How to choose an e-bike motor for your needs

In the UK, Europe and Australia, electric bike motors are limited to 250 watts of power output and cannot provide assistance over 25kph/15.5mph. So when you look at the output stats of motors, most look the same.

The same is true of weight, with most motors weighing around the 3kg mark - some a bit heavier, some a bit lighter.

So how do you choose the right motor system for your intended riding?

Torque differences 

The crucial differentiator between different motors is their torque output, measured in Newton-metres or Nm. A higher torque output will mean that the motor will give you more assistance when starting out and when you need to climb a hill, so it’s a useful attribute. 

You’ll typically find higher torque output figures for motors used on electric mountain bikes, where you need the low cadence push to get you up steep, loose off-road ascents more easily.

So e-MTB motors will typically have torque outputs of between 60Nm and 85Nm. You’ll find motors with torque figures at the lower end of this range on some hybrid e-bikes too. 

On the other hand a bike designed to be used on road may be easier to ride if the torque output is lower, as it will accelerate more gently and the motor will work with you better on the less demanding surfaces.

How fit you are and the weight of you, your bike and any luggage you’re carrying are also important. The higher the total weight, the harder it will be to get it moving and keep it going up hills, so the more need there is for a torquey motor.

On the other hand, fitter riders may find a high torque motor gives them a bit too much of an easy ride. You can dial down the motor’s assistance level to give yourself a bit more of a workout, but motors on e-road bikes typically output less torque.

The popular Mahle ebikemotion rear hub motor provides 250 watts of power but only 40Nm of torque, while Fazua’s system has 60Nm torque output; both weigh around 2kg. Specialized too has introduced a lower torque motor on its Turbo SL electric bikes. In exchange for a 35Nm torque output, the motor weight has dropped to around 2kg from over 3kg for its higher torque designs.  

Motor placement 

On road e-bikes, motor placement isn’t such an issue as for bikes for off-road use. In electric mountain bikes, the low, central positioning of the motors typically used, along with their significant weight, mean that the bike’s centre of mass is fairly low and central, leading to good handling. 

Because you’re not manoeuvring the bike so much when riding on road, the surface is usually not loose and the gradients aren’t so steep, a rear hub motor like the Mahle ebikemotion system can be just as effective. 

There’s usually plenty of mass over the rear wheel from the seated rider in any case. There’s significant mass in an e-bike’s battery too - usually around 2kg or so. This is often mounted on or inside the e-bike’s down tube, helping to balance the bike’s weight distribution.

Controller/display

You’ll find differences in the size, placement and functionality of e-bike controllers too, which may influence your choice of system. 

The most sophisticated will give you functionality similar to a bike computer, with speed, distance and maps displayed as well as assistance level and battery charge, while others just give you the basics of battery and assistance level. 

For example, Shimano gives you four different display options. As well as its own display, you can also hook up the STePS motor to a smartphone or to a bike computer, including those from Garmin. 

Finally, you can just have a status light that alerts you to battery level and assistance level. There are similarly minimalist options, as well as more comprehensive displays, from Fazua and Mahle for their motors. 

Bosch too has a range of bar-mounted display options, while some e-bikes like the Van Moof range and the Gocycle G4 give you info via LEDs integrated into the bike itself, as well as via their own smartphone apps.

Which one works for you will depend on how important extra information like speed and distance travelled are for you and whether you want turn-by-turn navigation from your controller. Although you can get this from a separate bike computer, having it all in one unit will avoid extra expense and mean you don’t clutter up your bars. 

Battery capacity 

Finally, you may want to think about battery capacity, although as we’ve discussed, it’s something that the majority of riders shouldn’t need to worry about.

But if you’re planning to ride longer distances or don’t expect to be able to recharge the e-bike after every ride, you might want a larger capacity battery, a swappable battery or the option to add a range extender. They’re all things where some e-bike systems offer more options than others.