More news on Shimano's STEPS e-bike systems

[flecc]

Latest news of their plans and a photo of the mid motor on this link

 

[mike killay]

That looks really small and neat.
In their photo, the bike does not have a chain fitted so I wonder if it is going to be hub gears or derailleur

 

[flecc]

It's an integrated with hub gears system at the start Mike, an complete OEM package for e-bike manufacturers. I wouldn't be surprised to see a derailleur option later though. They already have automatic changing gear hubs and an electronically operated derailleur system so those would integrate nicely.

 

[RobF]

Years ago, the Japanese were well known for taking European products and all but copying them, albeit with some improvements.

Something like that may be happening here.

Looks very similar to the new Bosch system, and I see Shimano are going with a large central display and thumb remote.

What will be good for the customer is Shimano's presence in the retail bike market.

It should be a lot easier to get service/warranty work done.

 

[Yamdude]

Years ago, the Japanese were well known for taking European products and all but copying them, albeit with some improvements.

Something like that may be happening here.

Looks very similar to the new Bosch system, and I see Shimano are going with a large central display and thumb remote.

What will be good for the customer is Shimano's presence in the retail bike market.

It should be a lot easier to get service/warranty work done.

Indeed..... and my personal opinion, I will always have more faith in Japanese made products than I will from European made ones.

 

[Martin@e-bikeshop]

Thanks for the update Flecc.
Looks very much like a hybrid of the 2 (largest) crank drive motors currently on the market
Lets wait to see how it rides / sells..

Regards
Martin

 

[flecc]

That is the big question Martin. Their first system wasn't adopted by anyone, so with a surfeit of crank drive units on offer, will anyone bother with this? I see they are relaunching the first system again as well, so they aren't short of optimism.

However, they have formed an e-bike systems division and as the largest bike component manufacturer they are probably determined to eventually succeed in this market as well.

 

[Martin@e-bikeshop]

That is the big question Martin. Their first system wasn't adopted by anyone, so with a surfeit of crank drive units on offer, will anyone bother with this? I see they are relaunching the first system again as well, so they aren't short of optimism.

However, they have formed an e-bike systems division and as the largest bike component manufacturer they are probably determined to eventually succeed in this market as well.

Yes we will have to see what happens. I too get the feeling they are going to hit it much harder this time. I am a fan of many of the Shimano components to date, so fingers crossed they will impress everyone with the new system.

Like you said above with many Crank Drive manufacturers now present it could be tough. Still surprised with Shimano being in the position they are in didn't pick up on this market years ago ahead of the rest.

Regards
Martin