But where does all this innovation come from? The Pinion brand is made up of former Porsche automotive engineers and has drawn on their experience to create a system that combines an electric bike motor and gearbox into a single unit. All working wirelessly.
The new Pinion Motor Gearbox Unit (MGU) it is designed to solve the typical disadvantages of traditional gearboxes, namely resistance and reduction of shifting performance under stress.
At Eurobike, the German brand Pinion was able to present to the public an integration solution between gears (2 versions: 9v o 12v) and electric motor (from 85Nm and peak power from 600w).
TECHNICAL FEATURES
| PINION MGU E1.12 Motor: • Torque: equivalent to 85 Nm • Weight: 4.100 g • Q-factor: 174mm • Optimal cadence range: up to 120 RPM • Peak power: 600w – 800w (Speed Pedelec) Change: • Gears: 12 • Gear range: 600% • Gear jumps: 17,7% | PINION MGU E1.9 Motor: • Torque: equivalent to 85 Nm • Weight: 4.000 g • Q-factor: 174mm • Optimal cadence range: up to 120 RPM • Peak power: 600w – 800w (Speed Pedelec) Change: • Gears: 9 • Ratio range: 568% • Gear jumps: 24% |
PINION MGU WEIGHTS
Combining an ebike motor and 9/12 speed electronic shifting in a compact package brings the whole weight around 4kg. Just to make comparisons, the weight of a Bosch Performance Line CX is around 2,9kg. A little lighter is the Shimano EP8 which stops the scale at 2,6kg.
Let's then consider the weight of a rear derailleur, around 300gr, and we see that in any case there is not an abnormal increase in weight, especially if we are talking about e-bikes where having an extra 1kg, or a few hundred grams, doesn't make a difference like on a traditional mtb.
E-Drive MGU communicates which gear the cyclist is in and the cadence with which he is riding. This allows him to adjust the speed and motor support accordingly and to select the perfect gear ratio – Pinions
The brand claims it can shift gears precisely, reliably, instantaneously, and depending on the setting, it can even shift for you, ensuring you're always in the optimum gear.
Low maintenance is one of Pinion's strong points: the e-bike has brought many users closer to the cycling world and they have realized that even changing gears can be difficult for non-experts. Not going too far into this nasty topic, the new E-Drive system requires little maintenance: just an internal oil change every 10.000km.
PINION E-Drive Tech
Pinion designed its own hardware and software to control the MGU: data is sent to a series of patented internal sensors that continuously read input torque, engine speed and other metrics to ensure a natural ride feel. The engine is made in Germany.
The brand claims that the beating heart of the motor powering the E-Drive system is a state-of-the-art brushless motor that is compact, wear-resistant and made in Germany. All support modes can be customized via Pinion's FIT E-Bike Control app.
PINION MGU VERSIONS
As previously mentioned, we find 2 versions that differ mechanically: namely the version with 9-speed gearbox (PINION MGU E1.9) and 12-speed (PINION MGU E1.12). In terms of calibration software, E-Drive is available in the Comfort or Performance versions. These 2 modes are preconfigured by the manufacturers who will use the E-Drive on their bicycles: both can then be calibrated in terms of assistance by the end user via the app.
The Comfort configuration is designed to provide a balanced and natural ride feel, ideal for commutes and weekend adventures. The Performance setup was developed to cater to experienced riders, delivering finely tuned dynamic power.
There is also a dedicated Speed version for unlocked bikes which increases the maximum supported speed to 45km/h. The regular ebike version can deliver up to 600W or 400 percent assist at a maximum cadence of 120rpm, according to Pinion.
ADVANTAGES AND DEFECTS
Where there are gears, needless to say, there is greater friction: this is why we see this system not easily applicable on non-electric bikes, if a system ever arrives without an engine but only with an integrated gearbox. In the electric world, on the other hand, it can have enormous advantages for the great mass, i.e. those users who do not make maintenance their strong point. Or, they simply don't have that finesse that is often required in a certain type of bike, such as shifting: it may seem strange, but changing gears without hearing a rattling noise doesn't seem to be a common skill 🙂
That is why the Pinion system, from our point of view, will be successful. While the technical biker will be able, for quite a few more years, to decide which solution to adopt.
