Yamaha YDX Moro E-Bike Review

Yamaha has built this e-Bike on what it calls the Dual Twin frame, and it’s a distinctly different approach from most e-MTBs. The top tube and down tube are both split into two, which sounds like it’s done for style, but it’s built for a purpose. They’ve tucked the rear shock into the split top tube, and the battery sits inside the split down tube. The result is a lower, more centralized weight distribution than a standard single-tube frame gives you.

That low center of gravity is meant to make the bike feel more planted and easier to control, most of all through berms and technical sections, without needing a longer wheelbase.

The bike feels nimble for a full-suspension e-MTB, and a lot of that comes down to the frame and how well-controlled the PW-X3’s power delivery is. Climbing is where the bike stands out. The motor power delivery smooths out the transition when you’re starting from a dead stop on a steep pitch, which is where some e-MTBs feel jerky.

The suspension travel is 160mm up front and 150mm at the rear, and the bike handles rough terrain well, while staying composed through rock gardens and on drops. The included dropper post has 170mm of travel, which is long for this category, and the short seat tube means you get a lot of standover clearance even with the post fully extended.

The PW-X3 puts out 85Nm of torque from a 250W motor, with up to 500W at peak output. It’s Yamaha’s smallest and lightest e-MTB motor to date. The fact that Yamaha used its own motor instead of sourcing one from a third party helps the frame and motor to work especially well together.

There are five power modes: Eco, Standard, High, MTB, and Extra-Power, plus an Automatic mode that adjusts assist on its own based on the terrain. The Automatic mode saves you from cycling through settings constantly on mixed trails.

The 500Wh battery is enough for a couple of hours of hard riding, though less if you spend a lot of time in the higher power modes. It’s a smaller battery than some competitors offer, which is part of how Yamaha keeps the weight and price down.

The Interface X display and remote are minimalist to the point of being confusing at first. It uses simple light bars instead of a full screen to show battery and mode, and figuring out what each light pattern means takes some time with the manual before it becomes second nature.

The geometry is a little more old-school than some newer e-MTBs, with a head angle and seat angle that are less aggressive than what’s become common on the latest full-power e-MTBs. It doesn’t hurt the bike’s capability, but riders coming from a more modern geometry might notice the difference.

The 500Wh battery means you get less range, but the bike is lighter and lower-priced. If you do a lot of long days in the mountains, you might want a bike with a larger battery.

The Yamaha Wabash RT shares Yamaha’s mid-drive motor philosophy in a drop-bar gravel frame instead of a full-suspension mountain bike, worth a look if trail riding isn’t the priority.

Other full-suspension e-MTBs may offer bigger batteries or more modern geometry, but they may not match the YDX-MORO’s price, and few use a motor designed and built in-house by the manufacturer.

An e-MTB takes a beating on the trail, so the motor, battery, and suspension all deserve a close look before buying used. Every e-Bike on Upway goes through a 50-point inspection covering exactly those parts before it’s ever listed. Check out the full range of refurbished e-bikes to compare models and find the one that suits you best.