Stepping off a normal mountain bike and onto an e-Bike is a moment you never forget. After years of sweating up hills, the feeling of an invisible hand on your back as you now glide up is something that you can get very used to.
Speak to the many e-Bikers out on the trails and they’ll tell you “Yeah nah, not going back to analog any time soon” as they happily admit their old pedal-powered MTB is sitting in the garage gathering dust. Or on Gumtree.
Yamaha is more famous for motorcycles but way back in 1993 the Japanese firm developed a Pedal Assist System. This consisted of a small centrally-located motor that chimed in to help the pedalling action of the rider in a natural way. Now pretty much all e-Bikes use the same system. And to celebrate the achievement, Yamaha has introduced the 30th Anniversary Edition of its YDX-Moro 07 e-MTB.
Marking a milestone
The bike comes with a polished frame and 30th Anniversary badge, otherwise specs are the same as the standard Icon Blue model. Which is no bad thing. Yamaha was at the Australian launch at Wylde MTB Park in Western Sydney, where it brought along its MX and road racers to demonstrate the quick way around the trails.
Now the polished twin spar aluminium frame brings the Moro even closer to its piston-powered dirt bikes.
Yamaha’s patented Dual Twin design combines hydroforming and forging techniques to create a frame that protects components with uncompromised riding control. And at the heart of the beast beats the new PW-X3 mid-drive motor – Yamaha’s smallest and lightest to date. The PW-X3 provides class leading power to weight ratio with jaw dropping responsiveness and smooth power delivery.
A 500Wh battery provides 85Nm of power that is delivered in a wide variety of modes including ECO, Standard, High, the unique and natural feeling MTB mode, Extra-Power, Automatic and Walk Assist. The battery can be recharged to 80 per cent in an hour and 100 per cent in four hours.
All geared up
YDX-Moro 07 is an enduro e-MTB that sports 27.5in wheels and comes in small, medium and large frame sizes. It features RockShox suspension with a generous 160mm front and 150mm rear travel, a slick shifting Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain, cable-operated dropper seat post and four piston caliper Magura brakes for one finger stopping.
The 30th Anniversary YDX-Moro 07 is keenly priced at $9,099 inc GST ready to ride and is bound to appeal to riders who already own a Yamaha or who dream of doing so – the ideal machine to enjoy a convenient and regular thrill ride with minimal noise on trails close to home.
But be warned – one ride and your old MTB may up in the shed or on EBay…
Moro is available from Yamaha dealers and they are offering a low one per cent finance rate on both models until the end of the year.