Right now, Bosch is unveiling their reply to the ebike energy wars – and the reply isn’t extra energy. As a substitute, a firmware replace for the Efficiency Line CX and CX-R motors will present as much as 120Nm of torque and 600% assist.
Crucially, that is designed to provide you extra assist in technical sections whenever you really need it, “with out providing you with a motor bike.” That half about ‘whenever you really need it’ is vital, since it’ll preserve the bike feeling extra like a daily bike for extra of the journey and it’ll additionally maximize the battery life and even probably lengthen drivetrain life.
The replace permits customers to regulate torque output as much as 120 Nm throughout any using mode by way of the eBike Stream app, representing a major enhance from the usual 85 Nm baseline. Nonetheless, the utmost torque setting is topic to particular person bicycle producer specs.
Enhanced assist ranges can attain as much as 600% help at speeds beneath 15 kph in particular using situations. As a refresher, energy is used to explain the watts; that is nonetheless a 750-watt system. Assist can also be referred to as “help” (used interchangeably by the trade). That is the amplification of the rider’s enter. Relying on the drive unit and mode, assist after 15 kph will drop again to default/earlier maximums.
The 600% assist as much as 15kph is obtainable in RACE, TURBO, EMTB+, CARGO, and AUTO modes. Above 15kph, TURBO and AUTO modes have a max help of 340%, whereas RACE, EMTB+, and CARGO modes have a max help of 400%.
The system employs clever software program that robotically delivers full energy throughout demanding terrain conditions, together with steep climbs, technical root sections, and tight curve exits. This dynamic response requires energetic pedal enter from the rider, with the system offering energy boosts to match rider effort earlier than returning to straightforward ranges.
Basically, it implies that for many of your journey whenever you don’t want a ton of motor assist, you possibly can run it on TOUR+ or ECO+ modes to preserve battery. However whenever you get to a technical part the place you want extra assist to clear the impediment, climb, and many others., the bike will modify to get you thru it after which dial again down.
I acquired to do a quick parking zone take a look at with an up to date Ibis Oso (the parking zone at Sea Otter had some steep grime hills to do this on), and it was superior. On present Bosch eMTBs, I are inclined to journey within the eMTB mode however with this replace, it makes me assume I might most likely again right down to TOUR+ mode or decrease. The added motor assist is sort of instant whenever you want it, and it seamlessly transitions again an forth with out you noticing.
Bosch is releasing Efficiency Improve 2.0 as a free over-the-air replace starting Could 4, 2026. The improve can be suitable with each Efficiency Line CX and Efficiency Line CX-R methods, with out requiring {hardware} replacements or service appointments. And actually, that’s probably the greatest components about this improve. As Jeremy put it, as an alternative of creating riders really feel like they should rush out and purchase the following shiny new factor that’s marginally higher than the final, Bosh is taking a extra sustainable and socially accountable method and permitting riders to improve what they already personal.
Adjustable Prolonged Increase
Together with elevated assist and torque, the Efficiency Improve will characteristic a brand new adjustable prolonged enhance. That is whenever you’re making an attempt to clear a root, rock, step, and many others. and you’re struggling to recover from it and won’t be capable of get a full pedal stroke in. When this occurs, the system is programmed to supply as much as 2.2 yards or residual enhance that can assist you recover from the impediment. This has been obtainable since 2020, however new for 2026 is a slider within the Stream app that may let you modify the size of the overrun setting for every using mode.
Digital Drivetrain Tensioner
For probably the most direct response out of your drivetrain, there’s a new drivetrain tensioner characteristic that pre-tensions the drivetrain when it senses lag between the motor and the rear wheel. That is solely obtainable in eMTB or Race mode, and is supposed to stop drivetrain lash and provides on the spot acceleration whenever you’re pushing the bounds.
Measure Wheelies, Jumps, and extra with Trick Test
This one is admittedly only for enjoyable, although when you’re making an attempt to get higher at manuals, wheelies, or leaping, it might truly be a great tool. Trick Test will now report length, hight, distance, and angle of jumps, wheelies, manuals, or stoppies, and can present the final trick on the show for eight seconds. Then you possibly can dig into all of the trick knowledge on the finish of the journey.
New 12A Quick Charger
Right here’s one other one Bosch riders have been ready for – a 500w 12A quick charger. Suitable again to fashions from 2022, the charger consists of sensible thermal administration and claims to cost a PowerTube 800 battery to 50% in only one hour.The charger can also be pretty mild and compact at 2lbs, so you possibly can carry it with you and cost your bike at work or out on a tour. We’re informed that the brand new charger can be obtainable “by the top of 2026”.
What Fashions Get What Updates?
There are a variety of various Bosch motors on the market, and just some will get all the updates talked about above – principally simply the BDU38 Efficiency Line CX and CX-R motors. However some will decide up a few of the updates, although we’re a bit upset that we gained’t be capable of observe wheelies on our cargo bikes…
