Words: Liam Friary
Images: Supplied

When Bosch says they’ve built their most powerful eMTB motor ever, you sit up and take notice. The new Performance Line CX-R isn’t just another incremental upgrade – it’s a proper beast that’s been designed with one thing in mind: unleashing pure trail energy.

As someone who’s spent plenty of time on eMTBs, I’m always curious when a major player like Bosch drops something completely new into the mix. And the CX-R definitely feels like a departure from their usual approach. While previous Bosch motors have been known for their reliability and smooth power delivery, this one’s clearly been built for riders who want to push harder and go faster.

The numbers alone tell quite a story. We’re talking 100Nm of torque, 750W of power, and support of up to 400% of your pedal input. That’s seriously impressive stuff, and puts it right up there with some of the most powerful motors on the market. But what really caught my attention was how Bosch has approached the whole package – it’s not just about raw power.

Two New Modes That Actually Make Sense

The standout feature for me is the exclusive Race mode. This is clearly aimed at riders who want immediate, uncompromising power delivery. When you’re picking your way through technical terrain or need that instant boost out of a tight corner, the Race mode doesn’t mess around. It gives you full assistance right up to maximum speed, with what Bosch calls “Extended Boost” for those moments when you’re wrestling with big rocks or gnarly root sections.

What’s clever is that they’ve also introduced an eMTB+ mode that sits between their existing eMTB setting and the new Race mode. This feels like Bosch acknowledging that not everyone wants to be pinned back in their seat every time they touch the pedals. The eMTB+ mode includes something called Dynamic Control – essentially a kind of traction control system that keeps things manageable even when the terrain gets loose or steep.

Both modes can be fine-tuned through Bosch’s eBike Flow app, which is something I really appreciate. Being able to customize how your motor responds to different situations makes a huge difference when you’re trying to dial in the perfect setup for your riding style.

Built Like a Proper Race Machine

The materials spec on the CX-R reads like a who’s who of high-end engineering. We’re talking aerospace-grade stuff here – magnesium housing, titanium crank spindle, and ceramic ball bearings. All of this adds up to a motor that weighs just 6 pounds, which is pretty impressive when you consider the power it’s putting out.

What I find interesting is that Bosch has clearly spent time with top-level athletes during development. You can see this in the attention to detail – things like the decoupled drivetrain that reduces mechanical noise when you’re descending, and the advanced sensor technology that measures your pedal input up to a thousand times per second.

The Tech That Makes It Work

Speaking of sensors, this is where things get really interesting from a technical perspective. The CX-R uses inertial measurement units (IMUs) that track acceleration and rotation in six dimensions, plus inclination and tilt angles. Essentially, the motor knows exactly what the bike is doing at any given moment and can adjust power delivery accordingly.

This kind of sophisticated sensor tech means the motor can deliver power precisely when and where you need it – whether that’s a punchy acceleration out of a switchback, a controlled start on slippery surfaces, or sustained power on steep technical climbs.

What This Means for eMTB Riding

The CX-R feels like Bosch’s answer to the ongoing debate about full-power versus lightweight eMTBs. Rather than compromising on either front, they’ve tried to build something that gives you serious power while still maintaining the kind of responsive, lively feel that makes eMTBs fun to ride.

The fact that it’s launching with an exclusive Race mode suggests they’re specifically targeting riders who want to push boundaries – whether that’s in actual competition or just personal progression on challenging trails. At the same time, the eMTB+ mode with its Dynamic Control system shows they haven’t forgotten about riders who want that power delivered in a more manageable way.

The Bottom Line

While we’ll have to wait until fall 2025 to see the first bikes with the CX-R in shops, this feels like a significant step forward for Bosch. They’ve clearly been listening to feedback from serious eMTB riders who wanted more power and more control over how that power is delivered.

Whether the CX-R lives up to its impressive spec sheet will ultimately come down to how it feels on the trail. But based on what Bosch has achieved with their previous motors, and the clear focus on performance and customization with this one, it could well be the motor that sets the new benchmark for what a serious eMTB should be capable of.

For riders who’ve been waiting for that perfect combination of power, control, and refinement, the CX-R might just be worth the wait.