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Which Shimano STEPS motor is fitted to my e-bike?

Which motor do I have?Shimano STEPS

This flow fixes the exact STEPS generation on the bike by reading the markings on the motor case, the display and the small junction box, and by checking the E-TUBE PROJECT Cyclist app. Once the unit is identified you can order the correct firmware, parts and service manual. The error code itself does not change between generations, so the code page is the same, but the parts list is not.

Warning: Do not guess the system from the bicycle brand or a forum post; a wrong STEPS generation means a wrong code list reference and a wrong replacement part.

What you need

The bike, on a stand or turned upside down safely
A torch for the motor case and display back
A phone with Bluetooth to pair the E-TUBE PROJECT Cyclist app
The original invoice, type plate or frame sticker
A clean cloth to read cast or printed markings

LED patterns and what they mean

DU-EP801 cast into the motor case	Shimano STEPS EP801, launched 2022 as successor to EP800
DU-EP800 or DU-EP8 cast into the motor case	Shimano STEPS EP800 (EP8) generation
DU-EP600 or DU-EP6 cast into the motor case	Shimano STEPS EP600 (EP6) generation
DU-E8000 cast into the motor case	Shimano STEPS E8000 generation
DU-E7000 cast into the motor case	Shimano STEPS E7000 generation
DU-E6100 cast into the motor case	Shimano STEPS E6100 generation
DU-E5000 cast into the motor case	Shimano STEPS E5000 entry-level generation
DU-E6000 cast into the motor case	Older Shimano STEPS city-bike generation
Display labelled SC-EM800 on the back or edge	Newer STEPS display, pairs with EP801 / EP600
Display labelled SC-E8000, SC-E7000, SC-E6100 or SC-E5003	STEPS display naming matches its motor generation
Small black junction box labelled EW-EN100	Confirms a STEPS system is fitted, but not which generation
E-TUBE PROJECT Cyclist app shows a system name and firmware	Confirms Shimano STEPS and reads the exact unit and firmware

Step by step

1. Pair the bike with the E-TUBE PROJECT Cyclist app on a phone
Hold the power button on the bike, open the app, accept the Bluetooth pairing request and wait for the system page to load
If OK: The app displays the drive unit, display and firmware version; record these and skip to verdicts
If not: Move on to the next step

2. Read the model number printed on the back or edge of the cycle computer
Unclip the display from its mount and turn it over, or read the small print next to the buttons
If OK: SC-E5003, SC-E6100, SC-E7000, SC-E8000 or SC-EM800 confirms STEPS and the generation
If not: Check for an EW-EN100 junction box next

3. Find the small EW-EN100 junction box on the frame or cable run
Follow the cable from the display or motor and look for a black box the size of a matchbox with a single LED
If OK: EW-EN100 confirms a STEPS system is present, generation still to be fixed
If not: Move to the motor case

4. Read the model number cast into the motor case at the bottom bracket
Crouch on the non-drive side, shine a torch on the motor body and read the cast or laser-etched text
If OK: DU-E5000, DU-E6100, DU-E7000, DU-E8000, DU-EP600, DU-EP800 or DU-EP801 fixes the system
If not: Clean the case with a cloth and try again, or use the invoice

5. Check the invoice, frame type plate or build sheet
Look for a line such as 'Drive unit: Shimano DU-...' on the spec sheet
If OK: Use that model number with the verdicts below
If not: Take the bike to a Shimano service dealer with the frame number

What you now know for sure

DU-EP801: Current EP8 generation launched in 2022; codes are the same shared STEPS list (E010, E012, E020, W011, W013) → Use the standard STEPS error code page and the EP801 firmware notes
DU-EP800 (EP8): Previous EP8 generation; same shared STEPS code list as EP801 → Use the standard STEPS error code page; parts list differs from EP801
DU-EP600 (EP6): EP6 generation; same shared STEPS code list → Use the standard STEPS error code page and EP6 specific parts diagrams
DU-E8000 / DU-E7000 / DU-E6100 / DU-E5000: Older STEPS generations; same shared STEPS code list → Use the standard STEPS error code page; parts and firmware differ per generation
DU-E6000: Older STEPS system on city bikes; same shared STEPS code list → Use the standard STEPS error code page; parts differ from newer units
System confirmed as Shimano STEPS but exact unit unclear: Codes E010, E012, E020, W011, W013 still apply → Read the code on the display or in the app, then return to identify the unit when parts are needed

Manuals and video

Frequently asked

Can I tell which STEPS system is fitted from the bicycle brand?

No. Several brands mix generations on the same model year, so the bicycle brand alone does not tell you whether it is E5000, E6100, EP600 or EP801.

What if nothing is marked on the motor and I have no paperwork?

Pair the bike with the E-TUBE PROJECT Cyclist app, which reads the drive unit and firmware directly, or take the frame number to a Shimano service dealer.

Does the model year decide the STEPS system?

No. The EP801 was launched in 2022 but EP800 bikes were still sold after that, and E6100 remained in production for city and trekking models. Always read the marking on the motor or the app, not the year.

Still stuck? Take a photo of the display and show it to a local e-bike workshop. Bring the bike's system name (e.g. Bosch Performance Line CX) and the exact code; that saves diagnostic time and money.