Imagine an e-bike motor that lets you choose your preferred riding cadence and automatically adjusts the gears to keep your legs spinning at that exact speed, no matter how steep the hill – all without a flimsy derailleur or a heavy multi-speed cassette to take care of. Prefer manual control? No problem, you can have as much gear as you like in any size that makes you feel more connected to the environment. That e-bike was announced last week at the major Eurobike trade show in Frankfurt, not just one company, but two.
Pictured above is the MG Concept. It’s a Motor Gearbox unit, or MGU, from Avinox, a DJI spinoff that makes electric mountain bikes. Avinox burst onto the scene two years ago with the introduction of its impressive M1 drive system that packed unprecedented power into a mid-drive motor that’s smaller, lighter, and cheaper than anything offered by competitors like Bosch or Specialized – and Avinox just launched the upgraded M2 series two months ago. The MG Concept takes things a step further by integrating an electric motor and automatic gear system into a single, compact housing that allows bike makers to do away with derailleurs and cassettes.
Avinox wasn’t alone, either. The MG concept was released alongside the similar X-series MGUs and was announced last week by newcomer Gobao. These next-generation motors could fundamentally change how conventional e-bikes are built, despite getting a head start on the best electric bikes that can cost $10,000 or more.
Like Formula 1, eMTBs are a proving ground for technology for manufacturers whose customers are willing to pay top dollar for measurable performance gains. Developments in eMTBs are finally making their way into the rest of the bike market, as we recently saw with the new Amflow TL “eSUV” built around the traditional Avinox M2 engine, derailleur, and cassette.
Existing MGs, such as those made by Pinion, already incorporate a gearbox inside the motor housing, but still rely on a limited number of fixed, differential gears. A new innovation in both Avinox’s MG Concept and Gobao’s X-series motors is an integrated eCVT (Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission) that adds a layer of computerized precision to eliminate mechanical shift pedaling.
Both of these new car gearbox units are integrated eCVTs with unlimited gear ratios that adjust continuously and seamlessly, meaning there are no fixed steps between gears (unless you want them to). You can define as many gears as you like with the gears you like. The system constantly checks your speed, pedal pressure, and terrain in real time. The motors also have an auto mode that keeps your legs always moving, bringing you a ride similar to the “stepless” dynamic feel I enjoyed in 2023, when I first tested a bike equipped with Enviolo’s mechanical CVT.
E-bikes built around these new automotive gearboxes should benefit from long-lasting transmissions that require very little maintenance, gears that can be shifted quickly under heavy load or when stopped, and improved handling by shifting the weight of the rear wheel to the center of the bike.
The Avinox MG was developed in collaboration with Canyon, Commencal, Forbidden, and Mondraker, all of whom had prototype MTBs at the Eurobike show – three with chains, and one with belt drive. Gobao used a self-regulating e-bike at the show to demonstrate pre-production prototypes of its engine. First ride reports found both MGUs very impressive, and better and quieter than existing Pinion MGUs.
And while targeting electric mountain bikes for now, if this new breed of MGUs proves reliable and affordable, expect the motors to migrate to commuter, cargo, and family bikes in the next few years.
Gobao says it will begin mass production of the X1 (120Nm of torque / 1200W max power) and X1P (150Nm / 1500W) in February 2027, according to A bicycleand targets eMTBs with categories including “urban, touring, cargo, and SUVs.” Avinox gives few details, it will launch in 2027. Its production MG motor is expected to produce almost the same torque and power as Gobao, and “easily adapt to EMTB, eTrekking, eSUV, eGravel and other bicycle models.”
I myself i can’t wait. I’m done cutting and bending derailleurs on rocks and urban bike racks, and digging through mud and fish without cassette cogs. Time for a simplified drivetrain for people who need to climb hills or carry a heavy load, even if it’s only getting the kids to school on a tarmac instead of a black dual carriageway.
