Yamaha Wabash RT Gravel EBike – First Impressions On and Off Road

We got a chance to ride the Yamaha Wabash RT electric gravel bike. The Yamaha Wabash RT electric gravel bike is a class 3 pedal assist bike that will assist you up to 28mph. It comes equipped with a 500 watt hour integrated battery that is also removable so you can charge it off the bike. The integrated battery gives the bike a sleek look and a distinctive silhouette. The battery is removable as well if you would like to charge it off the bike.

This battery powers Yamaha’s new PwSeries ST mid drive motor. With this motor comes a new Automatic assist feature. The PWSeries ST is the most natural feeling power assist system on the market because of Yamaha’s proprietary Quad Sensor System, which also supports high cadence pedaling. It adapts immediately and with great efficiency to ride conditions, maintaining smooth transitions through the power assist levels based on data from each of four sensors:

1. Torque sensor that detects pedaling power from the rider.
2. Speed sensor integrated into the rear hub that detects the bicycle’s speed.
3. Crank sensor that detects the number of rotations through pedaling.
4. Angle sensor that detects the incline of the bike while riding up or down hills.

Estimated range on this bike is 104 miles in Eco+ Mode and 35 miles in High mode. The battery can be charged from 0-80% is 1 hour. A 100% charge will take 4 hours.

The bike is equipped with nice parts out of the box. Shimano GRX drivetrain and Shimano GRX Hydraulic brakes help you move forward and stop smoothly. The bars are gravel specific flared bars. The flare on the drops feels ergonomic and stable when at speed. The wide bars allow for the incorporation of larger handlebar packs for those long epic days in the saddle.

Another great feature is the built-in dropper post that comes standard. This is a very nice addition to the bike especially when the trail gets rough. The dropper post has 40-60mm of travel, the right amount to feel more stable on the downhill gravel sections. The Maxxis Rambler 700-45c TR EXO tires proved nice grip on the paved roads and the unpaved sections we rode.

Our first experience with the Yamaha Wabash RT Gravel Ebike was just the ride we needed to know we wanted more. When we first saw the bike we were impressed with the nice subtle paint job and the silhouette with the integrated battery. When we first left the parking lot I rode with the bike off to see how it rolled. The Maxxis tires rolled nicely over the pavement, even with the motor off. The fun began when I turned the motor on and put it in automatic mode. I got out of the saddle and pedaled pretty hard and the motor had no issue getting me to 28mph. The acceleration made me feel like a world class sprinter in the last 100 meters of a race.

The transition to the gravel was seamless. The wide bars felt good under my hands and getting to the drops was smooth. As we started to go downhill I lowered the dropper post and it helped the transition to the downhill gravel section that much more. The bike felt stable at speed in the gravel and on the road. I kept the bike in Automatic mode most of the ride and it transitioned into the different power modes with ease. It was really nice to not have to think about switching modes for different sections of the road. We even got to take on a 47% grade road section and the bikes handled it no problem. Our ride was a 23 mi loop with 2,800ft of elevation gain with a great mix of dirt and road. This was a great first intro ride and we can’t wait to get one for long term review.

Available now in the USA and Japan only.

Price: $4,099
Sizes: 54cm (S) / 57cm (M) / 60cm (L)
Weights: 46.2 lbs (S) / 46.4 lbs (M) / 46.7 lbs (L)
Website: Yamahabicycles.com