Since '02 xBhp is different things to different people. From a close knit national community of bikers to India's only motorcycling lifestyle magazine and a place to make like-minded biker friends. Join us

Castrol Power 1

Work on your panic braking skills.

Our Partner

xBhp was born more than 16 years ago and since then we've had a chance to ride or drive hundreds of machines running on two wheels or four wheels, and sometimes even three wheels. We are not done yet, and this list is still growing. In these pages, we take a deep dive in the treasure trove of our ride experiences and bring you all that we have ridden or driven.

Yamaha EC-06 First Ride Review – Worthy of being called a Yamaha? 

26NM

First things first, instead of trying to do something dramatic, Yamaha has taken a more practical approach with this product. The EC-06 is their first proper electric offering here, and the approach is quite clear: keep things simple, get the basics right, and make a good product.

The EC-06 comes out of Yamaha’s partnership with the homegrown brand River Mobility and is based on the same platform as the River Indie, and that explains a lot about how this scooter feels. Yamaha has taken the base of the River Indie and has tweaked its design, tuning and overall refinement to give us the EC-06. And we are not complaining. After all, all that matters in the end is a good product.

River-Indie

Visually, the design feels clean and slightly sporty, but not something that tries too hard to stand out. It feels big, like a proper maxi-scooter and overall well-balanced. The overall build quality stands out and leaves one impressed. Full Yamaha vibes here. The panels feel solid and well-fitted. You get a sense of durability with this scooter, which is a very important point to consider when you are going to buy a scooter.

Swing a leg over it, and you get a sense of comfort instantly. The riding position is upright, the seat is wide, and there’s enough room to move around, even for taller people. There is a spacious footboard, wide enough to accommodate a gas cylinder and had it not been the closure of the Hormuz Strait, we would’ve definitely tested it. Jokes apart, it just feels alright for your day-to-day use.

Even for slightly longer commutes, the EC-06 shouldn’t feel tiring.

The Yamaha EC-06 is powered by a 4kWh battery paired with a motor producing around 6.7kW (~9 hp) and 26 Nm of torque. The claimed top speed is 79 km/h, but we were consistently able to register a top speed of 85+ kmph on the speedo. In real-world riding, it feels quick enough for city use and puts a smile on your face whenever you ride it. The initial acceleration is strong, which helps in traffic, and the scooter moves ahead cleanly without feeling sluggish.

You also get three different riding modes, namely Eco, Standard and Power: so you can choose between a heavier pocket and a wider smile, in other words, better range or better performance. And yes, there is a reverse mode as well to help you reverse it in tricky situations.

Yamaha claims a range of around 160 to 170 km on a full charge, which is quite impressive on paper. But we could not verify it independently in this short ride. Also, the charging time is on the longer side. It takes close to 8 hours to reach about 80%, and roughly 10 hours for a full charge. There’s no fast charging option mentioned, so this is something you’ll need to consider if your daily usage is high.

Ride quality is definitely one of the plus points of this scooter. It runs on 14-inch wheels, and that helps with stability. It feels at ease and planted even when riding on bumpy roads.

The 24.5L underseat storage feels alright for carrying groceries or other items, but not big enough to fit a full-size helmet.

In terms of features, you get the basics like a full colored digital display with connectivity, but nothing that really stands out compared to some other electric scooters in the segment.

I couldn’t spot a USB charging point on this scooter, and it wasn’t something we could confirm in the short time we had with it.


Final Opinion

The Yamaha EC-06 comes across as a well-sorted electric scooter that focuses on getting the basics right. It is quick, comfortable, rides well, and feels properly built.

If you are out in the market for a reliable and easy-to-live-with electric scooter for daily commuting, we would definitely recommend a test ride of the Yamaha EC-06 before you make a decision. But if you’re looking for standout features or better storage, you might feel a few gaps.

tags
electric scooter
Yamaha
yamaha EC-06
yamaha electric scootr