Bosch has announced the release of a new lightweight Performance Line SX e-bike motor, weighing two kilograms, targeted to performance riders looking for a high power-to-weight ratio. Combined with the new CompactTube 400 battery, the German e-bike motor brand says the drivetrain system sets a new standard for lightweight electric mountain bikes, gravel bikes and hybrids. Here are all the details.
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Bosch Performance Line SX e-bike motor
Starting with the motor, as the name suggests, Bosch has focused on offering performance gains with the new Performance Line SX which is the lightest offering in the German brand’s e-bike motor lineup. The motor, which is claimed to weigh 2kg, has been built to assist riders of different styles from mountain bikers to gravel riders and commuters without affecting the bike’s overall handling and performance.
According to Bosch, the Performance Line SX delivers a very natural riding sensation and the assistance responds effectively to high power and high cadence, adding power when needed. The new motor is said to offer maximum torque of 55Nm and peak power of 600W, which results in a power-to-weight ratio of up to 300Wh per kilogram.
The motor’s assistance can be tuned to suit the riding style, with progressive ‘Tour+’ and ‘EMTB’ riding modes available, as well as an all-new ‘SPRNT’ designed for gravel bike sprints. These modes can be custom tuned on the Bosch eBike Flow app.
Talking of gravel bikes, the Performance Line SX can be paired with a new drop-bar optimised control unit, dubbed the Mini Remote Dropbar, which attaches to the left side of the stem on drop bar bikes. Bosch still recommends pairing it with the control with the Kiox 300 display.
E-bike motors in Europe are legally limited to a maximum assisted speed of 25 km/h, after which pedalling the bike usually becomes quite a task. According to Bosch the pedal resistance on the Performance Line SX motor has been more than halved compared to other Bosch drive units and is “barely noticeable”.
Bosch also says that helping to keep the motor barely noticeable is its very low noise and the ‘innovative’ gearbox concept. The brand has introduced new narrow cranks with a Q-factor of 160 mm for the motor, which should help in keeping the pedalling experience pleasant.
Bosch CompactTube 400 battery and range extender
Alongside the new motor, Bosch has also introduced CompactTube 400 battery with 400Wh capacity. The new motor and battery bring the new drive system’s total weight to around four kilograms. The battery can be integrated into the bike’s down tube, and high energy density due to the cell technology used, Bosch said.
The brand also offers a range extender to boost the CompactTube 400’s battery with an additional 250Wh of charge. The extender is said to weigh 1.6kg and is the size of a water bottle.
Updated Bosch Smart System
In conjunction with the release of the new motor and battery, Bosch has updated its Smart System: the integrated system that links up the drivetrain components with the controllers and displays. The brand has now added Active Line and Active Line Plus motors to the system, extending it to urban and trekking use.
In addition to the drop-bar controller, Bosch has also introduced another addition to the lineup: the Purion 200 controller. The Purion 200 has a high-resolution colour display and an ambient light sensor that adapts to changing lighting conditions.
The Purion 200 can be paired with another Bosch display unit or a smartphone for even more data, or for navigation on a bigger screen. A bigger screen is something that Bosch now also offers in the form of the Kiox 500, which features a 2.8-inch screen. The screen is about 40 percent larger than the one on the existing Kiox 300 unit and includes audio cues.
The first models with the Performance Line SX are expected to be available on the market in Autumn 2023.
