The Mahle X20, the claimed “lightest premium e-bike system on the market,” receives two key upgrades. First, the drive system sees an increase in power. Secondly, it is now UDH compatible.
The Mahle X20 eBike System
Mahle’s X20 drive unit hit the market in 2022, with boasts of being the world’s lightest e-bike drive system on the market. Those claims seemed to ring true. Mahle claimed an overall weight of the e-bike system of roughly 3kg (6.61lbs), with the rear hub-motor alone only weighing 1.4kg (3.1lbs).
Boasting, again, Mahle claimed some complete e-bike builds hovered around the 10kg (22lbs) mark.
The light package still provided impressive assistance. Despite such a small weight, the Mahle X20 delivered 250W of peak power and 55Nm of torque. However, these numbers are now obsolete with Mahle’s new update.
What’s New — Firmware
On September 4, 2025, Mahle announced a firmware update for its X20 e-bike system. This update will increase the power output and torque of the X20 units across Mahle’s portfolio of road, gravel, and urban bike partnerships.
Bikes with the Mahle X20 system will receive an 18% increase in torque and a 10% increase in power output. The updated X20 system will have:
- 65Nm of torque
- 275W of peak power.
The same 1.4kg lightweight motor delivers the increased power. X20-equipped bikes manufactured and activated after August 1, 2025, will already have this upgrade. X20 bikes currently in the wild will gain access to the updates closer to the end of 2025.
“This upgrade is about giving riders more choice in how they ride — whether they want more support on climbs, a more dynamic feel on flat terrains, or simply a smoother experience overall. We’ve engineered a solution that delivers enhanced performance without adding weight or complexity. It’s an evolution of the X20 System — staying true to our ‘Light. Sport. Smart.’ philosophy,” said Jochen Sommer, Head of Mahle SmartBike Systems.
What’s New — Hardware
Mahle also announced a hardware update/revision for its X20 Smartbike System, now making the unit UDH compatible. However, the UDH compatibility is only available on newly produced Mahle X20 drive units.
Moving forward, Mahle Smartbike Systems wanted the ability to incorporate “components that offer better protection, require less maintenance, improve shifting accuracy, and in some cases, reduce weight.”
