Pole has just released details of its first electric mountain bike – the Voima and, true to form, it's a bike that really stands out from the crowd.
Pole is known for its innovative use of materials, as well as its longstanding commitment to long and slack geometry.
Much like the brand's Machine enduro bike, the Voima's mainframe is built from a pair of CNC'd 7075-T6 aluminium shells, which are then bonded together. According to Pole, the Voima is the only eMTB currently using this high-grade material. All manufacturing is done in Finland.
The new bike has a whopping 190mm of travel, via elevated chain stay linkage design.
In the downtube sits a large 725Wh battery for the Brose S Mag motor, which pumps out up to 90Nm of torque. The motor is almost fully enclosed within the frame.
The battery is installed from the top of the downtube, rather than from below as per most eMTBs around.
These design features are used as, according to Pole, many electric bike failures are as a result of water and dirt ingress.
By enclosing the motor, forming the battery's opening on the top of the downtube and placing charging hardware high up by the headtube, this is reduced.
The 190mm of suspension gives a clear indication that Pole wants this bike to be ridden hard – as does the ability of the bike to be run with dual crown forks (as we've seen with bikes such as the Cannondale Moterra).
The unique-looking linkage is called 'Sensei'.
It's raised up to reduce chainslap and to keep the linkage away from the motor.
The kinematic is designed for eMTBs. It has a progressive stroke, which can be used with either airo or coil shocks, while a falling rate of anti-squat keeps pedal kickback on bigger hits low.
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Pole has managed to keep the anti-squat figure at around 100% in all gears at the sag point, keeping the pedalling performance consistent, something which many suspension design layouts don't achieve.
In the dynamic area of suspension travel (around 30-60 per cent) the shock's leverage ratio is held at around 2.6.
The falling rate suspension is said to give good small bump sensitivity, mid-stroke support and smooth bottom-out resistance.
Pole says it has mounted the shock sideways to reduce stresses on the mounting hardware. Other frame features include internal dropper post cable routing that doesn't need motor removal, SRAM's UDH mech hanger, and a pair of bottle cage bosses.
Pole Voima geometry
Four frame sizes will be offered – K1 to K4. Looking at the K3 (which we'd equate to a large) gives the following key geometry figures.
- Reach: 510mm
- Head angle: 63.5 degrees
- Seat tube angle: 80 degrees
- BB drop: 0mm
- Wheelbase: 1,343mm
- Chainstay length: 455mm
- Seat tube length: 420mm
Pole Voima components
To start, the Voima will be frame only, with full builds appearing in early 2022. I
n order to get hold of one, a €200 downpayment will ensure you get a build slot for the frame this autumn.
The bike is priced with an introductory price of €5,490 (K2 and K3 sizes only), rising to €5,990. Though not available until 2022, introductory full build prices will be €8,490, rising to €8,990.
The single build gets the following components.
- RockShox Zeb Select 190mm fork
- RockShox Super Deluxe shock
- SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain
- SRAM Code R brakes
- Crank Brothers Synthesis E wheels
- Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5 WT tyres
- RaceFace finishing kit
- Crank Brothers dropper post
