Yamaha Wabash RT E-Bike Review, 2024

Explained in the graphic above, our Range Tests allowed us to evaluate the life of the Wabash RT’s 36V, 500 Wh battery and the efficiency of its 250W motor – both made by Yamaha.

The brand does not advertise a range for the Wabash, but when riding the bike in High and Eco (we think most riders will choose this over Eco+) modes, we traveled 43.8 and 125.7 miles respectively. The duration of our tests ranged from 2 hours and 47 minutes to 10 hours and 31 minutes.

At the time of writing, this is currently the greatest distance we have traveled on any of the hundreds of e-bikes we have tested! Simply put, the Wabash RT greatly exceeded our expectations. Furthermore, considering that we measured nearly 2,500 feet of elevation gain during our testing, we believe that it is possible for those riding on flat terrain to cover even more ground on paved surfaces. Those using Eco+ may be able to go even longer.

With that in mind, true gravel riding on doubletrack or singletrack should result in less distance, as motor/battery efficiency goes down on rough, loose, and hilly terrain.

To illustrate the Wabah RT’s efficiency, we used its nominal motor wattage and battery capacity in watt-hours to estimate the time for our Range Test in High mode. Based on these figures (a 250W motor and 500 Wh battery), we anticipated that our range test would take 2 hours, but our real-world test results showed a 39% increase in time.

To be fair, we pedaled at a fairly casual pace (an average speed of 15.8 miles per hour), which helped to extend our time, but the simple fact that the Wabash RT uses a mid-drive grants it an advantage. This type of motor naturally leverages the rider’s effort and allows for a variable amount of output, thereby reducing the draw on the battery.

Overall, we were floored by the Wabash RT’s performance, as it offers a massive and highly functional amount of range for both of the bike’s intended environments. Riders seeking a traditional cycling experience with low power can coax a huge number of miles from the battery, while those who prefer a more leisurely ride can still benefit from the motor/battery efficiency and cover a lot of ground.

This is one of the best times we have observed from any of the e-bikes we have tested with 250W mid-drive motors. Peak motor wattage and torque are two major contributing factors to an e-bike’s performance in this test. The Wabash RT’s motor has a peak of 500 watts and a maximum torque output of 70 Newton-meters (Nm), which is relatively middle-of-the-road in terms of output. This interpretation is supported by our data, as one of the few similarly-specced e-bikes that outpaced the Wabash had a max of 90 Nm of torque.

These figures are not the only contributing factors to the bike’s performance, however, as evidenced by the performance of Yamaha’s CrossCore RC. The Wabash and CrossCore share the same motor and battery, but the Wabash climbed Hell Hole Trail 7 seconds faster with a 0.9 mph increase in speed.

We attribute this largely to the Wabash RT’s more aggressive and aerodynamic riding position and overall lower weight (48 lbs vs 53 lbs). With an 11-speed drivetrain and 11-42T cassette, it also has a wider gearing range that is better-suited for climbing.

Naturally, pedaling up any hill on an e-bike with a mid-drive motor requires some effort, since the motor is dividing the work required with the rider. With that in mind, the Wabash RT proved to have enough power to make the task simple, comfortable, and enjoyable. There are few hills likely to be intimidating when riding the Wabash RT, and we were highly pleased with its performance.

The Wabash RT is equipped with a full Shimano GRX groupset, including its combination shifter/brake levers, drivetrain, and hydraulic disc brake system. This includes two-piston brake calipers with a 160mm rotor on the rear wheel and a 180mm rotor up front.

We evaluated this brake system using the process described above, then calculated an average stopping distance of 20 feet, 8 inches using the three individual measurements we recorded. This is an excellent result overall – our average for all of the e-bikes we have tested is currently 23 feet, 5 inches – which indicates that the GRX brake system is safe and extremely effective.

When testing the bike on dirt and gravel doubletrack, we found that their real-world performance reinforced our test results. We felt instantaneous response with solid bite from the calipers, which allowed us to quickly adjust speed when approaching rocky, washed out areas of trail.

In summary, the Wabash RT is specced well with a great brake system that performs extremely well on both paved and unpaved surfaces.

Yamaha intends for the bike to be used by both road and gravel cyclists, though we found that it leaned more heavily into gravel with its handlebars, tires, suspension/dropper seatpost, and overall geometry.

In truth, when compared to similar gravel e-bikes from other well-established, popular brands, the Wabash RT’s geometry is a bit more relaxed. It comes in three frame sizes (S, M, and L) with reach ranging from 368mm to 402mm and stack from 595mm to 617mm, so its forward-leaning riding position is somewhat less aggressive and more upright than much of its competition. With a wheelbase ranging from 1057mm to 1090mm, it’s also a little on the longer side.

While less suited to racing, we found its positioning to be comfortable for long periods of time, and perhaps more friendly to commuters who plan to take advantage of the option to equip the bike with fenders and a cargo rack. Its longer wheelbase helped the bike to feel stable and planted at high speeds, while not so long that it negatively affected handling.

Its overall handling was quick, light, and responsive, but its weight prevented it from feeling too airy. When using the flared drops on the handlebar, we found cornering especially sharp and precise. The 700c x 45mm Maxxis Rambler tires did a fantastic job of gripping and remaining stable when carving through loose dirt.

The Wabash RT comes with tubeless-ready rims and tires, making it possible with a few steps to convert to a system less prone to flats. We recommend going tubeless, as the 120tpi EXO version of the Rambler tires, which are lighter and less durable, provided little protection when using tubes (at least in our local desert environment where sharp things are plentiful).

We greatly appreciated the fact that the Wabash included 45mm tires for added comfort and stability. The tires can be aired down to make the ride softer (and provide better grip) since there is no front suspension. The bike does, however, include a dropper seatpost with 40 or 60mm of travel depending on frame size, which also includes 25mm of suspension to smooth out any bumps.

The Wabash RT showed great performance in every facet of our testing and review process. We were most impressed by its staggering range potential of well over 100 miles. The bike’s ride feel and the efficiency of its motor and battery prove that Yamaha has applied their decades of experience effectively to create a widely appealing road/gravel bike.

We found only a few minor areas of critique, with the most relevant being the paint wear on the head tube from less-than-ideal cable management, and the placement of the dropper post lever. We think these concerns would be easily remedied with minimal cost, so we hope that Yamaha addresses them on the next iteration of the bike.

Otherwise, we happily recommend the Wabash RT for cyclists seeking a fun, comfortable, and easy to use road/gravel e-bike that still feels like a bike!

Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Yamaha Wabash RT down in our comments section.