The RideWave OutlandWave XT is a mid level eMTB that won't break the bank. Wearing proven hardware, performance and ease of use make it a great hardtail option... Pics: HMC Photography
If you’ve been shopping for a versatile, powerful and reliable eMTB, the RideWave OutlandWave XT hardtail should be on your radar. After testing across pavement, trail, and bush tracks, I can say this eMTB delivers incredible value, impressive performance, and long-term reliability.
The RideWave OutlandWave XT comes with proven kit from Shimano, Suntour, Samsung, Maxxis and Tektro… Jeff has been riding the bike for six months as a long term review, with no issues to report.
The OutlandWave XT hits the sweet spot between capability, quality, and price, currently at a discounted $2,999 from $4,099 for this iGO Special Edition. It’s not a toy and it’s not some overcomplicated showpiece. It’s a proper trail-capable eMTB that works, works well, and keeps working. It’s a solid performer that doesn’t pretend to be more than it is, and yet consistently overdelivers. For the price, and ridden within its limitations, it does the job perfectly…
Read out RideWave CityWave review here…
At the heart of the OutlandWave XT sits the 500W ANANDA M100 mid-drive motor, limited to a road-legal 250W by default outside of NSW and out of the box, but unlockable to 500W for off-road or private property use or NSW use. It delivers up to 130Nm of torque, plenty for hill climbs, heavy riders like me at 100kg, or gear-laden bikepacking setups. The torque comes on smoothly and almost instantly, thanks to RideWave’s TorqueFlow Sensor (read all about that here), which delivers power in tune with pedal pressure. That means natural-feeling assistance rather than the jerkiness you get with cadence-only systems.
At the heart of the OutlandWave XT sits the 500W ANANDA M100 mid-drive motor, limited to a road-legal 250W by default outside of NSW. In NSW, 500W is legal for pedal assist, and a 6km/h non-pedal top speed.
Matched to this is a 48V 15Ah (720Wh) Samsung premium lithium battery. It’s a removable unit, meaning you can charge it off-bike and swap in a spare if needed. Officially, RideWave claims a 70km range, but I’ve consistently pushed well beyond that. In Eco mode 250w, I’ve clocked closer to 120km. On Turbo, Boost and full-throttle trail assaults, it’s still good for around 50-60km 250w. Switching to 500w, I only saw a drop in range of around 15 per cent, amazing. Not once has range anxiety been an issue, it’s truly impressive. For paved commuting style duties, I run the forks locked and 50psi in the tyres, which helps with rolling speed and therefore range.
Charging is equally fuss-free. From flat to full takes about four hours using the supplied 2A charger, making overnight top-ups or lunchtime boosts entirely practical. For the average user, you could get through a few decent-length rides without needing a recharge.
“RideWave claims a 70km range, but I’ve consistently pushed well beyond that. I’ve clocked closer to 120km”.
This is a hardtail eMTB with a rigid rear end, which is ideal for hybrid trail-and-commuter use. The alloy frame is tough and decently light for the price bracket, with nicely finished welds and clean internal cable routing. It hasn’t shown a single sign of fatigue, corrosion or paint damage despite living a hard life for six months. In saying that, I have washed it after each dirt ride and I keep it inside away from the elements. I have not left it wet, either, and keep the WD40 up to it.
Up front is a SUNTOUR SF-18 27.5in XM34-DS-Boost-LO suspension fork offering 120mm of travel. The fork has a lock-out function for road use and preload adjustment for dialling in your sag. It’s sprung quite firm out of the box, which suits heavier riders like me. The damping is basic but effective. I’ve experienced only minor fork seal weepage after 500km of trail riding, which is completely acceptable. They are basic forks, but to be honest, they do the job for an average rider like me.
“It’s not as aggressive as a full-blown trail bike, but it’s comfortable enough for all-day riding”.
The geometry sits in that sweet spot between sporty and upright. It’s not as aggressive as a full-blown trail bike, but it’s comfortable enough for all-day riding, with a confident front-end feel on fast descents. The broad ‘bars, adjustable controls and lock-on grips make it easy to set up to personal taste. I would personally prefer a taller handlebar rise at my height (187cm), but that’s a minor gripe easily fixed with an aftermarket bar or stem, I may look onto that in the future.
The inclusion of a dropper seatpost very welcome bonus at this price point. It allows you to quickly drop your saddle for descents and raise it again for climbs or flats. I swapped out the stock seat for a softer comfort saddle, and with that mod in place I can do big rides without feeling it the next day.
“I swapped out the stock seat for a softer comfort saddle, and with that mod in place I can do big rides without feeling it the next day. “
RideWave spec the OutlandWave XT with 27.5in dual-wall alloy wheels and Maxxis M315 EXO 2.4in tyres, which are grippy, tough, and suited to Australian conditions. The tyres perform well on gravel, hardpack, light mud, and rocky trails. I haven’t had a single puncture yet, and considering the amount of pavement I have ridden over 500km, the wear rate is proving to be exceptional.
Quick-release hubs make removing the wheels a breeze, ideal for transport or trail-side fixes. The broad alloy pedals also deserve a mention: they offer excellent grip even in wet or muddy conditions, and are big enough for sneaker riders like me. I did have to re-lube them from new, they were a bit notchy standard, but it was simply a matter of an internal spray with chain lube.
“The 9-speed spread is more than enough thanks to the motor assist, and I rarely find myself wishing for more range.”
Shifting is handled by a SHIMANO ALIVIO 9-speed Rapidfire Plus setup, which delivers smooth and accurate gear changes. After a quick tune-up post-run-in, it’s been flawless. The 9-speed spread is more than enough thanks to the motor assist, and I rarely find myself wishing for more range, but that is just me and the style of riding I do. Some riders may feel the need for more ratios.
The 9-speed spread is more than enough thanks to the motor assist…
Braking is courtesy of Tektro HDE350 hydraulic discs, which include a power cut-off switch. These are excellent stoppers for the money, with decent modulation and strong bite. Even on long descents, they’ve only shown minor fade, and the lever feel remains consistent. My 100kg frame has never overwhelmed them. Lever span adjustment is easy, a 2.5mm allen key and grub screw sort that out.
The handlebar-mounted LCD is a simple 2in colour unit that displays your speed, battery status, mode and trip info. It’s not flashy, but it’s clear enough in most conditions. It can be tricky to read finer details at a glance if you wear glasses or are riding into direct sunlight, but that’s common for most basic LCDs. I have to stop to look at some of the info, but the fundamentals are there at a glance. There has been some instances of fogging inside the display now winter has hit, on the cold mornings. I’ll monitor that and update you next Long Term Update, which will be in a few months.
Switchgear for Assist Modes is straightforward and easy to use. There are five assist levels—Eco, Tour, Sport, Turbo and Boost. I spend 90 per cent of my time in Eco and Tour, which provide plenty of push while keeping consumption low and give me a small workout, which I need for my knees. Sport and Turbo are great when you want a burst of power, like on steep climbs or to blast out of corners. They both provide a serious amount of grunt. I can’t tell a huge difference between Turbo and Boost.
Sport and Turbo are great when you want a burst of power, like on steep climbs or to blast out of corners. You can see the comfort seat I have fitted in this photo, it’s OK for easy riding but I swap to the OEM seat for proper bush bashing.
The bike includes an optional thumb throttle, which I fitted during testing for off-road use. With the throttle active, you can hit up to 45km/h with 500w unlocked and even climb with zero pedalling, great for injured riders or just taking a break. It also works seamlessly with the gearing being a mid motor bike, allowing throttle-only mode to shift smoothly. I rode a full battery on throttle power during a day testing at Pacific Park, outside of Sydney. I won’t comment on throttle only range, as our conditions were too varied.
For road-legal use, I removed the throttle and have spent three months using 250w and three months using 500w and to be honest, I am switching back to 250w for the type of riding I do, I would rather the extra 15 per cent range than the extra grunt. The 250w output is still plenty, with enough grunt to easily get you up all but the steepest hills, give you plenty of assist when you need it and decent acceleration. The only time I really feel the extra 250w of 500w is steep hills and hard climbs on trails, which is only a small amount of the riding I do.
On 250w the bike happily sits at up to 25km/h with moderate pedalling in Eco mode before the assist drops out, however, top speed cap is adjustable but legally 25km/h is the cap. It’s whisper-quiet, efficient, and still surprisingly fast. When unrestricted, I can hit around 45km/h pedalling in Turbo or Boost with assist, easily, which is impressive. This is only allowed on private property, not allowed on public roads.
“On 250w the bike happily sits at up to 25km/h with moderate pedalling in Eco mode before the assist drops out”.
Setting the bike up out of the box was a quick job, around 30 minutes with basic tools and the online QR-code assembly guide, which I must say is excellent. The instructions are clear and thorough, and all adjustments like lever reach, brake angle and gear indexing are straightforward. If you can assemble flat pack furniture, you should feel confident enough to assemble this bike, but just make sure you tighten everything to specification.
I’ve added a few creature comforts to the RideWave OutLand XT since the photoshoot: a water bottle cage using the built-in mounting points, front and rear LED lights, a bell, and of course the upgraded comfort saddle previously mentioned. Those little extras make a big difference on long days out.
“After six months of riding, the OutlandWave XT iGO Special Edition has been flawless. It’s taken on steep trails, commuter roads, fire trails, and cycleway paths without complaint.”
The bike’s layout and component placement make maintenance easy. The removeable battery, exposed (but protected) chain and drivetrain, and modular control system mean you don’t need to be a bike tech to do your own servicing. After 500km, the only maintenance was tightening a few bolts, checking the spokes and head bearings, and adjusting the rear derailleur, no issues at all.
After six months of riding, the OutlandWave XT iGO Special Edition has been flawless. It’s taken on steep trails, commuter roads, fire trails, and cycleway paths without complaint. It’s comfortable, adaptable, and has proven rock-solid reliable. I’ve used it for everything from fitness riding to recreational exploring, all without knee pain thanks to the assist. My dodgy knees are the main reason I sought out an e-Bike, and this has let me ride again properly. I can control the effort level, ease into workouts, and avoid inflammation. It’s been a health game-changer.
It’s also opened up routes I couldn’t ride before. One particularly savage 2km hill I used to avoid is now part of my weekly loop. In Turbo and low gear, it climbs like a mountain goat on 500w. Down the other side, I do get some disc fade, but again, expected under the load and terrain.
With a 2-year frame warranty and 1-year on the battery and motor, it’s also backed with decent peace of mind…
The total package, especially for currently incredibly on special for under $3k (while stocks last, usual price $4,090), is extremely hard to beat. RideWave have done a great job tuning this bike to Australian riding styles and expectations, and the support from their Melbourne HQ is a bonus. With a 2-year frame warranty and 1-year on the battery and motor (details here), it’s also backed with decent peace of mind. The times I have needed to speak to RideWave, the response has been within 24hrs.
Would I recommend it? Without hesitation. Would I buy it? I already did. I was so impressed after the initial four-week test that I went out and bought one. So did my father-in-law. Even my better half and BikeReview Associate Publisher, Heather, jumped in and bought the CityWave Commuter for herself!
RideWave OutlandWave XT iGO Special Edition Specifications
Assist: 250w std/500w unlocked (NSW/Private property) ANANDA mid drive motor, 130Nm torque, 48v 15Ah Samsung (720Wh) battery, 48v 20Amp DMHC Sine-wave controller, 2in digital display, RideWave TorqueFlow PAS Sensor, On-Demand, Removable throttle. Note – we tested the bike in 250W mode, with notes included on 500w for NSW.
Frame: Pressed and welded section Aluminium hardtail with mid motor, SUNTOUR SF-18 27.5in XM34-DS-Boost-LO suspension, 120mm travel, lockout, Q-Loc Thru Axle, TEKTRO HDE350 stainless steel hydraulic disc brakes with power cut off switch, 27.5in, Dual Wall Alloy rims, black, stainless-steel spokes, EXA KSP900-1 Dropper Post, 150mm travel (445mm), 720mm, 28mm rise, 31.8mm od, VELO, Rubber palm rest, 132mm, Selle Royal Rio saddle.
Running Gear: MAXXIS M315 EXO 27.5in x 2.4in tyres, SHIMANO ALIVIO 9-speed Rapidfire Plus shifter, SHIMANO ALIVIO 9-speed derailleur, 11-36T freewheel, KMC E9-S chain, VP-501 Pedals.
Performance: 25km/h limited, + 40km/h unlocked.
Claimed Range: 70km
Tested Range: 120km max (Eco) 90km average (wide range of conditions from low assist level road commuting to full assist and steep hills). 50-60km Boost/Turbo.
Weight: 27.4kg
Weight Capacity: 125kg
Assist Modes: Eco, Tour, Sport, Turbo, Boost
RideWave OutlandWave XT Dimensions
A – Saddle Max Height 1040mm
B – Saddle Min Height 890mm
C – Stand-over Height 770mm
D – Wheelbase 1225mm
E – Effective Top Tube Length 620mm
F – Crank Length 170mm
G – Seat Tube Length 480mm
H – Chainstay Length 495mm
I – Bottom Bracket height 325mm
J – Bottom Bracket Drop 29mm
K – Seat Tube Angle 71°
L – Head tube angle 65.8°
M – Reach 435mm
N – Total Length 1920mm
O – Handlebar Height 1120mm
P – Head Tube Length 150mm
Q – Stack 655mm
Ratings | e-Bike Review | RideWave OutlandWave XT (iGO Special Edition)
Great Value
The RideWave OutlandWave XT is a mid level eMTB that won’t break the bank. Assembled using proven components, performance and ease of use make it a great commuter e-Bike option… Pics: HMC Photography
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