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Upway’s Guide to Bosch E-Bike Motors
Written by: Rémy Rossi | October 31, 2025 | Time to read 4 min
Trusted by brands like Gazelle and Riese & Müller, Bosch drive units set the e-Bike standard. Explore the specs of each Bosch drive unit below.
More about the Author: Remy Rossi
Rémy Rossi is a bike writer, mechanic, and educator who got his start in community-based bike shops and co-ops. With a decade in the industry, he still wrenches on bikes when he can and plays bike polo on a fixie.
In the kingdom of electric bike drive units, Bosch reigns supreme. Seeing a Bosch motor, battery, and display on an e-Bike is a total green flag— but what lies under the hood? Bosch manufactures distinct motors to match the needs of certain e-Bikes, adjusting power, torque, maximum assistance, weight, and more. Around 15-20% of Upway’s catalog of electric bikes has a Bosch motor or Bosch battery. To better understand the exact superpowers of the model you’re looking at, here’s a detailed guide to Bosch drive units.
Bosch’s range of electric bike motors
Bosch prefers to refer to its motors as ‘drive units’, and there is a decent variety across the brand. Bike makers like Gazelle, Riese & Müller, and others that use Bosch drive units can pick between all these options to choose the perfect motor for their model. These days, you may still come across motors built for the Bosch eBike System 2, but the newest models are designed for Bosch’s smart system.
Bosch’s main drive unit categories are:
- Active Line: Lowest-priced drive unit for city and urban e-Bikes
- Performance Line: Premium, more powerful motor with SX, CX, and Speed versions
- Cargo Line: Powerful drive unit designed for hauling heavy payloads
Each Bosch motor connects to a Bosch battery. Here’s Upway’s complete guide to Bosch batteries to learn about compatibility and extending your range.
Bosch Active Line drive units
The Active Line encompasses Bosch’s lowest-priced motors. Moderate power and great value make them a popular option for city and urban electric bikes. The reined-in power specs also make the Active Line and Active Line Plus drive units the quietest Bosch motors available. The leveled-up Active Plus version provides slightly higher torque and maximum power.
Bosch Active Line
Bosch Active Line Plus
Max. torque
40 Nm
50 Nm
Peak power
586 W
600 W
Max. assistance
340%
340%
Weight
2.9 kg
3.2 kg
Bosch Performance Line drive units
Bosch’s Performance Line motors represent its most premium mid-drive units. They provide up to 100 Nm of torque, 750W of peak power, and amplify your pedal power by up to 4 times. Most units weigh less than 3 kilograms, and there are several versions in the Performance Line to suit different riding styles and conditions.
Performance Line SX: Lightweight version of the Performance Line motor, providing big performance while weighing just 2 kilograms, for urban models or gravel e-Bikes.
Performance Line CX: Top-of-the-line drive unit with maximum torque and power, typically reserved for electric mountain bikes.
Performance Line Speed: Powerful motor that’s capable of reaching a top speed of 28 mph, necessary for Class 3 electric bikes.
Performance Line PX: Bosch’s newest offering is designed for bike touring and long-distance travel.
Bosch Performance Line
Bosch Performance Line SX
Max. torque
75 Nm
60 Nm
Peak power
600 W
600 W
Max. assistance
340%
400%
Weight
2.8 kg
2.0 kg
Bosch Performance Line Speed
Bosch Performance Line CX
Bosch Performance Line PX
100 Nm
100 Nm
90 Nm
750 W
750 W
700 W
400%, 28 mph
400%
400%
2.8 kg
2.8 kg
2.9 kg
Bosch Cargo Line drive unit
The Bosch Cargo Line is the brand’s dedicated drive unit for electric cargo bikes. Similar to the powerful Performance Line CX model, the Cargo Line motor maxes out the torque, peak power, and assistance metrics to haul heavy cargo and large e-Bikes with ease. Many Tern cargo bikes and Riese & Müller cargo bikes from Upway come equipped with a Bosch Cargo Line motor, for example.
Bosch Cargo Line
Max. torque
100 Nm
Peak power
750 W
Max. assistance
400%
Weight
2.8 kg
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a battery that Upway doesn't sell?
Is it better to have a removable battery on an electric bike?
I’m a big fan of removable batteries since they offer more options for charging, along with the advantage of swapping in a spare battery to extend the range. Most electric bikes have a removable battery so a majority of bike manufacturers and riders must agree with me. However, a non-removable battery is definitely not a deal breaker.
Should I remove my e-Bike battery when not in use?
For short-term storage, it’s encouraged to leave the battery on the bike where it’s designed to be. For long-term storage, take it out and keep it at room temperature. Modern chargers are designed to prevent overcharging, but keeping it at 100% charge levels still puts extra stress on the battery.
Key Takeaways
- Power with Purpose: Bosch offers tailored drive units—Active, Performance, and Cargo Lines—to match every rider’s needs.
- Precision Engineering: From the featherweight SX to the torque-rich Cargo Line, each motor is tuned for specific terrain and riding styles.
- Trusted by Top Brands: Around 15–20% of Upway’s U.S. e-bike catalog features Bosch motors or batteries from brands like Gazelle and Riese & Müller.
