New test report: PINION MGU in laboratory and practical test

Neuer Testbericht: PINION MGU im Labor- und Praxistest

Good news for all i:SY fans: The i:SY P12 will be available from July! This model brings one of the most exciting innovations to the market - the motor-gear unit (MGU) from Pinion. The experts at EMTB Magazine have taken a close look at the PINION MGU E1.12 and subjected it to intensive laboratory and practical testing. Here are the highlights from the test report.

The facts about the Pinion MGU E1.12
The PINION MGU E1.12 comes with some impressive specifications:
- Weight: 4.1 kg including the 12-speed manual transmission
- Battery sizes: 962 Wh (4.7 kg) or 720 Wh (3.7 kg)
- Optional: Range extender with 535 Wh
- Driving modes: Eco, Flow, Flex, Fly
- Maximum performance data: 80 Newton meters, 552/642 watts
- Integrated manual transmission: 12 gears with 600% bandwidth
- System updates: Only available from dealer

The character of the engine
The PINION MGU E1.12 motor offers a powerful, dynamic driving experience. With the latest software, it is comfortable and not rough even in the highest mode. The power delivery is even and the motor fades in and out smoothly. One point of criticism in the test, however, was the lack of caster, which would be helpful in technical uphill situations. The push assist, on the other hand, impresses with a strong internal torque and adjustable speed.

Noise development
The noise level of the motor varies depending on the gear. Especially in the lower gears, the motor is significantly louder than its competitors from Bosch and Shimano, which was perceived as annoying when riding slowly uphill. In fifth gear, however, the MGU is one of the quietest power motors.

Power development
In terms of performance, the MGU has nothing to hide. With 80 Newton meters and peak performance that exceeds that of Bosch and Shimano, the motor delivers impressive thrust, even at high cadences. The power delivery differs slightly from gear to gear, which was particularly noticeable in the laboratory tests.

Display & Remote
For displays and remotes, Pinion uses FIT components that are already known from some e-bikes from Flyer and Bulls. The selection ranges from a slim LED panel called Master Node LED in the top tube to a large screen in front of the handlebars.

Batteries & range
The FIT batteries offer capacities of 480 to 960 Wh. A large range extender (535 Wh, 2.9 kg) is available as an option. The range is currently slightly below the level of comparable systems.

Apps & Connectivity
The FIT E-Bike Control app allows the use of the smartphone as an extended display, but the app still showed some teething issues during the test period.

Strengths and weaknesses of the engine
Strengthen:
- Powerful thrust and acceleration
- Excellent pushing assistance
- Integrated circuit, switching possible when stationary
- Quiet in high gears

Weaken:
- Heavier than classic systems
- A bit noisy on the mountain
- No caster
- Partly inharmonious switching jumps

Conclusion
The Pinion MGU E1.12 with its integrated twelve-speed gear system is a true revolution. The motor impresses with a lot of power and good modulation, even if it is very loud in some gears. Overall, the system is heavier than classic drives, but the advantages, such as powerful pushing and quiet downhill travel, outweigh this.

We are excited to offer this technology in our new i:SY P12 models, which will be available from July. Stay tuned for further updates and look forward to a new era of e-bike riding! Your i:SY experts from the i:SY e-Bike online shop at Twenty Inch Factory.

You can find further information about the i:SY P12 here.

Click here for the test report.