The Ridewave Xplorer Plus is an e-bike built for fun, family, and freedom. Over three months of riding, it proved reliable, powerful, and surprisingly versatile... Test: Jeff Ware

The Ridewave Xplorer Plus is a tough, retro-styled fat-tyre e-Bike built for crusing. Combining family-friendly practicality with serious power and range, it’s equally at home cruising coastal paths, tackling light trails, or hauling passengers in smooth, silent electric style…

“Power delivery is beautifully progressive thanks to Ridewave’s TorqueFlow Sensor, which adjusts motor output in real time to match pedal effort”…

Assembly
Assembly was simple and enjoyable, a weekend project the whole family joined in on. Everything went together perfectly except a slightly unseated rear tyre bead, which we fixed with a touch of WD-40 and high pressure before resetting the pressure to spec. After that, it all went flawlessly.

The Xplorer Plus stands out immediately for its design. The retro-inspired alloy frame is tough and stylish, with internal wiring and a long, plush saddle that’s ideal for passengers. The handlebar height adjusts easily and the switchgear and levers feel well-positioned and intuitive.

The dual-seat setup makes it perfect for family outings, and the sturdy rear rack and footpegs add genuine utility. At 37kg with battery, it’s not light, but the weight contributes to its solid, planted feel on the road and on dirt tracks, too. It’s a true utility two-wheeler and actually very practical.

Read out RideWave CityWave (pictured below) review here…

Ridewave CityWave commuter bike.

Assist
Power comes from a Bafang 48V 500W (NSW) rear hub motor, which can be unlocked to its full 750W output for private-property use. Ridewave caps it to comply with Australian e-Bike laws, 250W in some States, 500W in NSW, but even in its legal form the Xplorer Plus delivers plenty of grunt. Hills are effortless, the torque sensor assistance is smooth and natural, and the bike surges forward with confident momentum. On private property, with the full 750W unlocked, it really comes alive, pulling strongly up inclines and comfortably reaching 45km/h!

Power comes from a Bafang 48V 500W (NSW) rear hub motor, which can be unlocked to its full 750W output for private-property use.

Power delivery is beautifully progressive thanks to Ridewave’s TorqueFlow Sensor, which adjusts motor output in real time to match pedal effort. This makes the Xplorer Plus feel more like an extension of your legs than a machine doing all the work. It offers Eco, Tour, and Sport ride modes, letting you choose between efficiency or punchy acceleration. For local errands or relaxed rides, Tour mode was the sweet spot, steady, responsive, and efficient.

The 48V 20Ah Samsung battery proved outstanding in real use. We regularly achieved between 75km and 100km per charge, depending on mode and terrain. Charging is straightforward and the removable pack is well-protected inside the frame. The OLED display is crisp and waterproof, showing speed, battery, assist level, time and trip data at a glance.

The RideWave Xplorer Plus is a versatile, fun road and trail fat tyre cruiser. The Kenda tyres are excellent

Handling
The adjustable front suspension fork and Kenda Krusade Fat Mud 20 × 4.0-inch tyres work together to soak up bumps, while the fat-tyre footprint adds huge traction on sand, gravel, and grass. The rear end is rigid, but the wide tyres act as natural suspension, keeping comfort high.

The Xplorer Plus offers excellent value…

Straight-line stability is superb, the Xplorer tracks beautifully even on uneven ground, and it handles loose surfaces with confidence. The only trade-off is cornering agility; geometry is relaxed, designed for cruising, so it prefers sweeping turns to tight flicks. Once you adapt to its laid-back steering, it’s an enjoyable, predictable ride, but don’t push your luck as it is not a cornering bike…

Braking is handled by Tektro hydraulic discs with 180mm rotors front and rear, complete with motor cut-off. The feel is strong and progressive, and the system easily manages the bike’s weight even with a passenger, but if you trail the brakes as you start to pedal, it will cause some hesitation that can be annoying. The seven-speed Shimano drivetrain is simple and reliable, shifting cleanly under light load. With a 48-tooth front chainring and wide rear freewheel, gearing covers city and light-trail duties comfortably whiile being good on the open road and cycle pathways.

Conclusion
Living with the Xplorer Plus was easy. It’s versatile, robust, and a genuine all-rounder. The working throttle (legally capped to 6km/h) is handy for quick getaways and can be unlocked for private property, where it provides smooth, controllable acceleration. The integrated 1,700-lumen LED headlight and rear brake light make evening rides safer, and the included mudguards, rack, and side-stand add day-to-day practicality. The bike feels solidly built, with no creaks or rattles even after months of use and a few stacks. It ran and charged as expected, zero reliability issues.

Read our Ridewave OutlandWave XT iGO Special Edition (pictured below) review here…

RideWave OutlandWave XT iGO Special Edition

One of the best parts was how the bike brought the family together. With Heather on her CityWave, our eldest on the OutLand XT, and me on the Xplorer Plus carrying our youngest daughter or son, we spent countless weekends exploring local bike paths, beaches, and parks. It’s a perfect companion for family adventures, comfortable, capable, and fun. The generous seat and rear ‘pegs made doubling easy, and the powerful motor handled the extra load without complaint.

“It’s a perfect companion for family adventures, comfortable, capable, and fun”…

At $2,990 RRP (currently discounted from $3,990 as we publish), the Xplorer Plus offers excellent value. You get a premium-cell Samsung battery, Bafang motor, disc brakes, torque sensor, quality tyres, front suspension, and a solid warranty of two years on the frame and one year on electronics, with local Australian support. The only downsides are its heft when pushing or loading it and a turning radius that reflects its cruiser geometry. But those are small trade-offs for such a confident and enjoyable ride.

After three months, the verdict is clear: the Ridewave Xplorer Plus is a standout in the growing fat-tyre e-Bike scene. It’s powerful yet compliant, practical yet stylish, and built for real-world Aussie riders. Whether you’re commuting, cruising, or adventuring with the kids, it’s a bike that delivers exactly what the name suggests, exploration, plus a whole lot of fun!

A fantastic bike for shopping, commuting, cruising or just taking the kids for a ride or dropping them off to sport or school.

 

RideWave Xplorer Plus Specifications

RideWaveBikes.com.au

Assist: 250w std / 500w unlocked (NSW / Private Property) / 750w (Off-road use), BAFANG rear hub motor, 85Nm torque, 48v 20Ah Samsung (960Wh) battery, 48v 20Amp DMHC Sine-wave controller, OLED multifunction display, RideWave TorqueFlow PAS Sensor, On-Demand, Removable twist throttle. Note – tested in 500W NSW mode, with notes included on 750W off-road/private performance.

Frame: Pressed and welded section aluminium retro step-over frame with internal wiring, adjustable front suspension fork (double-crown style, preload & lockout), TEKTRO hydraulic disc brakes with power cut-off switch, 20in, Dual Wall Alloy rims, black, stainless-steel spokes, alloy handlebar with height adjustment, ergonomic grips, long dual saddle for passenger comfort, rear rack and footpegs.

Running Gear: KENDA Krusade 20in x 4.0in fat tyres, SHIMANO 7-speed Rapidfire Plus shifter, SHIMANO Altus derailleur, 48T crankset, 7-speed freewheel, KMC chain, alloy pedals.

Performance: 25km/h limited (legal) + 45km/h unlocked (private property).
Claimed Range: 100km
Tested Range: 75–100km (mixed road, beach and light-trail use, varying modes and load).
Weight: 37kg (with battery)
Weight Capacity: 200kg
Assist Modes: Eco, Tour, Sport (torque-based with throttle assist option).

Share this article
Share this article