Pinion’s NEW E-Drive Powertrain Explained

Could Pinion’s new E-Drive powertrain be the future transmission of electric bikes?

Released today, the new E-Drive Motor Gearbox, or MGU, combines Pinion’s gearbox technology with a powerful electric motor into one compact unit and shifts wirelessly with a sleek electronic trigger shifter.

The brand claims the E-Drive MGU is almost maintenance-free, only needing an internal oil change every 10,000km, making it ideal for a range of electric bike applications.

Pinion says it can shift smoothly under load, which would be a big improvement over Pinion’s existing gearboxes, where you have to ease off the pedals in order to shift.

These are just some of the bold claims Pinion makes about E-Drive, so dive in for a full lowdown on this cutting-edge new tech.

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:28 Gearboxes
02:55 Pinion E-Drive MGU
04:18 How Does It Work?
07:02 Gear Range And Wireless Shifting
09:08 Batteries And Displays
10:25 Which Bikes Will It Be On?

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[BastienChanot]

This is truly incredible. If they deliver, they may just have killed detailleur, chain, drivetrain maintenance, automated shifting needs for most people while drastically improving rear suspensions dynamics by reducing unsprung mass. Can't wait for the long term reviews!

[ianharding]

Finally an internal gearbox and motor setup with a belt drive. This is what I’ve been waiting for on e bike market.
No more derailleur and chain to constantly maintain. I want to ride one .

[alexandregeiser]

Pinion is finally getting the attention/respect for their amazing engineering

[PeopleVoicesForObama]

This is the exact belt drive system I am looking for. Gone are the days of dealing with grease and derailleur adjustment.

[Prince_Pig]

Wow! Excited about the future of the e-bike now. This could be a big turning point.

[bikeradar]

Are gearboxes the future of cycling drivetrains? 👇

[logtothebase]

The Bike industry should come up with a standard bottom bracket design that will accommodate mechanicals like the Bosch e drive, Befang Pinion etc, but they won't.

Yes this, or something like it is the future for many bikes given that derailleurs are heavily optimised for various flavours of race, something for smaller wheels and getting around, the only problem is the rate to which eBikes get stollen.

[checker]

Mainly because of my mother tongue, I look at most German YouTubers. However, I would like to comment here that this content, the information and the compilation are just as premium as the new all-in-one gearbox from Pinion. 👏👍

[zauwee]

I just recently bought a Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH. It’s awesome. I bought knowing it’s already obsolete technology. I was aware of the Pinion technology. This drivetrain blows the Vado’s outta the water. The Vado is, to me, the make-do bike between now and when the Pinion tech is widely available. My next urban/tour e-bike will have this type of technology. It’s def the future.

[brianthompson]

It doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect, just work well enough to get Bosch and others to have to get in the game. Then we will really be into the evolution of Ebiking.

[luukrutten]

This really looks like an impressive package. Maybe electric bikes will become a little too good and powerfull, but I really dig the technology and integration. Yet I would like to stick to analog bikes for now. I imagine the prices will be eye watering too.

[JBean_COCR]

I've been riding a pinion 12 spd mtb bikepacking rig for over a year now. I agree with the gripshift being less than ideal, however it doesn't shift worse than a derailer under load, in fact I think better, gears 4-5 and 8-9 require a bit more let-off, but the ability to change gears without pedaling is great. It has been bulletproof and I prefer the belt. When I first got the bike I told my wife it would be great if they added an electric motor and presto, they did! Can't wait to check it out, the e-shifter with autoshift sounds great. It would be good if they could cut down the noise a bit in the first four gears though.

[LongLiveEnduro]

I have waited for years for this. Thank you Pinion!

[andersjefsenrasmussen]

My daily bike has a Pinion C1.12. and belt. I love it. But now I look forward to this e-bike without motor and gears in apart systems, but a motor and gear unit. :-)

[orvilleclisby]

It changes gear at the top or bottom of your pedal stroke which is a huge game changer in transmission technology. The old sturmey archer you had to stop peddling for a brief moment which is fine going down hill but a pain when climbing.

[kenh.]

I already ride a Pinion 12 speed system on a Gates Belt drive bike. Love the bike, the system. but a few things kept is from being a truly MTB set up. I would be very curious to ride such a bike and would probably really enjoy it. I like my Pinion if the engineers put out another quality product, I am sure it will be really nice.

[DReproductions]

Can't wait! Are those Shimano compatible mountings? If not then the bike industry would be a better place if they all could agree on, dare I say it, a standard.

[svenweihusen]

The main advantage and price saving comes when you really use your bike. A gearbox and gates belt are expensive but that’s it for the next 10.000km. Change some oil and that’s it. The belt may go on for another 5-10.000km and the gearbox is next to indestructible with some riders having well over 100.000km on it. Especially high end derailer components will start eating into your budget when heavily used while these drivetrains simply don’t care.
So a heavty investment at the start will pay off later. That’s why these components are mainly used by people who really use their bikes despite the price.

[marcooften]

I wonder what the resistance is like when you have drained the battery and still need to go another mile or so

[mrichards]

As a a consumer, I want wireless electronic braking with anti-lock!!!