The new Qore e-bike drive system is aiming to compete with the established market leaders. We've gained a first, detailed practical impression of the system and are now determining whether the Qore drive has what it takes to shake up the market – even though final test bench measurements are still pending.
The e-bike market is constantly evolving, and with the Qore drive, a new, promising player is entering the scene, emerging from a familiar environment: Qore is the new name of the Brose drive system, which, while still developed and manufactured in Berlin, is now part of the Yamaha Group. Although the exact background and naming are still undergoing a certain transformation, those responsible say this will not have any impact on the future of the drive system or its service. Rather, Qore aims to be understood as a holistic system that offers everything from motor and batteries to controls and software from a single source. An approach that promises clear advantages for bicycle manufacturers in terms of integration and service.
The heart of the project: The Qore Drive 3 Peak
Under the hood of the Qore system is the motor, still officially called Drive 3 Peak. The key specs are promising: Weighing just 2,9 kilograms, the unit delivers a maximum torque of 95 Newton meters and a peak power of 600 watts. This clearly positions Qore at the top of the market in terms of torque, while the pure rated power of 600 watts, while generous, is surpassed on paper by some competitors. The maximum assistance of 410 percent is impressive, which, in combination with the 48-volt system, should provide a decent boost.
Power supply with endurance: The Qore battery family
Two battery variants will be available at launch: the Battery Intube 800 with exactly 792 watt-hours and the Battery Intube 650 with 649 watt-hours. The larger 800 battery, which was installed in our test bike, makes a particularly good impression. Despite its aluminum housing, it weighs only 3,8 kilograms, making it around 100 grams lighter than comparable Bosch models. The design is more cuboidal, making it shorter but also wider than some other Intube batteries. This could lead to somewhat larger down tubes when integrated into the frame. The 48-volt battery uses modern 21700 cells in a 13S-3P configuration. A slimmer "slide-in" battery with 500 watt-hours has also been announced for the future, which is expected to enable more elegant frame integration starting with the 2027 model year.
Charging with a system: The Qore charger
To complement the system, Qore supplies a charger that's roughly comparable in size to the standard Bosch charger – perhaps a bit larger. A clever feature is the ability to choose between three different charging modes directly on the charger, without having to resort to an app.
Echo Mode: Charges gently with 2,5 amps only up to 85 percent to maximize the lifespan of the cells.
Standard Mode: charges with 3 amps up to 100 percent.
Fast mode: uses 4,5 amps for the fastest possible full charge.
Thanks to the 48-volt system and a charging voltage of 54 volts, the charger achieves a charging power of around 250 watts, according to our measurements. The 800 Wh battery was fully recharged in about four hours in Fast Mode, with the charging process being pleasingly linear – approximately 25 percent capacity per hour. While this isn't record-breakingly fast, it's a good compromise between the charger's speed and convenience.
Control and connectivity: “Control Allround”
The "Control Allround" unit will be used at launch to interact with the system. This combines the brain, display, and control buttons in a single housing on the handlebar. The color display is bright and easy to read. Operation is via four buttons – two traditionally pressed from the top and two that slide sideways. This concept is unique, but revealed ergonomic pitfalls in practical testing, which we will discuss later. Positive features include the integrated USB-C charging port for smartphones or navigation systems, as well as the Bluetooth interface for a future app. Fortunately, all configurations, from the display views to the characteristics of the support levels, can also be made directly on the device without an app. A display that can be integrated into the top tube ("Display Integrate") and a separate, smaller remote unit are also planned for the future.
The Qore riding experience: Five modes for every trail
Let's get to the most exciting part: How does the Qore system ride? There are five support levels available: the familiar Eco, Tour, and Boost modes, as well as two special modes designed to provide a unique riding experience.
The “One Mode”: This progressive mode operates similarly to the automatic or trail modes of other manufacturers. It dynamically adjusts the assistance to the rider's input (pedaling force and cadence) and can release the full motor power when needed. In practice, this mode proved to be very successful. It has a fairly steep, progressive characteristic curve, meaning that even with little rider input, only moderate assistance is provided. However, if you apply vigorous pressure to the pedals, the system noticeably springs to life and provides powerful propulsion. The ride experience is therefore very rewarding and sporty, perfect for technical climbs and active riders. For very relaxed touring, however, it might demand almost too much effort from some riders. The power control is excellent in this mode.
The “Punch Mode”: As the name suggests, this mode takes Boost mode up a notch – not in terms of maximum power, but in terms of the intensity of the assistance and the responsiveness. The assistance is so strong that you could almost be pushed up a hill; it is assumed that the stated 410% is exceeded here. The responsiveness is extremely direct and agile, almost nervous, and reminiscent of Bosch's Race mode, but is overall somewhat more controllable. The motor's coasting is also very pronounced in this mode. Interestingly, Punch mode is not selected using the normal +/- buttons, but rather activated and deactivated using a separate side button on the control unit. This is supposed to prevent accidental activation, but proved not to be always XNUMX% intuitive in testing, especially when you wanted to switch out of the mode quickly.
Driving characteristics and power delivery
Overall, the Qore drive system delivers a ride that can be described as a successful blend of the smoothness and naturalness of previous Brose drives and the powerful acceleration of a Bosch CX. This makes the system feel more modern and direct, but it loses some of the unique smoothness that characterized its predecessor.
An important aspect is the motor's trail, which is particularly noticeable in One Mode and Punch Mode. Similar to Bosch, this is dynamic and adjusts its length to the riding situation and rider input. This allows for powerful acceleration from a standstill with just a light touch of the crank – ideal for tricky starting sections. However, the software for the trail seemed to be incompletely fine-tuned during testing and didn't always respond with complete predictability.
The power delivery of the Qore drive is impressive. The powerful acceleration and high torque of 95 Nm initially suggest enormous peak power. Indeed, the motor feels extremely powerful when starting off and at lower cadences. However, when the climb gets really steep and high cadences are required to access the 600 watts of maximum power, the drive can't always maintain the initial feeling of unbridled power all the way to the end. The power is absolutely sufficient for modern e-MTBs and feels like it's somewhere between a standard Bosch CX Gen4 and a model with a power upgrade, but the top-of-the-line motors with higher wattage offer even more reserves for very demanding tasks.
Acoustics: A quiet speaker with character
One of the hallmarks of previous Brose drivetrains was their low noise level, and the Qore system also performs very well in this regard. It is one of the quietest drivetrains on the market. During normal riding, without extreme load, the motor is almost inaudible. The noise characteristics are similar to those of current Specialized/Brose motors. Only under heavy load, for example on steep ramps with a high cadence, does the motor develop a noticeable hum, typical of geared motors without a toothed belt. In direct comparison to the Bosch CX Gen5, the Qore tends to be quieter; however, in very warm weather and under extreme load, it could become slightly louder. We did not clearly detect any motor rattle during testing, as is common with some other drivetrains. While there were various background noises on the test bike, the motor itself seemed to remain quiet even during provoked tests (lifting and dropping the rear wheel). A very slight internal rattle could be provoked, but in practice, it should be barely noticeable.
Ease of use and integration: strengths and weaknesses
While the motor and battery are impressive, the "Control Allround" control unit has cause for criticism. Due to its size, it takes up a relatively large amount of space on the handlebar, which can make positioning difficult when combined with other controls like a dropper remote. The control concept with the additional slide buttons also takes some getting used to and isn't for everyone. In this respect, Qore lags somewhat behind the ergonomics of other top manufacturers.
The battery integration and removal, however, were very positive. Thanks to a clever locking mechanism with small "wings," the battery sits securely and rattle-free in the down tube, yet can be removed easily and without effort.
Conclusion: A strong challenger with a lot of potential
Even though final bench tests are still pending due to the software's incompleteness—particularly with regard to de-rating behavior—the Qore drive system makes a convincing first impression. It's a system that's definitely worth considering in the future and is on par with the established players in the market.
Particular strengths include the low noise level, the high energy density of the batteries, and the sophisticated battery integration. Compared to its direct predecessor and some current competitors, the Qore system offers a significantly more harmonious and at the same time more powerful driving experience.
However, the competition hasn't been sleeping either over the past two years, making it a challenge for Qore to establish itself broadly among bicycle manufacturers. But as we all know, more competition stimulates business and drives technological development, which ultimately benefits all e-bikers.
The Qore system isn't perfect in every detail, and there's still room for improvement, especially in the ergonomics of the control unit. Nevertheless, it's a very, very good drive system and a viable alternative for demanding e-mountain bikers.