Pinion

Founded: 2006
Country: Germany
Range: Gearbox and motor systems for bicycles, specializing in e-bikes
Price segment: Mid-to-high price range
Reputation: Known for pioneering sealed gearbox technology and integrating motor and transmission into one unit for e-bikes, Pinion is celebrated for its low-maintenance, high-durability drivetrains. Its Motor.Gearbox.Unit (MGU) is widely praised in the cycling industry for efficiency and innovation.
Appearance: Compact, integrated designs with a focus on clean, functional aesthetics. Their systems are built to be seamlessly integrated into e-bike frames, eliminating exposed components like derailleurs.
Overall quality: Very high, with emphasis on precision engineering, minimal upkeep, and reliability across various terrain types.
Durability: Extremely high. Pinion gearboxes are maintenance-free for up to 10,000 km, requiring only occasional oil changes. The sealed design ensures protection from environmental elements, reducing wear and tear.
Customer service: Comprehensive, with up to a 5-year warranty on P-Line models and a 3-year warranty on C-Line gearboxes. They also provide detailed support and maintenance guidelines through their online platform.
Brands using their gearbox/motor: Simplon, Rotwild, Bulls, Flyer, Pegasus, Zemo, Kettler

Who or What is Pinion?

Pinion is a German company that specializes in designing and manufacturing innovative gearboxes and motor systems for bicycles, particularly e-bikes. Founded in 2006 by two former Porsche engineers, Michael Schmitz and Christoph Lermen, Pinion is renowned for introducing highly durable and low-maintenance drivetrain systems that replace traditional derailleur-based gear systems.

Their core product, the Motor.Gearbox.Unit (MGU), is a unique integrated solution that combines a powerful electric motor with a multi-gear transmission into a single unit. This technology is utilized by premium e-bike manufacturers, such as Simplon, Rotwild, and Bulls, making Pinion a leader in e-bike transmission solutions.

What Makes Pinion parts Good or Unique?

Pinion’s unique selling points (USPs) are rooted in their cutting-edge Motor.Gearbox.Unit (MGU) technology. First, Pinion offers a sealed and maintenance-free gearbox, requiring only an oil change after every 10,000 km, which significantly reduces upkeep compared to traditional derailleur systems.

Secondly, Pinion’s gearbox provides smooth shifting under load, which is a rare feature among competing drivetrain systems. This allows riders to change gears while stationary or while climbing steep hills without stressing the system.

Another USP is the integration of motor and transmission into one compact unit, which enhances the overall reliability, weight distribution, and aesthetics of the e-bike. Furthermore, the system is designed to work with belt drives, adding to its durability and reducing wear.

Additionally, the MGU system includes Smart.Shift functionality, offering semi-automatic gear shifting for a more intuitive riding experience, a feature that is highly appreciated in urban, touring, and off-road biking contexts.

Pinion in 2025

Pinion primarily produces gearbox systems for e-bikes, with their flagship product being the Motor.Gearbox.Unit (MGU). This system is designed for a variety of bike categories, including e-MTBs (electric mountain bikes), e-trekking bikes, e-cargo bikes, and city/commuter bikes.

The MGU is highly adaptable, and its motor and gearbox combination can be found in both premium mountain bikes as well as high-end urban commuter bikes. For example, the Simplon Rapcon Pmax, an e-MTB, starts at around €8,999, and other models like the Pegasus Estremo Evo 9 Lite, a more affordable city bike, retail for approximately €5,499

Our Articles about Pinion

Pinion History

Pinion was founded in 2006 by Michael Schmitz and Christoph Lermen in Denkendorf, Germany. Both were former engineers at Porsche, where they worked on transmission technology. Their deep knowledge of gear systems and drivetrain mechanics sparked the vision to create a revolutionary gearbox for bicycles, inspired by automotive-grade technology. The founders saw the traditional derailleur system as outdated and prone to frequent wear, especially under the increased demands of modern cycling, such as mountain biking and electric bikes.

Their solution was a sealed gearbox that would offer superior durability, low maintenance, and optimal performance across various cycling conditions. By 2010, Pinion launched its first bicycle gearbox, the P1.18, which quickly earned recognition for its precision engineering and robustness. From there, the company began growing steadily, forming partnerships with various premium bicycle manufacturers.

Pinion’s true breakthrough came in the e-bike market. In 2023, they launched the Motor.Gearbox.Unit (MGU), an all-in-one unit combining the gearbox with an electric motor. The MGU integrates seamlessly into e-bike frames, delivering superior performance, ease of use, and minimal maintenance, with oil changes required only after 10,000 kilometers. The MGU earned the Eurobike Gold Award and Pinkbike Award in 2023, establishing Pinion as a major innovator in the e-bike drivetrain industry.

Timeline of Pinion

2006: Pinion was founded by Michael Schmitz and Christoph Lermen in Denkendorf, Germany.
2010: Introduction of the P1.18 gearbox, the first high-performance gearbox for bicycles.
2014: Launch of Pinion’s lighter-weight C-Line gearboxes for urban and trekking bicycles.
2018: Pinion gearboxes become available in a wider range of bikes, from touring to high-end mountain bikes.
2021: Partnership with FIT, a system integration partner, expands Pinion’s capabilities in e-bike systems.
2023: Release of the Pinion Motor.Gearbox.Unit (MGU) for e-bikes, combining motor and gearbox in a single unit. Wins the Eurobike Gold Award and Pinkbike Award.
2023: Pinion partners with top bicycle brands like Simplon, Rotwild, and Pegasus to integrate the MGU into their e-bike ranges.

News about Pinion in 2024

In 2024, Pinion continued to make headlines with several developments and partnerships. One of the key announcements was the evolution of their Motor.Gearbox.Unit (MGU), which gained additional features such as fully automatic shifting. This was enabled by software updates planned for release in the third quarter of 2024, aiming to make the Pinion system even more user-friendly and adaptable.

Furthermore, Pinion’s expansion continued through strategic partnerships with renowned e-bike brands. In addition to existing collaborations with brands like Bulls, Flyer, and Rotwild, Pinion announced new partnerships at Eurobike 2024, including several new manufacturers that are incorporating the MGU system in their latest models. The company is also targeting the growing e-cargo and e-trekking segments with tailored versions of their drivetrain.

Pinion’s focus in 2024 remains on pushing the envelope in the e-bike market with its low-maintenance, high-performance drivetrain solutions, which have been described as setting a new benchmark in the industry. The company’s long-term strategy appears to involve expanding the versatility of their technology, with their gearboxes and motor units being adopted for more varied uses, from high-performance mountain bikes to everyday commuter bikes

Pinion Contact and Warranty

Pinion offers comprehensive warranty coverage on its drivetrain systems, including both their P-Line and C-Line gearboxes. The standard warranty for these gearboxes is two years, but customers can extend this period if they register their gearbox online. The P-Line gearboxes come with an option to extend the warranty to five years, while the C-Line can be extended to three years. This extension is free of charge and must be activated within 12 months of purchasing the product.

To maintain the warranty, regular maintenance is required, specifically an oil change every 10,000 kilometers. Failing to perform this maintenance could void the warranty. Warranty claims must be submitted to the original seller within 30 days of noticing a defect, along with the purchase proof and completed service documentation. Pinion’s warranty does not cover damage from improper use, modifications, or competitive activities like racing. Additionally, wear parts such as seals or sprockets, and non-gearbox components like shifters, are not covered.

Pinion Contact Information

Pinion maintains a strong online presence across several platforms. The official website for Pinion is pinion.eu, where customers can find detailed information about their products, services, and warranty conditions. For support or inquiries, customers can use the dedicated service contact page: pinion.freshdesk.com.

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