Opinion: Yamaha YDX is the one
07-29-20, 03:41 AM
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Opinion: Yamaha YDX is the one
https://electrek.co/2020/07/29/yamah...mountain-bike/
The future has arrived
This is the first full suspension ebike that I think has the design potential to reach critical mass. The current design paradigm is a hacked-together concept; either a normal downtube with a huge wart on it or a huge downtube with an inaccessible battery. Split-frame is how motorcycles have always been made and it's a natural progression, it just makes sense. It means the battery can be hot swapped, upgraded, or even just removed for a ride without assist, packaged in a way that is minimalistic and proportional to the other major components of the bicycle.
The future has arrived
This is the first full suspension ebike that I think has the design potential to reach critical mass. The current design paradigm is a hacked-together concept; either a normal downtube with a huge wart on it or a huge downtube with an inaccessible battery. Split-frame is how motorcycles have always been made and it's a natural progression, it just makes sense. It means the battery can be hot swapped, upgraded, or even just removed for a ride without assist, packaged in a way that is minimalistic and proportional to the other major components of the bicycle.
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07-29-20, 05:32 AM
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While I am not in the market for an Ebike, that looks pretty cool.
07-29-20, 07:24 AM
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Holy Moly ! This changes the game a bit
Motorcycle manufacturers getting in on the party opens up the target audience to an even wider demographic -
They already have an e-bike class at some GNCC racing events (off-road motorcycle)
Motorcycle manufacturers getting in on the party opens up the target audience to an even wider demographic -
They already have an e-bike class at some GNCC racing events (off-road motorcycle)
07-29-20, 09:39 AM
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https://electrek.co/2020/07/29/yamah...mountain-bike/
Split-frame is how motorcycles have always been made
Split-frame is how motorcycles have always been made
Example, '80s Yamaha Virago. There are plenty more.
Last edited by thumpism; 07-30-20 at 02:10 PM.
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07-29-20, 10:41 AM
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I'd like it if it didn't have the motor and battery.
07-29-20, 01:36 PM
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On the one hand, if downhill is the goal, having an assist back up the hill doesn't seem to "violate " anything. A lot of people use vehicles to haul the bikes back up access roads or use chairlifts at mtb/ski parks aka Whistler. On horizontal trail systems they do seem kinda lazy.
On the other hand, electric assist creates more wear on trails because the rider can do more loops without effort (not paying the "price" for the run) and they can chew up trails as they power up portions a manual rider might otherwise walk.
I'm 50/50 on them but wouldn't invest until I knew the batteries were replaceable by a company that will be around when they fail. The proprietary nature of their designs makes me leery.
Last edited by Happy Feet; 07-29-20 at 01:40 PM.
07-29-20, 01:53 PM
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Well, there goes the neighborhood.
07-30-20, 11:03 PM
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The Yamaha does looks nice. Sur Ron did something similar. I’m looking forward to ebikes with 80 mile range and around 200# to hit motorcycle trails with.
07-31-20, 06:54 AM
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07-31-20, 07:14 AM
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Those things are just going to get more trails closed off. I'm fine with pedal assist for commuters, but they should be registered and plated as mopeds.
07-31-20, 09:35 AM
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And yes, they are popular in the motocross community - with Jeremy McGrath, Travis PReston, Travis Pastrana and many others enjoying the benefits of them. They just help people stay on the bike longer
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07-31-20, 09:36 AM
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Don't see how -- a well trained cyclist on a conventional XC bike can keep up with a regular guy on an e-bike just fine. You should try one. Most of my local trails are allowing them with no issues
07-31-20, 09:43 AM
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If I were to, which I'm not.
https://www.bianchi.com/bike/ultegra...1sp-compact-3/
https://cdn3.volusion.com/efwyc.gveu...che=1568945565
https://www.bianchi.com/bike/ultegra...1sp-compact-3/
https://cdn3.volusion.com/efwyc.gveu...che=1568945565
07-31-20, 09:49 AM
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I personally think this is the "Honeymoon" era of the ebike in general. Something like this will only shorten the honeymoon period. Already there are elected officials looking to regulate ebikes. For the sake of clarity I don't care what machine people ride as long as they stay out of my way but human nature being what it is there is always going to be those who push the limits of what is commercially available. As soon as that happens and the kid of some elected official gets killed on one of these bikes soon after will follow "xxxxxx's law" to ether restrict them and require licensing and insurance or an outright ban.
The practical in me say's that if it is a dirt bike you really want, get the dirt bike.
The practical in me say's that if it is a dirt bike you really want, get the dirt bike.
07-31-20, 10:18 AM
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Our trails do not allow them. I know what they will be capable of. I used to race Hare Scrambles and Cross country motorcycles. I ride mountain bikes now because there is no place left to trail ride motorcycles. 3 seperate 100 acre parks across the whole state of Texas does not make for much motorcycle riding.
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07-31-20, 10:55 AM
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Our trails do not allow them. I know what they will be capable of. I used to race Hare Scrambles and Cross country motorcycles. I ride mountain bikes now because there is no place left to trail ride motorcycles. 3 seperate 100 acre parks across the whole state of Texas does not make for much motorcycle riding.
07-31-20, 11:28 AM
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Not to argue, but there are individuals (my friend rides with one who had a surfing accident) who can barely walk, but can ride pretty strenuous trails on an eMTB. It has changed his life.
07-31-20, 12:17 PM
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Moved to ebikes from General. ebike threads go in the ebike forum. There may be some anti-ebike comments in this thread. Please don't report them.
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07-31-20, 12:50 PM
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I've deleted a couple of posts since this thread is now where it belongs. I'm in favor of letting the ebikers have their own happy place.
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08-05-20, 03:18 PM
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Yamaha is making some great stuff. Their gravel ebike is pretty sweet for the price point, and now this thing.
Re: honeymoon - its been a ball having a stealth ebike over the last 7 years, but its no longer and uncommon site on the roads.
Re: honeymoon - its been a ball having a stealth ebike over the last 7 years, but its no longer and uncommon site on the roads.
08-06-20, 07:07 AM
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Here is update for the Yamaha with videos and pricing.
https://electrek.co/2020/08/05/yamah...lectric-bikes/
https://electrek.co/2020/08/05/yamah...lectric-bikes/
08-06-20, 08:26 AM
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At these prices, I am not a customer.
That said, flagship models frequently lead the way for less expensive, more pedestrian, models. I hope this happens here.
Yamaha’s first full-suspension electric mountain bike is available in two models, the Desert Yellow YDX-MORO and the Blue/Nickel YDX-MORO Pro.The former gets a price tag of $4,499 while the latter is a bit pricer at $5,499. The bikes share the same frame, dropper seat post, and 500Wh battery/motor setup, so the difference is in the specs.
08-06-20, 08:48 AM
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Yeah, custom builds for ebikes tend to be expensive. Bolting stuff on to a mass produced frame is cheap and ugly. But its getting better. Integrated ebike builds used to be $7000. Now you can find some nice ones nearer $3000.
Here is a $3500 Yamaha Wabash that looks like a winner (although at this point it may be getting a little dated) https://electrek.co/2019/03/18/yamah...c-gravel-bike/
Here is a $3500 Yamaha Wabash that looks like a winner (although at this point it may be getting a little dated) https://electrek.co/2019/03/18/yamah...c-gravel-bike/
