve done that too and quite happy with it.

Did you de-restrict with the app yourself or did you do a remote session? If you did the remote session how long did it take for Emax to scheduled your session, Meaning from sending him an email to getting your session? Thanks, Barry

 

[Backflip]

I did the tuning via remote control session. The guys replied quite fast and I think the optimization including finding an appoinment which matched for me and them was done within 1 or 2 days after the first contact.

 

[Ozone08]

I did the tuning via remote control session. The guys replied quite fast and I think the optimization including finding an appoinment which matched for me and them was done within 1 or 2 days after the first contact.

They did mine via a remote session today. Highly recommend them to anyone they were super helpful with instructions and the session was over in a few minuets.

 

[anonymous.dzordz]

Are you sure guys they been able to apply deregionalization (to US) with EP-801 motor (DU-EP801 is shimano PN I believe)

 

[Backflip]

Are you sure guys they been able to apply deregionalization (to US) with EP-801 motor (DU-EP801 is shimano PN I believe)

Sure, but why are you not contacting EMAXX directly and asking here? However, this is not "deregionalization" like you call it, it is some other trick which makes the bike go 50km/h (not just 32km/h like in US - mode) with correction indication of all values on your bike display. On my bike this tuning is working perfectly since many months and I love it!

 

[Astro66]

Same here. Working perfectly to 50kph for last 3 months and 600km. Though I am still on firmware 4.2. Waiting for the MiniMax update, so I can update the firmware myself to 4.3.

As I have an EP600. The 4.3 update doesn't give me all the goodies that the EP801 gets. So I'm in no rush.

 

[anonymous.dzordz]

Thanks.

I am still on warranty buy limitation to 25km/h is annoying

 

[Backflip]

Thanks.

I am still on warranty buy limitation to 25km/h is annoying

You will not void warranty if you will use the EMAX - optimization and just reset the bike back to the original settings in case there will be any warranty issue (which is easily possible).

 

[Astro66]

Well, I have a small knock coming from my EP6 motor. It's always in the same chainring position. It feels very much like a worn tooth on an internal gear. So I'll be reverting back to standard firmware before I take it in.

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[luna87824]

Well, I have a small knock coming from my EP6 motor. It's always in the same chainring position. It feels very much like a worn tooth on an internal gear. So I'll be reverting back to standard firmware before I take it in.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Good luck!!

 

[Astro66]

Well, I have a small knock coming from my EP6 motor. It's always in the same chainring position. It feels very much like a worn tooth on an internal gear. So I'll be reverting back to standard firmware before I take it in.

I'll let you know how it goes.

I took a closer look. It was just a twisted derailleur and bent hangar. Must have hit something on the trails.

I have a hangar alignment tool, so I fixed that. Then just straightened the twisted derailleur cage. Re-setup the derailleur alignment. And all is silent again.

 

[crucible]

eMax is the way to go for the EP801. I have many hours using this and it works, no error codes, and you can reset to factory settings if you need warranty or service. And now, no remote session required in latest versions for Windows

 

[Backflip]

eMax is the way to go for the EP801. I have many hours using this and it works, no error codes, and you can reset to factory settings if you need warranty or service. And now, no remote session required in latest versions for Windows

Yes, eMax is the only way to go for the DU-EP801 and DU-EP600 if you want to go faster.

 

[BikeBert]

I would like to share my experience with eMax, a German company that truly represents German engineering at its best. Finding great customer service these days is rare, but eMax takes it to another level. Their response time is incredible—whether it's day or night, they answer within hours, sometimes even minutes. It’s clear they genuinely care about their customers and their passion for Shimano-based e-bikes is second to none.

A special mention goes to Markus, the main person I had the pleasure of being in contact with. He patiently answered all my questions, diving deep into technical details and ensuring there was absolutely no room for misunderstanding or confusion. His expertise and dedication are simply outstanding.

Their miniMax / eMaxMobileApp software is nothing short of perfect. It allows you to check the status of your Shimano-based e-bike and, if needed, remove speed restrictions with ease. I used miniMax to derestrict my commuter bike, the Orbea Diem with the new Shimano EP600 motor, because let’s be honest, 25 km/h is a ridiculous speed limit for a bike designed for road use. Now, I can comfortably and quickly get to my destination without cumbersome restrictions or the annoying drag that kicks in over 25 km/h. The difference in riding experience is night and day.

Unlike other tuning solutions, eMax is always ahead of the game. Thanks to their vast knowledge and commitment, their software is compatible with the latest firmware versions, meaning there’s no need to downgrade the firmware or deal with complicated workarounds like with other solutions. It just works, seamlessly and reliably.

What makes eMax truly exceptional is their team, a group of highly skilled electronic engineers who have been in the industry for decades. They don’t just develop software; they ride Shimano STePS bikes daily, constantly refining their products. Over the last seven years, they’ve invested more than 20,000 hours of hard work, tackling even the most frustrating challenges to deliver a product that works flawlessly. And it shows!

If you’re looking for the best support, the best software, and a team that truly understands e-bikes, eMax is the only name you need to know. I can’t recommend them highly enough!

 

[Astro66]

Just bought a new EP801. Emailed Markus just after lunch. By dinner I had the License and setting USA Class 1 region took me 5 mins. After dinner I test rode the bike up to 45kph. Worked perfectly.

I like this new fix. So easy to roll back to EU region setting, if warranty required. It's one of the reasons I chose an EMTB with the Shimano EP801.

 

[a_double]

What's the rationale for a USA issued EP801 to have EU speed limits?!...and the enormous hassle of getting it changed to the USA speed limit.

 

[Winford]

the rationale

German company, and it would cost them to change them from factory specs. And its not really EU at 15 mph its 17 mph for some reason, and goes to 19 after shimano authorized dealer fixes it.

Lucky the race update a while back gives you the chance to change the way power cuts off.

 

[a_double]

Shimano is a German company?

 

[Winford]

Shimano is a German company?

Sorry my Canyon with Shimano was.

Maybe 17 is a standard in Japan

 

[Winford]

USA issued EP801

No such thing, Shimano does not issue a motor for any specific country as far as I know.

The factory building the bike programs the motor for the specific bike its being used in

 

[Backflip]

No such thing, Shimano does not issue a motor for any specific country as far as I know.

The factory building the bike programs the motor for the specific bike its being used in

On older Shimano STePS drive units it was like that.
However, with the new generation DU-EP600 and DU-EP801 things changed:
The bike manufacturer (e.g. the German company CANYON) now has to order the Shimano STePS drive units (aka motors) for his bikes from the Japanese company Shimano depending on the destination country market the bike will be delivered too later on (e.g. EU or US) and Shimano will deliver these orded drive units already with the related country destination configuration programmed accorcing to the order of the bike manufacturer.

 

[Winford]

very simple and easy

Except you are saying Canyon buys Shimano motors with exact settings of which country the Canyon will be delivered to.

I believe Canyon buys the motors in bulk with no known destination. And 17 mph is the Shimano factory setting.

And I believe the different brands can alter the bike specific settings. And OR Canyon orders specific settings and request no location be set.

 

[Backflip]

Except you are saying Canyon buys Shimano motors with exact settings of which country the Canyon will be delivered to.

I believe Canyon buys the motors in bulk with no known destination. And 17 mph is the Shimano factory setting.

And I believe the different brands can alter the bike specific settings. And OR Canyon orders specific settings and request no location be set.

For sure I respect and can understand your belief, but there is a difference between just "believing" and hard "fact".
I have very direct connections to the guys from eMax-Tuning and nobody worldwide has better insights to the Shimano STePS system than them (you easily can contact them too, see here) and so I know that the situation is exactly like described in my previous post.

BTW.: This is the laser engraving made by Shimano (and definitely not by the bike manufacturer) of a DU-EP801 drive unit factory programmed for the EU market by the Shimano production facilities in Japan:

Things slightly have changed with the introduction of motor firmware 4.3.0 in mid 2024 (see here), but bike manufacturers still have to buy the DU-EP600 and DU-EP801 drive units preconfigured from Shimano...
(eMax-Tuning has quite close connections to some German bike manufacturers and there are a lot of them, but for sure I am not allowed to mention them )

 

[a_double]

My replacement EP801 came from Shimano USA, shipped from CA.

I have been loyal to shimano MTB products but this experience has me reconsidering that loyalty for their e mtb products.

 

[Backflip]

My replacement EP801 came from Shimano USA, shipped from CA.

I have been loyal to shimano MTB products but this experience has me reconsidering that loyalty for their e mtb products.

Unfortunately that situation happens quite often, see and e.g. translate this German forum post (and yes, this is a real reason to reconsider your loyalty towards Shimano, but similar situations also happen on Bosch, Brose and all the other companies who produce drive units for e-bikes).
So you have received an absolute "virgin" drive unit with "EU" market setting and a max. wheel circumference of 3000mm (which makes an ordinary bike with 27,5" or 29" wheels only go 19km/h or 12mph with motor support.
As written in some other threadalready you now either can return this drive unit back to Shimano USA or you can use the tools from eMax-Tuning and configure your new drive unit by yourself in the "absolute official and correct way".

 

[luna87824]

My replacement EP801 came from Shimano USA, shipped from CA.

I have been loyal to shimano MTB products but this experience has me reconsidering that loyalty for their e mtb products.

From the Shimano website......DU-EP801 DRIVE UNIT, MID SHIP POSITION
*** Compatible with EP801 & EP600 ONLY ***
***Drive Unit must be programmed by Customer Service agent before riding***

 

[Backflip]

From the Shimano website......DU-EP801 DRIVE UNIT, MID SHIP POSITION
*** Compatible with EP801 & EP600 ONLY ***
***Drive Unit must be programmed by Customer Service agent before riding***

Since motor firmware 4.3.0 of a DU-EP600 or DU-EP801 drive unit, the country destination setting can now be programmed also as an "afterthought" by some "Shimano service agents" and also the very special miniMax - program from eMax-Tuning.
Before that motor firmware 4.3.0 such a "later on change" was not possible and there was no chance to change country destionation setting after production and initial programming of the drive unit in the Japanese Shimano production site (see e.g. this forum post).
However, take care: There are only a very few Shimano service agents who have enought knowlege and privileges to do such a configuration change and this process can easily become a little or bigger nightmare with a lot of frustration and waste of time.
If somebody is interested in the firmware version history of Shimano STePS components, this can be found here (go down to “Firmware Updates” and then use “Filter by Model No”, then select the component you want to see). For sure Shimano did not include the "hidden secret" that since motor firmware 4.3.0 on a DU-EP600 or DU-EP801 it is possible to change country destionation settings (see also chapter 12.2 in this document).

 

[a_double]

Anybody have a good phone number for Shimano USA? This number doesn't get me anywhere; 800-423-2420