Bafang’s M560RS e-MTB motor reaches 1,700W and up to 800% assist

On a steep, loose mountain climb, a rider’s pedal stroke can now call on a motor rated far beyond the output of a typical commuter e-bike. Bafang’s new M510RS and M560RS electric mountain-bike drives reach up to 1,300W and 1,700W of peak power respectively, with the larger unit offering up to 800% pedal assistance in a short-duration Boost-to-Limit mode.

The M510RS produces 110 Nm of peak torque in normal operation, rising to 120-130 Nm in Boost-to-Limit mode. The M560RS starts at 120 Nm and can reach 150 Nm. Its 48V version delivers the top power figure while weighing 3.3 kg, according to Bafang. For comparison, Electrek notes that many commuter e-bikes use 350W or 500W motors.

The hardware is not simply delivering more power and leaving the rider to manage it. Both RS motors combine a six-axis IMU — a sensor that tracks the bike’s movement — with torque, cadence and wheel-speed sensors. Bafang says they react 50% faster than the standard M510 and M560 systems and reduce motor power 33% more sensitively, alongside Hill Hold and an updated Walk Assist function.

The practical change is compatibility. The M510RS and M560RS keep the mounting interfaces of the existing M510 and M560, so bike makers already designing around those drives may not need entirely new frames. Bafang says it refined the systems through more than 4,000 hours of racing-condition development, including the WES UCI E-MTB World Cup series.

So what does it change, concretely? Riders tackling steep technical climbs could get more assistance precisely when traction and control matter most, while manufacturers could adopt the RS versions without redesigning a frame around different mounts. The limits are clear: the headline wattage is a peak, not continuous output, and these drives are aimed at eMTBs rather than ordinary bike lanes. The M560RS will be offered in versions intended for European 25 km/h and US 45 km/h requirements. The production versions debut at the Italian Bike Festival in Misano on September 4-6, ahead of series production later this year.