eMTB Motor Comparison: Maxon BikeDrive Air S vs. Bosch, Shimano, Fazua

Motor torque is the number most eMTB brands lead with in their marketing. It is also the number that is least understood by most buyers. Here is what the torque spec actually means, how it translates to real riding, and where the Maxon BikeDrive Air S sits relative to the motors it competes with.

What Nm of torque means on a climb

Torque is rotational force. On a bicycle, it is the force the motor applies at the crank to help turn the wheel. Higher torque means the motor can push you harder at low cadence — useful on steep technical climbs where you are grinding rather than spinning.

The practical experience of high torque is felt most when you are going slowly on a steep pitch. A 90 Nm motor at low cadence on a 25% gradient is a meaningfully different experience from a 65 Nm motor in the same situation. The difference at high cadence and moderate gradient is much smaller — the motor is less torque-limited and more wattage-limited in those conditions.

Peak wattage determines how much total power the motor can produce at speed. This is what matters for sustained climbing at higher cadence and for the motor’s ability to recover from hard efforts quickly.

Maxon BikeDrive Air S — 90 Nm / 620 W / 2 kg

The Maxon BikeDrive Air S produces 90 Nm peak torque and 620 W peak power. It weighs 2 kg.

Maxon is a Swiss precision motor manufacturer whose products run in medical devices, aerospace systems, and industrial robotics. The BikeDrive Air S is their MTB motor, and it is engineered to the same tolerances as their industrial products — which is a meaningful statement about manufacturing consistency and longevity.

The 2 kg weight is the relevant competitive differentiator. Most mid-drive motors in the 85–90 Nm range weigh between 2.6 kg and 3.2 kg. That 600–1200 g difference in motor weight changes the total bike weight and, more importantly, the location of that weight relative to the bottom bracket.

Motor comparison

Bosch Performance CX Gen5 — 85 Nm / 600 W / 2.9 kg. The market reference point. Excellent software, massive dealer network, strong reliability record. Heavier than the Maxon by nearly 1 kg. The motor Bosch makes for the Bosch ecosystem — it works best when the entire system (display, battery, app) is Bosch.

Shimano EP8 — 85 Nm / 360 W / 2.6 kg. Lower peak wattage than the Maxon or Bosch, which is felt on long sustained climbs at higher cadence. Excellent battery efficiency at moderate output — the EP8 extracts more range from a given battery capacity than higher-wattage competitors when ridden within its power band. Strong serviceability through Shimano dealers globally.

Fazua Ride 60 — 60 Nm / 450 W / 1.96 kg. The lightest motor in this comparison, and the lowest torque. Fazua targets riders who want minimum motor feel when not assisted — the system is designed to disappear. The torque gap versus 85–90 Nm motors is noticeable on sustained steep grades. Strong choice for riders who split time between assisted and unassisted riding.

Maxon BikeDrive Air S — 90 Nm / 620 W / 2 kg. Highest torque in this comparison, highest peak wattage, and among the lightest at this torque class. The tradeoff is a smaller global support network than Bosch or Shimano, and a narrower ecosystem — the Maxon system is less integrated with third-party displays and apps than the established players.

Battery

The Paratu CP EC2 carries a 400 Wh in-tube battery. The optional 250 Wh range extender adds 1.6 kg and brings total capacity to 650 Wh — or 850 Wh total with both batteries running together on the EC3 generation.

The EC3 frame carries a 600 Wh in-tube battery as standard. The range extender remains compatible, bringing EC3 total capacity to 850 Wh.

For most trail riding, 400 Wh is enough for a full day at moderate assist levels. The range extender is for riders doing very long days, high-assist riding, or back-to-back days without guaranteed charging access.

Who the Maxon motor is for

The Maxon BikeDrive Air S is for riders who want maximum torque and power in the lightest motor package at that class, and who value engineering precision over ecosystem breadth. If you prioritise a large global dealer network and deep third-party integration, Bosch or Shimano are more appropriate. If lightweight and outright motor performance at low cadence are the priority, the Maxon is hard to match at 2 kg and 90 Nm.

More detail on the Maxon motor, battery system, and range extender is available on the Maxon BikeDrive Air S product page.