Updated October 2026.
Bosch makes five mid-drive motors for today’s Smart System e-bikes: the Performance Line CX for steep hills and mountain biking, the Cargo Line for carrying loads, the Performance Line PX for touring, the Performance Line for everyday riding, and the lightweight Performance Line SX. All sit at the pedals and drive through the bike’s gears. Below we compare them side by side, explain Bosch’s 2026 Performance Upgrade 2.0, walk through every generation from Gen 2 to Gen 5, and show how to tell which system your bike has. Electric Bikes Brisbane has sold Bosch-powered e-bikes since 2013 and has been a Bosch Accredited Service Centre since 2014.
Bosch Mid-Drive Motors Compared
| Motor | Torque (factory) | Torque (maximum*) | Peak power (factory / maximum*) | Weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Line CX (Gen 5) | 85Nm | 120Nm | 600W / 750W | About 100g lighter than Gen 4 | Steep hills, eMTB, loaded touring |
| Cargo Line | 85Nm | 120Nm | 600W / 750W | 2.8kg | Cargo and family bikes |
| Performance Line PX | 85Nm | 90Nm | 600W / 700W | About 2.9kg | Touring, trekking, hilly commutes |
| Performance Line | 75Nm | – | 600W | 2.8kg | Everyday and city riding |
| Performance Line SX | 55Nm | 60Nm | 600W | About 2kg | Light eMTB, gravel and urban bikes |
*Maximum values are set through the Bosch eBike Flow app and are available only where the bike maker allows them; some depend on the battery and gearing fitted. All Bosch motors sold for Australian e-bikes stop assisting at 25km/h. Figures from Bosch eBike Systems.
Bosch Performance Upgrade 2.0 Explained
On 4 May 2026, Bosch released Performance Upgrade 2.0, a free over-the-air update through the eBike Flow app. It lifts the Performance Line CX and the Cargo Line to up to 120Nm and 750W, and lets the CX, Cargo Line and PX deliver up to 600% support at speeds up to 15km/h in the Race, Turbo, eMTB+, Cargo and Auto modes. The PX can be set to up to 90Nm and 700W. Two things to know: the bike maker decides the maximum available on each model, and Bosch notes that higher settings use more battery and increase wear. If you’re not sure how to change your settings, our eBike Flow app guide walks you through it.
Which Bosch Motor Is Right for You?
Every Bosch motor shares what we see as its two biggest strengths: reliability and ride feel. Bosch power is smooth and intuitive — it supports your riding, makes you feel stronger without being intrusive, and makes climbing hills a joy. The right motor depends on the riding you do.
Performance Line CX: Steep Hills and Trails
Bosch’s most powerful mid-drive, and the one to choose if you regularly climb around Mount Coot-tha or ride trails in D’Aguilar National Park. It powers our Focus and Orbea eMTBs and Riese & Müller’s Delite5, Homage5 and Superdelite5. See our Bosch Gen 5 CX e-bikes and Bosch electric mountain bikes.
Cargo Line: Kids and Heavy Loads
Tuned for carrying, with strong, controlled pull from a standing start and hill start assist. You’ll find it on Riese & Müller’s Load5. Browse our electric cargo bikes.
Performance Line PX: Touring and Longer Rides
Launched in 2025, the PX is lighter than the CX and quiet when cruising, and above 25km/h the gearbox decouples so the bike pedals with hardly any resistance. It suits multi-day touring and hilly commutes. See our Bosch Performance PX e-bikes.
Performance Line: Everyday Riding
A smooth 75Nm all-rounder, about 400g lighter than the model it replaced in 2025. It suits commuters, city bikes and compact bikes such as the Riese & Müller Swing5 and the Tern Vektron.
Performance Line SX: Lightweight Bikes
At about 2kg, the SX is Bosch’s lightest mid-drive. It keeps the bike light and natural to pedal, with less climbing power than the CX. Kalkhoff’s Entice L Season uses it. See our Bosch SX e-bikes.
Bosch also makes the Performance Line Speed, a 45km/h S-pedelec motor that we don’t sell because it doesn’t meet the 25km/h assistance limit for Australian e-bikes. In June 2026 Bosch also announced the Hub Line, its first hub motor (45Nm), designed for light urban bikes. Not sure whether you need a mid-drive at all? Read hub-drive vs mid-drive.
Bosch Motor Generations Explained: Gen 2 to Gen 5
Bosch’s motor names have stayed the same while the hardware underneath changed, which is why so many riders ask which generation they have. Here is the timeline we’ve watched from our workshop.
- • 2013–2014, Gen 1 and Gen 2: the first Bosch e-bikes reached Australia in early 2013. When we first wrote this article in 2014, the line-up was the Classic+ Line (50Nm), Active Line (48Nm) and Performance Line (60Nm).
- • 2015, the first Performance Line CX: Bosch’s first motor designed for eMTBs.
- • Gen 3: the Performance Line CX made 75Nm and weighed about 4kg.
- • Gen 4 (2020 bikes): a completely redesigned CX with 85Nm, weighing 2.9kg — about a kilo lighter and much smaller than Gen 3.
- • 2022, the Smart System: a new, connected platform with the eBike Flow app, over-the-air updates, new displays, controllers and batteries.
- • Gen 5 (from September 2024): the current Performance Line CX, with new sensors that read your pedalling more than 1,000 times a second, a quieter gearbox that decouples on descents, and hill start assist.
- • 2025–2026: the Performance Line PX, a lighter Performance Line, an upgraded Cargo Line, and Performance Upgrade 2.0.
Gen 3 vs Gen 4 Performance Line CX
| Gen 3 CX | Gen 4 CX | Gen 5 CX (Smart System) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torque | 75Nm | 85Nm | 85Nm, up to 120Nm* |
| Weight | About 4kg | 2.9kg | About 100g lighter than Gen 4 |
| System | Bosch eBike system | Bosch eBike system | Smart System: eBike Flow app and over-the-air updates |
One of our customers, Helen, has ridden through this whole evolution on three Riese & Müller bikes: a Bosch Classic in 2014, a 75Nm Performance Line CX in 2017, and now a Gen 5 Smart System Homage. Read Helen’s 12 years on three Riese & Müller e-bikes.
How to Tell Which Bosch System You Have
Bosch’s own test is simple. If your handlebar controller has coloured LEDs — the LED Remote, System Controller or Purion 200 — you have the Smart System, and the bike connects to the eBike Flow app. If not, you have the earlier Bosch eBike system (Gen 4 or older). The two systems use different motors, batteries, chargers and displays, so their parts aren’t interchangeable, and an older bike can’t be upgraded to the Smart System.
Owning a Bosch: What Our Workshop Sees
As a Bosch Accredited Service Centre, with staff who complete annual Bosch training, our Milton workshop handles diagnostics, software updates, battery health checks and Bosch warranty claims. Owners often upgrade components such as displays, and when a motor or battery reaches the end of its life, we replace it so the bike keeps going. In our experience, a well-maintained Bosch system is dependable for many years, and Bosch is what most of our riders choose: on our Owners Club Orange 360 ride, around 90% of the bikes were Bosch mid-drives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Performance Upgrade 2.0 apply to my bike?
It applies to Smart System bikes with the Performance Line CX, Cargo Line or Performance Line PX, but the bike maker sets the maximum values for each model, and some depend on the battery fitted. Open the eBike Flow app: it shows the maximum values approved for your bike. Older Gen 4 and earlier bikes aren’t included.
Does more torque mean less range?
Yes, if you use it. Bosch notes that higher torque and support settings use more battery and increase wear on the drivetrain. Many riders keep the factory settings for everyday riding and save the extra for steep climbs or heavy loads.
What’s the difference between the Performance Line and the Performance Line PX?
Both are smooth, quiet motors for road and path riding. The PX has more torque (85Nm, up to 90Nm) and a gearbox that decouples above 25km/h, which makes it the better choice for touring with luggage or hilly commutes. The Performance Line (75Nm) is lighter and suits everyday riding on flatter routes.
Compare Bosch Motors on a Test Ride
The best way to feel the difference between Bosch motors is to ride them back to back. Visit us at 26 Douglas Street, Milton, with free parking, and browse our full range of Bosch mid-drive e-bikes. To compare Bosch with the Shimano and Avinox motors we also sell, see our mid-drive electric bikes. Book a test ride or call 07 2102 9775.
