Test: In the run-up to this year's Eurobike, the Japanese component giant Shimano announced a new e-bike drive with the Steps E6100. This is positioned between the likewise new E5000 and the MTB drives. One would therefore like to address sporty city drivers, commuters and trekking drivers with it. The Shimano Steps E6100 follows on seamlessly from its predecessor, the E6000, but brings a lot of technical innovations with it.
The engine itself now fits into the mount of the sporty E8000 and has thus shrunk significantly. This is also reflected in the weight: the new Shimano offspring weighs only 2,8 kg. The compact dimensions also allow bike manufacturers to create customary bike geometries without having to pay too much attention to the motor.
New batteries are responsible for the energy supply, which are also more compact than their predecessors and will be available with a capacity of 418Wh or 504Wh. In conjunction with the new charger, charging times are significantly reduced. The large battery can be charged from 0% to 80% in just 2,5 hours.
https://www.velomotion.de/2018/06/shimano-steps-e6100-antrieb/
There is also something new in the areas of display and connectivity. The display, which is already familiar from the E6000, has received a small redesign, but remains largely the same as before. Easy to read, high contrast. What is new, however, is the Bluetooth Smart and ANT+ interface. This allows the drive information to be displayed on end devices from other third-party manufacturers. At the market launch, Shimano is initially working together with Garmin and Sigma. As a third option, the smartphone (iPhone or Android) can also be used as a display in the future; there will be a separate ride app for this.
In the course of the E61oo presentation, the Japanese also lifted the curtain on the Inter5-E, the first real e-bike shifting hub from Shimano. This offers a range of 263% spread over five gears. It copes perfectly with the increased force on the e-bike and, as usual, is completely sealed and therefore 100% weatherproof and low-maintenance.
The Shimano Steps E6100 in a practical test
Technical details are all well and good, but in the end it always depends on how the drive performs in practice. For this purpose, Shimano had invited to Berlin to be able to extensively test drive a test fleet with the new E6100 motor in everyday practice. Curious as I am, right from the start I chose one of the bikes on which not only the new motor was responsible for the support, but was also equipped with the new Inter-5 hub. In addition, a previously installed smartphone on the handlebars took over the functions of the display in conjunction with the Ride app.
At the beginning I opted for the manual shift mode and the lowest support level: A good choice for the busy streets of Friedrichsain. The motor supports you clearly, but without becoming uncomfortable or unnatural. The background noise is barely perceptible in Eco mode, even on small side streets without traffic, and it is a clear improvement on the predecessor, which always emitted an audible hum. On my test bike, the support level was changed by briefly pressing the button on the control unit. Small and inconspicuous, it hung in the cable in front of the stem and can therefore be easily reached and operated by reasonably experienced drivers even while driving. If you want more comfort, you can of course also mount a conventional control unit on the handlebars.
Shimano Steps E6100: glide without resistance
The other two support modes are significantly more active and quickly accelerate the bike to speeds of around 20 km/h without pedaling too much. If you reach the magical 25 km/h, the engine unfortunately reduces the power quite abruptly - here I would have wished for a somewhat smoother transition. However, once the motor has said goodbye, pedaling is easy, since the entire drive is completely decoupled and therefore offers no resistance. If desired, you can move the bike quite easily without motor support on flat stretches with 100% muscle power.
After just a few meters, I also turned my attention to the new gear hub. At first glance, five gears don't sound like much, but due to the wide range they cover the relevant areas - especially because Shimano decided to leave out the easy gears. After all, thanks to the motor, you don't need them anyway. Shifting is typically Di2 crisp, fast and reliable at all times.
Shimano Steps E6100: automatic shifting is convincing
I wasn't entirely convinced by the already familiar gear lever: the pressure point of the two buttons could be a little more defined here. All the better that, in my opinion, you don't need them in urban use: the automatic gearshift works just too well. Activated by briefly pressing a button, it automatically changes to the appropriate gear depending on various parameters such as pedaling power and speed. The highlight here: the shift lever remains active and you can change gear yourself at any time without deactivating the automatic system. From these manual interventions, the automatic system creates an individual user behavior and adapts it.
The third innovation was emblazoned directly on the handlebars: Instead of the display, all information from the drive was shown on a smartphone. A beta version of the Ride app was responsible for this, which worked without any problems apart from a few small blemishes. The individual adjustability of the different screens, between which you can switch with a swipe on the display, is particularly nice and intuitive.
