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E-bike motor torque compared: Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha, Brose, Bafang and more

Peak torque is the single number that best captures how strongly an e-bike motor helps you climb. Here is every major maker's flagship figure, compared and explained.

Reading the torque numbers

Torque, measured in newton-metres, is the twisting force a mid-drive motor applies at the cranks, and it is the figure that best predicts how strongly a motor helps you up a steep climb or away from a stop. A higher torque motor feels punchier under load. It is not the same as power in watts, which most systems cap at 250 W continuous to stay road-legal, and it is not the same as top assisted speed, which the law fixes.

The figures below are each manufacturer's own published peak torque rating for its flagship drive unit. They are directly comparable because they are all quoted the same way, but a real ride also depends on the motor's control software, weight and efficiency, not torque alone.

Mid-drives lead on torque

The powerful full-power mid-drives from Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha, Brose and Bafang cluster around 85 to 95 Nm, which is why bikes built on them feel similar on steep terrain. Brose and Bafang quote the highest flagship figures in this set. These units are the choice for eMTB and heavy cargo use where climbing force matters most.

Lightweight systems trade torque for weight

The lightweight systems, Fazua and the Mahle rear-hub, deliberately quote lower torque, around 55 to 60 Nm, because their goal is a light, discreet bike with a natural feel rather than maximum climbing force. On a road or gravel e-bike that weight saving matters more than raw torque, so comparing a Mahle X20 to a Bosch CX on torque alone misses the point of the design.

Related

Sources: Manufacturer published drive-unit specifications (see each maker page) · Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha, Brose, Bafang, Fazua and Mahle drive-unit spec pages