The Neo Volt series from Easy Motion delivers a unique folding frame design combined with smaller 20″ wheel size for easy storage and transport. These aren’t the lightest folding ebikes in the world, with the Sport weighing in at 45 pounds and the standard Volt weighing in at 49, but the removable battery pack can make them even lighter (it weighs ~5 pounds) and provides convenience in charging. The drive systems used here are the same as what’s included with the full sized Easy Motion Neo bikes and is very capable, especially given the smaller wheel diameter which creates mechanical advantage for the motor.
While the Neo Volt Sport does not include lights, fenders or a rear rack (though it does include braze ons for adding them yourself) it does have larger diameter 1.95″ tires that smooth out the ride. Its performance seat, lighter weight and eight speed cassette deliver high performance. Neither the Volt or Volt Sport come with suspension forks, seat post shocks or sprung saddles but they do include ergonomic grips. The compact design feels very solid compared to other folding ebikes I’ve ridden and I love how the folding feature works, pivoting up instead of sideways. When locked in this folded position the Sport can actually be wheeled around which is very convenient, it also stays put without bungees, magnets or other tie systems.
The motor propelling this bike offers 350 volts of power in a planetary geared hub design. This enables it to be light weight and thin, providing room for a rear cassette with gears. When paired with the four modes of torque sensing pedal assist this motor becomes a very capable climber and quite efficient in terms of range. It’s also relatively quiet to operate as shown in the video review. I love that the motor and battery are backed by a two year warranty and the sense of longevity that Easy Motion, which is part of the BH brand out of Spain, provides. They’ve been making regular bicycles since 1909 and the quality and attention to detail really shows here. Because the battery packs used on this and other Neo bikes are essentially the same (aside from color) finding a replacement or purchasing a second one for extended range is no problem; they cost ~$500 and are also starting to increase in capacity to 12 amp hours.
The drive system on this and other Neo bikes feels very integrated. Despite what I would call an average sized 36 volt 9 amp hour stock battery pack, the bike feels very powerful and I attribute that to fine tuning within the control system. The LCD computer console is easy to use, placed close to the left grip for convenient reach when riding and is completely removable to deter tampering when parked. It even comes with a little fabric pouch for storage. When you look at this bike and see the matching console, integrated battery pack and Easy Motion label stamped right onto the rear hub motor it becomes clear that this is a quality product. The one drawback to the design, in my opinion, is that you actually have to remove the battery pack in order to charge it. Considering how nice the battery pack looks, setting it on the floor raises the concern of scratching or dulling the clear coat. When you’ve just paid over $2.5K for an electric bike, it tends to invoke a sense of pride and protection ;)
The Neo Volt Sport is a wonderful machine capable of full sized ebike performance. It feels stiff and solid unlike some other folders and the option of both pedal assist and twist throttle are really wonderful. The torque sensing design is very responsive, amplifying the pressure you exert when pedaling. And this is probably one of the only folding electric bikes I’ve seen with hydraulic disc brakes that is capable of higher 20mph speeds. Most similar models only reach 15mph and even then, can feel wobbly and unstable. The kickstand is beautiful, following the curves of the bike when brought up, and the aluminum bash guard protects the front ring and your pants when pedaling. This would be a wonderful bike for commuting to work, transporting on a train, bus or subway, or storing in an RV, boat, small room or medium sized closet – kept out of the way. It’s capable and comfortable over long distances but may be overkill if you don’t have to go that far; the extra weight is the big trade off.
Pros:
- Solid two year warranty on the battery pack and up to five year warranty on the bike if you register online
- LCD computer unit is backlit, easy to reach, simple to understand, well sealed against water and dust, does not require separate batteries, is removable and includes pouch
- Four levels of torque sensing pedal assist (Eco at 70%, Standard at 140%, Sport at 200% and Boost at 300% rider input) are responsive, smooth, efficient and great for climbing
- Twist throttle mode makes starting from rest easy, rides like a scooter
- Shimano RD-2300 eight speed cassette offers good range for climbing or reaching medium speeds
- Integrated battery design looks great and keeps weight low and centered on the frame
- Wires and cables are all integrated into the frame keeping them out of sight and out of harms way
- Unique kickstand is bent to follow the profile of the frame when stowed
- Two fold settings: inward folding design locks in place and allows bike to be rolled or fully folded where the wheels overlap (shown in pictures linked below under resources)
- Aluminum bash guard built into the front chain ring to protect teeth and reduce snags and grease on pants
- Smaller 20″ wheels improve mechanical advantage for climbing when paired with hub motor design
Cons:
- No water bottle cage bosses or braze ons, may have to add an aftermarket solution or use a CamelBak
- Battery must be unlocked and taken completely off the frame for charging
- No indicator for when battery is locked or unlocked on the frame, could make it easier to forget and fall off
- No suspension fork, seat post shock or seat springs to smooth out the ride
- No fenders, lights or racks however there are braze ons on the fork and seat stays where you can add your own
Resources:
- Official Site: http://www.emotionbikesusa.com/ebikes/EN263
- More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/8aAshEJmuoSWPAqW9
D. R. Win says
I hope you will consider the following real-world items and issues if you ever update the review. I just spent nearly $2K on this bike and I really believe that there are much cheaper bikes out there with far more functional designs. If I could get my money back and start over, I would–with something else.
I used only zero power or the power assist, not the power only setting.
The Good
– Great power; you can jet up very steep hills with very little effort.
– Very easy to change among power assist modes (more/less) while riding.
– Good battery life—during a 15-mile ride in varied terrain using medium to high assist, the battery went down only 1 bar (out of 5).
– Well built, solid, feels good to ride.
– Fairly light for what it is—the motor and battery are heavy and there’s no way around that.
– Pedals quite smoothly on level ground with the power off. Seems to coast a bit faster than a normal bike—maybe due to the extra weight?
– Good brakes.
– In general, you can go twice as fast with half the effort compared to a non-electric bike. On level ground, 25mph is very easy.
The Bad
– Erratic power at lower settings—not smooth, but on/off, very jerky. The top two power settings are very smooth and fast.
– The shifter is over-engineered, and hard to work. Two levers, one to shift up, one to shift down. You have to keep pushing multiple times. And it’s hard to know what gear you are in. A simple single lever like they had in the 50s and 60s would actually have been much better. Push one way to gear up, the other way to gear down. Why make it more complex than necessary?
– The cool-looking kickstand has a little protrusion that will hook your sandal while you’re pedaling.
– The folding mechanism is a royal pain. The push-button is hard to operate.
– When folded there is nothing holding the front wheel in place, so it flops around and turns this way and that, so you can’t wheel the bike easily.
Would have been better if it folded sideways.
– Have to remove the battery to charge it. Not at all convenient
– The seat post is pretty short; if you’re about 6ft tall or over, you’ll either need to find a longer one, or get used to riding with your knees bent.
– The front wheel has a quick-release hub, so if you park you will want to lock it to something. But there is absolutely no place near the front of the bike frame to run a chain, cable or “U” lock through. To secure both the front wheel and the rest of the bike, you must either remove the front wheel, or fold the bike, or buy a very long cable or chain—heavy and inconvenient. Dumb design. In the real world, people do steal things.
– The owner’s manual is useless (mostly multiple safety warnings, and a few very basic and general observations with zero detail or “how to”) and doesn’t even describe the bike you bought (Neo Volt Sport), but some other model. At close to $2K a pop, you’d think they could at least provide a decent manual.
Bottom line: a good ride once you get the hang of it, but too many “clever” design concepts by someone who forgot that form follows function. And you have to wonder if the designers ever actually spent time dealing with the bike. It’s telling that nowhere on the manufacturer’s site or in the “manual” is there any information on the dimensions of the bike when folded. We buy folding bikes because they fit in smaller spaces, right? So it’s utterly obvious that we would want to know how much space is required—and they have ignored this issue.
Court Rye says
Great insights, thanks for sharing! Here’s another ebike called the e-Joe Epik Lite that’s a bit more traditional in design (and affordable) you might be interested in someday if you sell your Volt.
D. R. Win says
Aloha, thanks for the response. The Neo Volt is a good ride but so frustrating in most other respects. It’s also longer (both folded and open) than many folding bikes, which reduces its usefulness in condo and apartment living, not to mention putting it in the car. And isn’t that supposed to be the point?
I did check out the e-Joe Epik SE (the Lite has only one speed which to me makes no sense at all); it’s pretty good but overall seems more like a beta version. Just somehow has an unfinished or ad hoc look and feel to it.
I have a couple of Dahon Speed 7s–at some point I may get one of them converted, although I’ve heard both good and bad of the BionX kits. To my mind the Dahon/Tern design is the best folding frame type. Mobik uses the same frame (they only admit that it is “similar”) but they don’t have a dealer network and if something goes wrong I would be out of luck for service.
In a 250W the A2B Kuo (again, Dahon-type frame) is my top contender; I’m hoping that at some point they put out a 350W model.
DR
teri says
I absolutely love this bike. Looked at less expensive ones, but when I took this one for a ride, I was sold! Sold construction, great sporty ride and easy to use. I do not mind taking battery off to charge. I like the look of the batter being intergrated within the frame. Killer bike and heads turn when I pass them by!
Raju Subbanna says
I agree with some of D. R. Win’s. I would give 9/10 may be little more then 9 for this bike. This is my best rated Electric bike (price+ performance). This is a keeper! Footnote: I have not tried out Epik. But If I have to match the spec then Epik has no advantage. Yes D. R. Win! Except Dahon I don’t see any of these manufacturers or reviewers do a good job in specing the size, especially folded size. Too bad, I had to go with a tape and measure each of them. I want it @less then 32 inchs folded, to travel by caltrain, can’t carry any bigger. (Otherwise it goes into bike trailer and gets stolen) Great bike. I use all levels of its assist. I enjoy the boost mode. Great stability and braking. Seat height is not an issue for me D. R. Win, nor is the shifting.
Wishlist: 1. Kick stand should not come in the way. 2. Proper backlite. 3. Easy and better folding. First part is ok. The second part which brings it to about 32 is unfinished. 4. Manuverability when folded. 5. Some shock absorbsion, especially at 15mph+, U start feeling it. 6.Front wheel issue that D. R. Win mentioned after folding. 7.Bottle Carry and Kit Rack. 8.Manual please!! I drive 16 miles on it, everyday for work. Charge only once during the wkday.
Court Rye says
Thanks for your feedback Raju! It’s always nice to hear from an ebike owner and I agree with many of the items on your “wish list” there. With the smaller wheels, it can get bumpy at higher speeds and the seat post is too long to use with a Thudbuster for most people.
Darren says
This bike is awesome