Shimano STEPS E8000

Shimano’s STEPS E8000 is recognized as one of the top motors in the eMTB sector. It comes as no surprise that 8 out of the 14 bikes in our 2019 high-end eMTB group test feature this exact drive. From the display to the battery, through to the motor, Shimano’s STEPS system is well thought-out, superbly integrated and very intuitive. But did its riding characteristics manage to impress our demanding test-crew on the trail?

The STEPS E8000 is Shimano’s top-of-the-range motor for trail riding. It churns out 70 Nm of torque and offers three individually-adjustable riding modes that can be adapted via the E-TUBE app. In its standard configuration, the progressive trail mode offers the most controlled and natural riding experience. The motor recognizes the intensity of your pedal strokes and adjusts the level of support accordingly. Depending on the basic setup (programmable via the App), this mode allows for all support-levels from Eco to Boost. This means one minute you could be cruising down a flat forest path and the next you’re blasting up a steep climb, all using the same mode. The only drawback is the loud humming noise when the motor is under load.

In the strongest mode – Boost – the motor churns out tons of power at medium to high cadences. Unfortunately, the power delivery is not always easy to control. In Boost mode and at low speeds the motor can make the bike jolt forward. At low cadences the motor also runs out of steam on steep climbs. Once you reach the 25 km/h threshold, the motor reduces its support rather abruptly and after disengaging, you can feel a little pedalling resistance.

The Shimano STEPS E8000 is light, compact and reliable. On top of that, it offers countless cockpit configuration options.

Shimano offer both an external and internal battery for their STEPS E8000. Both come with the same 504 Wh capacity and should provide the same range. The bulky internal battery is 14 % longer and about 400 g heavier than the external version. Considering factors such as weight-distribution and riding dynamics we prefer the external version – many bikes already feature this as an “almost internal” option (Intense, Pivot, Orbea, etc.). Bike manufacturers are also given the freedom to use third-party batteries as an alternative, though note that in this case, Shimano dealers won’t be able to offer battery-servicing. The modular system means bike manufacturers can combine the Shimano STEPS components in any way they want. The STEPS E8000 colour display offers by far the best legibility. The expensive remote on the other hand is rather bulky and can interfere with dropper-post remotes. In our opinion, the more compact E7000 remote is a better option. Using a Bluetooth dongle that combines all of the basic functions, you could forgo the display and remote altogether. You’ll also need this to make the STEPS E8000 compatible with the E-TUBE RIDE tracking app.

Conclusion

Shimano’s reliable STEPS E8000 motor convinced us with its sophisticated trail mode and intuitive operation. However, at peak output, the power is hard to control.


Torque 70 Nm
Motor weight 2.89 kg
Riding modes 3

App management yes
Walk-assist yes
System closed (compatible with third-party batteries)

Tops

  • Compact and light
  • Great choice of displays and remotes

Flops

  • Not compatible with E-TUBE RIDE app from the factory
  • Usual pedaling resistance above 25 km/h
  • Little support at low cadence

More information at shimano-steps.com