TQ's new HPR60 squeezes 20% more torque and 17% more peak power from its featherweight Harmonic Pin-Ring motor for the cost of just 70 grams, and it's landing on 2026 lightweight e-MTBs from Yeti, Propain and, the brand says, Trek and Canyon.
A bigger punch, barely any extra grams
TQ built its reputation on the HPR50, the whisper-quiet German drive unit hidden inside light e-MTBs like the Trek Fuel EXe. The pitch was always the same: less power than a Bosch or Shimano full-fat motor, but so light and so discreet you forget it's there. The new HPR60 doubles down on that idea rather than chasing the power wars.
The headline is that TQ has found more grunt almost for free. Torque climbs from 50 to 60 Nm and peak output from 300 to 350 W, while the motor puts on only about 70 grams. Support still tops out at 200%, and the package keeps the same road-bike-narrow 135 mm Q-factor that made earlier TQ bikes feel so natural to pedal.
By the numbers
Source: TQ / Bikerumor
HPR60 vs HPR50, and the battery question
Generation to generation
| HPR60 (2026) | HPR50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Peak torque | 60 Nm | 50 Nm |
| Peak power | 350 W | 300 W |
| Max support | 200% | 200% |
| Motor weight | 1.92 kg | ~1.85 kg |
| Min Q-factor | 135 mm | 135 mm |
| Battery options | 290 / 360 / 580 Wh | 360 Wh |
| Range extender | 160 Wh | 160 Wh |
| Display | 2-inch colour OLED | OLED top-tube |
Specs: Bikerumor
View data table
| Capacity (Wh) | |
|---|---|
| 290 Wh | 290 Wh |
| 360 Wh | 360 Wh |
| 580 Wh | 580 Wh |
Inside, the HPR60 still uses TQ's patented Harmonic Pin-Ring transmission, a single-stage reduction wrapped concentrically around the bottom-bracket axle. Fewer moving parts means a small, light, quiet unit, and TQ claims the highest torque density of any drive system on the market. A reworked cooling concept is the real upgrade story, holding output steadier on long, hot climbs.
Efficiency is where the new generation quietly shines. In E-MOUNTAINBIKE's testing the HPR60-equipped Yeti MTe sipped roughly 25.65 Wh per 100 vertical metres and used over 20% less energy than a Canyon on the older HPR50, despite being nearly 10% heavier. With the lightest 290 Wh pack, remote and display, a complete system can come in around 3.53 kg.
How it rides: the early verdict
“The motor responds quickly, delivers consistently high traction and provides a smooth, predictable push, all while staying impressively quiet.”
What the testers are saying
Independent verdicts from across the cycling press — follow each link for the full review.
Quieter and more efficient, but the climb still bites
“On the trail, the difference compared to the HPR50 is minimal at best.”
Read the full reviewLight enough to forget it's there
“Many other mid-motors hitting the market lately add a further kilogram at least, so what TQ shoots for with the HPR60 is creating a motor that you will barely notice is there.”
Read the full reviewA real bike, not a tow rope
“A bike that still feels like you are riding it, not being dragged along by the motor.”
Read the full reviewThe honest balance sheet
- 20% more torque and 17% more peak power for only ~70 g extra
- Among the lightest and quietest drive units in its class
- New 290 Wh battery drops a full system to about 3.53 kg
- Natural, tailwind-like power delivery praised across reviews
- Strong efficiency: ~25.65 Wh per 100 vertical metres in testing
- Three battery sizes plus a 160 Wh range extender for flexibility
- Real-world climbing gain over the HPR50 is described as minimal
- Still demands genuine rider effort on steep, technical climbs
- 60 Nm / 350 W trails full-power 85-100 Nm motors for outright grunt
- A premium, top-end proposition (test bikes around €12,500 (~R234 000))
- E-MOUNTAINBIKE noted teething issues on some early test units
A smart, incremental refinement rather than a revolution: meaningfully stronger on paper and more efficient on the trail, while protecting the low-weight, natural feel that is the whole point of a TQ-powered bike. Just don't expect it to ride like a full-power e-MTB.
Tap to vote — see how readers lean
TQ HPR60 questions, answered
How much more powerful is the HPR60 than the HPR50? +
60 Nm of torque (up 20%) and 350 W of peak power (up 17%), for only about 70 g of extra weight. The motor still weighs 1.92 kg and supports you up to 200%.
How light is a complete HPR60 system? +
As little as roughly 3.53 kg with the new 290 Wh battery, remote and display, which TQ and reviewers position among the lightest in the light e-MTB class.
Is it as strong as a Bosch or Shimano full-power motor? +
No. Those make 85-100 Nm. The HPR60 is a light/mid drive that trades outright grunt for low weight, a compact build and a natural, near-acoustic ride feel.
What batteries are available? +
Three internal packs of 290, 360 and 580 Wh (1.46 / 1.83 / 2.70 kg), plus an optional 160 Wh range extender that weighs about 960 g.
Which 2026 bikes use the HPR60? +
Confirmed early bikes include the Yeti MTe and Propain SRESH SL. The original report expects Trek, Canyon and Yeti to roll the motor out more widely across their 2026 ranges.
Does it actually feel better than the HPR50 on the trail? +
Testers say it's quieter and more efficient, but the on-trail climbing improvement is, in E-MOUNTAINBIKE's words, minimal at best.
Sources and further reading
- New TQ HPR60 motor has more power and torque, same light weight — Bikerumor
- TQ HPR60 in our big e-bike motor group test — E-MOUNTAINBIKE
- Testing the 60 Nm TQ HPR60 light eMTB motor — E-MOUNTAINBIKE
- TQ HPR60 e-bike motor: same small size, more drive — Cycling Electric
- TQ HPR60 lightweight e-MTB motor explained — Electric MTB UK
- HPR60: official system overview — TQ E-Bike
The HPR60 is exactly the upgrade you'd want from TQ: more power and torque with almost no weight penalty, better cooling, a quieter run and real-world efficiency gains, all without abandoning the light, natural feel that defines the category. The catch is honesty about expectations. Reviewers agree the on-trail step over the HPR50 is subtle, and 60 Nm is still a world away from full-power motors. If you want a stealthy, sub-4 kg drive that lets the bike feel like a bike, this is the new benchmark. If you want a climbing bulldozer, look elsewhere.
