According to Shimano, the EP8 motor offers a 36% reduction in drag over the old E8000 motor, and were inclined to believe that claim. This adjustment has the biggest impact on the motors performance and your total range. Thanks to lightweight magnesium components, Shimano has shaved off a cool 200g of weight making it one of the lightest electric bike motors on the market today. Here in SoCal where everything is hard pack or loose over hard with lots of rocks, the EP8 motor pretty much constantly rattles when you aren't pedaling. If speed and maximum power output is less of a concern though, switching into the factory Eco mode is a sure-fire way to get more ride time expect range to double from those figures above. We have shared the results with Shimano and select OEM customers. You are not alone. Its almost as if the battery drains faster in that final 20%. So when the new version is so much better Refinement is all relative. After downloading the free E-Tube Project app, youll need to turn the bike on and pair it with your smartphone. And in terms of backup service and support, the fact that there are far more Shimano dealers than there are Specialized dealers may also be preferable for some riders. Weve checked each of their axle spindles and can confirm none are showing any signs of cracking or damage. That would be awesome to do laps on. Uh oh, another one E-triggered. Along with the new EP8 motor, Shimano has also released a larger 630Wh battery, which seems to be the most popular option at the moment youll find it inside both the Canyon Spectral:ON and Merida eOne-Sixty. My brain constantly struggles with whether 2 bars remaining means I have 21% or 59%I would prefer a continuous power bar or percent. There are 5 levels of adjustment from Mild to Quick, with the highest setting requiring only a small rotation with light pedal force to engage the motor. And with brands such as Merida and Canyon making use of internal wiring through the handlebars, the whole arrangement is quite tidy. Take note of how much elevation you achieve during those rides (elevation is more important than distance when determining range), and keep that number in mind when youre planning future all-day epics. The downside for Bosch is that its display options leave a lot to be desired. The only Shimano-approved pedal cranks listed on Shimanos website are the FC-EM600, FC-M8150 and FC-EM900, all of which are available to buy aftermarket from various retailers. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. However, when coasting on rough terrain the unloaded system can exhibit a normal clicking sound that may be detectable to the rider. Rattling noise, you've seen (or heard) any of the Semenuk RAW100 videos? As expected, the new Shimano EP8 motor gets a hefty boost in power, with a claimed maximum torque output of 85 Nm. Let us know what you find out. The investigation has led e*thirteen to produce technical service bulletin 157 (TSB), published on its website on 14 October 2021. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. If you don't like e-bikes for whatever reason, you really have no business even commenting on this review. Shimanos battery flexibility certainly presents a significant advantage over the likes of Bosch, which is much more limited with its battery options. Its worth noting that Bosch motor is only compatible with Bosch battery options though. However, you do pay for all that refinement and integration. Sources at numerous ebike suppliers have told Cycle Volta this week that releases of new EP8-equipped electric mountain bikes are being held up, on Shimano's direction. Hopefully this option will open up to non-Garmin users in the future. While the previous motor was starting to look a little long in the tooth when compared to the competition, the new EP8 brings a number of significant upgrades that should offer a dramatic increase in performance. Still, that clutch design means it is impressively drag-free beyond the cutoff point. I have never posted a comment here on pinkbike, however this article in particular is hitting a nerve. If possible, repeat this ride on the Eco and Boost modes too. Alex then moved back to the UK and put his vast knowledge of mountain biking to good use by landing a job working for MBUK magazine as features editor. That just isn't real world riding though, you just don't spend all your time in boost mode. Shimano also claims this issue is entirely isolated to non-Shimano cranks, stating it is aware of 49 reported cases of spindle failure. Yesterday I drove down south to explore some new trail in Utah. Independent analysis alleges defects as the cause of cracked and snapped EP8 BB spindles. The current spares situation is shocking, l've been waiting six weeks for a battery lock for my E8000 equipped Kona and have been told "June" is the earliest l can expect to see it. He was pretty happy about ANT compatibility. And you can take the motor together with a battery out in matter of seconds. Damn, sorry to hear this especially since I own the same bike! is a broken record . First revealed to the world in September of last year, Shimano EP8 finally arrived on the e-MTB scene as the successor to the very popular Shimano E8000 motor. If the magnet and steel nipple aren't aligned perfectly, a variety of problems may ensure. Why don't they buy dirtbikes instead ? One is a Haibike Fat-Tire with a Yamaha Drive, the second is an absolutely brilliant 40lb (including battery) DIODE from LaMere Cycles in the USA. Same with brose 2.1 & their motor failures. With the Spectral:ON for example, which has very short chainstays and a relatively slack seat tube angle that puts your weight further over the rear axle on steep climbs, it helped to dial down the Assistance Character (to 6/10), the Maximum Torque (to 78Nm) and the Assistance Start (to 4/5) to soften the bikes power and acceleration. On top of that, Shimano also appears to be cool with brands building their bikes with non-Shimano batteries. And you're clearly not pedaling, just pure flow. In terms of improvements, EP8 is marginally lighter (300g) and smaller in volume (10%) over the old E8000 motor. Total power isnt quite as brutish as Bosch and Brose, but the real beauty about EP8 is that it retains the smooth and intuitive performance that we loved about the old motor. Both bikes were fitted with e*thirteen cranks. Not the first time Shimano has screwed the pooch with recent launches. Just got my first 29er. 2. You miss that obscure offering from Specialized? This means its impossible to tell whether you have 21% or 49% battery remaining. For riders scoping out bigger rides than that, youll want to consider dialling down the Assistance Character to improve efficiency. Are we ignoring the fact that motor has been recalled/reworked by Shimano, and pushing all new bike deliveries by two months (at least)? What settings you end up will depend on your personal riding style, and your expectations of range and power output. This data covers comprehensive third party metallurgical analysis in addition to results from a rigorous test battery of corrosion testing combined with ISO Fatigue. While I am at the age/account to have one, I couldn't imagine riding longer than my 630W battery lasted, i don't think i would be able to walk for a week. People know you're not running some old E8000 or E7000 motor. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. If I pull the E-trigger, it'll still be a Levo SL now that S has worked through the issues. Click on a component to learn more. If you don't like e-bikes for whatever reason, you really have no business even commenting on this review. 3. Indeed Shimano EP8 is starting to become available across quite a wide range of bikes at various price points. If thats the case for you, start at Level 5 and work your way down a notch at a time. However, you do pay for all that refinement and integration. We hope Shimano will join us at that table soon.. You can't imagine what kind of thought must have gone behind that response? The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. A downside of the 2.2 motor is that it is noticeably draggy above the 25km/h cutoff though something we experienced during back-to-back between the Levo and Canyon Spectral:ON. February 22, 2021. I have a gen 3 and it's totally quiet when coasting . The version I've been riding on was 17,8kg. What's your experience on this? We like to setup Profile 1 with softer settings for maximum range when riding solo, and Profile 2 with the punchier factory settings for faster e-MTB group rides. Oh man, so that must mean you know of rigs they've received that they've not done first rides and then field tests on. Furthermore, the range estimation is more accurate in our experience too. Specializeds Mission Control app continues to be the market leader in terms of connectivity, tuning options and user-friendliness. And that's with the big heavy battery too. I had the same issue with my Yamaha but it was last winter. This is because the assistance drops off quite quickly when you stop pedalling, particularly compared to the Bosch motor, which continues to push on for just a fraction longer. I have not heard of a recall, so I did some digging. "Unquestionably, Shimano has the cleanest and sleekest display integration on the market". This means its impossible to tell whether you have 21% or 39% battery remaining. Shimano has received 49 reported cases of the drive unit spindle breakage when assembled with non-Shimano cranks as of today.. If a dynamo can be worked into the wheel hubs, you may even get near perpetual charging while the system is in use. But please don't anyone kid themselves that it's as much of a work out as an analogue bike, if there was no mechanical advantage over analogue what would be the benefit. Animals and Pets Anime Art Cars and Motor Vehicles Crafts and DIY Culture, Race, and Ethnicity Ethics and Philosophy Fashion Food and Drink History Hobbies Law Learning and Education Military Movies Music Place Podcasts and Streamers Politics Programming Reading, Writing, and Literature Religion and Spirituality Science Tabletop Games . However, all are fitted with Shimano cranks. Specialized is close to this. This BT-8036 battery only needs a 4mm hex key to be released from the frame for charging separately, which is unlike Bosch that requires a special key (potentially something else to lose/forget). I have no personal experience riding with pedal assist but when I hear the high whiz from the motor I think that would drive me mad too. Also a big improvement over the prior motor is that the EP8 freewheels easily, so on flats or downhill you can blast away without motor resistance. As to how the de-tuned EP8 motor performs? When we make fun of others, its because we are not happy w ourselves. Truly unfortunate you lost it. For consumers who do have an EP8-equipped Commencal with e*thirteen cranks, the Andorran brand is offering to replace the e*thirteen cranks with Shimano ones, regardless of whether theyve experienced issues with their EP8 spindle or not. 2c - If preload cap has no threadlock patch pre applied: So, when the sensor senses a negative elevation gain, the dynamo kicks in to recharge the battery. Basically, the battery level drops from around 30% to 2% extremely quickly. I would have respected Shimano more if they owned it and were more forthright about working to resolve it. The cheapest Specialized Levo is the Expert model, which sells for just shy of $16K. Visit the high-res gallery for more images from this review. Recalled but still was delivered with the rattle. Assistance Character This adjusts the motors support level, which is how easily the motor delivers its power based on your input. The sound is the same, the motor works but you just hear it spinning. 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