This article is part of our big 2026 motor group test. Click here to read about all 11 systems we tested, discover the latest trends and dive into detailed results from both the lab and real-world testing.
Fish or meat? Wine or beer? Android or iOS? Full power or light assist? Why not just combine the best of both worlds? That’s probably what maxon’s engineers had in mind when they set out to develop the AIR S. The previous “BIKEDRIVE AIR” system stood out for its sleek integration, low system weight and quiet operation – but with its limited power and torque, it remained a niche product. That’s exactly what the new BIKEDRIVE AIR S is set to change: despite sharing near-identical dimensions, the Swiss team have managed to squeeze nearly three times the output from the compact drive unit.
With 620 watts of peak power and a maximum torque of 90 Nm, the new system aims to break free from the light-assist niche of its predecessor and enter the established, mainstream full-power league – all while staying true to the original concept.
But does it succeed? Is the Swiss lightweight drive really worthy of full-power status? And what compromises (if any) does it still call for? You’ll find all the answers here. By the way: if you’d like to learn more about maxon, check out our exclusive behind-the-scenes company visit.
The maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR S motor in detail
For this motor test, maxon provided us with an Instinctiv Ocelot 125 eMTB. At first glance, the Dutch rig looks every bit like a classic light-assist bike: a slim downtube and a compact bottom bracket area that barely hint at the motor hidden within. It’s genuinely surprising that this system manages to produce 90 Nm of torque and 620 watts of power.
The Instinctiv Ocelot could easily pass for a motorless bike – not least thanks to its impressively low system weight of just 17.66 kg, even with our test-standard MAXXIS tires in the heavy DoubleDown casing. While the lightweight custom build clearly plays a big role in this, the maxon system itself is no heavyweight either: the motor unit alone tips the scales at just 2.03 kg, and is paired with a 400 Wh battery weighing 1.8 kg.
The lightweight, understated design philosophy carries seamlessly into the cockpit.The wired remote,which is made from metal and produces a defined click when pressed, blends seamlessly into the discreet overall package. Integrated into the top tube is a simple display unit – functional, but not especially premium in appearance. It shows the most essential information, such as battery charge status and ride mode, and enables you to power the system up or down and toggle between its three support modes via three buttons.
However, the display doesn’t offer the option to show custom values. According to maxon, a “full-feature” display is already in development.
The metal handlebar remote feels great to the touch and looks sleek.
The minimalist display shows battery level and support mode.
At launch, only one battery option with 400 Wh is available. A heavier 600 Wh variant weighing 2.8 kg is expected to follow later. Until then, a 1.6 kg range extender with 250 Wh capacity offers a stopgap solution – it must be connected directly to the system to increase range. For recharging, the BIKEDRIVE AIR S comes with two options right from the start: a 700 g 6 A charger and a 200 g lightweight 2 A charger. According to maxon, the more powerful 6 A charger can charge the 400 Wh battery from 0 to 80% in three hours, and to 100% in four hours. Our test confirmed the latter with a measured charge time of 247 minutes.
In terms of charging speed that puts the system in last place: with an average power of just 105 watts, the maxon setup charges from 0 to 100% more slowly than any other in this test. Not an issue at home – but inconvenient when you need a quick top-up on the go. The travel-friendly 2 A charger is even slower.
maxon offer two separate apps via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store: “BIKEDRIVE Connect”, which is aimed at riders and allows individual motor settings within the support modes, and “BIKEDRIVE Service”, which is designed specifically for dealers. Unfortunately, at the time of testing, the app was not yet compatible with the new AIR S motor system.
| Parameter | Our measurement | Manufacturer’s spec |
|---|---|---|
| Motor weight (kg) | 2,03 kg | 2,00 kg |
| Battery capacity (nominal, Wh) | 336 Wh | 400 Wh |
| Charge time (0–100%) | 247 Minutes | 240 Minutes |
| Support ratio (%) | – | 400 % |
| Max power output (W) | – | 620 W |
| Max torque (Nm) | – | 90 Nm |
| Range* (km) | 14,0 km | – |
| Vertical range* (metres climbed) | 1.102 hm | – |
*All values were measured on the same test track with an average incline of 8.5%, using the maximum support mode, a consistent rider output of 150 watts, rider weight of 72 kg, and standardised tyres: MAXXIS HighRoller (DD, MaxxGrip) up front and MAXXIS Minion DHR II (DD, MaxxTerra) on the rear.
maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR S motor on test – a new benchmark?
The maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR S motor on the trail – a full-power motor for sporty riders?
With 90 Nm of torque, 620 watts peak power and up to 400% support, the maxon motor clearly plays in the full-power league on paper – and that’s despite its low system weight and high level of integration. But does it actually feel like that out on the trail?
When you switch on the system, there’s no sign of full power at first – motor assistance is set to “Off” by default. If you want support, you’ll need to activate it manually, either using the well-designed, tactile remote on the handlebars or via the display unit in the top tube. Once enabled, the motor comes to life smoothly and blends into the drivetrain with barely a sound. Two more clicks up engage the highest support level.
Compared to other light-assist motors, the first thing you notice is the maximum torque of 90 Nm. In contrast to the Bosch SX, which has similar peak power, the maxon delivers its output more directly and with noticeably less physical effort – and does so with minimal noise. The maxon system is undoubtedly one of the quietest motors out there. Especially in partial load situations, it stands out from the full-power competition with its subdued noise levels. Only under full load, in steep and technical terrain, does the AIR S become more noticeable acoustically – but it never feels intrusive and always hums along at a pleasant frequency.
On the trail, the maxon AIR S feels like a light-assist motor on steroids: thanks to its linear power delivery, the ride experience remains very natural and yet provides the extra boost you need to negotiate tricky uphill sections when it really counts. Being fit definitely helps – the more effort you put in, the more support you get in return. This allows for highly-sensitive modulation, as motor output can be controlled precisely and predictably through your own pedalling input.
Support from the AIR S kicks in smoothly and reacts quickly, always remaining predictable and never delivering unexpected surges of power. This also gives the maxon AIR S excellent traction on the trail. The short but noticeable overrun behaves similarly to Bosch systems and is acoustically marked by a soft freewheel clicking sound. That said, a slightly longer overrun would be welcome to further improve climbing performance.
The real strength of the maxon lies in how smoothly and naturally it delivers its power. But if you want to get the most out of it, you’ll need to spin: true full-power feeling only comes at higher cadences and with plenty of rider input. While the maximum support ratio is listed at 400%, in practice you get noticeably less assistance at lower cadences compared to other full-power motors. This feeling is backed up by our lab data, which showed a maximum support level of 276% at a rider input of 150 watts – more than adequate, but far from the brute force of a motor like the Avinox, which delivers almost twice as much in the same scenario.
This also showed up in our vertical range test: here, the AIR S reached an average speed of just under 19 km/h – noticeably faster than lighter competitors like TQ, Bosch SX and FAZUA. In fact, the Swiss motor, when fitted to the lightweight Instinctiv bike, even managed to edge out the Bosch CX Gen5 and Shimano EP801 systems in this specific setup!
The AIR S demonstrates impressive sustained performance across the entire state of charge. Efficiency in the vertical range test is also top-tier. The Instinctiv managed to climb a total of 1,102 vertical metres on one charge – a very respectable result considering the high average speed and relatively small battery capacity.
Still, you can’t cheat physics. If you try to consistently draw up to 620 W from a 400 Wh battery, it’s going to run out fairly quickly. The currently limited range of battery options leaves something to be desired in this regard, which restricts the system’s range of use and narrows down its target audience.
Even on the descents, there’s no rattling to spoil the ride experience.
The maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR S motor on the test bench
The AIR S also impressed in our simulated 15% climb test, maintaining a brisk uphill pace and confirming the strong performance we saw on the trail. While it doesn’t match the speed of most full-power motors, it still outperforms the MAHLE M40 and Shimano EP801.
Our lab measurements also confirmed what we observed in practice regarding support levels. At a cadence of 75 rpm, the maxon AIR S didn’t reach the claimed 400% support factor, instead delivering a maximum of 2.72 times the rider input. The stated peak power and torque figures weren’t achieved during bench testing either – although no single parameter appeared to hit a limiting threshold that would have restricted further output. So, is there still more potential in the system?
In terms of drive efficiency, the maxon leads the field. It maintains consistently high efficiency across all scenarios.. This strong performance also holds up in our 30-minute endurance test with 250 W rider input. Despite its high level of integration and the lack of active cooling, the AIR S showed solid thermal management. Only after around 12 minutes did we see the first signs of minimal derating. After just under 20 minutes, output dropped more noticeably – but still remained at the level you’d expect from a light-assist system.
Tuning tip for the manufacturer: Complete the ecosystem with a high-quality app and display, and enable faster charging speeds in the long term.
Who should take a closer look at the maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR S – and who should look elsewhere?
The combination of high power and a small battery doesn’t make sense for everyone – but for some, it hits the mark perfectly. Sporty riders who want a lightweight bike with agile handling, without the typical planted yet sluggish e-bike feel, and who also want to tackle technically demanding climbs, will find a perfect companion in the maxon. If sleek integration and minimal weight are top priorities but you still want serious performance, maxon delivers a very convincing overall package.
On the other hand, those embarking regularly on long rides with high support levels will currently find the battery options and charging speeds limiting. However, with the promised 600 Wh battery, the potential user base should grow. Combined with the range extender, the total capacity of 850 Wh will be enough for extended rides without needing to recharge.
Conclusions about the maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR S motor
The maxon AIR S leaves the light-assist segment far behind in terms of performance and instead goes up against full-power motors from a much heavier weight class. While its power delivery and responsiveness at low cadences can’t quite match the big hitters, the motor offers an unmatched balance of weight, integration and output. The biggest downside lies in the limitations at launch – but the potential is huge, which is why it earns our Editor’s Choice award.
Tops
- Natural ride feel with strong performance
- Low weight
- Stealthy integration
- High efficiency
Flops
- Slow charging speed
- App not yet usable
- Currently only available with 400 Wh battery
For more information, visit maxonbikedrive.com
The test field
For an overview of the test field head to Our big eMTB Motor Comparison – 15 eMTB Motors on Test
All motors in test:
Avinox M1, Bosch Performance Line CX Gen5, Bosch Performance Line CX-R, Bosch Performance Line SX, FAZUA Ride 60, Mahle M40, maxon Air S, Pinion MGU E1.12, Shimano EP801, S-Works 3.1, TQ HPR60
Words: Lars Engmann Photos: Peter Walker
