We won’t deny there’s something pretty special about going fast. However, the line is drawn firmly at 25 km/h on a standard eMTB. So shouldn’t it be a thing to rejoice if we can raise that max speed up to 50 km/h just by pressing a few buttons on our smartphones? It’s not quite so simple. We turned to experts at Bosch and Shimano to get their take on the contentious question of amped-up speed.

While you’re unlikely to face WADA-style impromptu testing controls, motor tuning is classified as a criminal act in most countries. Despite this state of affairs, we’re still seeing a lot of eMTBers take the murky route and tune their motors, so what are their motives?

Claus Fleischer, CEO of Bosch eBike Systems

Our first port-of-call in the hunt for answers is Claus Fleischer, CEO of Bosch eBike Systems. “Some ebikers believe that the 25 km/h max speed for pedal-assist is too slow. This might be because they’re used to riding on the flat at 30–32 km/h with a conventional bike. By tuning their motors, they want to reach a higher speed with their pedelec and get the maximum support from the motor. The fact that tuning can have dangerous consequences and isn’t legally permitted on public roads is not something that they take into consideration,” he begins. Finding a tuning kit on the market isn’t a hard task. Prices start at around € 100, and they’re able to tune motor speed to provide support up to and over 50 km/h. More affordable options can be configured using Bluetooth, whereby a particular app can give you access to tune the maximum engine support.

Marko Kienle, Head of E-Mobility at Paul Lange & Co / Shimano

“Motors can certainly become damaged by tuning and the now-excessive load will take its toll on the system,” adds Marko Kienle, head of the E-Mobility department at Paul Lange/Shimano. “We’ve already introduced a range of measures to make sure that tuning is harder to carry out. Certain tuning methods can now be detected while the bike is being ridden and lead to an error message. From then onwards, that ebike system will be out of service. The customer will have to visit their dealer in order to regain access. Moreover, ride data from systems will reveal when tuning has been carried out.” There’s a similar situation over at Bosch, agrees Fleischer: “We are continually optimising our motor systems, firstly to make it more difficult for them to be manipulated, and secondly in order for it to be detected. In the event of a service, we’ll revoke any warranty claims concerning tuned ebikes. We’re also monitoring the market and in direct contact with sellers of tuning sets. We make it clear just what the potential technical and legal consequences of tuning are, both in general and on public roads. From 2019, the detection of ebike systems that have been tuned will become mandatory and the industry will develop the appropriate measures and solutions with which to do this.”

With regards to the fate of the tuner, there are definitive legal ramifications. Fleischer expands: “Anyone riding a tuned ebike on public land will face the consequences in both a legal and insurance-based sense. That particular ebiker is carrying out an infringement on the law. In Germany, for example, this could result in a monetary charge or even up to a twelve-month penalty of imprisonment for driving without a suitable licence or for breaching the law of compulsory insurance.”

Conclusion

As thrilling as speed is, there seems to be a slight imbalance between the fun you might briefly enjoy and the ominous threat of those punishments. You should also consider the potential danger you’re putting yourself into – think about it, there won’t be many car or lorry drivers who are expecting to see a cyclist tearing down the street at 50 km/h. EMTBs aren’t mopeds, so they’re still push-bikes at their essence. Just imagine the changes they’d have to make to number plate licenses and helmet laws if eMTBs were to take on a higher classification. Right now, there’s little hope that the law will be changed any time soon regarding an elevation of the legal 25 km/h limit, so you’ll need to just have fun riding your eMTB regardless. Going fast has its perks, but being safe is better – so hands off the tuning.


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Words: Photos: Noah Haxel