How to get more mileage out of your EMTB on long trips

Go anywhere on a new eMTB, and chances are someone will ask how far you can ride it. Like an electric vehicle, the range of an e-bike is a major deciding factor for riders when they consider getting an EMTB, and what EMTB they will get. While there are a few obvious factors like battery size in Watt hours (Wh) and the level of support it uses, the best answer to the range question is probably the most frustrating: 'it depends.'

There are many small, and not so small, things that will determine the distance an EMTB will reach, and a few tools to help you understand what that range is, and how to get the most out of your bike for each ride. .

Understand the mechanisms of your system

This is probably the biggest one. While keeping your bike on Turbo will feel amazing, it can also mean that when you come out of tight corners you are braking more than necessary and often – wasting your EMTB battery power to give you more range. Obviously, sticking your bike in ECO will give you great range, but for most of us ECO feels like it's too safe if you're too optimistic about the range you'll have, and it doesn't really measure up to the amount of fun you'll have on the trail with your new EMTB.

To help combat decision fatigue and wondering if you're in the best mode for the ride you're doing, Bosch has two dynamic modes. You can choose TOUR+ or EMTB. Both modes offer a very wide band of support that adapts to your riding style. The EMTB will offer 340% support, and on the Smart System bike will include Extended Boost, where you still get support for a very short time after you stop pedaling. With a high level of support, and continuous foot help to hit jumps or clear obstacles – this is the choice when riding singletrack. If you need everything the system has, you'll get it. But if you're cruising, the system will run at lower support levels, saving your battery and therefore extending your range.

TOUR+ mode has all the dynamic response of EMTB but without the Extended Boost feature, and compared to EMTB mode you'll find it has a slightly more natural feel at low outputs on flat terrain. Although not designed for mountain bike performance, this mod is a great one to use to improve your mileage without losing support.

Customize your mods

Using the Bosch Flow App, you can fine-tune all available modes in your EMTB system. Modes can be easily customized with a slider on your phone's screen – and you can quickly restore the default settings if you feel you've made a mistake. You fix support at the start, which is the overall level of support available. The next thing to consider is how strong the support is – think about how quickly the support is available. You can also reduce the maximum speed at which the assistance cuts off, from 25km/h. This may put more stress on you depending on where you ride – but it can make a big difference in distance. Finally, you can increase or decrease the torque level, up to 85Nm. The higher torque provides more support, especially on low terrain, which can include climbing uphill. If you reduce the torque here you will save on the work the system has to do – and increase the range you can get. Some minor adjustments to all elements will add up! Yes, with pre-programmed modes that already offer different levels of support to find the right mix between range and utility – Bosch engineers have already done a great job. But if you like to draw – you can.

Take care of your battery

The battery in your EMTB is an expensive part, and it's a big part of getting the most range out of your bike not just in one ride, but in battery life. Charging and storage are two important things to consider. The battery should not be stored full or empty, and Bosch recommends a 30-60% charge when storing it.

When charging your battery, it is best to do it at normal room temperature. So if your garage is out in the sun it's not ideal – and for those with cold winters, charging in a frozen shed is also not ideal. Bosch also recommends disconnecting the charger after charging. Although their cost will not fill the battery, it pays to be careful. Bosch also recommends that you avoid using your battery to drain it frequently.

In general, aim to keep your battery as close to room temperature as possible, and avoid over-discharging or over-charging. All of these things are small details in themselves, but you'll end up with more battery cycles and therefore greater battery usage over its lifetime.

Connect the range extender

Last year Bosch released the PowerMore 250Wh range extender. Many new Bosch-equipped eMTBs like the Pivot Shuttle AM ​​are compatible with this additional battery pack, and it's a surefire way to really increase the range of your existing eMTB. Some bike designs even opt for a Bosch 625Wh battery, to be used with the PowerMore 250Wh range extender for big days. We like this idea as you end up with a light bike with plenty of range for most of your riding, but a great 875Wh for big jobs. Or add 250Wh to the 750Wh battery and pack 1000Wh to use EMTB and Extended Boost mode for hours on end.

Configure the system – and system options

Regarding the bike and the rider, there are several things that work to improve the range. Although the size of your battery in Watt hours can be considered a tank of fuel, the range is about how you can use that fuel. Using the methods mentioned above makes a big difference, but so does the type of car, the type of bike and the weight of the system.

Bosch produces the popular CX system with 85Nm torque and 600W peak power, and the SX system with 55Nm torque and the same 600W peak power. Typically the CX model will come with a larger battery and the SX model will come with a larger 400Wh battery. However, given that the maximum torque is lower, it will use 400Wh more cautiously than the CX system. Unless, of course, you tune your CX system to limit all support with the Bosch Flow app. So again – balance.

What won't change is the weight difference between the SX motor and the CX motor, which is close to 800g, and the weight difference of the stock battery, which is probably a 2kg difference between the Bosch 400Wh battery and the 750Wh battery. And here is an important point: heavy bikes, or rider and bike systems, will use more Watt hours than light systems. Some differences won't make a big impact, but unfortunately a light rider is likely to find more width in the same system to one 20kg heavier under the same type of use and environment. You can consider a few changes, even things like tire boxes will make a difference. If you don't need to install very heavy casings, you can save 600g of rotating weight, and probably increase the width of your system without changing any support levels.

Many bike brands take this into account, with the Bosch SX mid-range power system built into short-travel eMTBs with variable travel, and the powerful CX system and large batteries going into long-distance, powerful and heavy-duty eMTBs.

How will you get more width?

There are considerations here. Are you buying a bike with the biggest battery so you have more range for a few big rides a year? Or do you find a bike that suits you best and buy a PowerMore range extender? Should you get an SX bike, or just tune your CX trails in the Bosch Flow App in the morning before a long day on the trails? The bike takeaway is to understand what you want from your EMTB. If you want to rip the trails hard and climb the slopes – increasing your range probably comes down to an increase in Watt hours. If you want to explore big backcountry loops without getting stuck in the backcountry without the support you want, you'd be much better off using the correct modes. Either way, take care of your battery and charge it properly to get the best mileage, every ride, for more rides.