No trip to the workshop: your TQ motor now updates from the app

If you ride an e-bike with a TQ motor, you'll no longer have to book a slot at the workshop every time the software needs updating. According to MTBpro, the German brand has just enabled OTA updates (over-the-air, that is, wirelessly) through its TQ E-Bike app, so you can update the system yourself without going through a dealer.

It's a small change on paper, but you notice it day to day: less waiting, fewer trips and the bike always on the latest version the manufacturer releases.

What changes with OTA updates for the TQ motor

Until now, updating the software of many assist systems meant connecting the bike to a diagnostic tool at the workshop. With OTA updates, that step moves to your phone: the TQ E-Bike app acts as the bridge and the system updates with no cables or appointments.

The news doesn't detail what specific improvements the next versions will bring, so don't expect miracles from any one update. What matters is the channel: from now on, any tweak or fix TQ releases reaches you directly.

How to make the most of it without any scares

As with any update to an electronic system, it's best to take your time. A few common-sense pointers:

• Battery with enough charge before you start, so the process doesn't cut out halfway.
• Phone close to the bike and with the app up to date.
• Do it at home, not at the trailhead five minutes before heading out with the group.
• Follow the steps the app gives you and don't switch the bike off while it updates.

And if something doesn't feel quite right afterwards, the workshop is still your ally: OTA saves you trips, it doesn't leave you without support.

If you buy or sell a second-hand e-bike with a TQ motor

This is where the news matters most for anyone looking for second-hand e-bikes. Being able to update the software from the app makes it easier for a used bike to reach you up to date, and gives you one more thing to check before paying:

• Ask to see the paired app and the installed software version.
• Make sure the system is unpaired from the previous owner's account so you can link it to yours.
• Test the assistance while riding, on the flat and uphill, to feel that it responds as it should.

If you're the one selling, update the system before posting the listing and mention it: buyers feel reassured seeing a bike that has been looked after on the inside too. Many lightweight e-MTBs use this type of motor, so you may also want to have a look at second-hand mountain bikes to compare.

One more step towards e-bikes that are easier to maintain

E-bikes are becoming more and more like other devices we use every day: they improve over time without going over the counter. For riders, that means more time on the trails and less in the waiting room.

Got an e-bike with a TQ motor you don't use much any more? Update it and post your listing for free on bicis.net; there's bound to be someone keen to take it on their next ride.