MOTORS AND DRIVES
There are mid-drive engines, rear-hub engines and front-hub engines.
If you’re looking for one single answer, we unfortunately have to disappoint you. All of today’s motors are good for their specific purpose. Their programming can now be fine-tuned to the specific requirements with great precision. So there isn’t one motor that is «best».
Motors in the FIT system offer several assistance levels, which you can select to suit the situation, terrain and how you feel on any one particular day. You can also change the level or mode as often as you like while riding. You can see the assistance level currently selected on the display at any time. To change the level, press the plus and minus buttons on the control panel mounted on the handlebars. This is positioned so you don’t have to take your hand off the handlebars while riding. Typically, e-bike models have 3-4 assistance modes that support you with up to 300% of your own pedal power.
The drive for rear-wheel or rear-hub motors is positioned on the rear hub, which is larger due to the design. A hub motor is thus installed in the rear wheel. This arrangement shifts the e-bike’s center of gravity to the rear, which has a positive effect on the traction of the rear wheel. However, this makes the e-bike a little tail-heavy. This provides plenty of thrust, especially on flat terrain. You can find more information here: https://fit-ebike.com/en-en/about-us/blog/e-bike-motors/
It is possible to ride without motor assistance, i.e. with the motor switched off or with minimal assistance. This allows you to ride in the same way as on a conventional bicycle, but requires more strength due to the weight of the e-bike.
All motors integrated in the FIT system (except the TDCM hub motor) decouple from the statutory maximum speed of > 25 km/h. Motor assistance is switched off and the gearbox is disconnected from the motor. The e-bike then runs freewheel.
No. Tinkering with the motor yourself is basically not a good idea and even a specialist dealer will not install any other motor than the one installed by the manufacturer. There is, however, an alternative: upgrades. If you have an e-bike with a FIT system, the motor is available as an Eco and Pro version. Upgrading to the Pro version increases the motor performance or maximum torque to 75, 90 or 95 Nm, depending on the model.
The performance of a pedelec motor is expressed in watt. The maximum performance is prescribed by law and averages a maximum of 250 watt, and more in short-term peaks. S-pedelecs have a continuous motor performance of up to 500 W, but are subject to compulsory registration and insurance.
Even a motor can start to sweat at very high outside temperatures and after tackling a prolonged, steep ride. Like batteries, a motor also has ideal temperatures.
FIT motor partners have the option of integrating their parameters to enable settings within the app. This is currently the case with Panasonic and Pinion.
Here’s a summary:
«Easy» and «Expert» settings: Panasonic and Pinion MGU drive.
«Easy» settings: Brose.
Bafang does not currently offer any settings. There is no information on the other motors at this point in time.
PINION DRIVES
For the model year 2024, the following manufacturers offer e-bikes with the Pinion MGU in different categories: Red Deer, Simplon, and Bulls offer E-MTBs. You’ll find trekking e-bikes as well as cargo e-bikes at Kettler, Flyer, Tout Terrain, Pegasus, Zemo and I:SY. S-pedelecs are also available.