Total Weight:
59.5 lbs (26.98 kg)
Battery Weight:
7.7 lbs (3.49 kg)
Motor Weight:
12 lbs (5.44 kg)
Frame Material:
6061 Aluminum
Frame Sizes:
16 in (40.64 cm)Geometry Measurements:
23 reach, 24" Stand Over Height, 67" Length
Frame Types:
Step-Thru, Folding
Frame Colors:
Black
Frame Fork Details:
Rigid, 11 mm Axle
Frame Rear Details:
11 mm Axle
Attachment Points:
Rear Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses
Gearing Details:
6
Speed 1x6 Shimano Acera, MF-TZ20, 11-28Shifter Details:
Shimano Tourney TX50R6CT Thumb Shifter Plus
Cranks:
Alloy Bash Guard, 52T Chainring
Pedals:
Wellgo F-265T Aluminum Alloy Folding Platform
Stem:
Telescoping, SVMONO SM-A150-8R
Handlebar:
Promax Flat, 23" Length
Brake Details:
Tektro Novela Mechanical Disc with 180 mm Front Rotor and 160 mm Rear Rotor, Artek Vigorous Levers with Motor Inhibitors
Grips:
Flat Rubber, Black
Saddle:
Velo VL-8020E, Comfort
Seat Post:
Promax SP-252, Aluminum Alloy with Suspension
Seat Post Length:
350 mm
Seat Post Diameter:
27.2 mm
Rims:
Double Walled Alloy, Black
Spokes:
13 Gauge, Stainless Steel
Tire Brand:
Kenda Krusade, 20" x 4"
Wheel Sizes:
20 in (50.8cm)Tire Details:
5-30 PSI
Tube Details:
Schrader Valve
Accessories:
Integrated LED Lights, Floating Ball Compass, Flick Bell, Steel Fenders, Carry Rack with Spring Latch (25 kg Max Load)
Other:
Locking Removable Battery Pack, Rust Resistant Z Chain, Hold the Up Button to Activate Lights
John Carey
8 years agoIf you go into menu you can program ” 0 ” mode which is no pedal assist and power only by thumb throdle or people power. Cool !- JLC
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoCool! Thanks for the tip John :D
Replydayrate
8 years agoThanks for the excellent reviews and videos Court! I’m trying to decide between folding electric, and a folding electric fat bike. We will use them around town on class B RV trips for errands, as well as paved and unpaved trails. The fat version gives us snow and sand possibilities as well as softer base trail riding opportunities. Coming from years of road biking travels and some mountain biking, I am wondering how comfortable and efficient the fat bike version, such as the Voltbike Mariner, will be. For off-road use it seems an easy decision. Next question would be choosing between the Mariner and the RadMini. With some accessories, two of these bikes will max-out our budget so they feel like the best two to compare. Finally, have you or will you be reviewing the Citizen Frisco? Thanks again, we really appreciate your thorough write-ups!
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoThere are minor differences in how the throttle works but it might come down to which design looks better or if you get a deal buying two at the same time. I’ve listed the other minor differences in the reviews and am traveling so don’t have time to clarify at the moment. I have not seen the Citizen Frisco yet but will keep an eye out for it. It looks compact and light weight but wouldn’t handle the trails, sand, or snow as well… but that may not be an issue depending on where you ride :)
ReplyThanh Nguyen
8 years agoI am 250 lbs, am I ok to ride the Voltbike Mariner 500w? What is the max weight that this bike can carry?
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHi Thanh, my guess would be yes… most electric bikes I review are rated for up to 250 lbs and many will carry more than that but the manufacturers want to play it safe. This being a folding electric bike, might not be quite as strong as a high step non-folder but the smaller wheels tend to be stronger so it’s a mix. You could reach out to VoltBike to confirm but my gut says you’ll be fine, and the rack on the back can probably hold up to 40 lbs.
ReplyGeo
7 years agoI’m deciding between a Sondors Fold and a Mariner. With folders I believe wheelbase, (axle to axle) affects stability and ride-ability yet reviews lack this detail, this one included. My inquiry about the Mariner wheelbase got no response so far. Their chat says “ask me anything” (apparently except that). Sondors quickly responded their Fold wheelbase is 42 inches.
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoCool, thanks for sharing your experience with customer support and prodding me to include that with more of my reviews. I do try to include overall length of bikes now to help people understand what kind of space would be required to store. I also include stand over height and width. Hoping to review the Sondors Fold someday, whatever you choose, I hope it works out well for you and invite your feedback and comments here and in the Electric Bike Review Forums.
ReplyGeo
7 years agoUpdate, Voltbike responded that their Mariner’s wheelbase is just over 46 inches which is a bit longer than the Sondors.
Folding bikes have their quirks. Apparently it’s tempting to make them shorter and thus more compact. I modified one of mine to get it as small as possible and still ridable. I discovered they get squirrelly when I went off the back of mine. The shorter it is, the closer the seat must be to the center point of the wheels, and balance gets touchy. It gets too easy to unexpectedly raise the rear wheel on a quick stop or do a wheelie taking off. That being said, it fit a suitcase and it was handy in Europe.
Gabriel
7 years agoGeo, I am torn between the Sonders Fold X and The Voltebike Mariner. What did you decide? I am leaning towards Mariner right now due to Sondors inventory being low and I can’t place an order on the configuration that I want.
ReplyGeo
7 years agoGabriel, my Sondors fold X has been trouble free for 120 miles so far. However, the Voltbike Mariner appears to have approximately the same components plus the Voltbike gives you fenders, a rack, and lights. You NEED that stuff and I spent a bundle on fenders, a rack and lights. I feel like the Mariner is more for your money. To do it over I would go for the Voltbike Mariner. Be advised the ride is harsh with no suspension. If that bothers you, take a look at the ADDMOTOR MOTAN. It has a suspension front fork. The price is about the same I think.
I may buy one more e-bike for friends to ride. If I do I’ll get either the Mariner or the ADDMOTOR, not another Fold.
Gabriel
7 years agoGeo, thanks so much for the feedback. Sonders has limited stock right now and I can’t get the right combination of color and gears that I want. Plus, I was told that the fender kit for the 7 gear model wouldn’t be in stock again until fall. The newer Mariner now has front fork suspension. Based on your comments I think I am sold on it now. The new Motan 750w also does but not the 500W. Thanks for the assist.
ReplyGeo
7 years agoI couldn’t find anything on Voltbike Mariner with the suspension fork. That would certainly make it my next one. I keep tire pressure on my Fold at 10 # to ease the bumps. It’s a hard ride even compared to my $100 dollar Walmart bike.
Geo
7 years agoMy early Dahon made that trip. No such luxury as electric power. Europe swarms with bikes, yet the Dahon attracted way more attention than in the US. I often had an audience when folding or unfolding and questions to answer.
ReplyAnthony John Rigogliosi
7 years agoI just got the Volt Bike Mariner. I’d like to get these Kryptonite Gravity WheelBoltz. Does anybody know if they are compatible?
Replycourt
7 years agoHi Anthony! My guess is that these would not work with the Mariner or most other fat tire bikes because they tend to have wider dropout spacings. The front is usually something like 135 mm and the rear is usually 170 mm (not including how far the skewer has to stick out for the nuts). So the Kryptonite Gravity WheelBoltz that you linked to are only 130 mm front and 150 mm rear, so they probably aren’t long enough, and you can’t use a skewer if the motor has fixed axles (which is the case with most hub motor powered ebikes). Basically, you cannot remove the axle that is connected to the hub motor itself, it’s a permanent axle that the motor pushes on when it activates, and that power is transferred into the frame through the axle. These security skewers simply will not work… I’d suggest using two folding locks to secure the wheels instead :)
ReplyAnthony John Rigogliosi
7 years agoWow, thank you for that quick and solid feedback. Honestly, I just wanted to lock my front wheel up without actually locking it up with a lock and key everytime plus my main lock, ya know?
Anthony John Rigogliosi
7 years agoHow do I know if these security bolts would be compatible?
Anthony John Rigogliosi
7 years agoHad this bike for about a week now and put like 100 miles on it. All city, bumpy, jumpy, pot holes and construction rides for delivery in NYC, My issue is that the chain pops off too many times. Any fix around on this you think? Maybe removing a link or two?
Replycourt
7 years agoHi Anthony! Normally I’d recommend a seat tube mounting chain guide like this but I’m not sure there is room with the Mariner because of the battery pack design and position. An alternative hardware solution might be something like this that mounts on the bottom bracket spindle. It turns out that there are actually a lot of choices for chain guides, just explore this list and see if anything looks like a fit. Pay close attention to the sizing because the chainring on the VoltBike Mariner is a bit larger than most mountain bikes at 52 teeth (because it balances out the smaller 20″ wheels).
ReplyTyler
7 years agoThe bike functioned for a few months, and then the battery completely died out of the blue. It is still unclear why it failed, but it simply would not charge. Still under warranty, I contacted Voltbike to request a replacement. After dozens of calls, multiple messages, multiple emails, and a few weeks, I still have not received a replacement. This is despite having mailed the defective one. Their support staff is very hard to reach, and takes a long time to respond to emails. Just a warning for those considering owning one long term.
Replycourt
7 years agoOuch! That’s a real bummer, I’m surprised to hear that they haven’t been in touch and easier to work with. Perhaps they are very busy right now, but still… I hope they follow through and help you. You can use the contact form on EBR here and maybe I can forward the message on your behalf as I have worked directly with the owner.
ReplyLari
6 years agoMy experience has been quite different, Tyler. I called Voltbike several times before I ordered two bikes, and several times after. They do not always pick up right away but they return calls and emails, and if you call back on non-peak times they are available. Once I placed my order I realized I had made a mistake in one choice. I called Voltbike, and they amended the order immediately. The next day I got an email confirming my order, and an immediate email response when I asked if they had indeed shipped with the change I asked for, which they had. I suspect your issues were a result of a new company trying to gain its footing. Incidentally, the new Mariners have a chain guard and a new way of sealing in the control box so water doesn’t damage it. These issues were noted in reviews, and the response tells me this company is responsive to feedback. I will report back again once I have put some miles on the new bikes.
ReplyCourt
6 years agoHi Lari, thanks for chiming in with your positive experience and the updates on how VoltBike is improving their product. I hope yours continues to work well and appreciate any further thoughts or comments you wish to share :)
CHRIS
6 years agoI just had an online chat with voltbike and they said that the mariner fat tire bike has a rider weight limit of 300lbs.
Replycourt
6 years agoAwesome! Thanks for sharing this knowledge here with us, Chris :)
Reply