As part of the Presentation of new products from Haibike we had the opportunity to chase the new Yamaha PW-X over the trails in a Haibike prototype. We were excited to see whether it could fulfil the high expectations and offer noticeable advantages over the current Yamaha unit.
The key data of the new Yamaha PW-X drive are very similar to those of the competition:
- 250 watts of power
- 80 Nm maximum torque
- Support up to 25 km/h
- five support levels: Eco-Plus, Eco, Standard, High, Extrapower
- Pushing aid
- 500 watt hour battery
The new motor should develop more power than its predecessor despite its smaller external dimensions and lower weight. The smaller dimensions allow short chainstays (like the Haibike SDuro), which should make the handling significantly more agile. The engine also takes up less space in the frame.
On the test bike, the Yamaha motor was controlled via the new Haibike display, which is integrated into the stem. The support mode is changed via a control unit at the end of the handlebars. This works very intuitively. In addition to the battery charge status, the speed, cadence and other information can also be read off the display. The pushing aid is also activated via the control unit.
How the Yamaha PW-X rides
When you start pedalling for the first time, you immediately notice that the new motor is very quiet and unobtrusive. Even at a high cadence, the unit does not produce any annoying noises. In addition, the PW-X shows its harmonious side when setting off: the support engages very quickly and the bike starts moving smoothly.
Although the power comes on very strongly, the traction does not diminish as a result. In general, the new Yamaha is much more powerful than the old one, even if the torque drops noticeably from around 90 revolutions per minute in order not to exceed the prescribed 250 watts. When you stop pedalling, the motor does not rev up, but gently ends its assistance.
The first four modes differ significantly from each other, unfortunately the extra power mode was not programmed on our test bike. In the Eco-Plus level, you have to pedal hard, in Eco much less. The standard mode provides powerful assistance, while the high mode scores with very high torque and lets you literally fly up the climbs. But even with such strong support, the power remains easy to control.
Test summary of the Yamaha PW-X
The new e-bike motor from Yamaha cuts a very fine figure and the improvements are clearly noticeable in a direct comparison. Thanks to harmonious power delivery and plenty of torque, Yamaha offers a strong counterpart to the established competition.
