New Shimano STEPS E7000 motor with new shifters, display and wireless technology

The Shimano STEPS E8000 has taken the eMTB market by storm and is one of the best motors money can buy. With the STEPS E7000 the Japanese brand is now introducing a more affordable version of its popular drive-system and expanding its portfolio with several new components.

The Shimano STEPS E7000 sits right below the E8000 and wants to expand the Shimano range

The new E7000 drive shares the same frame mount with the E8000 but is a little smaller and lighter. With 60 Nm it delivers slightly less torque than the 70 Nm high-end E8000 motor but offers a slightly wider range. The new motor features all of Shimano’s usual support stages and the motor characteristics can be adapted to the rider’s preferences via Shimano’s app.

The E7000 features the same mounting system as the E8000 which means you can fit it on your existing bike frame

However the most exciting part isn’t the motor itself but the other E7000 components which are all compatible with the E8000 drive. First and foremost the new compact shifter which allows you to switch between support levels on the left and through the gears of a Di2 groupset on the right. This leaves enough room under the handlebars to fit a dropper-remote – very good! The shifter can be integrated into the cockpit via i-Spec EV and gives good tactile feedback with a perceptible click.

The new gear shifter allows for a tidy cockpit. Unlike the test bike in the picture we would place the dropper-remote on the bottom side of the handlebars.

When stationary the tactile feedback feels great but we’re curious to see how the new switch works while riding

The optional EW-EN100 connector replaces the display and gear shifters— a perfect solution for all minimalists

The SC-E7000 also offers a compact new display with an easy-to-read monochrome screen which displays all most important data such as support level, speed and battery status. It reminds us of the popular E8000 display only a little smaller. If want to renounce the display altogether the EW-EN100 connector now gives you the opportunity to do so. This wireless interface allows you to view all of the riding data on your GPS device or smartphone. If you like minimalistic solutions, you could even do without the support level shifter and use the EW-EN100 to switch between support levels directly. A small LED warns you if the battery level drops below 20%.

Compared to the E8000 the display is missing some colour but in return it’s a lot more compact

Our take

At first glance the new Shimano E7000 motor might not look all that exciting — after all it’s a slimmed-down version of the E8000. Still most users will find its performance more than adequate. Unfortunately we didn’t get a chance to test the new motor ourselves. On the other hand the components are way more exciting than the motor itself as these give you much more freedom with the configuration of the control units. Shimano gives customers a choice and manufacturers more flexibility – some bike manufacturers have already announced that they will combine the new gear shifters with the E8000 motor. We are looking forward to testing the new parts soon.

The new Shimano STEPS E7000 components will be available from September.

More information at shimano.com

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Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl

Our take

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