We first saw Intradrive’s e-mountain bike motor and gearbox system at Eurobike a good few years ago, but since then, the brand has been rather quiet. Now, it’s reemerged, offering eight-speed shifting inside a motor that uses the same mounting setup as Shimano’s EP8, and it’s available on two bikes. Here’s everything we know.
Intradrive’s GD8 draws inspiration from cars and their motors, as their gears are sealed in gearboxes. According to the brand, the GD8 does the very same, but whittles that tech down to the size of an e-bike motor. Essentially, it combines the durability and reliability of gearbox-based shifting with a motor that can output up to 700W at peak power.
Importantly, those eight gears produce a 480% range, so it’s not quite the range of what’s found on traditional 12-speed drivetrains but when combined with a motor’s power, that shouldn’t be too much of a drawback. We’re told that gear shifts are actuated wirelessly through Bluetooth and occur in about 0.1 seconds after a button is pushed. Apparently, that time remains the same whether the system is under load or when the bike is standing still.
As for maintenance, it’s pretty similar to what you’ll see on a regular gearbox, with Intradrive’s GD8 requiring an oil change every 10,000km. It can then run either a chain or a belt.
Better still, this system uses the very same mounting pattern as a Shimano EP8, so it can be fitted to any existing EP8 platforms, solving something of a compatibility crisis within the e-bike industry.
Intradrive doesn’t divulge details on battery or torque, but it does say that the battery is chosen by the bike brand and will be bike-specific.
The Intradrive GD8 is available on two bikes
If a gearbox combined with a motor sounds like your jam, there are two ways in which you can get your hands on a system at the moment. It’s available on Obscur’s Enyx, a new bike from a new brand. With an MHP semi-high pivot suspension platform, it boasts 150mm of rear travel with 160mm up front and runs a mixed wheel size. This bike uses an 842Wh removable battery that promises a full charge in two hours and 30 minutes.
The second bike rocking the GD8 is Alutech’s ePelmo. This one’s an enduro bike that uses a hydroformed aluminium frame, and we’re told that this bike will set you back €11,499.
However, those aren’t the only brands that are hopping on the tech, as Intradrive says that a further 12 brands are at least evaluating the platform and that new models will be announced next year.
