Momentum Voya E+ 1 Review

This review was conducted for free using a couple of demo bikes that were provided by Momentum. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Momentum products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the Momentum electric bike forums.

Observations:

• Giant is one of the “Big Three” bicycle brands that serve North America, and Momentum is their lifestyle sub-brand. Their network of dealers is extensive, providing opportunities for fitting, test rides, and post purchase service and repairs. It’s especially handy for this model, because it comes in three frame sizes and two styles that you might want to test ride.
• Even though the motor and battery pack rating are a bit low for the Voya E+ models, they still feel zippy and capable. The reduced weight, efficient tires, and torque sensing controller combine for a 2x feel when climbing (at least for me). It’s a good platform for active sporty riding, but Momentum sells a range of hardware accessories for commuting, and you could changeout the tires for higher volume treaded ones to go off road as a gravel grinder.

Pros:

• I enjoyed riding the bike, even unassisted, and feel that Momentum achieved the sporty light weight design very well. It wasn’t as uncomfortable as some of the other road bikes I’ve tested in recent years. The stem spacers, shorter stem, flared gravel style drop bar, and hybrid saddle are on point. By comparison, most road bikes have very narrow firm saddles. Having three frame sizes to choose from really makes a difference since the Voya E+ only comes in high-step.
• Most of the cables and wires are internally routed, so the bike looks beautiful and won’t get snagged or damaged as easily at bike racks. The motor power cable has a quick disconnect for easier servicing, is positioned on the left side of the frame, and doesn’t stick out at all. This adds convenience, reduces clutter near the derailleur, and reduces the potential for damage.
• Momentum chose Shimano for the drivetrain on the Voya E+ 1 while going with microSHIFT for the E+ 3 (the flat handlebar model). Both derailleurs have a clutch system that reduces chain bounce, but still allows for easy rear wheel removal and maintenance. Both offer a good range of 11 to 42 teeth, so climbing feels comfortable as well as higher speed cadence. The Shimano GRX groupset provides 11 gears, so you get more cadence options than the microSHIFT 9-speed on the E+ 3 model.
• I noticed a clear plastic sticker on the chain stay, meant to protect it from chips and scratches resulting from chain bounce. This is great news if you plan to ride off curbs occasionally, or outfit the bike with gravel tires and go off-road. Note the color matched fork, and the two color options… both look very nice, I’m partial to the matte indigo because it probably reflects more light for improved safety during evening rides.
• It’s not relevant for the North American models right now, but the bike frame actually has a break point on the right seat stay. This enables a belt drivetrain to be used vs. a chain. This kind of thing adds cost, but I actually think the price point is pretty good. Giant has economies of scale, being one of the biggest bicycle manufacturers. So by extension, so does Momentum as a child brand.
• I noticed that the front wheel uses fewer spokes and narrower gauge wire that reduce weight and add some flex for comfort. The rear wheel, where the motor and optional cargo rack are, requires more strength. The rear hub spacing is Boost 148mm which provides extra width for a sturdier spoke bracing angle. The spokes are thicker 13 gauge, and there are 36 vs. 32 up front. The rear rim has reinforcement eyelets that reduce the chances of cracking. It’s a nice setup and I appreciate the attention to detail.
• There are lots of mounting points on the frame for adding accessories like fenders, front and rear racks, a rear frame lock (sometimes called a cafe lock), a rear or center kickstand, and two bottle cages! There are even some mounts on the right side of the frame that I’m not familiar with… I really appreciate the mounts, because they add a lot of utility and potential for creativity that would otherwise be missed, and is often not present on light road bikes.
• The stock tires are great. They provide an efficient quiet tread pattern that still offers some grip. They are skinny, but provide a good pressure range of 50 to 85 PSI, so you can lower them for comfort if you wish. They are ebike rated for high speed use 50km/h, have puncture protection, and offer reflectivity for safety.
• Great total weight rating of 344lbs! so if you subtract the weight of the bike from this number, the bike can handle about 300 pounds including rider and any accessories and gear you add. This is above average.
• Even though the motor system is designed for Class 1 20mph top speeds (25km/h in Europe), the bike can easily be pedaled faster. The gearing is comfortable beyond 20mph, and the shifters are easy to reach and actuate. It’s a paddle design where the smaller inner paddle shifts to higher gears and the entire brake lever shifts to lower gears.
• The Shimano GRX hydraulic disc brakes offer a decent 160mm rotor and standard dual piston calipers. They will stay cleaner than rim brakes, are easier to actuate, and the smaller 160mm rotors won’t get bent as easily at bike racks or if the bike is laid on one side. Given the added weight of an ebike vs. standard road bike, and possible higher speeds, I’m glad they went with hydraulic disc brakes here vs. mechanical.
• The bike frame is well balanced front to rear, I was able to lift and balance the frame by holding the top tube near the center (just in front of the saddle nose). The hub motor only weighs 3.7lbs according to the Momentum specs, and the battery is positioned low and center in the downtube for a low center of gravity. I’m guessing that the battery only weighs 5lbs.
• The bike is compatible with Giant’s RideControl smartphone app for Android and iOS, and it’s pretty neat. Not only does it give you trip stats, allow you to adjust the LED display brightness, check the battery health, plan routes with GPS, and see precise battery percentage (vs. the 5 bar 20% generalized readout on the LED display), but it also connects to Ant+ wireless health hardware (like heart rate monitors), and syncs with the Strava app!
• The battery packs use premium Panasonic cells that are known for being near the top in terms of reliability and overall lifespan. You can make them last longer by keeping the pack from being completely drained, and topping it off if you haven’t ridden for a couple of months.
• The motor was fairly quiet, responded very quickly because of the four sensor design, and is small and hidden visually. The bike almost doesn’t seem electric, it’s very stealthy and blends in… I feel like it could level the playing field for people of different ages and abilities to keep up on hills, in the wind, or on longer journeys.
• The vast network of Giant/Momentum dealers means that you get in-person advice, fitting, post-purchase tuneups and warranty support. This should not be overlooked if you ride frequently or have limited experience with bike tools, even though it does add to the price of the initial purchase. I believe that the electronics are IPX6 rated against dust and water, so the bike should be extra durable if you ride in the rain.

Cons:

• I think the Voya E+ 3 is priced surprisingly low at $2,400 but the E+ 1 is more expected at $3,200. This one has the drop bars, Shimano drivetrain with three more gears, and Shimano brakes. It would have been cool if they were priced the same! In any case, the price goes a lot higher if you purchase the optional Recon E headlight, the RideControl Ergo 3 button pad, the front and rear rack, and fenders.
• As much as I love the reflective tires and light indigo color option for safety, I would love to see integrated lights. I’m mixed on their optional headlight upgrade, having not tested it, and wish that they also had an optional integrated rear light too. I would probably use a helmet light or clip one onto my backpack to stay visible.
• The all-aluminum frame and fork are less comfortable than steel, and don’t offer any suspension. The narrower tires don’t help a lot, but the taller wheel size does lower the attack angle, and there appears to be enough room to swap in higher volume treaded gravel tires as mentioned previously! I would also consider a 30.9mm suspension seat post if you plan to ride on bumpy terrain. Thankfully, the geometry is fairly upright and the saddle is very comfortable. The drop bar offers three hand positions so you can adjust for comfort as you ride.
• The optional plastic fenders are adjustable, which is great if you do get a second set of tires for off-road use or comfort. However, the fender support stays are metal and kind of stick up past the plastic. They ship with rubber tip protectors, but those can get lost and the metal can be sharp at the end. I prefer the non adjustable perfect fit type of fenders, which tend to stay in place… but then you’d lose adjustability for different tires. I’m mixed on this, just keep track of the rubber tips if you do get their fenders.
• The front rack is mounted to the fork, so it adds weight to your steering and can tip to the side and dump out more easily when parked. I prefer the steer tube mounted racks that stay inline with the frame. It’s interesting that their rack comes in small, large, and has side rails sold as an option. I prefer rear racks personally.
• The bike doesn’t ship with a kickstand, that’s another paid upgrade. For a bike that’s designed to be used in cities and potentially for commuting, a kickstand is something that I really appreciate and missed here.
• This is a minor detail, but I’m not a huge fan of the pedals included here. The center portion is aluminum alloy, but the surrounding platform is steel. The steel can get bent if the bike tips, and can get scratched and sharpened, and rusty over time. I’ve seen it happen a lot, so it has turned me off on this style.
• The RideControl Go LED display is positioned on the top tube vs. up on the handlebar, so you have to look farther down to read the assist level and battery charge level. Furthermore, in order to change assist levels while riding, you need to take one hand completely off the bar and reach. I’d probably stop before pressing the button, or consider paying extra for the RideControl Ergo 3 button pad that can mount near the left grip (I’m actually not sure if that accessory works with this drop bar setup).
• The battery pack is semi-permanently mounted inside the downtube. You can take it out of the frame by using a hex wrench on some bolts securing a plastic shield at the bottom bracket… but this is mainly for repairs or replacement. Ultimately, it’s best to keep Lithium-ion battery packs maintained 20% to 80% and stored in a cool dry location. Extreme heat and cold can negatively affect lifespan and range. This means you need to put the whole bike in a cool dry location, which could be difficult and create messes inside vs. if the battery was simply removable.
• Charging the battery can be difficult since you basically need to bring the entire bike near a plug. It means that you might not be able to charge at school or work during the day, if there isn’t a plug near the bike racks. The charging port for the frame is also a bit inconvenient, located very close to the spindle on the left side of the frame. It’s directly in the path of the left crank arm.
• I was surprised that the front wheel connects with a quick release skewer while the rear wheel and seat post clamp use hex bolts. I’d either appreciate the convenience of a quick release seat clamp for adjustability, or the security of a locking front wheel so nobody will tamper with my bike.
• The motor and battery are minimalist, they are the weakest and lowest capacity I see in terms of rating. I do think they work well on this particular “sporty efficient” road frame, but not being able to purchase a second battery to carry along or swap mid-day is a drawback. At least the included charger is twice as fast as most basic chargers. It should fill the battery in 2 to 3 hours depending on how low it gets.
• I think you can use the Giant RideControl smartphone app to tune motor characteristics for the fancier mid-drives (manufactured by Shimano) on some of their other models. I didn’t see those options for this hub motor setup. Not a huge deal to me, but something you do lose with the cheaper simpler Voya E+ models.

Useful Resources:

• Momentum electric bike dealers.
• Official Momentum website.