You can already buy an eMTB frame for the Shimano EP8 motor from China!

admin — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 17:45:07 +0000

In their rush to be number one to market with new products, Chinese factories are often the cause of serious leaks. But in this instance, it isn’t a phone accessory maker leaking the design of the new iPhone, but a carbon frame maker confirming the Shimano EP8 motor.

2020 hasn’t been a great year for many reasons, and for bicycle makers, it has been especially tricky. The COVID 19 pandemic meant press releases, launches and events have all had to be pushed back, and brands who had already planned to release bike with new components had to reschedule so as not to spill the beans.

It’s inevitable then that a few leaks have surfaced, and none more frequent than the Shimano EP8 motor. The EP8 is Shimano’s next-generation eBike motor and though unreleased has shown up in photos, on specification sheets and in patent documents.

This latest confirmation comes from Chinese frame manufacturer Light Carbon who has added a carbon fibre, full-suspension eMTB frame to its catalogue that is designed to accept the Shimano EP8 motor.

This 27.5 plus enduro frameset is available for OEM only and is made of high modulus Today T700 carbon fibre. Specifications for the frame reveal it has 150mm of rear suspension and is designed for the Shimano BTE8036 630Wh battery.

Specifications also reveal that the frame is designed to fit either the Shimano STEPS E8000 motor or the unreleased Shimano EP8 motor, confirming once again that the new Shimano drivetrain will use the same mounting and bolt position as the current model.

Light Carbon hasn’t listed specifications of the EP8, but images of the frame suggest that the Shimano EP8 will be more compact than the E8000. An integrated bash guard on the frame sits level with the downtube where the E8000 would protrude.

Shimano hasn’t officially launched the EP8 yet, but there is plenty of information about the new motor system in our Shimano EP8 FAQ here.

The post You can already buy an eMTB frame for the Shimano EP8 motor from China! appeared first on Essential MTB.

Shimano EP8 motor is coming here’s everything we know about it so far.

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 18:39:29 +0000

We will keep a close eye on news of the Shimano EP8 motor systems and will update this FAQ when we have more to share, but for now this is everything we’ve uncovered so far. We recommend bookmarking this page so you can easily revisit and keep up to date with the latest.

What’s the name of Shimano’s next eMTB motor system?

Shimano hasn’t confirmed the name of the next eMTB motor but sources around the web all agree that the name will be the EP8.

Will the EP8 fit frames designed for the Shimano STEPS E8000 and E7000 motors?

All indications show that the EP8 will use the same bolt pattern and mounts as the current Shimano motor. We are also very confident it will after seeing plenty of high-profile eMTB models launch this year with the current E8000 motor. It would be very expensive to redevelop a frame after only 1 year on sale for a motor mount update.

How much torque with the Shimano EP8 motor have?

The Shimano STEPS E8000 motor has 70nm of torque, in comparison Bosch has just released a firmware update for the Performance CX bringing torque to 85nm. We would assume Shimano will be aiming for around 80-85nm for the EP8.

Are there any photos of the EP8?

There have been a few photos floating around the internet showing the EP8 but Shimano has done a good job of clearing them up, if you know where to look then you can still find a few images of the EP8.

Will Shimano update the STEPS E7000 and E6000 motors?

It does appear that Shimano has plans to release 3 new motors for 2021. The EP8 is destined to replace the E8000 as the eMTB motor, but there are also trademark registrations for the Shimano EP6 and Shimano EP4. The EP6 could be a replacement for the E7000 while the EP4 might be a new touring/city motor.

What will the difference be between EP8 and STEPS E8000?

Again nothing is confirmed but it is widely believed that the EP8 will be more compact and offer a more natural assist. More torque also appears to be highly likely.

Will the EP8 offer more range?

We don’t know if the EP8 will be more efficient, but Shimano did launch new, larger eMTB battery packs this year and when combined to the new motor it should be possible to rider further than what’s possible on a STEPS E8000 bike.

When will the Shimano EP8 launch?

The current COVID 19 situation has pushed back many launches and the EP8 launch was probably affected in some way. Shimano hasn’t made a launch date announcement but Commencal is advertising that 2021 eBikes will launch on 31st August so this could be the EP8 launch date.

We will add more EP8 news, specifications and rumours soon so keep checking back.

The post Shimano EP8 motor is coming here’s everything we know about it so far. appeared first on Essential MTB.

Shimano EP8 Archives - Essential MTB

You can already buy an eMTB frame for the Shimano EP8 motor from China!

Shimano EP8 motor is coming here’s everything we know about it so far.