Eurobike 2026: What I Saw, and What It Means
I went to Eurobike 2026 in Frankfurt this year, on my way over to visit Riese & Müller for their Campus day. I like to get to the show when I can, I think this is my fourth year. I generally wander round the stands and report back to you on anything worth knowing. This year, the most interesting thing was not a bike at all. It was who did not turn up.
If you would rather watch than read, the full walk-around is above. If you want the short version and what I think it means for the kind of bikes we sell, read on.
The big brands stayed home from Eurobike 2026
Walking the halls, the absences were impossible to miss. No Bosch. No Riese & Müller. No Moustache. None of the big European names that usually anchor the show. What was left was a smaller event made up mostly of newer suppliers, a lot of them motor and system makers I had not come across before.
It was not just my impression. The trade analysis afterwards put trade visitor numbers down by more than half, around 15,000 against more than 31,000 the year before, and noted plainly that several major brands stayed away entirely. Cycling Industry News has a good rundown in its 5 things we learned from Eurobike 2026 if you want the industry view.
So why does a quiet trade show matter to you? Because of what filled the gap.
A new generation of motors is chasing Bosch
With the established names absent, the show belonged to a wave of newer manufacturers, many of them from Asia, and they are not holding back. The numbers being thrown around are eye-catching: new motors like Gobao quoting up to 150 Nm of torque (a manufacturer figure I have not independently verified), and DJI's Avinox system at around 111 Nm, alongside fast-charging claims of nought to 80 per cent in under twenty minutes. For comparison, that is a long way beyond what most of us are used to today.
The one that impressed me on the day was the Amflow TL Carbon, a lightweight carbon trekking bike running the DJI Avinox motor. It had an 800 Wh battery, electronic shifting, mudguards and racks as standard, and it felt light and quick on the road. The thing that amazed me was the price: around £3,200, if the show pricing holds. For a carbon e-bike that is remarkable.
It also does a clever thing the new systems are starting to offer: automatic shifting. Avinox calls its version Smooth Shift, and it changes gear for you by reading your cadence and load, even while you are coasting. It is genuinely impressive technology, and it is coming fast.
I will be honest, it is hard not to be tempted by a bike like that. But a low price and a big torque figure are only part of the story.
What it means if you are buying a premium e-bike
Here is where I land on it, having ridden these bikes and sold premium ones for years.
Most of these new brands are direct to consumer. You buy online, it turns up in a box, and that is the relationship. When something needs setting up, adjusting or fixing, and on a powerful e-bike it will, you are on your own, or you bring it to someone like me afterwards. There is a real cost to that which the headline price does not show.
And the premium bikes we sell still offer something the spec sheet does not capture. Riese & Müller is a good example. They are staying premium and continuing to build in Germany rather than chasing the lowest price, and you can read what is coming from them in our new Riese & Müller for 2027 rundown. You get the proven Bosch system, dual batteries for real touring range, Rohloff hubs and Pinion gearboxes, and a bike designed to last and be looked after for years. You also get a dealer: a proper test ride, an expert handover, and a workshop that knows the bike. That is the thing I keep coming back to, and it is exactly the question we tackle in is a Riese & Müller worth it?
The new wave will keep coming, and in a year or two some of these brands will be names you recognise. That is good for cycling. But for now, if you want a bike that is set up properly, supported locally and built to go the distance, the premium route still makes sense. And when those very nice direct-to-consumer bikes need a service, well, that might just be where I come in.
If you are weighing up motors, batteries and range, our walks through what actually matters before you spend £4k or more.
A couple of other things that caught my eye
Two more for the curious. I found a UK gearbox-and-motor system, Intradrive, just coming to market, working on the same sealed, low-maintenance idea as Pinion and Rohloff. Good to see a British name in that space, and one to watch.
And outside, a Birdy folding bike from Pacific Cycles running a Mahle motor system, which I would love to be able to offer you and cannot: Riese & Müller still hold the Birdy brand here in the UK, even though they have stopped selling it themselves. A small thing, but it tells you how tangled this industry can get.
Frequently asked questions
Which big brands skipped Eurobike 2026?
Several of the major European names were absent this year, including Bosch, Riese & Müller and Moustache. Trade visitor numbers were down by more than half on the previous year, and the show was made up largely of newer suppliers and motor manufacturers.
What is the Amflow TL Carbon?
It is a lightweight carbon trekking e-bike running DJI's Avinox motor, with an 800 Wh battery, electronic shifting, and mudguards and racks as standard. Dan saw it at Eurobike 2026 at a show price of around £3,200, which is very low for a carbon e-bike of that specification.
Are the new Chinese motors better than Bosch?
Some of these motors quote eye-catching numbers. Gobao, for example, claims up to 150 Nm, while DJI's Avinox is around 111 Nm, just under Bosch's 120 Nm. The technology is impressive, but torque and charge time are only part of the picture. Bosch's systems are proven, widely supported, and backed by a dealer and workshop network, which matters a great deal over the life of a premium e-bike.
Should I buy a direct-to-consumer e-bike?
A direct-to-consumer bike can look like excellent value on paper, but you take on the setup, support and servicing yourself. On a powerful e-bike that is a real consideration. Buying through a specialist dealer gets you a proper test ride, an expert handover and a local workshop, which is a large part of what you are paying for with a premium bike.
