Shoddy Dave takes on a big ride in Italy with the help of six lightweight e-bikes, all powered by MAHLE motors.
Published October 22, 2026 10:00AM
E-bikes have changed dramatically in the last decade from when Shoddy Dave first threw a leg over one. Whereas they were once bikes with a motor slapped on as an afterthought, with very little care given to handling or weight, nowadays that couldn’t be further from the truth.
With the help of MAHLE e-bike motor systems, bikes can be lightweight, under 11kg in some cases, and tuned for a variety of riding styles and terrains. All-road, gravel, and aero road bikes are all a joy to ride, and each can take a different approach to electric assistance, so there’s more separating bikes than you might expect.
To experience this wide variety of bikes styles firsthand, Shoddy is riding to San Marino, Italy, using six different e-bikes powered by the MAHLE X20 and X30 systems. It’s an incredible route with a whole lot of climbing and some of the best scenery Italy has to offer. He’s riding these six e-bikes along the way:
- Orbea Gain
- Ribble ALLROAD
- Bianchi E-Oltre
- Titici Dynamica R
- 3T eRacemax Italia
- Wilier Filante Hybrid
Each bike comes equipped with one of two MAHLE motors:
MAHLE X20
- Torque: up to 65Nm
- Peak power: 275W
- Weight: 1.4kg
- Internal battery options: iX2: 237Wh and iX3: 350Wh
- External battery options: ex1: 171Wh for extended range, up to 60km
MAHLE X30
- Torque: up to 45Nm
- Peak power: 250W
- Weight: 1.9kg
- Internal battery options: iX2: 237Wh and iX3: 350Wh
- External battery options: ex1: 171Wh for extended range, up to 60km
Learn more at mahle-smartbike.com