Since launching in 2022, the TQ HPR50 electrical motor drive has underpinned a few of the lightest, most inconspicuous electrical bikes from identify manufacturers like Trek and Pinarello. Its low profile doesn’t suggest it is not able to energy up a trip, although, dealing out 300 watts and 50 Nm (37 lb-ft) of torque for highway and path driving comfort. For 2025, TQ takes the following step ahead with the HPR60, which boosts energy even increased whereas placing on solely a fraction of a pound.
TQ first emerged within the ebike area approach again in 2012 with the HPR120S, a high-powered unit effectively forward of its time in delivering 120 Nm (89 lb-ft) of torque and over 900 watts of energy from a 3.9-kg (8.6-lb) bundle. It was the corporate’s largest, most conspicuous ebike motor so far however began out quite invisibly available in the market, incomes little consideration till Haibike built-in it into its high-powered Flyon eMTB sequence years later.
Haibike
TQ then loved a bathe of reward and accolades, together with a win within the German Design Council’s 2017 Bicycle Model Contest and a 2018 Design & Innovation Award. Reviewers who received within the saddle over high the buzzing, high-output 120S, in the meantime, praised it for being probably the most highly effective ebike motor on the market and liked the moment acceleration that got here with the 120 Nm of steady torque.
However, reviewers additionally famous it was loud, troublesome to rein in at occasions, and did not essentially present a easy, pure driving expertise.
On the similar time the 120S period was beginning to daybreak, the solar was additionally setting. Does an ebike actually need that sort of energy if it is not going to ship a easy driving expertise pleasurable throughout varied capability ranges?
TQ
As TQ tells the story, the backdrop was the identical Eurobike 2018 that introduced the world the all-new Haibike Flyon. The corporate was attempting to stoke the fireplace of pleasure round its high-output mid-motor and had Frankensteined the HPR120S right into a Trek Powerfly eMTB. Unsurprisingly, the rig caught the attention of Trek’s crew as they walked the present, sparking a dialog about how small TQ would possibly be capable to bundle the Harmonic Pin Ring (HPR) expertise that underpinned the drive.
TQ accepted Trek’s problem and located itself within the considerably uncommon place of significantly scaling again the specs of its hard-hammering electrical machine. In doing so, it was capable of shrink down its HPR drive expertise fairly successfully. It took a number of years to develop a motor it might name the smallest, lightest and quietest drive in its class whereas nonetheless pushing the boundaries of energy/torque-to-weight, however TQ met the transient.
The outcome was the HPR50 e-drive, and it launched on the 2022 version of the identical Eurobike present at which it was conceived 4 years earlier, amidships the Trek Fuel EXe. The motor disappeared like little to nothing the world had seen beforehand, hiding neatly within the backside bracket prefer it was barely there. Quite than the brutal hillclimbing drive of older 120S-revved eMTBs, Trek pressured a extra balanced, pure and quiet eMTB expertise.
Trek Bicycles
Similar to that, TQ had a natural-born winner within the ebike class. The HPR’s 50 Nm and 300 watts might have paled compared to the 120S’ numbers, however the common rider wasn’t in search of that a lot brutal energy, anyway, and wasn’t driving the kind of beefy, overpowered downhill/enduro eMTB by which the 120S known as residence.
The HPR50 greater than halved the 120S’ weight all the way down to 1.8 kg (4 lb) and even weighed barely much less when coupled with a 360-Wh battery pack than the 120S motor alone. The 50’s glossy, compact packaging additionally gave it a 135-mm Q Issue (measurement from the skin of 1 crank to the skin of the opposite) approaching that of an everyday, non-electric mountain bike, offering a well-recognized, intuitive bike really feel as an alternative of a wide-legged stance.
Trek rapidly turned the motor over to the Lycra-clad gurus in its highway division and put it to work on the 25.7-lb (11.7-kg) Domane+ SLR. Earlier than 2022 was out, Scott received in on the electrified road and mountain biking enjoyable, as effectively.
As soon as the calendar flipped to 2023, Pinarello, which had lengthy taken excessive lightness, aerodynamics and velocity quite seriously, swapped the HPR50 in for the Fazua it was utilizing beforehand on its Nytro electrical highway/gravel platform, instantly declaring the highway sequence flagship the lightest mid-drive pedal-assist ebike obtainable. Spend 5 figures, and also you’d have a motorbike bottoming out at a tenth over 25 lb (11.4 kg) even.
TQ
It has been solely two years for the reason that Nytro debuted, however apparently meaning it is time for TQ to challenge a correct refresh. The competition has undoubtedly stiffened, in any case.
The brand new HPR60 does not stray too far in its numbering however enjoys a 10-Nm increase to 60 Nm (44 lb-ft) of obtainable torque, with energy ratcheted as much as 350 watts. It provides on little or no weight within the course of, tipping the scales at 1.9 kg (4.2 lb).
TQ
Just like the HPR motors that got here earlier than it, the brand new HPR60 depends on TQ’s concentric Harmonic Pin-Ring transmission expertise to develop severe energy and torque out of a small handheld bundle.
“At its coronary heart is a double tooth ring by which many tooth interact concurrently,” TQ explains of the HPR configuration. “The tooth form is chosen to be exactly matched and to realize most floor stress. Which means a whole lot of drive could be transferred to just some components. No lack of energy, a lot much less set up area, a lot fewer components.”
“The outcome: a direct, instantaneous response that permits an exceptionally pure and dynamic driving expertise,” it concludes.
Yeti
As a substitute of a Trek, the brand new HPR60 makes its world premiere aboard the Yeti MTe, a shreddy race-inspired eMTB constructed round Yeti’s adjustable Sixfinity suspension platform. It pairs with both a light-weight 290-Wh battery pack or larger, rangier 580-Wh choice.
You may get extra acquainted with the MTe by getting the total scoop from Yeti or just watching it in motion under. Bike construct weights vary between 17.6 and 20.1 kg (38.7 and 44.3 lb), with costs between US$9,850 and $14,300. These two determine classes are, after all, inversely associated.
MTe – Really feel The Good Guilt
Eurobike kicks off later this month, so we’ll preserve our eyes out for extra HPR60 data and bikes.
Supply: TQ
