YAMAHA YDX-MORO PRO REVIEW

THE DIRT
The Yamaha PW-X2 motor took a minute to learn as most of our riding experience has been on Shimano and Bosch systems, with some Brose units as well. At first we weren’t sure how much power the YDX-MORO Pro was putting down as our thighs were telling us we were working hard, but once we got in the paceline with the other riders we saw how and where the PW-X2 shines. It offers a natural feel and likes spinning higher cadences. Despite the perceived effort being a bit more, there was plenty of power when you needed it. What’s more, Yamaha delivers the power without jolting you off line on technical climbs. The sound the motor produced was pleasant to our testers and became white noise after a few minutes of pedaling. It is difficult to put into words the feeling of power that this motor provides, the best way I can put it is that you feel like a stronger you. The integration of power is seamless. While the Auto function of the motor was a nice treat, we spent the majority of our rides in EXPW or MTB modes to get the most out of our time on the trail. The battery life out of the 500Wh battery was comparable with other bikes offering 504Wh batteries. This meant Yamaha  and 504Wh riders ended their day before 630Wh riders and had them watching as others zipped back up for “one more lap.”

Across the board there is a good balance of budget friendly parts that offer reliability day in and day out. Certain things such as the sensor in the rear hub will add complication to upgrading wheelsets, this is something that I think definitely will affect the long-term use of this bike. The fork and shock package on the build also leave some performance to be desired, the rear shock does a decent job at keeping you high up in the travel on big successive hits but sacrifices small bump sensitivity. With that said the shock is an excellent match for this bike on the climbs, the lack of small bump sensitivity was not nearly as noticeable on climbs as it was on descents. The Yari RC is a weak point in our eyes as well. We felt this held the bike back for aggressive riders really wanting to push the limits. A Lyrik Select with the Charger RC damper or Zeb would be a much better match for this bike. That being said, we still rode this bike very hard, fast and had a lot of fun on it, so that says something. And for the record, we understand the choice in spec was probably made to help keep the price point under $6,000 and for that, concessions need to be made.

Climbing: The climbing position on the YDX-MORO was awkward at first and seemed long due to the relaxed seat tube angle and low stack height. We talked with Yamaha at length about their geometry and found they had tested almost a dozen prototype frames with many different geometry and suspension platforms. The decision was made to go with a slacker seat tube angle to give the bike the most rear wheel traction possible and allow riders to climb up steep pitches without the rear tire spinning out. With a wheelbase of 1,253mm the front wheel stayed planted on steep climbs without sacrificing agility navigating tight switch backs, which could be in part due to the somewhat low-feeling front end. The smooth power delivery in MTB mode kept wheel spin at a minimum and allowed you to get the power to the ground. A common issue we have on bikes, especially eMTB’s is dropper length, to achieve a proper saddle height with the 150mm dropper we had the post quite a way out of the seat tube. With the seat tube being nearly completely straight having a 180mm dropper would be appreciated.

The 27.5” wheels made tight uphill sections easy to power through but did like to hang up on square edge steps. We found ourselves planning out the climb to keep speed up through features that we thought we would hang up on. However, we found that to be less of an issue on the second YDX-MORO we rode. During our testing period, the first pre-production bike had some error code issues with the pre-production battery. We called Yamaha and within the hour a marketing rep was on the way from SoCal to Utah with a brand new bike that was full production spec. It quickly became apparent that the newer bike’s fresher suspension products gave the bike a much better feel and performance. Sadly it was towards the end of the week so many of the riders didn’t get the chance to ride the new bike and compare it to the well-worn demo we had been riding all week. Major props to Yamaha for driving a new bike out to get us taken care of.

Complimenting the PX-X2 drive unit’s capabilities was the Shimano XT shifter and derailleur combo. The YDX-MORO PRO blasted through gears like it was nothing. Even when shifting multiple gears the chain held strong and did not skip. While this is not an ideal way to preserve the life of your cassette and chain it is good to know that in a pinch you can make big last minute moves when needed.

Descending:

When it comes to descending the YDX-MORO PRO had a bit of a mixed response. After getting on the fresh bike we had a much better experience and thought the suspension performed way more how we hoped it would. When it comes to handling, the 27.5” wheels are snappy through tight corners and make it a fun bike overall. We liked how the YDX-MORO blended playfulness and stability, although the 66.3-degree head tube angle won’t be ideal for riders who live on super steep downhill tracks and regularly achieve mach-speeds, unless of course you’re name is Brian Lopes.

We had a bit of an issue with feeling off-balanced on the bike in certain instances. We’re not sure if it is the 666mm top tube length in conjunction with the 70.3-degree seat tube angle but when in an attack position the front end seems long and low. This was confirmed by a number of riders during our eMTB Shootout in St. George, Utah. While I do not think this really impacts the bikes performance, it does give the rider a bit of an unsure feeling through long flat corners until you learn how it likes to be ridden. The YDX-MORO really likes you to ride in a forward position, once accustomed to that riding position, confidence in longer flat corners comes back.

While we did feel that the RockShox Yari fork held the bike back through really rough terrain, it was supportive on undulating trails where you are in and out of the saddle putting down power. With fast successive small bumps there was a lot of feedback in the bars but when encountering larger spaced out hits the fork ramped up well and provided plenty of support, even if there was more flex than a 38mm fork. Once again, the second YDX-MORO PRO with fresh suspension performed much better than the first bike we had and we wished we could have had it all week long as opinions began shifting quickly on how the bike felt in the rough.

The 66.3-degree headtube angle has some real benefits for the right type of terrain. Combined with the 27.5” wheels, this bike changes directions very easily and makes trails feel alive and fun. On mellower descents the YDX-MORO excelled in places the longer “new school” bikes felt like limousines. If you live in an area where you’re snaking through rocks, logs and making quick maneuvers, the snappy front end feel will have you riding faster than other slacked-out rigs.

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