First things first: we're not talking about a new engine here. Yamaha's PW-X2 is going into the 2021 season unchanged, but there are still new bikes for the upcoming season that are worth a closer look. Haibike is taking an unusually sporty direction with the All Mtn 6 and All Mtn 7 models - and at surprisingly fair prices. Giant is putting its popular Trance E+ trail and touring bike on 29-inch wheels. And Husqvarna is entering the race with the Trailray E 8.0, a package that could be a strong alternative to the high-priced competition for price-conscious bikers.
But back to the motor. In fact, the PW-X2 is somewhat under the radar of many e-mountain bikers. The main reason for this is probably that the selection of bikes with this powerhouse is limited. When a Yamaha e-MTB does make it into our editorial team, the test impressions of the motor are predominantly positive. Especially those who like robust power delivery should shortlist the Yamaha. Its very direct response is typical. As soon as you put your foot on the pedal, the engine starts to twitch. It wants to charge off like a wild racehorse. This may take some getting used to in the car park, but it proves to be helpful in some situations on the road, for example when starting off on steep terrain. Here, the motor builds up pressure from the first millimetre of crank movement, whereas with some competitors you have to overcome a certain amount of idle travel using muscle power.
You can download the complete comparison test between the Haibike All Mtn 7 and Giant Trance X E+ Pro 29 from EMTB 5/2020 as a PDF below the article. The test costs 1.99 euros.
Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has a price. In return, we guarantee independence and objectivity. This applies in particular to the tests in EMTB. We don't pay for them, but the opposite is the case: we charge for them, namely tens of thousands of euros every year.
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Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
