New Hyena Unidrive 70 Drive: Mediocrity as an Opportunity?

At the latest since the collaboration with Trek and Diamant, the name Hyena has become known to a wider audience in Europe. Until now, we knew the manufacturer exclusively as a supplier of ebike systems with a hub motor installed in the rear wheel. A few weeks ago, however, the company attracted attention with its first drive system based on a mid-motor.

The Taipei Cycle Show regularly brings together international bicycle manufacturers and suppliers for the first time each year and heralds the start of the globally recognised bicycle trade fair season. Based in Taiwan, this is almost a home game for Hyena. This year, the manufacturer presented the Unidrive 70. Its first ebike system with a mid-motor is based on an operating voltage of 36 volts. In addition to the motor, it includes a battery that can be integrated into the down tube and two displays. According to the company, the drive is primarily recommended for use in urban ebikes, trekking ebikes and e-gravel bikes.

Ebike featuring Hyena Unidrive 70 drive system

Interesting size

The centrepiece of the system is definitely the mid-motor. With a weight of just 2.4 kilograms, it is one of the lighter representatives of its kind. It adds a maximum of 310 per cent to the power you put on the pedals. The torque generated is up to 70 Newton metres.

Hyena clearly had the European market in mind during development. This is illustrated by key figures such as the continuous rated output of 250 watts or the maximum output of 360 watts. The motor stops working as soon as you ride faster than 25 kilometres per hour.

Mid-motor providing 70 Newtonmeters and 310 per cent assistance

With these values, the Unidrive 70 clearly lags behind full-power units. However, it tries to bring the associated consequences into play as its own strengths. The low weight has already been mentioned. Added to this are its relatively compact dimensions. The manufacturer speaks of around 15 per cent to 30 per cent savings in volume compared to similarly powerful motors. In terms of the Q-factor, for example, we are talking about 171 millimetres. This is almost on a par with the 169 millimetres of the Specialized SL 1.2, but it is still a big step to the 146 millimetres that the Mavic X-Tend will have in the future.

Hyena Unidrive 70 drive mid-motor in exploded view

The right conditions for a pleasant riding experience

Hidden inside the housing is a sensor that records both the torque and the cadence. The Unidrive 70 uses this data as a basis for responding to different riding styles and providing all riders with the most precise and efficient performance possible. As is now common with many other drives, you can also influence the riding behaviour of the new system from Hyena in the app with the help of corresponding fine adjustments. Divided into at least three levels, you can specify how much power the motor should draw from the possible 100 per cent. Hyena also promises a quiet and low-vibration riding experience.

On a par with the competition

For a better assessment of the qualities of the drive, a test ride would of course be enormously helpful. Without this, all we can do for now is categorise its specifications. Looking at the performance of the Unidrive 70, the Brose Drive T Mag seems to come closest. This also generates 70 Newton metres and provides 320 percent support. However, the T Mag weighs 500 grams more.

The app for the Hyena Unidrive 70 is called Hyena Rider Assistant. There you can, for example, view data such as kilometers traveled, calorie consumption or average speed broken down by day, week, month and year.

The Bosch Performance Line SX is lighter in comparison. It only weighs around two kilograms. At the same time, its torque of 55 Newton metres does not come close to Hyena. Some of you may remember the SyncDrive Sport from Giant. This had an identical torque and even offered 350 per cent assistance. However, with its weight of 3.4 kilograms, it would have fallen significantly behind the Unidrive 70.

Hyena Unidrive 70 motor at a glance

• Assistance up to: 25 km/h
• Torque: maximum 70 Nm
• Max. Support: 310 %
• Weight: approx. 2.4 kg

Energy from the down tube

Alongside the new motor, Hyena also presented a new intube battery at the Taipei Cycle Show. Its full designation is BS-B540+. According to the manufacturer, it is on a par with a Bosch PowerTube 500. Despite the slightly higher capacity of 540 watt hours, the BS-B540+ also weighs three kilograms. In terms of charging time, Hyena even outperforms its Bosch counterpart. There, the comparison is 3.5 hours versus 4.5 hours. There is also the option of combining it with a range extender to increase the range.

First illustrations show only the battery being removed from below. Probably, manufacturers will be able to implement other options as well.

Hyena BS-B540+ battery at a glance

• Capacity: 540 Wh
• Weight: 3 kg
• Dimensions: 420 mm x 82 mm x 52 mm
• Charging time: 3,5 h

Hyena BS-B540+

Displays from large to small

The ebike system is completed by two corresponding displays. The larger of the two is called Vivid Centre. Strictly speaking, the name includes a display and an extra control unit. Hyena supplies a curved holder for the display. If you mount this on the handlebars to the left of the stem, the display is positioned centrally in front of or above the stem. As usual, the control unit is located on the outside left near the handlebar grip.

At 2.4 inches, the TFT LCD display is exactly the same size between the Bosch Kiox 300 and Kiox 500. In our opinion, however, Hyena’s solution does not come close to the design of the market leader. The holder with the large joint and the housing around the display simply look too massive for that. You can access all functions via the six buttons on the control unit, including switching the lights on and off, activating the walk assist and a function called E-Shift Control, which is not explained in detail. The display constantly receives data about your ride and the status of the ebike system via Bluetooth.

While the concept of the Vivid Centre is more similar to the Kiox 300 and Kiox 500, Bosch’s Purion 200 could have been the inspiration for Hyena’s second display. Similar to the Purion 200, the Vivid Compact also combines a small display and buttons. In this case, the display measures 1.8 inches. It is again a TFT LCD display. At first glance, the range of functions appears identical to the Vivid Centre. However, only four buttons are available here.

Hyena Vivid Compact

Pictures: Hyena Inc