The denizens of Nepal have depended on cycles as a mode of daily transportation for decades, but it wasn’t until the late 2000s that the concept of recreational cycling started finding traction with the general public. This was also when I jumped onto the bandwagon and got myself my first hardtail mountain bike.

However, that was almost a decade ago, when my back didn’t spasm when I sneezed and my lungs didn’t succumb from the efforts of climbing up my office building. I can still do short rides, a one-off trail run, and/or rides that don’t have me pedaling up steep inclines, but I just don’t have it in me to cycle on a regular basis.

Long story short, cycling is no longer something that interests me because it takes too much effort and motivation. Cycling was a part of my life that I had enjoyed but it didn’t seem like I would be delving into pedal power anymore… until now.

Features and styling

Yadea, as a company, has experienced 20 years of rapid development to make a name for itself as a high-end electric two-wheeler vehicle manufacturer. They have a fleet of electric scooters and electric cycles to choose from, but we have with us the Yadea YS500 eMTB.

For the most part, the Yadea YS500 looks like any other mountain bike; except for a substantially sized lithium-ion battery (36V 13AH) attached to the downtube of the frame. You also get Yadea’s own Fusion mid-motor in the vicinity of the bottom bracket. This motor promises rock-solid durability and is the foundation of the Yadea YS500. The unique bilateral torque sensor in the motor finds its origins and inspiration from the automotive hybrid system technology. The Fusion motor includes the seamless integration of three sensors: torque, cadence, and speed which fuses with the automotive-grade chips and high-speed stable CAN bus communication.

What does this all mean? Well, it basically means that the Fusion motor senses the riding condition and rider inputs in real-time and provides adequate power assistance for the rider. Another key difference is the LCD monitor and buttons that you will find on the handlebars. These buttons and LCD screen help operate and view the motor’s input. We’ll get into more details a little later.

In terms of components, the Yadea YS500 comes with a 9-speed gear with a Shimano Altus derailleur and lever. Front forks are 32mm Suntours that provide 120mm of travel with a speed lockout that can be used on the fly for climbing steep inclines. Braking duties are undertaken by hydraulic Shimano MT200 disc brakes. The seats are Selleroyal Verve and you’ll notice a brake lamp positioned under it. Upfront you get a small LED headlight for night riding as well. The Yadea YS500 rides on 27.5” Kenda rubbers.

The Ride

While the idea of a smart motor run eMTB (EMountainBike) might sound complicated, operations are pretty simple. The first thing you’ll want to do is turn the motor on, which can be done by long-pressing the topmost button of the three vertically stacked buttons you’ll find on the left side of the handlebar. This brings the motor into life and turns on the LCD Display. The LCD display lets you know which mode you’re on, how fast you’re going, and how much battery you have remaining.

The two buttons below the power button have the + and – sign on them. This lets you activate and toggle between the amount of input that the motor has on your riding. There are 3 levels to choose from: 1, 2, and 3 with Level 1 having the least amount of motor input and level 3 providing the most assistance. There’s also a level 0 where the motor doesn’t provide any input and the bicycle operates like a conventional bicycle. The buttons also work to operate the headlights and to activate the walking mode where the rear wheel gets a steady flow of power for the entire duration that the lowermost button is pressed. While I didn’t find myself using the walking mode too often, I can definitely see its use if you decide to walk up a steep incline (or if you have a flat tyre).

However, that’s the thing with the Yadea YS500; you will rarely ever find yourself “walking” your bike up a steep climb. As part of the review task, I tested out the eMTB up the steepest climbs I could find in the city. Now, I’ll be the first to admit, I have always dreaded riding up inclines on a bicycle. I get winded, my knees end up hurting and the effort makes me sweat profusely. BUT, the Yadea YS500 completely flips the script.

All I had to do was toggle to the highest setting on the motor and I was breezing up the slope like a front runner in a cycling marathon. In fact, riding up a hill was no harder than pedaling on a level gradient. The motor assistance is instantaneous and you don’t have to struggle for the torque to kick in. For someone who’s always hated pedaling up steep hills on a bicycle, the Yadea YS500 brings a wave of relief.

This, of course, does not mean that I didn’t rely on the motor on level grounds. You see, a man is a lazy creature… at least this one is. So, the moment I realized that the motor would make life easier for me, I kept it on the entire time. While fitter and more energetic people might reserve the use of the motor for only when they absolutely need it, I am not one of them. Therefore, the motor stayed on for as long as I was on the saddle. Nevertheless, I am not a complete slouch so I turned down the levels to 1 and 2 from time to time. This provided plenty of assistance to make my ride less cumbersome and truthfully, much more enjoyable.

With all that said, I would like to clarify that I do tend to get occasional surges of biking vigor and I enjoy short bursts of cycling speed. On this account, the Fusion motor and battery seem to work against you. The bike is heavier and gathering higher speeds can be difficult.

The Yadea YS500 also possesses the ability to undertake some light-moderate trail riding. You can definitely take it out of the city and into the hills. You’ve got the pedal assistance that will make climbing up the hills easy as pie, the components are also beginner MTB spec and will get the job done. The suspension soaks up the bumps well and controls the rebound decently. The suspension also worked well to soak up bumps in the tattered tarmacs of KTM city. The Kenda tyres provide adequate grip and the brakes do a good job of stopping you on your tracks.

Maneuvering through obstacles is easy thanks to the wide handlebars. And if the elements challenge you and you get caught in a downpour, fret not; the Yadea YS500 is IP65 water-resistant.

The Yadea YS500 battery lasts for an estimated 100kms if you’re riding on Level 1. Levels 2 and 3 will yield a range of 90km and 70kms accordingly. Charge it for 6-8 hours and you will get a full charge. So, you shouldn’t really run into any trouble. On the off chance that you do, you can still use it like a normal bicycle and pedal your way home or to the nearest charging point. Keep in mind, you will require a charging adapter that the company will provide with the initial purchase.

The biggest gripe I have with the Yadea YS500 is the seat. The hard saddle does very little to unburden my derriere, and the chances of me admitting I may be a little too overweight are (unlike me), slim and narrow. [NOTE: We would like to point out that the rider in the photographs is not the person writing the review. A rider substitution had to be executed for aesthetic purposes]

The Verdict

I was thoroughly impressed by the Yadea YS500. It made life so much easier, especially when commuting from work to home. Technically, I was getting a workout on my daily commute, but more importantly, I was not exerting myself to exhaustion. I did not have to worry about the dreaded uphill climb to my home or that I would be a heaving, sweaty pile of a mess when I got to the office. Since I have had bad knees for a very long time, the relaxed pedaling action worked wonders to keep my joints pain-free. Furthermore, I was doing my part to put one less vehicle on the road and it felt like I was doing my part to keep the environment clean. All in all, the Yadea YS500 works splendidly for me. In fact, I am certain people with a mindset similar to mine will find the prospects of this eMTB pretty worthwhile.

However, that does not encompass the entire populous. As great as the Yadea YS500 is to ride, it DOES take something away from the essence of cycling; especially mountain biking. For many people getting a mountain bike or a bicycle, the idea of solely depending on pedal propulsion can play a big role. Despite the fact that the YS500 is capable of hitting the trails, the added weight of the battery and motor assistance might rub avid mountain bikers the wrong way. Although I will agree, the Yadea YS500 is more at home in the city.

The fact of the matter is; you can’t keep everyone happy. The eMTB is suited for people like me: who enjoy the joys of cycling but don’t want it to be a tiresome burden. With that said, I’d be even happier if the price tag wasn’t Rs. 2,50,000.