Addressing the DM01 mid-drive "FEELING" lacking compared to certain 750W mid drives

[to7motor@SZ]

We’ve been closely following the community discussions regarding the power delivery characteristics of the DM01 1000W. A frequent question we see is: "Why does a certain 750W motor feel more powerful at takeoff than the 1000W DM01?"

We want to give you a transparent technical explanation for this. It's not that the power isn't there, it’s that it's a deliberate choice in how we’ve mapped the power delivery to focus on performance AND stability when you're actually riding.

The three modes on DM mid-drive motors are three distinct current management profiles designed to balance torque, thermal efficiency, and how long the parts actually last:

• Eco Mode: This one is for range. We smooth out the current spikes so the motor and battery don’t heat up, which is exactly what you want for long-distance touring.
• City Mode: The standard setting for commuting. It’s tuned between Eco and Sport to give you predictable, linear acceleration that handles stop-and-go traffic.
• Sport Mode: This is where you get the full 1000W. It opens up the max current to ensure the motor performs when you're at a steep incline/hauling a heavy load.

But, why do "other" motors feel more aggressive at the start?

Regarding the cadence sensor, the DM01 delivers sustained assist up to 130 RPM. For context, top global mid-drive motor brands typically cap their support around 120 RPM.

However, JUST Pushing for higher RPMs purely for appeal would generate unnecessary heat and put significantly more wear on your chain and gears. That's why we focus the full 1000W of sustained power within the most scientifically effective cadence range for human cycling. This is our practical definition of performance.


For example, some 750W motors use controller overclocking to dump massive current in the 0-5 mph range. This creates an exciting "jolt", but it pushes the hardware to its thermal limits almost instantly. The DM01 prioritizes "Thermal Headroom". This means on a continuous multi-mile climb, our motor maintains a stable 1000W output without thermal throttling, rather than providing a burst that fades after a few seconds.

We have provided some of the charts below showing you the details:

 

[neptronix]

Thanks for sharing this.

The peak efficiency for this size motor is low compared to it's competition.. BBSHD will have ~83% peak efficiency... a certain 750w rated motor will have higher efficiency and much lower weight because they put a big focus on the stator/rotor... and also run the motor at a faster RPM than the user can pedal ( to me, this is cheating to make that power )

Of course it must be tuned conservatively because the thermals are limiting.. A 20% loss of 1000W is 200w of heat and 800w of power produced.
The more heat, the more metal you need to help remove the heat.. so the less efficient the stator/gears are, the heavier and bulkier the unit gets.

Have you considered revising the motor for higher efficiency?

 

[to7motor@SZ]

Thanks for sharing this.

The peak efficiency for this size motor is low compared to it's competition.. BBSHD will have ~83% peak efficiency... a certain 750w rated motor will have higher efficiency and much lower weight because they put a big focus on the stator/rotor... and also run the motor at a faster RPM than the user can pedal ( to me, this is cheating to make that power )

Of course it must be tuned conservatively because the thermals are limiting.. A 20% loss of 1000W is 200w of heat and 800w of power produced.
The more heat, the more metal you need to help remove the heat.. so the less efficient the stator/gears are, the heavier and bulkier the unit gets.

Have you considered revising the motor for higher efficiency?

Dear Customer,

Thanks for the insightful feedback. You pinpointed the core challenge of mid-drive engineering: balancing peak efficiency, thermal capacity, and real-world reliability. That’s exactly the puzzle we aimed to solve with the DM01.

Based on your points, we would like to explain our current design approach for the DM01 motor:

- Efficiency under real load
You’re right that some motors look exceptional at low power, but our dyno runs show the DM01 holding a solid 80.7% efficiency while outputting a full 1015W. We prioritized a stable efficiency curve so performance doesn’t fall off when a rider actually demands 1000W on a steep grade, not just chasing a peak number on a test bench。

- Heat management (and why weight adds up)
The 200W heat output is key. Our approach was to add thermal mass with a more robust housing, which acts as a buffer against rapid temperature rise. This lets the DM01 deliver its full 141.9 N·m consistently, even on a sustained 20-minute climb, without thermal throttling. Lighter motors optimized for peak efficiency often can’t sustain that once they’re pushed outside their narrow sweet spot.

- RPM and the “cheating” effect
We deliver power around a natural 131 RPM to protect the drivetrain and give a more intuitive feel. Yes, we give up a few theoretical percentage points compared to ultra-high RPM designs, but for us, the real-world ride quality is what counts, no “ghost pedaling” or extra drivetrain wear.

Regarding future improvements: Honestly, we're currently focused on refining the platform's firmware and torque sensing capabilities. The DM01 is designed to remain robust and durable under sustained loads, but we're constantly evaluating new materials to reduce weight without sacrificing the reliability you expect.

Really appreciate you taking the time to share such a detailed perspective. Feel free to reach out anytime if you have more ideas.


Toseven Support Team