We’ve all been there: You’re bombing down a steep trail, everything’s flowing – until you come across a slick, rooty off-camber section and your front wheel decides to stop cooperating. Needless to say, the first thing you do is slamming your brakes – because that’s always a brilliant idea in moments like this 🙂. The front-end washes out and, before you even know it, you’re hugging a tree. Bam. You’re hurting. It’s like hitting a wall. Damn.
As much as we love the thrill – do we really need those horrible milliseconds of anticipation before the impact, and everything that follows? If you ask us, we’re more than happy to give it a pass. That’s why we invest in grippy tires, responsive suspension, and powerful brakes. But when it comes to ABS? That’s where a lot of riders suddenly slam on their mental brakes. And why’s that?
We headed to Bosch’s HQ in Reutlingen, sat down with product manager Florian Tanten, and – snobbery aside – dug into the common doubts floating around the scene. Most of all, we wanted to feel the difference between the original Bosch eBike ABS and the new Bosch eBike ABS Pro– firsthand!
Ego issues or just lack of experience? Why ABS still gets side-eyed on the trail
Clearly, ABS hits a nerve in the scene. Some riders already flinch at the thought that a small “fuse-box” might brake better than their own well-trained index finger. Others feel patronized by assist systems – like someone’s trying to take the raw, wild, honest thrill out of the riding experience. And to be fair: there’s been plenty of skepticism in our own editorial team, too.
Which is understandable, at least partly. But couldn’t we flip the perspective? Let’s be real – we put a ton of effort into squeezing the best performance out of ourselves and our gear. So why get all dogmatic when it comes to braking? Sure, underbiking might look cool in an Instagram reel, but in real life? We don’t ride slicks on root carpets, we tune our suspension with care, and we never ride without brakes altogether. Even if the kick would be bigger.
Another reason ABS has had a tough time winning over ambitious riders is the lack of real-world experience. Until now, brake assist systems were mostly found on SUV-style e-bikes – and for good reason, as we’d say after comparing the two Bosch systems ourselves. But more on that later.
On the test track: How much “Pro” is really in Bosch’s new ABS?
There’s no doubt: ABS on an e-mountainbike hasn’t exactly had the best rep. Sure, it does what it’s supposed to, but mostly in the city and on mellow fire roads – not where things really get wild. Technically, Bosch’s eBike ABS is definitely a helpful feature. But when you’re charging hard off-road, most riders see it more as a buzzkill than a performance boost.
And that’s not because it doesn’t work. Quite the opposite – the system does its job well, even if the stock brake levers don’t scream high-end. The issue is more that it regulates too well. In other words, it tends to kill the vibe, making it harder to perform stoppies and endos, and to swing the rear-end around a tight switchback. The system simply refuses to let you slam on the brakes when you want to.
So when we heard that Bosch had taken this exact feedback to heart, and launching the new eBike ABS Pro with more freedom and a clear focus on performance, we were all ears. Off to Reutlingen we went straight into the heart of e-bike development. Once we got there, we tested both systems back-to-back – on a sprawling playground full of jumps, steep ramps, features and all kinds of trail action. In other words, the optimal ABS test lab.
Before we hit the test track, we took a quick look at the display. And right away, it was clear that something’s changed: while the original Bosch eBike ABS still offered modes like Cargo, Touring, Allroad, and Trail (depending on the bike, of course), the new eBike ABS Pro keeps it simple with just two options – Trail Pro and Race.
Both modes are clearly built for one thing: off-road performance without compromises. According to Bosch, here’s how they differ from the Trail mode on the older eBike ABS:
- The front wheel is allowed to go a bit wilder – less control, more freedom.
- Trail Pro reduces rear-wheel lift control, Race mode disables it altogether.
- ABS intervention is shorter – meaning it backs off quicker.
- The initial braking force hits harder and more directly.
- The system reacts faster to changing surfaces – less thinking, more instinct.
| Feature | eBike ABS | eBike ABS Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Braking modes | Cargo, Touring, Allroad, Trail | Trail Pro, Race |
| Rear wheel lift | Possible with some effort in Trail mode | Allowed to a certain extent in Trail Pro mode, fully possible in Race mode |
| Slip | Fairly restricted | More room to drift |
| Focus | Safety, control & comfort | Performance, control |
Right away on the test track, the difference is clear: grab the front brake hard at 25-30 km/h on gravel or loose ground, and the new system demands noticeably more input to stay on line compared to the standard eBike ABS. The front wheel might twitch for a split second – but just as quickly, it recovers. And that’s exactly the point: less smoothing, more riding.
For comparison’s sake: the same braking manoeuvre without ABS puts us in sketchy territory. Yeah, you can stop, but only with full focus and a serious adrenaline spike. With eBike ABS Pro, you get a clear edge in tricky trail- and braking-situations. You spend less time just braking – and more time actually in control, with the option to steer around obstacles if needed.
Another big plus: Race mode no longer prevents the rear wheel from lifting. So if you’re into front-wheel action, you can go for it – intuitively, directly, and with way less effort. With a bit of balls, we even dared to simulate a total-panic scenario: landing a jump straight into a corner with the brake pulled. And guess what? No drama, no crash – the system handled it like a… Pro.
Nice detail: the display now shows how often the ABS system actually intervened. Spoiler alert: way more often than we felt or would’ve guessed. Confidence grows – and so does the speed.
Shit happens – especially when you least expect it!
The internet’s full of videos and articles from riders testing ABS on eMTBs and sharing their thoughts. We’re doing the same. Some even find they can come to a halt faster without ABS. Aha! So is that the big smoking gun against the tech?
We say: not at all! Because – let’s be honest – ABS tests, including ours, only tell part of the story. Why? Because we’re not doing what ABS is actually designed for: saving us from unexpected mistakes. In this test, we’re slamming the brakes with full intent and without any logic , in places where most of us would rather pray than pull the lever. And guess what? We stopped every single time – well, almost. Which is exactly what makes ABS testing so fascinating – and yeah, our egos took a few dings along the way.
But it kind of misses the point: ABS saves your ass when you’re not ready for it. When grip suddenly disappears. When you have overestimated your skills again (“Okay, now that’s definitely the last time, I promise!”). When you’re ploughing straight through a root carpet, a ditch, or your favorite oak tree. That’s when the system does its thing, discreetly. No drama. No show. Which is almost a shame, really.
The Market can be Kind of Weird
Alright, we’ll admit it: the system’s starting to win us over. But what really strikes us as weird when it comes to ABS is the way brands are implementing it on their bikes. Imagine if seatbelts were only available for high-end cars – welcome to the world of ABS on e-mountain bikes.
Even though the added cost of a full system isn’t outrageous compared to, say, a suspension fork, the standard eBike ABS is still mostly a thing on pricey E-SUV flagship models. Sounds backwards? We think so too. Because it’s actually the lower and mid-range bikes where this kind of safety boost would make the most sense – and be a real selling point. For riders who don’t (yet) consider themselves technique gurus, and for bikes that spend more time in stop-and-go city traffic than on Alpine trails.
In our opinion, ABS Pro has what it takes to become a new standard. The catch? So far, the list of available bike models is limited to just the KTM Macina and the SCOTT Patron. That’s partly because the system only launched in autumn 2024. Still, if that’s all the market has to offer right now, it’s more of a shrug than a breakthrough. And that for a product that could potentially save lives – or at least a chin or two.
Bosch, however, seem optimistic: by MY 2026, they expect a wide range of e-bikes to feature the trail-focused eBike ABS Pro. Compatibility with more brake systems is also being expanded step by step – it already works with MAGURA and TRP.
We’re curious to see how things develop in the near future, and how the market picks up. Fingers – sorry, eyes – peeled. Not just for the sake of the oak.
Where will eBike ABS Pro take us next?
ABS is like a good thriller: the action hits when you least expect it. That’s why the whole ABS debate isn’t really about whether we could brake well in theory. We can. Of course. Most of the time at least. Maybe it’s time to dial our egos down a few clicks – just for fun. Because with eBike ABS Pro, there’s finally a system that doesn’t treat even ambitious riders like fragile cargo. Less helicopter, more throttle – but when things get real, it’s right there. Quick. Reliable. What we’d love to see? Manufacturers using this tech not just with top-tier bike models, but also with entry- and mid-range e-MTBs. Because that’s exactly where it could flex its real superpower: saving the day without a fuss – right when no one sees it coming.
For all the details, head over to bosch-ebike.com.
Words: Jonny Grapentin Photos: Robin Schmitt
