E mountain bikes for off-road use are now braked at 25 km/h. A legal brake that ensures that the trail remains a trail and not a motocross course. And so far, no motor manufacturer has resisted this. On the contrary: Bosch & Co. are even doing everything they can to prevent tuning. Because they know exactly what is at stake - nothing less than the future of the sport. More bans mean lower sales figures.

However, another competition is now raging within these boundaries: Who has the most powerful drive? Who brings the most power to the trail? DJI has made an announcement with the Avinox motor: 120 Newton meters of power transmission with up to 1000 watts of maximum power. Bosch responded at the beginning of May with the new CX-R motor. Welcome to the world of high-powered sports cars among e-bikes.

Powerful competition as a danger?

However, the more powerful the motors, the louder the question: where does it all lead? Do we need a limit? E-Mountainbike magazine took up the debate at its recent think tank event and summarized it in an interesting, albeit somewhat lengthy report. There is a self-imposed limit of 750 watts in the room. But the next conflict flares up immediately: Will this put the brakes on ideas, on progress, on fascination?

The development could move in a similar direction to car motorsport: regulated everyday life, limitless performance on the track. But where is this race track for mountain bikers à la Nürburgring? And would such racetracks even be in demand, especially as they are diametrically opposed to mountain biking in its DNA? Free, wild and close to nature would become a trial of strength in a cage for horsepower hunters.

The discussion has just begun

All this shows: The sport of mountain biking is at a crossroads. The discussion about motor power is more than just a technical gimmick - it is a reflection of the sport. It is about identity, about responsibility, about the image it presents to the outside world. The current votes are the start of a relevant and potentially heated discussion about our perspectives and our values.