2019 VoltBike Yukon 750 Review

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.

VoltBike has released their new Yukon bike, a hub-drive fat-tire bike made to take on just about anything you can throw at it. I was happy to have the chance to review it on a snowy day in Vancouver, B.C., which let me really put it through its paces and see what it was all about. The Yukon is a value priced ebike at $1,699 ($1,899 in Canada) and comes in not only 2 colors (matte black or matte white) but also 2 frame sizes; a smaller 17” frame as well as a 20” frame. Both are very approachable, even the larger frame has a top tube that slopes down a bit making it easy to jump on and off. The 67lb Yukon frame is a hydro-formed aluminum alloy frame and can handle quite a bit, and that is thanks to the Kenda Krusade Sport fat tires with 60 threads per inch casing and punched out holes in the rim to keep it light weight. The tires are 26” x 4” and rated for a 5psi-30psi… the lower levels, such as 5psi, really work well on various terrain such as sand or snow, I highly recommend dropping that tire pressure if you want to take it out on adventures because it makes a world of difference. But these tires here keep everything comfortable since each of those little knobs somewhat act as mini absorbers for the bumps on the road. Assisting the tires with comfort is the front suspension fork. It looks like it has about 80mm of travel with some fairly large stanchions. I love that it has not only a compression clicker, but preload adjust as well just really giving you a lot of configuration in the setup. 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. Looking around the bike I notice that it has bottle cage bosses, which is a favorite feature of mine, but I do want to make sure you notice that while they are there on the 17” frame, the real-estate of the area is rather small, so you wouldn’t be as able to fit as many accessories here as you would on the 20” frame. I do love the internally routed cables, stitched grips, adjustable angle stem, Prowheel 170mm crank arms, and Wellgo extra large platform pedals. They also have a lot of optional accessories, the 20” I tested here was fitted with a front and rear rack, waterproof pannier, as well as some durable aluminum alloy fenders. The front rack is mounted on a mounting point on the steering tube, so it keeps the load straight when you turn the handlebars. However, this does move the headlight forward onto the rack itself so then the headlight will no longer point where you steer. I guess that kind of goes into the next feature, the integrated lights. I love that more and more bikes are becoming standard with these and it really is a nice feature to have it run off the battery power. The Yukon has both an integrated headlight and an integrated rear light as well… the rear light is only 1 LED however, so it kind of can feel like big reflector at times. Other features include an adjustable kickstand mounted in the rear to eliminate pedal lock, neoprene slap guard, 30.4mm seat post, and my favorite, this super cool integrated compass and bell hybrid.

Diving the Yukon is this 750 watt fat-tire specific Bafang 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 a step 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. A big win for the Yukon is the 180mm rotor hydraulic disc brakes with motor inhibitors. So many value priced ebikes spring for the mechanical brakes, which are easy to adjust and maintain, but I really prefer the immediate stopping power and responsiveness of hydraulic brakes. Hydraulic brakes really compliment higher powered systems, so having a 750 watt hub motor and a 48v battery really need a helping hand in the brake department and it doesn’t get better than hydraulic with motor inhibitors. Overall, the system works great giving the bike a very capable feel.

Powering the VoltBike Yukon is a 48v 16ah lithium ion battery pack. I would consider this a very high capacity battery with that 16ah rating. The amp hour designation refers to how long the battery can perform at its peak, while the volts act as the peak itself. With a rating such as this, it would be able to go the extra mile and then some. 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 5v 2.3lb charger which is alloy encased, making it a little tougher than most! 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 Yukon 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. A secondary four-LED display is built into the top of the battery box, and this allows you to get a quick idea of how full the pack is, even when it’s not mounted to the bike.

All in all, the Yukon is a great bike if it falls under your consideration, but there are some tradeoffs I should mention. For a high powered setup, the drivetrain can seem a little basic. They offered a lot of features here, so it would be nice to see a larger sprocket rather than the 14-28 tooth cassette to go along with that. Also, I noticed you can see the controller a bit and that could really leave it exposed to some of the elements of the rougher terrain you scale. It is encased well, but something to be mindful of nonetheless. A minor gripe here, but I wish the rear light was a bit brighter. All these may seem like nitpicking, and for a bike priced at $1,699, it is hard to fault. I had a lot of fun testing it out and you can even see me do some burnouts on the snow in the video! Truly a capable bike that is well supported by a caring company as you can see by my factory tour. I would like to thank VoltBike for inviting me out to check out their lineup.

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 fat-tire bike at $1,699 ($1,899 in Canada) and comes in 2 colors (matte black or matte white) and 2 frame sizes; a smaller 17” frame as well as a 20” frame
• Kenda Krusade Sport 26” x 4” fat tires with 60 threads per inch casing and punched out holes in the rim, rated for a 5psi-30psi
• A front suspension fork with 80mm of travel and some fairly large stanchions, has a compression clicker and preload adjust to really give you a lot of configuration in the setup
• They have a lot of optional accessories, such as a front and rear rack, waterproof pannier, as well as some durable aluminum alloy fenders
• 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
• If you do opt for the front rack, it is mounted so it doesn’t turn when you steer so it keeps the load nice and straight while maintaining stability
• Probably one of my favorite included items is the integrated bell with a moving compass mounted on top, some may find it useful, others may find it gimmicky, but I actually love that it’s here, it really adds to the adventure if you are out in the wilderness on this bike
• The 750 watt rear hub motor is powerful 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 16ah battery is a powerhouse of a workhorse, it really can go the extra mile and having it be removable with a USB attachment to charge other devices just really opens up the capabilities a whole bunch more
• A lot of cool little touches like a neoprene slap guard, derailleur guard, Wellgo extra large platform pedals, and bottle cage bosses
• A big win here is the Tektro 180mm hydraulic disc brakes with motor inhibitors, really the only way to go when you have a high powered setup like this, adds a lot of rider confidence since you can stop on a dime

Cons:

• I notice that it has bottle cage bosses, which is a favorite feature of mine, but I do want to make sure you notice that while they are there on the 17” frame, the real-estate of the area is rather small, so you wouldn’t be as able to fit as many accessories here as you would on the 20” frame
• On a frame like this, the battery and the controller sort of stick out like a sore thumb, the controller in particular, is kind of in a precarious spot, luckily they encased it well to keep it safe, but I do worry about its exposure to the elements you may be encountering on a bike like this
• 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 got really used to the fenders, rear rack, waterproof pannier, and front rack, but it should be noted that those are all 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