Whether you are gearbox-curious or completely against the idea, there is one place the concept absolutely makes sense: e-bikes. Yes, gearboxes generally add a bit of weight to a bike, but when we’ve already got the added weight of a motor and battery, what’s an extra pound or two? This was part of Intradrive’s thinking behind their GD8 “gearbox powertrain” — a gearbox and eMTB motor in one.
Intradrive has the GD8, but no bike — until now. Two brands are now using the combined gearbox/motor GD8 unit on their latest eMTB releases.
Wait, what is the Intradrive GD8?
We first saw the GD8 at Sea Otter this year. The Intradrive GD8 combines a gearbox and e-bike motor. On the gearbox side, the Scottish brand has designed an 8-speed system with a 480% gear range, with wireless shifting taking roughly 0.1 seconds per gear.
Like many gearboxes, maintenance is minimal, especially considering that the gears are protected from dirt, dust, and grime. Intradrive recommends an oil change every 10,000km. Looking at the drive unit, the GD8 motor boasts 700W of power and 80Nm of torque.
A common complaint about gearboxes is the added weight. Add in a motor, and the “additional weight” becomes even more additional. But let’s remember this is an e-bike, and the weight of the GD8 (4.5kg, or 9.9lbs) doesn’t matter as much.
Regardless, a nearly 10-pound system on a bike is still something. When compared to the latest Bosch drive unit, the GD8 is about 1.8kg heavier. But you can also factor out the weight of a derailleur and cassette. A SRAM GX derailleur is 470g, while a GX cassette is 445g. Subtracting that weight drops the difference down to roughly 0.9kg, or just under 2 pounds.
Obscur is a new French bike brand featuring the GD8
Obscur is the first brand mentioned to feature the Intradrive GD8, and they have designed a bike that looks as unique as the GD8. From a big-picture view, Obscur’s e-bike has a 160mm fork and 150mm of rear travel. Obscur uses high-modulus carbon in the frame construction, and while they don’t share any geo numbers, the few images shared show what seems to be a fairly normal mountain bike, as far as angles go.
One standout that makes Obscur’s new offering so unique is the “MHP semi-high pivot suspension” platform. While they don’t share their kinematics, Obscur claims that the platform provides “extreme sensitivity off the top, very good mid-stroke support, and great resistance to bottoming out.
The other, and possibly most significant standout feature of the new Obscur bike is the proprietary battery. Rather than the standard rectangular battery that occupies the entire e-bike’s downtube, the Obscur battery is trapezoidal, encased between the motor and shock. Obscur says the battery has “an exceptional size-to-capacity ratio with 842Wh for a weight of only 3,150g.”
Alutech will also offer a GD8 version of their e-bike
The German brand, Alutech, will also have an Intradrive GD8-equipped bike. However, unlike Obscur, Alutech offers the option on one of its current platforms rather than designing a completely new e-bike.
Intradrive said that Alutech will offer a “GD8 version of its ePelmo e-enduro” bike. The frame features hydroformed aluminum and big travel numbers — 170mm on both ends. While there isn’t much information yet on the GD8 ePelmo, existing Alutech e-bikes use a proprietary motor and a 600Wh Gobao battery. It is unclear if this will be the same battery used on the new GD8-equipped bike.
Also, Alutech will be using a Gates carbon belt for the new ePelmo. Intradrive says the GD8 works as both a belt- and chain-driven unit, with Alutech opting for a belt and, from the pictures, Obscur using a chain.
But will we get one on this side of the Atlantic?
While the press release mentions one price, we imagine both bikes are pricey. Obscur doesn’t note the price of their new e-bike; the Alutech ePelmo will retail for €11,499. And if you said, “Obscur? Alutech? Who are they?” You’re likely not the only ones — both brands are clearly European and haven’t made their way to U.S. markets.
What are the chances of getting an Intradrive GD8-equipped bike stateside? Currently, it’s minimal. However, Intradrive designed the GD8 to be compatible with bikes with the Shimano EP8 motor — essentially, the motor mounts are the same, so in theory, a Shimano motor could be swapped for a GD8.
However, patience might serve us well. While we don’t have any leads on brands considering a partnership with Intradrive, the press release says discussions are underway.
“A further 12 bike brands are evaluating the GD8 under NDA, and new models will be announced through 2027.”
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