Bosch 2023 Updates. Hill Hold, ABS and more

[Rob Rides EMTB]

I had the chance to try some new updates form Bosch recently and the new tech coming out is quite impressive. Finally, we have a mini remote. Sadly, existing Smart Controller users cannot replace it with the Mini Remote, as the brains of the bike (bluetooth etc) is now integrated into the Top Tube System Controller.

Hill Hold is actually useful, and is now available as an over the air update. And finally, ABS.... Woah, you just got to try this, and I will share a video on it soon. But I think it could actually be just as much a performance benefit as much as a safety benefit...

 

[aarfeldt]

Very informative - allways nice to know what is in the pipeline.

 

[Another One]

Great when will we start seeing the new system on bikes and if so any idea what manufacturers?

 

[#lazy]

So 12 years of development and they make a controller that’s not as good as the old spesh one

 

[Bummers]

When will they enable the kiox 300 to be used as a GPS display

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

When will they enable the kiox 300 to be used as a GPS display

Very soon, via Komoot integration (it already syncs Komoot routes via the Flow app). Next, the kiox 300 will show navigation directions on it.

 

[dobbyhasfriends]

hill hold actually made me laugh because it just strikes me as utterly useless

am I wrong?

 

[dobbyhasfriends]

Dude. I didn’t even read what that meant.
I think I should consider my granny sometimes. She was really sweet. After like 8 shots of Canadian goose. God damn bunch of weenies.

by no means am I what anyone today wants to use as a metric.

well unless they care about result or performance. But that’s not a metric of 2022.

what ?????

 

[B1rdie]

My bikes all came with hill holder thingies, two! One on each side of the handlebar

 

[#lazy]

My bikes all came with hill holder thingies, two! One on each side of the handlebar

But your fingers will be too busy changing the angle of the lights and fiddling with the gps

 

[Mteam]

I had the chance to try some new updates form Bosch recently and the new tech coming out is quite impressive. Finally, we have a mini remote. Sadly, existing Smart Controller users cannot replace it with the Mini Remote, as the brains of the bike (bluetooth etc) is now integrated into the Top Tube System Controller.

Hill Hold is actually useful, and is now available as an over the air update. And finally, ABS.... Woah, you just got to try this, and I will share a video on it soon. But I think it could actually be just as much a performance benefit as much as a safety benefit...

 

[R120]

I have mixed views on the ABS - on the one hand I can see it being a great thing to have, but on the other would it make me lazy? - proper braking technique is probably the key skill to going fast on an MTB after body positioning, and one of the key fundamentals to progressing.

However if I was riding around town on a cargo bike then the ABS would be top of my list of things i wanted.

 

[dobbyhasfriends]

yeah

I dont even remember last night

ok, now it makes sense

 

[kombos]

I have mixed views on the ABS - on the one hand I can see it being a great thing to have, but on the other would it make me lazy? - proper braking technique is probably the key skill to going fast on an MTB after body positioning, and one of the key fundamentals to progressing.

However if I was riding around town on a cargo bike then the ABS would be top of my list of things i wanted.

Sounds interesting….extra complication, but could be useful….

Would want to be able to disable ABS (or any nanny controls) for low traction scenarios where the ABS could prevent you from purposefully needing/wanting to skid the tires….same as on a 4x4 vehicle when offroading….

 

[Planemo]

Would want to be able to disable ABS (or any nanny controls) for low traction scenarios where the ABS could prevent you from purposefully needing/wanting to skid the tires…

How often do you 'need' to lock the front wheel on an MTB?

 

[Mteam]

How often do you 'need' to lock the front wheel on an MTB?

Rarely.

How often do I accidentally/unintentionally lock the front wheel on a MTB? Never.

 

[Bomble]

It also stops the rear lifting I believe. Sounds really interesting to me.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

You can disable the ABS completely.

I went into the test of the bike quite skeptical. I also rarely lock the front wheel. But after riding a few trails I realised that it wasnt about not skidding the front wheel, it was all about how hard I could brake, how quickly I could reach maximum braking and how fast I could slow the bike down.

It became more about reaching maximum braking performance, faster.

I left realising that with ABS, I can get close to 99.9% of front wheel braking performance, 100% of the time (even down the most technical and loose descents), and my regular biking, maybe I can get to 85-90%?

I think in wet, slippy mud and roots in the UK winter it possibly will provide even more of a performance benefit.

It’s not perfect though. I didn’t like the lever design. And I got a couple of calibrations errors (changing gears when lifting the rear wheel whilst the bike was stationary caused a calibration error). But as a near first EMTB ABS solution it’s promising.

Side note: after 2 days on ABS I had an OTB riding a techy trail in Verbier. I can’t say for sure ABS would have made any difference as I think my front wheel hooked up on a techy rocky DH trail (Tires Fire, Verbier) but I’m off the bike for a 5 days to a week to heal

 

[dobbyhasfriends]

You can disable the ABS completely.

I went into the test of the bike quite skeptical. I also rarely lock the front wheel. But after riding a few trails I realised that it wasnt about not skidding the front wheel, it was all about how hard I could brake, how quickly I could reach maximum braking and how fast I could slow the bike down.

It became more about reaching maximum braking performance, faster.

I left realising that with ABS, I can get close to 99.9% of front wheel braking performance, 100% of the time (even down the most technical and loose descents), and my regular biking, maybe I can get to 85-90%?

I think in wet, slippy mud and roots in the UK winter it possibly will provide even more of a performance benefit.

It’s not perfect though. I didn’t like the lever design. And I got a couple of calibrations errors (changing gears when lifting the rear wheel whilst the bike was stationary caused a calibration error). But as a near first EMTB ABS solution it’s promising.

Side note: after 2 days on ABS I had an OTB riding a techy trail in Verbier. I can’t say for sure ABS would have made any difference as I think my front wheel hooked up on a techy rocky DH trail (Tires Fire, Verbier) but I’m off the bike for a 5 days to a week to heal

got 2 important questions here....
1. is the bike ok
2 did you get it on video

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

got 2 important questions here....
1. is the bike ok
2 did you get it on video

1 - yep bike all good haha
2 - the crash was hard, it made my GoPro crash. I tried file recovery software to get that file back but no luck. It was pretty spectacular crash

 

[B1rdie]

Even though braking skills are key to riding fast, I see the abs as more of a safety than a speed aid.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Even though braking skills are key to riding fast, I see the abs as more of a safety than a speed aid.

I think there could just be be enough performance gains in ABS that it gets banned from racing. If you can brake at 100% power every single time across a race then you have larger windows to be travelling faster.

The software actually has a Street mode and a Trail mode. The latter has more front wheel slip to increase braking performance. I imagine a race mode wouldn’t be too hard for them to implement.

Would be an interesting timed test by a pro on a 2-3 min DH/ enduro course

 

[RustyMTB]

I didn't spend hours on end in A&E so that Bosch could swan up with their carefully engineered technology & take away my endo skillz.

 

[R120]

Can you pull monster stoppies on it? Or when you lift rear wheel does it cut out

 

[Mikerb]

Geeze. So with all this heavy tech, do they have anti theft tracking?!?

yep........bike lock/bike alarm and gps tracking via the Connect Module

 

[Baron]

You can disable the ABS completely.

I went into the test of the bike quite skeptical. I also rarely lock the front wheel. But after riding a few trails I realised that it wasnt about not skidding the front wheel, it was all about how hard I could brake, how quickly I could reach maximum braking and how fast I could slow the bike down.

It became more about reaching maximum braking performance, faster.

I left realising that with ABS, I can get close to 99.9% of front wheel braking performance, 100% of the time (even down the most technical and loose descents), and my regular biking, maybe I can get to 85-90%?

I think in wet, slippy mud and roots in the UK winter it possibly will provide even more of a performance benefit.

It’s not perfect though. I didn’t like the lever design. And I got a couple of calibrations errors (changing gears when lifting the rear wheel whilst the bike was stationary caused a calibration error). But as a near first EMTB ABS solution it’s promising.

Side note: after 2 days on ABS I had an OTB riding a techy trail in Verbier. I can’t say for sure ABS would have made any difference as I think my front wheel hooked up on a techy rocky DH trail (Tires Fire, Verbier) but I’m off the bike for a 5 days to a week to heal

Brilliant write up as always Rob I’m running MT7,s with upgraded levers(stock plastic ones were horrendous)and think the braking performance is some of the best I’ve experienced. Would you say I’m going to loose some of the “feel” I currently have with the new ABS system.

 

[MrSimmo]

I dunno, I don't like the idea of ABS on a mountain bike. Commuting etc yup but for me it removes the purity of a direct connection with the tyres/ground (for example I've never used ABS on track in a car nor offroad in/on any vehicle).

That said, I used to think EMTBs were for fat old lazy people. Then I rode one and now I won't go back...

 

[Zimmerframe]

it removes the purity of a direct connection with the ground

If it helps remove the purity of the connection of my head with the ground due to inneptitude - I'm all for it.

 

[Zimmerframe]

That said, I used to think EMTBs were for fat old lazy people. Then I rode one, I was right, and now I won't go back...

Your statement suggests time had passed... So I corrected it with a presumption ..

 

[MrSimmo]

Your statement suggests time had passed... So I corrected it with a presumption ..

Haha, spot on Mr Z! After this summer of being away and not riding, I struggle to ride across a flat car park in turbo without needing a defibrillator!