To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by VoltBike. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of VoltBike products.
The Bravo has always been a popular bike for VoltBike and it seems they have made some upgrades for 2019, so I was happy when they invited me out to check out the updates. For those that don’t know, the Bravo is kind of an everyman’s bike due to the utility and value many find in the setup. For example, it has these low profile studded tires, a great balance for light offloading, but also fairly efficient and quiet on paved roads versus a more knobby tire. They even have these sturdy 13 gauge spokes with a quick release in the front. It also features this spring suspension fork with about 80mm of travel, a hydraulic lockout, and preload adjust. Not bad for a bike that cost $1,599 ($1,699 in Canada). But since it is a lower priced ebike, you will have some tradeoffs like the tires lacking puncture protection or reflective sidewalls. But there is still a lot here like the included rear rack (even has some triple bungie straps!), ergonomic stitched grips, the adjustable stem with a little bit of a rise to it, the tapered head tube (so you could even swap out to a upgraded suspension fork if you wanted to), and the comfort saddle. I mean, it’s kinda like the Elegant, a step-through model they offer, except this one is a bit more masculine and has kind of this mid step angled top tube. The Bravo only comes in 1 aluminum alloy frame size, but it does come in 2 colors, this glossy white and a black color. I personally like the white because of the safety in both day and night visibility. Just going down the list here, there is a lot more included like the battery integrated lights. I see more and more of these and it is really something I hope everyone gets on board with since it really promotes rider safety as a whole and it is so nice to have them be a part of the integrated system so you don’t have to always have to check up on them or add batteries! Anyway, in the front light is a Spanniga Kendo, while in the rear you have a Blaze-Lite. Also, the Bravo includes plastic fenders with mud flaps. I have been reviewing VoltBike for a few years now, and its great to see them make improvements based off of older version. The mud flaps here are nice since they make the fenders a little more quiet and durable as well as preventing toe strikes when pedaling. I should mention however, that the rear fender doesn’t have an arm connection in the middle, so it does create some wiggling in the back. The cockpit is nice with its big display, integrated bell, cable wraps with press-fit connectors, and this on/off switch for the throttle with is always great for safety. They did go with a thumb shifter which is kind of a bummer since I enjoy trigger shifters so much, but as I understand, most manufacturers go this route so it can stay out of the way of the throttle which makes sense. I should also mention the optional $70 waterproof panniers. These really compliment the bike well and offer a little bit of reflective lettering, but unfortunately, not all throughout. Overall, there is good comfort all around and the entire setup weighs 59.5lbs, mostly due to features like the suspension fork and the rack. Other features include an adjustable length kickstand that is mounted out of the way to eliminate pedal lock when reversing, integrated cables, Wellgo platform pedals, and bottle cage bosses that also include an actual bottle cage, although you could swap that out too if you had another preference.
Diving the Bravo is this 500 watt Bafang planetary geared hub-drive motor with 9 modes of pedal assist and a twist throttle with throttle lock out via an on/off switch. It has a 12 magnet high resolution cadence sensor, which used to be kind of a premium setup, but nowadays it is considered somewhat older technology. Compared to todays top of the line systems, it tends to feel sluggish because it has this very pronounced on or off feeling, so I recommend using the throttle to ramp up your speed if you want that smoother feel. It kicks up to 20mph with no problem and stopping is nice since they also equipped it with motor inhibitors. On the mechanical side, they have a 7 speed Shimano Acera derailleur which is 3 whole steps up from the typical entry level derailleurs I usually see on value priced ebikes. I love that it has a derailleur guard too, that really helps protect these systems in the shipping process of if the bike gets knocked over. It has a 14-28 tooth on the cassette… not the best for climbing but is fine for cruising around the city. A thumb shifter is here, and I have never been a big fan of these, but I understand if you have a twist throttle attached, sometimes the thumb style shifter is the only option for the engineers to mount a shifting system. The Bravo features some 180mm rotor mechanical disc brakes with motor inhibitors. The mechanical brakes are easy to adjust and maintain, but I really prefer the immediate stopping power and responsiveness of hydraulic brakes, but I do understand why they chose them. I do like that it has 4 finger Tektro levers with rubberized grips, very nice. Other things I like here are the rust resistant chain and the neoprene slap guard that will protect the frame if the chain gets some bounce in it. Overall, the system works great giving the bike a very capable feel.
Powering the VoltBike Bravo is a 48v 12.8ah lithium ion battery pack with Panasonic cells. I would consider this a high capacity battery and it weighs about 7.5lbs. I love that included on the battery itself is a USB port, so you can literally remove the battery and use it as a power brick for your USB device like a phone or laptop, really a cool option and I love that it’s here. The battery is secured via lock and key and that key comes with the bike along with some tools as well. It also comes with this 1.5lbs charger which charges it at 2amps. The only real negative here is that the charging port on the bike is mounted at the bottom near the crank arm, so do be careful to not let that get in the way if you are charging on the bike itself. To really care for this and other lithium-ion packs, I have heard that storing in a cool dry location vs. extreme heat or cold will extend the life and try to keep it about 50% full when not using for long periods so you won’t stress the cells. Try not to let it run down to zero, because that’s really hard on the cell chemistry.
Operating the VoltBike Bravo is straightforward, in fact, it’s using the exact same display system and button pad as before. The LCD is large, backlit (if you hold the up arrow), and adjustable angle to reduce glare. It is not removable, but there does appear to be a disconnect spot for easy replacement if you experience damage at some point down the line. All of the standard readouts about current speed, battery capacity, and assist level are shown, and if you tap the power button (the little rubber button on the remote pad) it will cycle through advanced readouts like average speed and max speed. Holding down on the button pad activates walk mode, and double tapping the power button opens a menu where you can adjust the maximum speed of the bike, though you’ll need a password from VoltBike to do so. This cold be handy for people who want to ride slower for safety reasons… but you can always just arrow down on assist for less power. The real consideration is how fast the throttle will get you going, because it’s always offering up full power when pushed all the way down. I was able to reach just over 20 miles per hour in the highest assist level during my tests. I would have been happy with a 5 level assist vs. 9 because I don’t love clicking through so many levels when trying to focus on riding. At least the display is within reach and easy to learn (there are only three buttons). After a bit of practice, it’s easy to click up or down without even looking at the display for feedback. The one thing I have noticed about this particular button pad is that if you snag the buttons with fabric or somehow bump them when parking, the plastic cover can get bent up and become vulnerable to breaking off. I have only seen this once, but I have never seen the rubberized buttons get broken, so I consider it a point of consideration and extra care.
Overall, I like the Bravo a lot and I was really impressed. VoltBike has been around for 5 years now so it’s always great to see someone stick around the industry and continue to improve their offerings while keeping customer cost low and the Bravo is a great example of that. There are a few tradeoffs to consider though. As I mentioned before, the tires are capable, but it would be nice if they had some puncture protection as well as some reflective sidewalls. You could always swap them out yourself, but having features like that for both safety and convince are really nice. I also noticed there was no torque arm and there is a bit of a delay when you stop the bike, due to the setup and the mechanical disc brakes. I tried to show it in the video so hopefully you get a chance to check it out. Luckily though it does have those motor inhibitors to cut power to the motor itself and it really comes in handy with this bike. There really is a lot to love here though and VoltBike backs up the Bravo with a 1 year warranty. The mostly sell online and installation is easy since all you really need to attach is the handlebar and the pedals and there are instructions to teach you how. The bike even comes with a helmet when you purchase it! How neat is that? I love that they are prioritizing safety, even when helmets are not required in all states. A big thank you to VoltBike, I really enjoyed coming out and see what was new as well as checking out your new factory.
As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the VoltBike Ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)
Pros:
- A value priced commuter bike at $1,599 ($1,699 in Canada) and comes in 2 colors (black or glossy white), and includes a suspension fork, rack, lights, and fenders
- Low profile studded tires, a great balance for light offloading, but also fairly efficient and quiet on paved roads versus a more knobby tire, making this kind of an everyman’s bike
- The front suspension fork has 80mm of travel, a hydraulic lockout and preload adjust to really give you a some configuration in the setup
- They have a lot of included accessories, such as a rear rack, bottle cage bosses with an actual bottle holder, as well as some plastic fenders with mud flaps to keep you dry and reduce toe clipping
- Comes standard with battery integrated headlight and rear light, something that more bikes are doing these days and I love since it adds visibility and safety
- The adjustable kickstand included is mounted away from the pedals in the rear, so that eliminates pedal lock, an annoying occurrence when reversing a bike with the kickstand down that this bike doesn’t have to worry about
- 7 speed Shimano Acera derailleur which is 3 steps up from entry level, something you don’t often see on lower priced ebikes
- The 500 watt rear hub motor is responsive and I love that the throttle has a lockout if you want to turn it off and on, overall a really capable electric setup
- The 48v 12.8ah battery is a solid choice here, it really can get up and go, having it be removable with a USB attachment to charge other devices just really opens up the capabilities a whole lot more
- A lot of cool little touches like a neoprene slap guard, derailleur guard, Wellgo platform pedals, and cable wraps
- You can order the bike online and not only is it easy to assemble but it also comes with a free helmet!
Cons:
- The tires here do a wonderful job of multitasking both on and off road conditions, however, there is no puncture protection for the rough riding, and no reflective sidewall for the city riding
- Mechanical brakes are common on lower priced ebikes, they are easier to maintain and adjust but lack immediate stopping power, something I noticed on my test ride
- It is great that there are both an integrated headlight and rear light, however, the rear light is 1 LED and can feel a bit like just a really large reflector rather than a rear light
- The drivetrain is a bit basic with just a 14-28 tooth cassette so it would be nice to see a larger sprocket to help the more active pedaler have that range
- I love the fenders, rear rack, and especially the waterproof pannier that were on the bike I tested, but it should be noted that the pannier is optional and will cost extra money
- 9 modes of pedal assist may be a real treat for some, but for me personally, I did not enjoy scrolling through all the many levels to get to the one I wanted
- The controls for the display have a groove in them that can catch cloth and other material, so if you are wearing gloves for example, be aware of that
- The front suspension is a spring suspension, rather than air, but I suppose you could switch that out with a fork of your choice since the head tube is tapered
Resources:
Drew
6 years agoI purchased a Bravo last year after my wife got jealous of my Urban. We visited the V-B warehouse in Surrey BC to look at the step-through Elegent for my wife, but we thought the Bravo was a slightly better value with regards to hardware, and was a noticeably better ride. My wife is 5’2″ (on a good day) and I’m 6’2″… and we both fit the Bravo. The 500W motor meets our needs as we pull a trailer with a 31-lb dog. The tire tread is perfectly matched for multi-use cycling, both on reasonable off-road trails as well as road riding. The USB port has been very useful for my wife’s phone, and I plan to make a GPS mount for the bike as well. I have yet to run out of power with this bike, including a 30km semi-prepared hiking path as well as mountain trails… all pulling the doggo trailer. I find the gearing range as well as the e-power more than adequate for our needs. One thing that I noted with the bike, is that with the minimal clearance between the tyres and fenders so that pebbles tiny enough to get caught in the tyre treads will make a unique swishing noise when passing between the two (not an issue, just an observation). Also, I purchased our bike in white for better night time visibility, and it is a flat finish which his harder to clean… the review mentions that the test bike had a gloss finish which I would have preferred. Overall, I have been very happy with both of our Voltbikes.
ReplyCourt
6 years agoWow, fantastic comments Drew! Great attention to detail. I agree with everything you shared… and I have experienced the sound of pebbles clicking and zipping on the tires when caught below the fender. I specifically requested satin or gloss finish for future models when visiting with the founder, George, because matte white definitely gets dirty more easily. Thanks for spending the time to share your thoughts here, you’ve added a lot of value to other readers :)
ReplyAJ
4 years agoWatch out for misrepresented shipping fees on your Bravo. I ordered mine in June 2020 (“just $49 shipping to anywhere in Canada or USA”) and when it was finally ready to ship in late October 2020 I was asked to pay the invoice and did so (6 week lead time had turned into 4 months with no updates and double invoiced). After the payment was made and the unit was ready to ship I was informed that they could not ship it to me unless I paid an additional fee of $80 or picked it up from a “local” depot (2 hours driving). My location is not in the northern wilds – I am an hour north of Canada’s largest city.
The website splash page for the Bravo still continues to promote the $49 flat freight fee. I was no longer confident that the Company would be able to provide a reasonable level of after sales customer service so I cancelled the order. I was relieved that in the case of refunds the company processed correctly and promptly. If a company is going to legitimately offer a single flat rate shipping fee they have to be willing to adjust the price of the bike to accommodate it. Shame – the machine looked to have everything I wanted.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHuh, that’s a bummer! Thanks for the heads up, AJ. Most of the time I’m just giving companies the benefit of the doubt when it comes to advertised shipping rates, but it’s great to get feedback like this. I’m sure that would have still been a profitable sale for VoltBike, so it’s too bad they didn’t just spot the ~$30 themselves. Better luck with another vender… I think Biktrix, Surface 604, and Rad Power Bikes have some products that could be similar in price and design.
ReplyGeorge Krastev
4 years agoHi Aj, appreciate your feedback and sorry to see that you had to cancel your order. We do ship our bikes fully assembled which means that the front wheel is also attached. Because of that, the shipping box is fairly large and we are forced to use LTL carriers. (less than truck load). Unfortunately regular carriers like Canada Post, UPS or Fedex won’t accept such a big package. LTL carriers usually use 40ft trucks and have difficulties delivering to certain remote residential areas. This is explained in our help center section on the website. Unfortunately this is the trade off getting fully assembled bike from us compared to small unassembled bike package from our competitors. I see that our customer service rep did offer you option to either provide business commercial address in your city or to pickup the bike at the closest shipping depot in Brampton, ON, Canada. My record shows that the shipping terminal is around 70km (50 min.) driving from your place in Sutton West, ON which could be good option. Business address could be your work place for example or any business in your area. I will try to reach you personally and see if I can help.
ReplyRay
4 years agoHello Court,
I have been researching for my first ebike and trying to narrow down my options to best suit my needs. I am 5′ 9″ tall, inseam of 31″, weigh 220, and have a disability which is why I require a bike with good pedal assist. I plan on using the ebike for city/light trail use, and the area I live has a fair amount of hills, not too large but do cause more work to overcome.
I have come down to two ebikes, the Radcity 4, and the Volt Bravo, I have watched your video reviews and read your EBR reviews a number of times. Thanks, very informative and well put together which gave me clearer understanding of ebikes. I really like both bikes, the Radcity 4 and Bravo look good, have great features and specs, lights, seat, and fenders.
My question is, now that Volt has upgraded the Bravo to 48V 17.5AH and has 80nm of avail torque which do feel would provide the best pedal assist. Volt has also updated the braking to hydraulic from the older models, and seem to be a bike I can sit comfortably in an upright position. You have rode both bikes, and it seems you would be able to answer which would be better to be rode in more upright position? This upright position I feel should be somewhere between fully sitting upright and fully leaning forward on the bike, if that helps.
When you rode the Bravo do the handle bars feel like they are swept back a little, I feel it may give me a better feel when riding. Volt and Radcity both appear to be very reliable in customer service, product quality as well and have been around for a number of years. This gives me a sense they will be there when needed, in repair or customer service. Any thoughts on either ebike positive or negative, in regards to the Radcity 4 or the Bravo that may assist in my decision making would be greatly appreciated.
Again, great video reviews and EBR reviews. With Thanks, Ray Orillia, Ontario Canada
ReplyCourt
4 years agoGreat question, Ray! Thanks for sharing all of your details. Looking at the latest pictures of the Bravo vs. the RadCity 4, I’d say the RadCity is going to have a more swept back handlebar and the adjustable stem also helps, but isn’t as solid as the VoltBike Bravo fixed stem. The hydraulic disc brakes and higher battery capacity are a big win with VoltBike, and I suspect the motor torque is similar to Rad. I like that the Bravo appears to come stock with a 13-34 tooth freewheel and Acera derailleur. Both seem to be competitively priced and both companies are serving Canada well. This might come down to the handlebar position or the style you prefer. I think both bikes will perform well and I appreciate that both have lights, but the tires on the RadCity appear to be upgraded with the reflective sidewall for even higher safety. Another big consideration is motor type, the RadCity uses a gearless hub motor, which is heavier, but very smooth, quiet, and durable. I actually prefer geared hub motors for off-road use, but you won’t get regeneration and it probably will increase the noise. Again, it’s hard for me to say whether one is a winner here because both would serve you well. If your friends or a partner or family members also ride ebikes, it can benefit to go with one company so the batteries are interchangeable (I know that’s the case for Rads bikes). By the way, we are about the same height and inseam! Good luck!!
ReplyRay
4 years agoHello Court, hope all is well, thanks for your reply, I have looked at both the Radcity 4 and the Volt Bravo again. I researched the components that come on each (derailleur, cassettes, etc), and contacted a couple of other owners. I have decided to order the Volt Bravo, hopefully the wait won’t too long during these times.
With Thanks,
Ray Orillia,
ReplyOntario Canada
Be Safe and Be Well
Court
4 years agoGood choice! I hope it works out well for you, Ray. Thanks for the update and well wishes!
ReplyChip
4 years agoI see the Bravo list the rear cassette as 13-34 in one spot and 14-28 in another. Wonder which is correct? Also I’m 5’5”with inseam about 30”. Will the Bravo work for me?
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Chip! I cannot say what is correct here because my review is a bit out of date now and the company may have adapted to different parts (due to supply chain limitations that all companies are facing). My guess is that the bike I saw had a 14-28 tooth freewheel. You could email or call VoltBike directly to ask, and I’d love to hear what they say if you can report back here :)
ReplyEugene
3 years agoHave received the Bravo bike. Really impressed with all the details. Very happy with it. My only draw back comment is the trend of the corporation to reduce costs. Saw some U tube video where the bike comes with a fancy tool set. Well, we got a cheap wrench, and no hex key to assemble the handles. Although it is specified that it comes with a water bottle holder, we did not receive one. So… you can start to see the trend, next the quality of the parts will start suffering. If you want to buy one, then buy now before it becomes a cheaply made bike. So far is great and very happy with it.
ReplyCourt
3 years agoHi Eugene! I’m sure many of the companies are working to figure out how to keep their products affordable to be competitive and to adjust for inflationary monetary policies in North America. Thanks for the update on what comes with the bike, glad you’re enjoying the ride :)
ReplyEugene
3 years agoI believe in the honest improvement of the product which makes for a better affordability of the product. My problem stands with deception. The water bottle holder was, and still is, included in the specs of the bicycle, I DID NOT GET IT! Once you start that slippery slope down hill, where does it end. So my comment is “TODAY” it is a great bicycle, but buyer be aware, in a year the quality of the product might be affected as company is in the process of making the product more affordable. They are doing it now as we speak.