Shimano EP8 gen2 (EP801) first ride review

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I had the chance to look at the new Shimano EP8 (EP801). It was a cold and icy day, which wasn't perfect, but it's not like I could decline the opportunity. I try to illustrate how silent it is in my video. Check it out or keep on reading below.


Rattle and hum?​

The test bike is a 2022 model and the new EP8 has been retrofitted, that's why I'm not taking a closer look at the bike, it really doesn't exist. The noise level while pedaling always was quite nice on the old EP8 (EP800). It was more silent than any previous Shimano motor, and I found it more silent than the Bosch Performance CX gen4. Watch this sequence to hear the EP8 rattle and a comparison aganst the E8000 and Performance CX.



Riding studded tyres on ice and icy snow is just so loud. But there is no doubt, the rattle is gone on the new EP8 (EP801). Of course, I have no way of knowing if the rattle will suddenly appear after months of riding. All I can say is the EP8 I rode is one of the more silent full fat, full power emtb motors available.

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Power and control is still great​

The EP8 always offered a great blend of power and control. The motor was so easy to control on rough trails, even at maximum assistance. And the new EP8 is no worse. It might actually be even a tad better, it's difficult to say without comparing them directly. I'm pretty sure power delivery has been improved for 2023 though. The motor feels powerful at a bigger range of pedaling frequencies compared to the EP800. Even though the EP801 feels improved, some competitors are still .more powerful at higher cadence.

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Bolt pattern is the same on the new motor, making it an easy fot on this bike. But there is some space between the motor andre frame, as shown in the image above. This space is not there with the EP800. It indicates that while the new motor looks similar, the shape is slightly different.

First impression​

There is nothing the new EP8 does worse than the old one. But it does a few things better, like noise and high cadence power. This is now among the more silent full fat emtb motors.
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About author
knut7
Knut Nes
Main editor at emtbforums.com and owner of emtb.no.
https://emtb.no/contact/

Comments

knut7
Deimos said:
Retro fitted? So new Motor + Battery and cable harness?
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Yeah, that's right. I rode it with a 500Wh "gen2" battery. For most people it would probably be way cheaper selling the old bike and buying a new than trying to rebuild it.
 
SwampNut
Comparisons on the new display? The only thing I like about my EP8-powered bike is the very meager display. I would really like to see 10 bars of battery or a number, and I'd like to see cadence and speed at the same time.

At a couple hundred miles, my EP8 still doesn't have a rattle, I think. (I ride on nearly 100% chunky stuff which may mask it, or in sand where I am at full power all the time.)
 
R
Is there info anywhere about what is/isn't compatible between the EP800 and the EP801? I have a decent spec Heckler with an E8000 that I suspect is going to fail soon. The range on the batteries I have is a lot lower than it was when new as well. Really hard to decide what to do, generally really happy with the bike.

I just about understand what I can/can't do with the EP800 and the bike, if I could get the parts, then I see the EP801! :)
 
knut7
SwampNut said:
Comparisons on the new display? The only thing I like about my EP8-powered bike is the very meager display. I would really like to see 10 bars of battery or a number, and I'd like to see cadence and speed at the same time.

At a couple hundred miles, my EP8 still doesn't have a rattle, I think. (I ride on nearly 100% chunky stuff which may mask it, or in sand where I am at full power all the time.)
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This bike had no display, so I haven't seen the new ones yet.
 
E
How did you determine that the rattle is gone? Did you ride rough trails fast? Did you check by moving the crank arm back and forth by hand without a chain or by rolling the bike forward while doing it? Also some frames enhance the rattling by their kinematic design and frame. Did the ep8 in that framr rattle?
 
knut7
electricbogaloo said:
How did you determine that the rattle is gone? Did you ride rough trails fast? Did you check by moving the crank arm back and forth by hand without a chain or by rolling the bike forward while doing it? Also some frames enhance the rattling by their kinematic design and frame. Did the ep8 in that framr rattle?
Click to expand...
I haven't tested a single EP800 bike that didn't have the rattle. It does vary though, and it can blend with cable rattle. By lifting and dropping the bike, there is a clunk sound. This was absent on the EP801. When coasting over rough surfaces, I always heard the rattle on the EP800. I tested that as much as I could with this rebuilt EP801 bike, and I never heard any rattle. Here's the noise of the EP800 illustrated
 
MAster
@knut7 in your video dropping the bike you are a in a small gear (large ring), have you tested it also on the 10 teeth ring? Can you do it on a hard/dry surface ? Can you feel some resistance when reversing the cranks ?
Best
Johnny
 
knut7
MAster said:
@knut7 in your video dropping the bike you are a in a small gear (large ring), have you tested it also on the 10 teeth ring? Can you do it on a hard/dry surface ? Can you feel some resistance when reversing the cranks ?
Best
Johnny
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I'll check it out at the next opportunity! Hopefully quite soon, and hopefully I'll have a better selection of surfaces that time :)
 
D
knut7 said:
I'll check it out at the next opportunity! Hopefully quite soon, and hopefully I'll have a better selection of surfaces that time :)
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The best way to try rattle is just grab chainring (not crank arm) and move backward-forward.
 
Chuckinboulder
Deimos said:
I've heard that the ep801 now has 600 watss of power vs. 500 on the ep8, so a good reason to upgrade if possible. I did hear that these are NOT backward compatible, but obviously he's got a 22 Yeti 160e fitted with one. Bummer that you spend 10K+ one year ago and now you have a second tier bike set-up having to spend $1500 min. to upgrade if even possible?
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drocho

Chuckinboulder​

That doesn't make much sens if the newer 801 wouldn't be compatible with older hardware like screens and batteries. But this is shimano.. everything could be possible :p
 
R
I did a bit of research to see what was/wasn't possible. The 801 seems to need the second generation batteries (v2 of the BMS?). It looks like you'd need a new motor, display, cabling, battery mount and batteries but if you did replace the lot, it might be possible to upgrade an existing install. This assumes the battery mount has the same size/mounting holes as the current ones which I can't find any data on but the limited pictures I've looked at look similar.

Given that I can't even get EP-8 parts and anything EP801 will be under warranty for two years, this looks like an interesting upgrade possibility in a couple of years time.

What saddens me is that my current batteries seem in a bad way (or the motor is, I can't really tell). I wish I could do something with the firmware to let the batteries last longer. I don't know if the v2 BMS has hardware changes to extend the life or it is software driven though. It is good Shimano are improving but frustrating for anyone who has an existing bike.

I wonder what the cheapest bike with an EP801 and 504Wh battery is...
 
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