While Bosch was one of the few brands not fully engaged in the eMTB power wars, this new update just made them much more aggressive. Bosch just announced the “Performance Upgrade 2.0,” and it isn’t just a minor firmware patch. Riders are getting a massive update push, effectively turning the current CX and CX-R units into more powerful models to pair with the disruptive new Avinox motors.
What’s most impressive here is that Bosch is delivering most of this via a software update for existing “Smart System” hardware. If you already own a CX or CX-R bike, you’re basically getting a new, more powerful motor on May 4th for the grand total of zero dollars.
Bosch Update Overview
- Up to 120nm torque
- 600% rider support
- Extended “Boost” mode
- Drivetrain engagement refinements
- Faster charging
- Better connectivity with Garmin and “Trick Tracking”
More Power and Support
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: 120 Newton-meters of torque. For context, the previous gold standard for the “Race” motor was 100Nm, with the standard CX sitting at 85Nm. Bosch is now unlocking 120Nm across the board for the CX, CX-R, and Cargo lines. That is a staggering amount of grunt. Combined with a jump to 600% support (up from 400%). Bosch has also made the extended boost mode more tunable in the Flow app, giving riders more control over its duration and output.
Bosch
But Bosch is being smart about it. They aren’t forcing this mode on everyone. Through the Flow App, you get a slider to decide how much of that 120Nm you actually want. It’s a nod to the fact that while more power is fun, it also eats up drivetrain components and state of charge, and it doesn’t always make bikes better.
The peak power update and higher torque are cool, but there is also a subtle new feature that helps make the Bosch systems feel even more refined. The Drivetrain Tensioner addresses the “clunk” or “dead zone” when you first engage the pedals. Bosch’s new software optimization essentially “pre-tensions” the internal motor freewheel, keeping the motor and the rear wheel in constant readiness. In theory, this should make those mid-climb situations, where you have to restart on a 20% grade, feel significantly more natural.
Fast Charging
On the hardware side, the new 12A Charger is a genuine game-changer. By utilizing Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, the same stuff that makes those tiny, high-wattage MacBook bricks possible, Bosch has built a charger that puts out over 500 watts while remaining smaller and lighter than the old 4A unit.
Bosch
If you’re doing big alpine days or “battery-swap” racing, being able to dump a massive amount of juice into a PowerTube 800 in a fraction of the time is a huge logistical advantage.
Connectivity
Bosch is also introducing Trick Check. Using the motor’s internal IMU (the sensors that track movement and tilt), the system can now automatically recognize jumps, manuals, and wheelies. Your Kiox display will now provide a “scorecard” of your session. This is an interesting feature, but not something I imagine a ton of people are demanding, but it could still be kind of fun.
Bosch
Bosch
More practically, the Live Data Interface finally opens the ecosystem up to third parties. You can now push your live e-bike metrics, battery percentage, motor output, and cadence directly to a Garmin Edge head unit.
Bosch