Drive units for SIMPLON e-bikes at a glance

Are you torn between the advantages of a lightweight design and the thrill of maximum power? Perhaps you are intrigued by the idea of an innovative new drive unit that seamlessly combines the motor and electric transmission in a compact unit? E-bike or e-mountain bike: It’s important to recognise that every rider has distinct preferences and requirements, especially when it comes to the motor. But how do you find the right drive unit for your specific wishes?

Read on to learn which drive system is best suited to your riding style and which motor manufacturers we like to use for our SIMPLON bikes. Also find out about the much sought-after market innovation by Pinion, which has already been successfully incorporated into select SIMPLON models.

Pinion e-drive system: compact, innovative, low-maintenance – the bike revolution

You’re a fan of innovative technologies? We’ve got you covered thanks to our collaboration with Pinion. We have already integrated Pinion’s brand-new e-drive system into some of our most popular e-bike models. For urban riders or daily commuters, the KAGU CARBON PINION stands out as the perfect choice. In the category of e-mountain bikes, the RAPCON PMAX PINION features the efficient and low-maintenance Pinion motor. Our bike developers strongly believe that this innovative drive unit marks a true revolution in the world of e-bikes, and not without reason: Pinion has successfully managed to accommodate both the motor and the electronic gear shift in one compact unit.

This offers several advantages: Our e-bikes with Pinion e-drive system boast optimal weight distribution, resulting in remarkably natural and well-balanced handling. Thanks to the encapsulated design of the drive and gears, the system is extremely low maintenance. In addition, Pinion also offers a belt drive option that requires minimal maintenance. This means the entire setup becomes highly resistant to external factors such as dirt or water.

While the focus rightly remains on Pinion’s innovative drive unit, let’s not overlook the array of other advanced solutions included within their e-drive system. Take, for instance, the powerful and relatively compact batteries that allow for the flexibility to extend their range whenever required using range extenders. Pinion’s e-drive system also incorporates a user-friendly electronic gear shifter that delivers exceptional comfort and even changes gears semi-automatically if desired. Another highlight: its adaptability to individual preferences and needs, achieved via the user-friendly app. This app also integrates seamlessly with route planning and navigation. In addition, it’s worth mentioning that the Pinion e-drive system proudly bears the "Made in Germany" label.

SIMPLON e-bikes with the innovative Pinion e-drive system

For those looking for a dependable and low-maintenance e-bike, Pinion’s new e-drive system comes highly recommended. The service intervals span 10,000 kilometres. Moreover, when paired with the low-maintenance belt drive, the system is maximally reliable and delivers the utmost stress-free experience. So if you want a versatile e-bike suitable for city rides, daily commuting as well as trekking, the Kagu Pinion is the ideal choice for you.

The Rapcon Pmax Pinion sets new standards among E-MTBs. The compact Pinion drive unit ensures optimum weight distribution and perfect handling on the trails. Thanks to the gear shift and belt drive, the Rapcon Pmax Pinion is extremely resistant to dirt and potential damage. Beyond that, it also stands out as a remarkably low-maintenance choice, boasting maintenance intervals of 10,000 kilometres.

TQ motors: natural riding feel in the mountains and in the city

Do you love the natural feel of an ordinary bike but would like some light assistance when pedalling? The TQ motor does just that! Whether it’s on your way to work or while climbing the summit: The support from the state-of-the-art HPR50 drive unit feels more natural than ever. All components are beautifully integrated into the design, so they can easily go overlooked. To hear the drive, it has to be virtually silent around you. The only thing you’ll immediately notice is the natural support, which gives you a slight boost in performance – almost as if you had just eaten a power bar. The HPR gearbox is installed in the crank area, and this contributes significantly to the natural riding feel, as friction and noise are reduced. In addition, the pin-ring technology allows for a very compact motor design, which in turn ensures a very low overall weight. The integrated flywheel guarantees that there is no unnatural resistance even when freewheeling or riding without the motor switched on.

SIMPLON e-bikes with super-lightweight TQ motor

TQ motors are the optimal choice for riders who want to experience a natural riding feel. If you are mainly riding in the city, then you’ll make heads turn with the Silkcarbon TQ. However, the fact that the city bike is an e-bike is easy to overlook and ignore.

For pure trail fun in nature, hop onto the Rapcon Pmax TQ. The natural soundscape isn’t disturbed for a second thanks to its whisper-quiet motor. And the gentle support allows you to enjoy the beautiful surroundings to the full.

Powerful e-bike motors by Bosch

Harmonious or powerful support: Bosch offers the right motor for every riding style. City bikes, mountain bikes and trekking bikes – there is a suitable motor for every SIMPLON bike category. A Bosch drive unit consists of a mid-drive motor, battery, display, control unit and optional app. Over the years, different lines have been developed for different areas of use.

Powerful Performance Line drive units for long-distance enthusiasts

If you want to cover longer distances with as little battery use as possible, we recommend the Performance Line by Bosch. The virtually silent drive units support you with a torque of 65 Nm and are installed in the Kagu Bosch Uni and the Chenoa Uni.

Key facts about the Performance Line

• compact, robust and extremely quiet
• support from 65 to 75 Nm
• natural riding feel 
• dynamic and sporty acceleration even at low pedalling cadence
• perfect drive unit for city and trekking bikes
• weight of 3.2 kg (excluding battery)

Mahle: Loss-free electric power, directly from the rear hub

If you are looking for barely audible and visible support from an efficient and lightweight motor, then we warmly recommend the X20 system by Mahle. The extremely light, low-noise system is especially suitable for road bikes, urban bikes and trekking bikes. 

You can find the Mahle X20 harmoniously integrated into the designs of our Inissio Pmax and our Kiaro Pmax. The drive unit is installed directly on the rear hub, which results in efficient and virtually invisible support. The 236 Wh battery in the down tube is hardly noticeable at all. The central control unit, neatly integrated in the top tube, stands out with its use of artificial intelligence which provides a customised riding experience tailored to your riding habits. Depending on the bike model, the X20 system can be optionally enhanced with a range extender for 175 Wh extra power, the wireless bord computer "PulsarONE" as well as with a shifter to switch between support levels direclty from the handlebar.

Key facts about the Mahle X20 drive unit:

• Almost invisible e-bike drive unit integrated into the rear hub
• Supports up to 55 Nm
• Extremly low total weight of 3.2 kg (incl. battery)
• 236 Wh battery integrated in the down tube (please note: We currently have no bikes with Mahle's 350 Wh battery installed)
• Intelligent quick charger with up to 4 A (80% of the total battery capacity can be charged within less than 2 hours)
• Optional range extender that provides an additional 175 Wh
• (Depending on bike model:) Convenient shifter to switch between different support levels directly from the handlebar

Last but not least, Mahle's MySmartBike app offers very interesting features: First of all, it turns your smartphone into a bike computer - e.g. the battery charging status, the current location of your bike, and statistics about your rides are available on your smartphone in real-time. Just as with apps such as Strava or komoot, you can also record routes with the Mahle app. A real highlight among the many other app features is the automatic determination of the motor support level based on your heart rate (when connected to a heart rate monitor).

More expert knowledge about e-bike drive units

Now you know the three manufacturers that provide the electric power for SIMPLON’s e-bikes. You also know that the range of many bikes can be extended using a range extender. But can you explain the differences between a rear-hub and a mid-drive motor? In our magazine article, you can read up on the two types of motors. You can find out more about the systems and their influence on bike performance in our article on drivetrain technology!

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