Yamaha 2018 PWX Walk Mode Disabled in US

[John Locke]

I'd like to have walk mode enabled on my Xduro AllMtn 6.0 Haibike. I'm wondering if stock European bikes with Yamaha PWX motor enable "walk mode"? If yes, maybe US dealers have the ability to enable walk mode.

It's odd the walk mode button on the Yamaha 2018 PWX motor is disabled on bikes sold in the US. Haibike or Yamaha disables it, claiming it's a US regulation issue. However Bosch motors on Haibikes sold in the US have walk mode enabled. It's really strange that Yamaha disables it, but Bosch doesn't, both coming from the same Haibike manufacturer.

Has anyone in the US been able to hack the Yamaha system to enable walk mode? Sometimes this would be really handy to have a walk mode option, given the weight of the bike and the gnarly environments we ride in California. Having to walk the bike in tight uphill sections through brush and trees would be nice to have a helping hand, from the motor. The walk mode button is there, and discussed in the manual, but no worky.

 

[DaveMatthews]

I find it ridiculous that walk mode gets disabled.
I just bought a 2019 Giant Fathom E+ and walk mode is enabled. It has the Yamaha Sport motor. I live in Canada.
What is the reasoning behind disabling it?

 

[Al Boneta]

@John Locke I’ll let you know tomorrow, picking up our first Haibikes with Yamaha motors in the morning.

 

[DaveMatthews]

I’ll let you know tomorrow, picking up our first Haibikes with Yamaha motors in the morning.

Sport or Pro motors?

 

[Al Boneta]

Sport or Pro motors?

Both of them

 

[Stuckmojo]

I am in the UK and my (ex demo) PW Haibike has the walk mode disabled. Annoying.

 

[Al Boneta]

I am in the UK and my (ex demo) PW Haibike has the walk mode disabled. Annoying.

I have never needed to use my walk button, but it’s weird that they put it on the bike and it doesn’t work.

 

[John Locke]

What's even more weird is the same Haibike with a Bosch motor has walk mode enabled. Keep in mind it's a completely different display and electronics. Why do you think Bosch enables it and Haibike disables it? This doesn't seem to be a regulatory issue (like they claim) as much as a feature that's potentially broke, or a feature Yamaha can't figure out after committing to the button on the thumb control. Explainable.

 

[Hai Volume]

What's even more weird is the same Haibike with a Bosch motor has walk mode enabled. Keep in mind it's a completely different display and electronics. Why do you think Bosch enables it and Haibike disables it? This doesn't seem to be a regulatory issue (like they claim) as much as a feature that's potentially broke, or a feature Yamaha can't figure out after committing to the button on the thumb control. Explainable.

I've heard/read that the UL, which certifies e-bikes for sale in the US, will not allow walk-assist to be activated because it is considered another "power mode", and apparently e-bikes can only have 5 power modes, which the Yamaha bikes already have with ECO+, ECO, STD, HIGH, and X-PWR. I'm not 100% certain that this is accurate, but it would logically explain why it's disabled in the US (even though that rule is ridiculous).

 

[tretopflir]

Giants Yamaha powered bikes have a walk mode. But they use Giant software.

 

[DaveMatthews]

I came to the end of a trail the other day, and the best way out was up a 30' embankment to a road above.
It was very steep and rough indeed, and walk mode helped immensely. My first real world use of it. Excellent!

 

[Hai Volume]

Giants Yamaha powered bikes have a walk mode. But they use Giant software.

Do you know how many power levels Giant uses on their Yamaha motor e-bikes?

 

[DaveMatthews]

Do you know how many power levels Giant uses on their Yamaha motor e-bikes?

Some 2018 models had 3, and some later in the year had 5.
I believe they all have 5 levels now. Mine does.

 

[Hai Volume]

Some 2018 models had 3, and some later in the year had 5.
I believe they all have 5 levels now. Mine does.

Well, that kind of negates that theory then. So I wonder why it's disabled on the Haibikes?

 

[DaveMatthews]

Well, that kind of negates that theory then. So I wonder why it's disabled on the Haibikes?

Yup... I guess I can say that my Fathom has 6 speeds.
I fail to see a reason to disable walk mode. Bureaucratic bullshit IMHO.

 

[John Locke]

If the disabling of walk mode is really related to the number of power modes, it would be wise for Haibike to have only 4 pedal assist modes and enable the walk mode, not because walk mode is used much, but because there's a physical button for it and it makes them look really lame, as if it's broke. 5 pedal assist modes is too many anyway IMO. They need a new firmware release with this option.

 

[lawrenre]

Where are all the techno geeks... There must be a millennial lurking somewhere in here that knows how to enable this...

 

[RapidDog]

What does walk mode actually do?

 

[Akemtb]

What does walk mode actually do?

Like if you can't make it up a hill push the button and power is delivered to the rear wheel, to assist.

Not sure about other models but I have the Walk assist on my Full Fatsix and it's weak.