Power Meets Control: Bosch Again Sets eMTB Riding Standards with Its New Performance Line CX

Stuttgart/Reutlingen – More dynamic on the mountain, more agile on the trail, smoother riding on tours: In the new Performance Line CX generation from Bosch eBike Systems, power meets control and a success story lives on. In conjunction with Bosch eBike ABS Pro, the Purion 400 display, the powerful PowerTube batteries, and new features for long tours and steep sections of trail, Bosch presents a comprehensive ecosystem for the ultimate eMTB experience. 

The ideal balance of power, efficiency, and range

For eMTB riders, it is not just performance data that is crucial, but above all the precise fine-tuning of the motor. This determines the flow factor on the trail. "With 85 Newton meters of torque, a maximum power of 600 watts, and up to 340 percent support, the new Performance Line CX (BDU384Y) delivers the ideal balance of power, dynamics, efficiency, and range," says Claus Fleischer, CEO of Bosch eBike Systems. "Whether for sensitive starts on steep trails or powerful, perfectly controlled exits from curves: With its precise, sensitive response behavior, our new drive unit allows athletic eBike riders to experience unique riding dynamics for the perfect eMTB experience."

A variety of different riding modes are available for Performance Line CX, which can be selected and customized in the eBike Flow app.

Sensitive sensor technology and dynamics on a new level

The power of the new Performance Line CX (BDU384Y) unfolds dynamically and is precisely matched to the relevant riding situation and accurately follows the pedal input. This is made possible by re-engineered sensor technology. Several high-performance sensors precisely measure the pedal input – more than 1,000 times per second. The many sensors used include a high-resolution cadence sensor and precise torque measurement technology. Inertial sensors (IMU) also measure acceleration and rotation speeds in six dimensions, and recognize inclination and tilt angles as well as vibrations. This means that the eMTB "knows" how steep the ascent is and whether eBike riders are on a forest path or a root-covered trail. The drive unit is highly responsive to changes in acceleration, the rider’s pedal power, and the current speed. Thanks to the newly interpreted sensor signals, eBike riders always receive the right motor power – sensitive, controlled, and immediate. Or gentle, restrained, and reliable for long tours and leisurely excursions. The Performance Line CX is an all-rounder.

The sound of the trail and nothing else

On trails and tours, many riders want a motor that is as quiet as possible, combined with a natural riding experience. Bosch has optimized the gearbox of the new Performance Line CX (BDU384Y) with a view to achieving a good balance between power delivery, efficiency, and noise levels. When riding downhill, the external drivetrain (chain, chainring, cassette) is decoupled from the internal drivetrain (freewheel, gearbox, motor). This further reduces the mechanical noise generated by comparable drive units on the trail. The full focus remains on the trail and nature.

The weight of the Performance Line CX has also been reduced by around 0.2 pounds compared to the previous version. The drive unit is extremely robust. Its magnesium housing withstands the toughest conditions. A black powder coating protects against stone chips and damage as well as corrosion.

The motor that defined eMTB riding: Performance Line CX

If there is one eBike motor that is synonymous with eMTB riding, it’s the Bosch Performance Line CX. Specially developed for eMTBs, it has established itself as a permanent fixture in the mountain bike scene since its launch almost ten years ago (2015) and has defined performance eBiking as a category of its own. Since then, the drive unit has undergone several stages of evolution and continues to set standards in terms of riding experience and motor characteristics. The pioneering, progressive/dynamic eMTB mode and many other technical developments complement the Performance Line CX, making the riding experience on the eMTB unique. 

Full support right up to the summit: useful features for steep sections

If eBike riders have to stop on challenging uphill terrain, it is important to get out of this situation in a controlled manner. With the new hill start assist you can ride off in a relaxed manner and with full traction. Thanks to the sensors, the eMTB knows how steep the slope is and provides optimum support. Also new: With the walk assistance feature, the drive unit adapts the pushing speed to the walking speed. 

Maximum braking performance: the new Bosch eBike ABS Pro

On downhill trails, demanding mountain bike riders want to focus more on their riding line and less on braking. Bosch eBike Systems now has a solution for them: the new Bosch eBike ABS Pro for high-performance braking systems. This increases riding stability by allowing late and powerful braking without the front wheel slipping. During development, Bosch incorporated experience and technology from eMTB racing. This has resulted in two ABS Pro modes: ABS Trail Pro for discerning MTB riders and ABS Race for enduro racers. The new eBike ABS Pro achieves the optimum balance between riding stability and maximum braking performance.

Perfect eMTB display: the new Purion 400 display

The new Purion 400 display is part of the eMTB ecosystem and complements the Performance Line CX. With a minimalist look adapted for eMTBs and optimally protected in the handlebar triangle, the transmissive 1.6-inch display offers a good overview of the essential riding and fitness data such as speed, range, power, and total distance.

Battery innovations for even longer rides: PowerTube 600 and 800

Energy reserves play a decisive role on demanding, multi-day tours covering many feet of elevation gain. For this purpose, Bosch has developed the PowerTube 800 – the largest PowerTube battery in the smart system to date, perfectly matched to the new Performance Line CX. At around 94 Wh/lb, the battery has the highest energy density in the portfolio. The portfolio is complemented by the new PowerTube 600.

Bosch uses battery cells with an optimized energy density and a newly developed aluminum housing for both batteries. Seamlessly integrated into the frame tube, they blend elegantly into the eBike design. Thanks to their identical length, they can be easily removed and replaced – if provided for by the eBike manufacturer. They are also DualBattery-capable and can be combined. eMTB enthusiasts, for example, can use two PowerTube 800s to achieve a total capacity of 1,600 Wh in order to master even the most challenging route sections with many feet of elevation gain and no possibility of intermediate charging. Alternatively, you can use the drinking bottle-sized range extender PowerMore 250 as an additional battery.

Focus on sustainability in production

Bosch aims to continuously improve all eBike systems in terms of sustainability throughout the entire product life cycle. For the production of the Performance Line CX and of the PowerTube 600 and PowerTube 800 batteries, Bosch eBike Systems therefore uses partially recycled materials, including the largest plastic part of the drive unit as well as in the battery holder and the battery housing1. Furthermore, the amount of material used for the rechargeable batteries has been reduced2 and the black color coating has been omitted from the PowerTube 600 and PowerTube 800. A further milestone: In pilot projects, Bosch eBike Systems is focusing on purchasing components that were produced using electricity from renewable sources. This applies to the aluminum of the PowerTube 600 and the PowerTube 800 as well as to the housing of the Performance Line CX.

More than the sum of its parts: the eMTB ecosystem from Bosch

The Performance Line CX takes center stage – and around it, Bosch eBike Systems presents a portfolio that takes the eMTB riding experience to a new level: powerful batteries for long ranges, a lightweight range extender, a compact display, eBike ABS Pro, and the eBike Flow app. With the eShift solution featuring TRP presented in July 2024, eMTB riders will also benefit from the first automatic derailleur in the smart system. 

ABOUT

Bosch eBike Systems is shaping the future of eBike mobility with innovative products and digital services ranging from highly efficient drive systems to the first production-ready ABS for eBikes and connected biking solutions. On daily routes through the city, on leisurely rides through the countryside or for sporting adventures in the mountains: Bosch eBike Systems offers eBike riders the right drive system (drive unit, battery, display, and app) for every requirement and every area of use, ensuring a unique riding sensation. Today, more than 100 of the world's leading bicycle brands trust the perfectly coordinated, modular product portfolio. As an independent division within the Bosch Group, Bosch eBike Systems also makes use of the Group's technology and manufacturing expertise. For healthy, safe and sustainable mobility that is fun.

For more information please visit https://www.bosch-ebike.com/us/.

About Bosch

Having established a presence in North America in 1906, today the Bosch Group employs 42,000 associates in more than 100 locations in the North American region (as of Dec. 31, 2023). Bosch generated consolidated sales of $16.5 billion in the U.S., Mexico and Canada in 2023. For more information visit www.bosch.us, www.bosch.mx and www.bosch.ca.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 429,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2023). The company generated sales of $99 billion in 2023. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. With its business activities, the company aims to use technology to help shape universal trends such as automation, electrification, digitalization, connectivity, and an orientation to sustainability. In this context, Bosch’s broad diversification across regions and industries strengthens its innovativeness and robustness. Bosch uses its proven expertise in sensor technology, software, and services to offer customers cross-domain solutions from a single source. It also applies its expertise in connectivity and artificial intelligence in order to develop and manufacture user-friendly, sustainable products. With technology that is “Invented for life,” Bosch wants to help improve quality of life and conserve natural resources. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 470 subsidiary and regional companies in over 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. Bosch’s innovative strength is key to the company’s further development. At 136 locations across the globe, Bosch employs some 90,000 associates in research and development, of which nearly 48,000 are software engineers.