Another new TQ motor: hpr40

[apctjb]

• Some TQ News....
• TQ Behind-the-Scenes / Sensor Architecture — Velomotion published a factory tour this week clarifying TQ's unconventional sensor approach: no torque sensor in the traditional sense. Instead, strain gauges are mounted on the BB axle bearings, with a real-time algorithm that extracts torque, pedaling asymmetry, and standing vs. seated position. Explains the HPR50's unusually natural power delivery. No firmware changes announced.
  Velomotion: TQ Home Visit, April 2026
• TQ HPR60 — Motor Group Test Published — Specs confirmed in independent testing: 60 Nm / 350W peak / 1.92 kg (70g heavier than HPR50). Battery compatibility now spans three options: 290 Wh, 360 Wh, and 580 Wh — a material improvement over HPR50's single 360 Wh option. Retrofit into Trek Fuel EXe frames confirmed, but firmware-capped at 300W to prevent thermal overload in a chassis not designed for full HPR60 output.
  E-MOUNTAINBIKE: HPR60 Group Test | MBR: Trek Fuel+ / HPR60 retrofit E-MOUNTAINBIKE: HPR60 Group Test
• TQ HPR50 Reliability Analysis Published — CyclOnline published an analysis of failure modes in deployed HPR50/HPR120S units. Primary failure modes: (1) one-way clutch failure — cranks spin freely, motor mechanically decoupled; (2) heat-related degradation. No official recall from TQ. The HPR60's updated thermal management is a direct response to field data from the HPR50 population.
  CyclOnline: TQ Motor Issues Analysis

 

[mschwett]

• Some TQ News....
• TQ Behind-the-Scenes / Sensor Architecture — Velomotion published a factory tour this week clarifying TQ's unconventional sensor approach: no torque sensor in the traditional sense. Instead, strain gauges are mounted on the BB axle bearings, with a real-time algorithm that extracts torque, pedaling asymmetry, and standing vs. seated position. Explains the HPR50's unusually natural power delivery. No firmware changes announced.…

this is interesting, and similar to the way mahle’s x20 bottom bracket torque sensor works. unfortunately it’s very inaccurate on those bikes, i wonder if the TQ version is better! it’s a very minimal and cost effective approach.

 

[stompandgo]

If I had an ISIS left side power meter, I'd test the accuracy of the motor human power input.

 

[apctjb]

It makes sense that the system firmware would have to be updated to enable OTA updates, and the DST is how it's done.

“OTA Bootloader Support… prerequisite for enabling future OTA update capabilities for HPR40, HPR50, and HPR60 systems.”

Yes, it appears that legacy TQ motors will need a firmware update via service dongle prior to being able to receive OTA updates...

 

[apctjb]

Finally got a chance to ride the BMC Road machine Amp X with TQ50 drive (thanks to all those on this forum that helped along the way). This is my first ebike and was not sure what to expect. 42 mile/2600ft elevation test ride today confirmed what many of you said. The motor is silent, the assist feels natural and unobtrusive, (so much so I had to look at the power meter to confirm the motor was actually adding power). Just felt like a normal bike, but I felt 10 years younger! I was riding with a younger/faster rider and the assist leveled the playing field (took them awhile to figure out I was on an ebike). Never needed more than ECO assist on climbs and on the flats rode with no assist no problem. I did not notice the extra weight other than lifting it onto the bike rack.

I think I am hooked, and suspect there will be less days on my analog bike from here on out.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

BMC Road machine Amp X with TQ50 drive.... Just felt like a normal bike, but I felt 10 years younger!

Congrats — gorgeous bike! Sounds like BMC's evil scheme is working.

 

[apctjb]

Love the TQ display showing instantaneous power (W) delivered by rider and motor. Is there any way to get accumulated power (energy, Whr) over the course of a ride either from the TQ system (app or service dongle) or by using a Garmin that accumulates the instantaneous power to provide energy data for the ride?

 

[Calcoaster]

Love the TQ display showing instantaneous power (W) delivered by rider and motor. Is there any way to get accumulated power (energy, Whr) over the course of a ride either from the TQ system (app or service dongle) or by using a Garmin that accumulates the instantaneous power to provide energy data for the ride?

The closest I’ve found for energy use during a ride is with my garmin: open the ride in garmin connect after it’s logged, scroll down and select ebike performance. It shows you the % of battery used on the ride and a graph of time in assist levels.

 

[stompandgo]

I use a Garmin Edge 840, but wait until the new TQ app comes out. It may have that kind of functionality, beyond the distance/speed logging that it does today. The current TQ app is way behind other similar apps.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Does any bike display, GPS computer, or cycling app show energy expended in real time during a ride? The Specialized app shows the total expenditure, but only after the ride's finished.

 

[mschwett]

Does any bike display, GPS computer, or cycling app show energy expended in real time during a ride? The Specialized app shows the total expenditure, but only after the ride's finished.

doubt it

most show wh of battery, so you just look at the beginning and do the math?

i take a screen shot of the battery screen before and after each ride, just to have my own record of wh used when looking at rides in strava and so on

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

doubt it

most show wh of battery, so you just look at the beginning and do the math?

i take a screen shot of the battery screen before and after each ride, just to have my own record of wh used when looking at rides in strava and so on

Sorry, meant rider energy expended in real time. The software would have to integrate rider power over moving time to the present moment.

 

[mschwett]

Sorry, meant rider energy expended in real time. The software would have to integrate rider power over moving time to the present moment.

ah ! rider energy!

the one i use will show calories, workout load, intensity, etc. calories is basically total energy, easily converted to wH but it uses the kCal unit.

it also shows average watts and elapsed time, which is even easier math and doesn’t rely on the “efficiency” factor.

a cool metric would be rider total energy : motor total energy in pie or bar form. the mahle app shows that in real time but not in sum.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

ah ! rider energy!

the one i use will show calories, workout load, intensity, etc. calories is basically total energy, easily converted to wH but it uses the kCal unit.

Yes, but the question is, can you see the energy you've already put out during a ride?

 

[apctjb]

I use a Garmin Edge 840, but wait until the new TQ app comes out

Any idea when the new App will be out. Logical would be when they roll out OTA updates which hopefully is soon! Total Wh for motor and rider during the ride is what I was hoping for.

 

[stompandgo]

Yes, but the question is, can you see the energy you've already put out during a ride?

Not in real time. My take is that this would be unreliable unless it was heavily weighted. For example, the display may say that you've burned 200 kcal so far, and then you eat a gel. How does it know that?

 

[stompandgo]

Any idea when the new App will be out. Logical would be when they roll out OTA updates which hopefully is soon! Total Wh for motor and rider during the ride is what I was hoping for.

I don't. I did not see any announcement about the Service Management upgrade until I plugged the dongle into my bike.

Like I said, I use a Garmin for this data, but so many competing drive unit platforms have the data you are looking for via the app. You should not have to purchase a bike computer to get it.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Sorry, meant rider energy expended in real time. The software would have to integrate rider power over moving time to the present moment.

You might be surprised to hear it but the only app that can do it is BLEvo. Unfortunately, BLEvo does not work with Mastermind e-bikes (shame on Specialized!)