The Neo Volt is one of the most powerful high quality folding electric bikes I’ve ridden. The addition of fenders, rear rack and dynamo powered LED lights make it more functional than the Sport version and it costs $100 less but the trade off is four extra pounds, one fewer gears and slightly narrower tires that might not absorb the bumps as well. The purpose built frame screams quality with integrated battery pack, custom kickstand and unique inward folding design that locks in two positions where the first allows the bike to be rolled and the second is very compact for storage in tight spaces.
Powering ebike is the same 350 watt geared rear hub motor used across the entire Easy Motion Neo line. It’s relatively light weight, efficient and compact but still very capable. Working to its advantage on the Volt are smaller diameter wheels which require less force to rotate. In general, the motor is quiet and smooth. It really shines in pedal assist mode, activated through an advanced torque sensor that responds to the speed and force you exert as a rider.
Driving the motor is a beautifully constructed 36 volt 9 amp hour Lithium-ion battery pack that fits right onto the downtube. It matches the frame and includes a metal lock with key for security. The downside is that this battery must be removed when charging, careful not to scratch the finish… One big advantage of this design is how it keeps weight low and distributed evenly across the frame, balancing out the rack and motor wight in the rear. It’s also the the same shape and size as every other pack used in the Neo line which means finding a replacement isn’t too hard. In 2014 the company is offering larger capacity batteries at 36 volt 12 amp hours and those are compatible with the Volt.
A simple LCD computer console connects the battery, motor and twist throttle to the rider. It’s back lit, removable and easy to reach and operate when riding. With three rubberized buttons the console seems pretty durable (I’ve used mine in the dust and rain with no issue). You get to choose from one of four pedal assist levels (getting more power but using more energy as you go up) or set it to zero and drive the bike with the twist throttle. Having both choices is nice but you’ll get the most range using pedal assist and helping the system out.
This isn’t the smoothest electric bike, lacking a suspension fork and seat post shock, but that’s fairly standard for folding models and the seat on the Volt is softer than that on the Volt Sport. And it’s a fairly fast ebike, topping 20mph in the highest levels of assist with active pedaling, so this could become uncomfortable over long distances. With seven speeds on the rear cassette, I had no problem climbing or reaching 20+ miles per hour. There aren’t any threaded mounting points for adding a water bottle cage but even if there were, it wouldn’t be an ideal mounting position. I do love the fenders, aluminum bash guard (that works as a mini chain guard) and rack which all seem very solid. The rack itself uses standard sized tubing for use with a wide range of bags and panniers. It also includes clip on bungee cords for simple attachments. The included LED lights are top notch and run off of a Shimano dynamo that lives in the front hub. This charges a capacitor that keeps the lights on for several minutes even after the bike has stopped.
The Volt is a wonderful folding electric bike, one of my favorites, but it does cost a bit. It’s sturdier than some other options and offers the same power and speed as a full sized Easy Motion Neo like the Cross or Jumper. If you care about weight and don’t mind losing the racks and lights then check out the Volt Sport. Consider replacing the pedals if you do a lot of riding in wet conditions (or just be careful as they get slippery). It’s hard to go wrong with this and if you want to see it folding on video then watch the review of the Sport as I managed to capture it there :)
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Mark
11 years agoHi!
I am 6ft6 and I am wondering if this bike would be a little too small for me. I could raise the seat bar but as it is used to keep the frame from folding I imagine it cannot go up to high. Could I have your input please?
Thank you!
ReplyTerry
10 years agoHi, Love your reviews! Does the NEO Volt ebike come with lithium ion batteries, if so, will I still be able to check it in for international flights? The NEO Volt weighs an extra 5 pounds over the neo prox, besides that, do you see any other differences or pros & cons? Thanks! Best, Terry
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoHi Terry! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the reviews. I think you’ve got the right idea here about the differences between the Volt and Prox. Basically, one folds and the other doesn’t. When you look at the two bikes back and forth, (I click one review and then the next and focus on the main image) it also appears the Neo Volt has a steeper rake and might position the rider in a more comfortable position with their feet a bit forward. Unfortunately I cannot say for sure, they may be identical but have different stock photos. Regarding the question about batteries, if you get the 36 volt 8.8 amp hour pack (which is the smallest they make) that will be 316.8 amp hours and slightly larger than the maximum carry on at 300 wh according to this FAA documentation. The best way to deal with this might be to get multiple batteries and have them shipped to your different international locations to use on site and then leave behind. This could add up over time in terms of cost and if you aren’t charging the packs regularly they could wear out more quickly or die completely if they discharge all the way. One alternative ebike you might consider is the e-Joe Epik Lite which has a removable 252 wh battery pack. This ebike is a bit lower quality than the Easy Motion ones but it’s also relatively light, well balanced, offers assist and throttle and has the rack and fenders that you pointed out along with a seven speed cassette. I hope this helps! Ride and fly safe ;)
ReplyTerry
10 years agoThanks for your reply, Court. If only NEO Prox could be folded up like a e-Brompton, I’d save at least $1.5k!
Replyjoelee
10 years agoI wonder its rechargeable and how many charge it take? tq
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoHello Joelee! Yes, the Neo Volt (and all other Easy Motion Electric bikes) are rechargeable and use high quality batteries with integrated charge controllers and Lithium-ion cells. They estimate that if you take care of the pack by keeping it between 20% and 80% charged at all times and avoiding extreme heat and extreme cold the pack will last 800+ full charge cycles before it loses significant capacity. Even at this point, it may still hold 70% charge, it just may not get to 100%. Also, all Lithium-ion batteries slowly degrade over time so after 5+ years (even if you didn’t use the battery but stored it half-charged) the pack would slowly lose capacity. You can buy replacement packs from most ebike companies and I believe a replacement from Easy Motion is ~$500. Hope this helps!
ReplyDesaraev
10 years agoI love your ebike reviews. They’ve helped me narrow down a few choices, and completely eliminate what I originally almost purchased. I’d like a bike for mostly in-town or touring, potentially some gravel riding, but for women. I’m 5’1″ So a 19″-20″ frame. Is there something similar to one of these three bikes, or a better recommendation you can send me? Kalkhoff Tasman Tour C8 Premium, Easy Motion Neo Volt, Haibike XDURO Trekking Pro
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoYou’ve done your homework Desaraev! I like each of those bikes, in addition to the Kalkhoff Tasman Tour have you considered the Kalkhoff Agattu Impulse 8 HS? They’re very similar but the Impulse 8 HS offers a much larger battery and has the newer drive systems since it’s a 2015 model that will be supported fully in the US. Easy Motion offers a great range of frame types and the Neo Volt is more setup for space savings with the folding design. If I was looking at their stuff for touring I’d consider the Neo Street which has smaller wheels and a nice low-step frame but is sturdier and more comfortable because it doesn’t fold. The Haibike Trekking Pro is also great but I think the frame is less convenient with the mid-step design given your shorter inseam. I hope these tips help, sorry for the delayed response ;)
ReplyDesaraev
10 years agoYes, actually The Agattu is at the top of my list. I’m having one ordered in to test next week. I love that it seems to have the ability to go further than most other options. Are there any other bikes with similar specs to Agattu?
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoI find that many of the Kalkhoff and Focus ebikes share similar drive systems (namely, Impulse 2.0) and sometimes offer those larger battery packs. You can use the advanced search on the homepage to show ebikes with “greater than #” battery size and see all of them :)
ReplyDerek
10 years agoHi there, thanks very much for the review! I was wondering if you could demonstrate the folding/unfolding processes? Thanks in advance, and great site you’ve got going BTW!
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoThanks Derek! I demonstrate the folding action in the very similar Neo Volt Sport review at ~1:20 in the video. I hope this helps! It was difficult to do while filming :P
ReplyMichael
9 years agoGreat reviews. One thing I would really like to see is the folded dimension of the products under review. For most items, I can find this on the company website. This was not the case for Easy Motion Neo Volt. Did you happen to have these? Thank you!
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoHi Michael! Great point… I’ve been trying to add this in the Other Details section of the review but did not even record it for the Neo Volt. I was in a hurry, may not have had my tape measure and just skipped it. Sorry man, I’ll strive to get it in the future but in the meantime you might be able to ask in the Easy Motion forums, there are some shop owners who hang out there and sometimes they will do special requests ;)
ReplySuneet Mukherjee
8 years agoHello !! Thank you very much for the review. I wanted to ask if this bike in particular (easy motion neo volt) and e-bikes in general can be riden like a regular bike without the battery? or else can it still be riden comfortably when the battery runs out? Thanks in advance !
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHi Suneet! Great question… Yes, you can absolutely pedal this and almost every other ebike I’ve reviewed without the battery pack (if it’s removable) or with it in but turned off. In this case, the Neo Volt battery can be removed entirely reducing the weight of the bike by about five pounds. This would make it easier to pedal but the bike will still weigh more than a regular bike because of the reinforced frame and hub motor. Hope this helps! I ride my electric bike pretty often with zero power just to go slower and han gout with friends. Later, on my way home I’ll usually put the power on to go faster :D
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