Brose

Summary

Brose is a German engineering company that produces high-performance mid-drive e-bike motor systems, known for their automotive-grade belt drive, quiet operation, and natural pedal feel. Best recognized for the Brose Drive S Mag and Drive T units, Brose motors are used by premium bike brands seeking refined power delivery and stealthy aesthetics.

Key Facts

  • Introduced: 2014 (first e-bike drive unit released)
  • Category: E-Bike System / Technology / Brands
  • Also known as: Brose Drive System, Brose Drive S, Brose Mag, Brose T
  • Motor type: Mid-drive, internal belt drive
  • Torque output: Up to 90 Nm (Drive S Mag)
  • Assist levels: Multiple, depending on OEM firmware
  • Batteries: OEM-supplied or Brose battery integration
  • Drive units: Drive S Mag, Drive S Alu, Drive T, Drive TF, Drive S Alu Flex
  • Used by: Specialized, Bulls, Rotwild, M1 Sporttechnik, and others
  • Official website: https://www.brose-ebike.com

Overview

Brose entered the e-bike market in 2014, bringing with it over a century of experience in mechatronics and electric motor design from the automotive sector. Unlike other major players in the e-bike space, Brose doesn’t just design motors — it manufactures core motor components used in automotive steering and HVAC systems. That background shaped its e-bike philosophy: smooth, quiet, refined — more “motor assist” than “electric throttle.”

What distinguishes Brose in the competitive e-bike motor world is its use of an internal carbon-reinforced belt drive, which separates it from the traditional gear-driven setups found in Bosch, Shimano, or Yamaha systems. This design reduces mechanical noise, eliminates backlash, and gives Brose motors their signature smoothness.

Brose doesn’t sell complete e-bike systems under its own brand in the way Bosch or Shimano does. Instead, it offers modular drive units to OEMs, who pair them with their own batteries, controllers, and displays — often deeply integrated into frame designs. The most well-known example is Specialized’s Turbo series, which uses Brose motors rebranded and custom-tuned for a proprietary feel.

While Brose has a relatively low profile among casual riders, it holds a strong presence in the high-performance e-MTB and trekking space, particularly among brands that value ride feel and integration flexibility.

How It Works

Motor Design

At the core of every Brose motor is a permanent magnet brushless DC motor. What sets it apart is the use of a Gates carbon belt inside the motor housing — a feature almost unique among major e-bike systems.

This internal belt replaces traditional metal gear reduction systems, offering several advantages:

  • Near-silent operation under load
  • Minimal vibration or backlash when starting or stopping pedaling
  • Improved durability, as belts don’t wear in the same way as gears
  • Smoother torque curve, especially during transitions

The motor casing is designed to fit into standard bottom bracket shells, giving OEMs more design freedom. The Drive S Mag, for instance, uses a magnesium housing for reduced weight — helping bring the total unit to around 2.9 kg, competitive with the lightest full-power motors on the market.

Torque & Cadence Support

Brose motors use a triple sensor system:

  • Torque sensor (measures rider force)
  • Cadence sensor (measures pedal rotation)
  • Speed sensor (typically located at the rear wheel)

This allows precise modulation of assistance. The system is tuned to prioritize natural riding feel over raw torque. That said, the latest Drive S Mag can deliver up to 90 Nm — enough for serious trail riding and steep climbs.

Drive Modes

Unlike Bosch or Shimano, Brose does not lock users into fixed drive modes. Instead, OEM partners (like Specialized or Rotwild) configure motor behavior using:

  • Custom firmware
  • Proprietary user interfaces
  • Bluetooth apps for tuning ride feel

This makes the Brose platform more flexible — but also more fragmented. Two bikes with Brose motors may ride very differently depending on how the manufacturer tuned them.

Variants & Ride Feel

Drive S Mag

  • Flagship motor for performance e-MTBs
  • 90 Nm torque
  • 2.9 kg (magnesium casing)
  • Found in high-end trail and enduro bikes
  • Tuned for fast response and steep climbs

Drive S Alu

  • Slightly heavier (aluminum casing), same torque as S Mag
  • Ideal for trail bikes and sporty commuters
  • Similar ride feel, but ~500 g heavier

Drive T / T Alu

  • Touring-focused motor with ~70 Nm torque
  • Optimized for quietness and smooth assistance
  • Often seen on trekking bikes and hybrid e-bikes

Drive TF

  • “Turbo” version for speed pedelecs
  • Supports assistance up to 45 km/h (28 mph)
  • Used in some urban speed e-bikes in Europe

Ride Feel

Riders often describe Brose motors as:

  • Extremely quiet, with almost no audible whine
  • Highly natural-feeling, thanks to the low-friction belt and progressive torque curve
  • Responsive but not jumpy, with smooth startup and fadeout
  • Less aggressive than Bosch or Shimano in max-output modes

Notable Implementations

  • Specialized Turbo Levo – Uses a custom Brose Drive S Mag motor (branded as “Specialized 2.2”), fine-tuned for trail control and integrated into the Smart Control system.
  • Bulls E-Core EVO AM – All-mountain e-MTB platform powered by Drive S Mag.
  • Rotwild R.X750 – Long-travel e-MTB with Brose and massive internal battery capacity.
  • M1 Sporttechnik Spitzing Evolution – Carbon-framed e-MTBs with Brose Drive TF.
  • Specialized Turbo Vado – Urban/commuter bikes using Brose motors with integrated lights and displays.

Related Terms

References

  • Brose eBike Systems: Technical Documentation
  • Specialized eMTB System Overviews
  • Bulls and Rotwild OEM Motor Integration Guides
  • Gates Carbon Drive White Papers
  • BikeRadar and E-Mountainbike Magazine Reviews
  • Dealer Training Materials (Brose + OEM Partners)
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