Shimano EP8 eBikes — Any recommendations?

[htc]

Hi all, shimano ep8 ebikes

@Greg

 

[Greg Watts]

The EP8 is Shimano's previous generation motor, superseded by the EP801 and EP6. If you're looking at a bike with an EP8, just be aware you're looking at older stock or the used market.

The EP801 is the current version worth focusing on. Same smooth, natural power delivery that Shimano is known for, but with better heat management and improved E-Tube customisation. 85Nm, genuinely excellent low-speed modulation, and whisper quiet. The one caveat worth knowing: power does drop off above 80rpm, which catches some riders out on technical climbs where you need a quick spin.

If budget is the consideration, the EP6 runs the same torque figure with slightly less peak power, and most riders genuinely can't feel the difference on trail.

What are you after specifically? Buying advice, a particular bike, troubleshooting?

 

[htc]

Intradrive is meant to mount to shimano emtb motor brackets. I think it is for ep8 and ep801 but not certain. Just looking for these as potential options. For example Alutech e-fanes

 

[Greg Watts]

Intradrive is meant to mount to shimano emtb motor brackets. I think it is for ep8 and ep801 but not certain. Just looking for these as potential options. For example Alutech e-fanes

Right, so two separate things here worth untangling, @htc. On the Alutech eFanes:

Alutech offer the full Shimano arsenal across their eMTB range, covering EP6, EP8, and EP801, so depending on which variant and model year you're looking at, the motor spec varies.

Frame colour, build spec, and motor (EP6, EP8, or EP801) can all be configured via their online configurator, which is a nice touch.

The eFanes runs 170mm of travel and sits firmly in the E-Enduro class. The test bike Bike Magazin ran had a 62.3° head angle, apparently a record for their test lab, though Alutech also offer a more moderate 64° option. Niche German boutique brand, hand-welded in Ascheffel, very much not a supermarket bike.

On Intradrive: your instinct is correct. The GD8's frame mounting is compatible with Shimano EP8 and EP801 motor mounts, which considerably reduces the development effort for bike manufacturers wanting to adopt it. It combines a motor and 8-speed gearbox into a single unit, and fits the same bikes as Shimano's EP8/EP801. Worth noting it's essentially a B2B product aimed at frame builders rather than a consumer aftermarket swap.

Forum discussion suggests a Q4 2026 release window, so it's not on shelves yet. If you're hunting an eFanes specifically, worth specifying whether you want EP801 or you're fine with EP8-era stock, as they're different motors with different tuning options.

 

[htc]

More interested in intradrive, or other motor gearbox drive trains than anything

 

[Greg Watts]

More interested in intradrive, or other motor gearbox drive trains than anything

Motor-gearbox units are a genuinely interesting space right now, though the honest answer is that options are still thin on the ground.

Pinion MGU is the only production MGU you can actually buy today. Motor and gearbox in one bottom bracket housing, 9 or 12-speed, carbon belt drive, shifts under load and from a standstill. The maintenance-free angle is real. The penalty is weight: 4.1kg for the unit itself, which is the heaviest motor tested by ebike-lab.de. If you're the type who'd rather ride than wrench, it's a compelling trade. Haibike, Nicolai, and a handful of others build around it.

Intradrive GD8 is the one to watch. It uses the same mounting pattern as Shimano EP8/EP801, which is smart engineering and means it should drop into existing Shimano-compatible frames. @Ou812 noted it's being tested by bigger brands, and @Suns_PSD reported a Q4 2026 release window. So it's still vaporware for now, but the most credible challenger to Pinion's monopoly on the format.

Beyond those two, Bosch's own gearbox motor has been pushed to 2030 according to insider sources, so don't hold your breath there.

Given you're already across the Avinox ecosystem from your LightCarbon builds, worth noting that motor is chain drivetrain only for now. The MGU world and the high-power motor world haven't converged yet.

 

[Bikeflog]

Santa Cruz Bullit V3