2018 Bosch Drive Units Differences?

[The Bear]

Hoping for an explanation on the 2018 Bosch motors please to ascertain which would be most suitable for my needs....

Im looking to buy an ebike for commuting but also for riding along trails and light off road, certainly not any serious off road stuff. Ive been looking at the range of 2018 Bosch motors which appear to be as follows..

Bosch Active Line (50Nm)
Bosch Active Line Plus (50Nm)
Bosch CX (80Nm)

https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/blog/post/first-look-bosch-electric-bike-2018-ebike/

Whilst it seems that the Bosch CX is the newest motor and is appearing on lots of ebikes, I notice that quite a few forthcoming 2018 ebikes are still featuring the Active Line and Active Line Plus.

So would I be right is saying that the CX with its 80Nm is designed more for mountain bike use when negotiating steep hills, and the others are built for a smoother ride, such as road bikes?

Whilst I'm looking to buy a more road biased bike, should I be looking for one with the CX motor? Are there any advantages/disadvantages with he Active Line motors?

 

[Gringo]

OK you will probably get a more informed answer but as I'm looking for my next Bosch bike this is how I see it.
CX motor has been available for a while where as the 2018 active motor is compleatly new and referred to as the third generation motor. This comes in two versions, active (40nm) & active plus (50nm) These new active motors have a full size front chain wheel and designed for silent running and easier to peddle with the power off. The active plus is trail oriented rather than full on MTB, that's probably what you want and definitely what I'm looking to buy.
Example, Cube acid hybrid one 500 (29er)

 

[The Bear]

OK you will probably get a more informed answer but as I'm looking for my next Bosch bike this is how I see it.
CX motor has been available for a while where as the 2018 active motor is compleatly new and referred to as the third generation motor. This comes in two versions, active (40nm) & active plus (50nm) These new active motors have a full size front chain wheel and designed for silent running and easier to peddle with the power off. The active plus is trail oriented rather than full on MTB, that's probably what you want and definitely what I'm looking to buy.
Example, Cube acid hybrid one 500 (29er)
View attachment 21217

Thats interesting, as I had assumed that the Active range of motors were the older ones, and with CX being the newer, which is way I was surprised to see the Active motors on the 2018 bikes.

Coincidentally, the bike I saw it on was also the Cube Acid Hybrid, but rather the 'Allroad' model. The difference being the mudguards and lights making it more suitable for the road.

Cube seem to be making some nice changes to their ebike range, with each model coming in many different flavours such as Allroad etc.

Im off to the Cycle Show next week to have a look at the Cube stand. Ive then got a place booked at a local Bike Fest where I can try out lots of different bikes at a local park. The bike shop that is organising it are also offering 10% off any bikes purchased to those who have attended.

Im looking forward to it.

 

[The Bear]

Also just seen this on the Bosch website..

 

[Gringo]

10% off any bikes purchased to those who have attended.

A discount worth having, good luck. the cube acid RRP £1799,
I don't know if I'll get a discount locally to Northampton but buying local gives me peace of mind

 

[Gringo]

Looking further into buying the cube acid with the 3rd gen Bosch drive and I'm being told that there not due untill February next year at the earliest, that's a bummer

 

[The Bear]

Looking further into buying the cube acid with the 3rd gen Bosch drive and I'm being told that there not due untill February next year at the earliest, that's a bummer

That is not good!

I will give my local bike shop a call and see what they say. I will also ask Cube when I'm at their stand at the Cycle Show next weekend. Depending on what they say, you might see on the news that the NEC has been burnt to the ground by a very angry potential customer!!!!

 

[Steve A]

If your buying your first e-bike, no problem, but if you have a 2016 Bosch model there's little difference to persuade me to buy a 2018 model. New battery, same performance, heavier but better integrated in downtube. Motor, same size, power, but bigger chainwheel / direct drive.

Might be wrong, but feel they need to do something special 2019 bikes.

 

[Trevormonty]

If your buying your first e-bike, no problem, but if you have a 2016 Bosch model there's little difference to persuade me to buy a 2018 model. New battery, same performance, heavier but better integrated in downtube. Motor, same size, power, but bigger chainwheel / direct drive.

Might be wrong, but feel they need to do something special 2019 bikes.

The new 2018 active drives are direct drive no gearbox losses when pedalling unassisted, plus quieter. They also support automatic shifting with electric IGH eg Alfine, Rohloff, Nuvinci. No changes with CX or performance drive.

 

[E-Wheels]

Do you think the CX and performance motors will change to direct drive and bigger chain wheels as well?

 

[Trevormonty]

Do you think the CX and performance motors will change to direct drive and bigger chain wheels as well?

Be surprised it they don't follow Active drives. To compete with Shimano E8000 new motor will need to shrink a bit and have better user interface.
Being significantly quieter would give it a big plus over E8000.

 

[The Bear]

The new 2018 active drives are direct drive no gearbox losses when pedalling unassisted, plus quieter. They also support automatic shifting with electric IGH eg Alfine, Rohloff, Nuvinci. No changes with CX or performance drive.

So would you say the new 2018 Active drives are definitely worth seeking out for someone like myself who is about to purchase an ebike? Or are they just a change for change sake?

With the new 2018 Cube bikes I'm interested in, only their Acid model have the Active drive.

 

[Danidl]

That is not good!

I will give my local bike shop a call and see what they say. I will also ask Cube when I'm at their stand at the Cycle Show next weekend. Depending on what they say, you might see on the news that the NEC has been burnt to the ground by a very angry potential customer!!!!

Look at it another way the current model Bosch is tried and tested so what you might gain in slight weight reduction could well be offset by purchasing an unknown quantity in terms of reliability.

 

[Trevormonty]

So would you say the new 2018 Active drives are definitely worth seeking out for someone like myself who is about to purchase an ebike? Or are they just a change for change sake?

With the new 2018 Cube bikes I'm interested in, only their Acid model have the Active drive.

Definite worth test riding. You don't have to wait for Cube Acid any bike with these new drives would do for test ride especially if you only interested in drive.

I wouldn't worry about reliability, Bosch has be doing this for quite few years now with millions of drives sold. If worst happens there is still the 2yr warranty.

 

[Danidl]

Definite worth test riding. You don't have to wait for Cube Acid any bike with these new drives would do for test ride especially if you only interested in drive.

I wouldn't worry about reliability, Bosch has be doing this for quite few years now with millions of drives sold. If worst happens there is still the 2yr warranty.

My earlier post about reliability was intended as encouragement, but has a double edge. It is most unlikely that Daum intended to release what is alleged to be a defective motor on the Derby bikes. Why does any company go to the effort of designing and releasing new versions of product? One of the reasons will be that technology has advanced and they are in danger of losing market share, another is that by redesign they can make it cheaper and more profitable. Now if the newer Bosch has a different internal gearing system so that the motor drives the crank twice as slow, that means there are significant changes internally. Change is change not necessarily improvement.

 

[Gringo]

Change is change not necessarily improvement.

Bosch needed to up ther game or they'll miss out on a fair pice of the ebike market, those of us that like to ride un-powered when possible.
Other manufacturers have motors that disengage from the drive line when not in use, giveing a easier ride with reduced drag un-powered.
I want to change my 2014 active system, not because it's a bad ride, no it's still fun to ride, it's just that I'm acutely aware of the drag whenever I ride unassisted.
So the 3rd gen active motor is not change for changes sake, it's aimed at people who don't want the motor on all the time

 

[Danidl]

Bosch needed to up ther game or they'll miss out on a fair pice of the ebike market, those of us that like to ride un-powered when possible.
Other manufacturers have motors that disengage from the drive line when not in use, giveing a easier ride with reduced drag un-powered.
I want to change my 2014 active system, not because it's a bad ride, no it's still fun to ride, it's just that I'm acutely aware of the drag whenever I ride unassisted.
So the 3rd gen active motor is not change for changes sake, it's aimed at people who don't want the motor on all the time [/QUOT
I have the active 2 model on a motus and I cannot feel or detect any drag when the motor is switched off. It's just a heavy bike . I tried it out Seriously. I also have an older 2008 vintage urbanmover with geared hub and despite the assurances of people like d8vh who assure me that there is no drag and even when I spin the back wheel to little resistance it feels like treacle if I have to pedal without power
The only drag I get is a slight cogging from the hub dynamo on the lotus

 

[The Bear]

So are you saying the 2018 Active drives disengage completely when unassisted, giving a ride more like a normal bike?

 

[Trevormonty]

So are you saying the 2018 Active drives disengage completely when unassisted, giving a ride more like a normal bike?

The motor disengages on existing drives but you still need to pedal though 1:2.5 gearbox that connects to chainring. The new drive eliminates this gearbox so slightly less losses.

 

[The Bear]

The motor disengages on existing drives but you still need to pedal though 1:2.5 gearbox that connects to chainring. The new drive eliminates this gearbox so slightly less losses.

Thanks. I seem to be constantly switching preferences between the current CX and the new Active Plus, which kind of effects which bike I buy. (Cube Race or Cube Acid).

I used to be very indecisive, but nowadays I'm not too sure