Gobao challenges Bosch and Amflow with 150 Nm X1P e-bike motor

Gobao has introduced two mid-drive e-bike motor systems, the X1 and X1P, with integrated variable gearing and torque figures that push past much of the premium e-MTB market.

The X1P leads the range with up to 1,500 watts of peak output and 150 newton-meters of torque. The X1 reaches 1,200 watts and 120 newton-meters. Gobao rates both systems at 250 watts for continuous output, which matches the figure many European e-bike rules use for road-legal pedelecs.

The headline spec places Gobao closer to the high-output crowd that Amflow and DJI helped energize than to a standard commuter-bike setup. Bosch’s flagship Performance Line CX has long set the tone for premium trail bikes, but Gobao’s peak torque number goes far beyond the normal Bosch e-MTB range.

Gobao also took a different route on shifting. Both motors include an integrated motor-controlled variable transmission, so the bike does away with a classic external derailleur and fixed gear steps. The X1 covers a 400% gear range, from 1:1 to 1:4. The X1P stretches that to 500%, from 1.08:1 to 1:4.

That design gives riders fine gear changes under motor control. On paper, it should help an e-bike hold cadence on climbs, starts, and rolling trails without the clunk of a rear derailleur moving across a cassette.

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The trade-off sits in service and ownership. A derailleur, cassette, and chain remain easy for many bike shops and experienced riders to inspect, swap, and tune. Gobao’s integrated approach protects the gear system from mud, strikes, and weather, but it also puts more of the drivetrain inside one proprietary unit.

Weight matters, too. Gobao lists both motors at 3.85 kilograms, or 8.5 pounds. That figure does not sound out of line for a powerful mid-drive unit with built-in gearing, but bike makers will need to balance it against battery size, frame stiffness, cooling, and suspension layout.

For riders, the X1P makes the most sense on high-power e-MTBs, cargo builds, and speed-focused models where torque and launch strength matter more than low system weight. The X1 looks better suited to bikes that need strong assist without chasing the largest number on the spec sheet.

Gobao has not turned this into a complete-bike announcement yet, so the next question belongs to bike brands. A motor like the X1P needs frames built around its size, cooling needs, mounting points, and service path. If manufacturers adopt it, buyers will have a new option beyond Bosch, Shimano, Brose, Yamaha, and DJI-backed Amflow systems.

The X1 and X1P show where high-end e-bike design keeps moving: more torque, fewer exposed drivetrain parts, and more software control inside the motor unit. Riders gain power and cleaner packaging. They may also give up some of the easy workshop access that made conventional drivetrains cheap to repair.