Bafang unveiled two new mid-drive motors for electric mountain bikes that deliver up to 1,700W of power and 150Nm of torque. A high-power mode that amplifies a rider’s pedal input by up to eightfold for a short period is the key feature.

On Aug. 26 (local time), electric vehicle outlet Electrek reported the new products are the M510RS and M560RS. The two were first shown as concepts at Eurobike last year and have since been developed into mass-production models. They are set to be officially unveiled at the Italian Bike Festival in Misano, Italy, from Sept. 4 to 6. Full-scale production will start within this year.

The lower-end M510RS supports up to 110Nm of torque in normal riding. When the “Boost to Limit” function is activated for steep slopes or obstacles, torque rises to 120 to 130Nm depending on the system voltage. Peak power is 1,100W on a 36V system and 1,300W on a 48V system. Bafang explained the figures are peak output, not continuous output.

The higher-end M560RS offers stronger performance. It delivers up to 120Nm of torque in normal conditions, rising to as much as 150Nm with Boost to Limit. Peak power is 1,400W in a 36V configuration and 1,700W in a 48V configuration. The motor weighs 3.3 kg.

Boost to Limit is the core feature of both products. When it operates, the motor assists by up to 800 percent of the input delivered by the rider pedalling. Even in the relatively lower Sport+ mode, adaptive assistance of up to 500 percent is possible.

Bafang also highlighted control performance on rough terrain as well as high output. The M510RS and M560RS include a 6-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) along with torque, cadence and wheel-speed sensors to assess the condition of the bike and rider in real time.

Bafang said the RS system has a response speed 50 percent faster than the existing M510 and M560, and power cut-off is also 33 percent more sensitive. It also updated a hill-hold function to prevent the bike from rolling backward when starting on steep slopes and a walk-assist function.

Development involved more than 4,000 hours of racing tests. Bafang said it refined the system in racing environments including the WES UCI E-MTB World Cup series.

For complete-bike makers, compatibility with existing frames is also an advantage. The M510RS and M560RS keep the same mounting interface as the existing M510 and M560. That allows bicycle manufacturers that designed frames around the existing motors to apply the RS products without developing new frames from scratch.

Versions tailored to regional standards will also be provided. The M560RS will be released in versions aligned with Europe’s 25 kph standard and the United States’ 45 kph standard. But as peak output and torque exceed the standards for general road-use electric bicycles in many countries, Bafang designed the lineup for e-MTB use specialised for mountain riding rather than typical urban e-bikes.

The new products show competition over high output is intensifying further in the electric mountain bike drivetrain market. Bafang focused not only on raising power and torque but also on improving responsiveness and handling on steep slopes and rough terrain by combining sensors with a control system.

The key question going forward is the pace of adoption in production bikes after mass production begins. With the same mounting interface as existing motors, manufacturers face a relatively lower burden in adopting them, and attention is on which complete-bike makers will first adopt the RS motors in the high-output e-MTB market.