Two companies just announced e-bike motors that could fundamentally change how bicycles are built. At the Eurobike trade show in Frankfurt, Avinox and Gobao both unveiled motor gearbox units with integrated electronic continuously variable transmissions — no derailleur, no cassette, no chain skipping.
Here’s how it works. You pick your preferred pedaling cadence, and the system automatically adjusts gearing to keep your legs spinning at that speed. Climbing a steep hill? It compensates. Prefer manual control? You can define as many virtual gears as you want.
The Avinox MG Concept was developed with input from Canyon, Commencal, Forbidden, and Mondraker — all of whom had prototype electric mountain bikes on display. Gobao, a newcomer, showed its X-series motor on a self-branded bike. First ride reports say both units are impressive and quieter than existing Pinion MGUs.
Why does this matter beyond the eMTB crowd? Electric mountain bikes have become a proving ground for cycling tech. Advances there trickle down to commuter and recreational bikes. The Amflow TL “eSUV” already uses an Avinox M2 motor in a more traditional setup.
The practical benefits are real: a more durable transmission that needs less maintenance, gears that shift under heavy load or at a standstill, and better handling from moving the transmission mass to the bike’s center.
Don’t expect these on affordable bikes soon. But the direction is clear.
