NEED TO KNOW
● Updated EP8 motor gets new functionality and improved sealing
● No increase in power or torque with EP801
● Auto Shift combines motor and Di2 electronic drivetrain to fully control gear changing
● Uses new 11-speed Linkglide chain and cassette, which are cheaper and more durable
Shimano’s first auto-shifting drivetrain for e-bikes features some game-changing new tech
For a lot of riders, e-bikes have made trails more accessible, and climbs a lot easier, but imagine if your e-bike did other things for you, like changing gear. That sounds like a pipe dream, but it’s exactly what Shimano’s updated motors deliver. The new EP801 (and cheaper EP60) now has an Auto Shift function, in combination with the electronic XT Di2 drivetrain, which allows the bike to change gear automatically.
This is possible because the chainring on an e-bike is independent of the crank spindle, so the motor can spin the chainring and change gear regardless of whether
