The motor decides how an e-bike feels. It sets how hard the bike pulls on a climb, how natural it feels at low speed, and how much it weighs. We sell bikes with motors from DJI Avinox, Bosch, Giant, SRAM and TQ. Here is how they compare, where each one came from, and which bikes they suit.
Figures are correct as of 30 September 2026. Motor makers now change power through app updates, so check the maker's site for the latest numbers.
DJI Avinox: the drone company that reset the numbers
DJI is known for camera drones. In July 2024 it launched the Avinox drive system, along with the Amflow PL, a mountain bike from a brand DJI backed. The original motor, now called the M1, gave 105Nm of torque, or 120Nm in Boost mode, with 1,000W of peak power. It weighed 2.52kg. At the time, most full-power motors gave 85Nm and around 600W.
The app changed the motor after people had bought it. A free update in May 2025 made the full 1,000W available in normal modes, not just Boost. According to Avinox, it became independent from DJI in 2025. In April 2026 it launched two new motors. The M2 gives 110Nm, or 125Nm in Boost. The M2S gives 130Nm, or 150Nm in Boost, with up to 1,500W of peak power, and weighs 2.59kg.
The press has rated it highly. Singletrack called it "the genuine disrupter of a whole market". The criticisms are real too. Pinkbike found it slightly louder than a Bosch CX. MBR noted drag when you pedal with the motor off. You also need an app account, or the motor stops working after 100km. Every Avinox bike we stock uses the M2S, on bikes from Whyte, Megamo, UNNO, Pivot and Velduro. Browse all our DJI Avinox e-bikes.
Bosch: the long-term market leader
Bosch eBike Systems started in 2009 as a small start-up inside the Bosch Group, the German engineering company. It showed its first e-bike motor at Eurobike in 2010, and bikes went on sale in 2011. The Performance Line CX, its mountain bike motor, followed in 2015. In 2017 Bosch added eMTB mode, which gives more help the harder you pedal. Many riders still see it as the benchmark for natural-feeling assistance.
The big shift came in 2021 with the smart system. Bosch bikes gained the eBike Flow app and over-the-air updates. The current CX Gen 5 fixed the rattle that older units made on descents. It is still supplied at 85Nm and 600W. A free app upgrade in July 2025 raised it to 100Nm and 750W. A second upgrade in May 2026 took it to 120Nm. Peak power stays at 750W. The CX weighs 2.8kg. Older Gen 4 units, found on some of our earlier model-year bikes, stay at 85Nm.
The lighter Bosch SX weighs 2.0kg. It gives 60Nm after an October 2025 update, and 600W. The catch is cadence. Flow found you need to pedal above 100rpm to get full power. We fit it on bikes like the Marin Lombard E1 gravel bike and the Whyte ELyte range. Browse all our Bosch e-bikes.
Giant SyncDrive: Giant's name, Yamaha's hardware
Giant does not build its motors from scratch. SyncDrive motors use Yamaha hardware, and BikeRadar describes the Pro 3 as Yamaha-made. Giant writes the software, the tuning and the controls. The partnership started in 2016. The first SyncDrive Pro arrived in 2017 with 80Nm, based on Yamaha's PW-X motor. The Pro 2 followed in 2021 with 85Nm.
In October 2025 Giant launched the Pro 3 on the Reign Advanced E+. It is Giant's first 48V system, with 90Nm and 800W. The Pro 3X followed in 2026 with 100Nm and 800W, on the Stance E+ and Liv Embolden E+. Both weigh 2.6kg. The RideControl app lets you adjust support, maximum torque and how quickly the motor reaches full power.
BikeRadar said the Pro 3 "isn't exactly winning the arms race" on power. It also pointed out that Giant quotes a sustained torque figure, where most makers quote a peak. Browse all our Giant SyncDrive e-bikes.
SRAM and TQ
SRAM's Eagle Powertrain launched in 2023. The motor is built by Brose, and SRAM wrote the software. It gives 90Nm and 680W, weighs 2.9kg, and can change gear for you with Auto Shift. We have it on the GasGas MXC 4.
TQ makes light motors. The HPR60 weighs 1.924kg and gives 60Nm and 350W. You will find it on the Trek Checkpoint+ SL gravel bike and the Trek Fuel+ LX. The smaller TQ HPR40 powers the Trek Domane+ SL road bike.
How the motors compare
Torque is the twisting force the motor adds to your pedalling. More torque helps most on steep climbs and from a standstill. The Avinox M2S leads here. Note that Bosch's CX is supplied at 85Nm, and you choose whether to unlock 120Nm in the app. BikeRadar reports Giant's Pro 3 figure as sustained torque, not peak, so its bar may understate it against the others.
Power to weight shows how much peak power you get for each kilo of motor. The M2S is well ahead of every rival here. The light motors, TQ HPR60 and Bosch SX, weigh least but give far less power. Remember the motor is only part of the weight. A Giant 800Wh EnergyPak battery weighs 4.1kg on its own.
Peak power is not delivered at every cadence. Lab tests show the gap. Velomotion measured the M2S at about 1,150W at 80rpm, rising to about 1,450W at 100 to 110rpm. Velomotion found the Bosch SX only reaches its peak above 110rpm. No maker we cover publishes a full torque curve, so we have not drawn one.
Does a bigger battery give more power?
Not directly. A bigger battery mainly gives you more range. Power depends on how much current the battery can deliver, and that depends on its cells, not its size. The Avinox M2S shows this clearly. Avinox lists 1,500W with its 700Wh FP700 battery, but only 1,300W with the larger 800Wh FS800. Even the RS800, also 800Wh, gives 1,500W, so it is the battery type that matters. Bosch's 2026 upgrade is a firmware change and works with your existing battery.
Which motor suits which bike?
For enduro and steep, technical riding, a full-power motor makes sense. That means the Avinox M2S, Bosch CX, Giant Pro 3 or 3X, or SRAM Powertrain. The M2S is our pick if you want the most power for the weight. The Bosch CX is our pick if you value a natural feel and a long track record. Compare them side by side in our DJI Avinox, Bosch and Giant SyncDrive collections.
For gravel and road, we think a light motor suits most riders better. The TQ HPR60 and Bosch SX add less weight, so the bike still rides like a bike with the motor off. Megamo fits the M2S to its Along 03 gravel bike. That suits riders who want strong help on long climbs, but it is more motor than most gravel riding needs.
For commuting and leisure, most of our hybrids use Bosch Performance Line, Bosch PX or Giant SyncDrive Sport and Core motors. You will find them in our Bosch and Giant SyncDrive collections. These are tuned for smooth, steady help rather than peak power.
Frequently asked questions
Which e-bike motor has the most torque?
Of the motors on bikes we stock, the DJI Avinox M2S has the most. It gives 130Nm as standard and 150Nm in Boost mode. The Bosch CX reaches 120Nm after a free app upgrade, and the Giant SyncDrive Pro 3X gives 100Nm.
Does a bigger e-bike battery give more power?
Not directly. A bigger battery mainly gives more range. On the Avinox M2S, peak power depends on the battery model, not its size. Bosch's 2026 upgrade works with your existing battery.
Who makes Giant's SyncDrive motors?
SyncDrive motors use Yamaha hardware. Giant co-develops them with Yamaha and writes its own software, tuning and controls.
Want to feel the difference? The motor matters more than any spec sheet can show. Visit us at Ayr Road, Kilmarnock, KA1 5LF, or call 01563 526800 to talk through which motor suits your riding. We are open seven days, and we offer 0% finance and Cycle to Work.