Woom UP E-Mountainbike unveiled – The eMTB for little shredders
If more and more parents ride eMTBs, wouldn’t it be fair if the kids could too? For 2020, the Austrian children’s bike brand is going electric and launching a lightweight, FAZUA driven eMTB with either 24″ or 26″ wheels. We’ve got all the details.
With mom and dad riding an eMTB, the kids will hardly have a chance of keeping up if they’re relying solely on muscle power. This is the scenario the CEOs of Woom wanted to address as they developed their first kid-sized eMTB. True to their company philosophy of building lightweight bikes catering to the needs of children, Woom wanted to do the same for their first children’s specific eMTB. They can be proud of the result: in the spring of 2020, the Austrian brand will be launching its first Kids eMTB in a bright Electric Blue. The (aluminium) frame will be available in two sizes. Woom categorise their bike sizes from 1 to 6, covering the ages of 1.5 to 14 years.
E-Mountainbike 5: for kids from 128-145 cm tall (7-11 years)
E-Mountainbike 6: for kids from 140-165 cm tall (10-14 years)
For the electronic assistance, Woom rely on the compact and lightweight FAZUA motor. Together with the 250 Wh battery, the system weighs less than 3 kg and is completely removable. According to product manager Martin Prehofer, the proven mid-motors from brands like Bosch and Shimano would be too powerful for children and make the bike unnecessarily heavy. The FAZUA app allows you to customise each of three modes of the motor individually.
The “on” button for the FAZUA system is located on the top tube. Coloured LEDs indicate which mode the bike is in: from off (white) to the lowest (yellow), middle (green), and the highest support mode (red). The number of lights indicates the battery’s charge level. Model number 5 is for kids from 128-145 cm tall.
The FAZUA system (motor and battery) is easy to remove from the down tube, which makes charging the battery a lot more convenient. Alternatively, you can also charge the battery on the bike. Woom will be offering an optional cover to close the opening in the down tube when the FAZUA system isn’t installed, allowing it to be ridden like a regular bike.
For the spec of the Woom E-Mountainbike 5 and 6, the Austrian brand has put its experience with child-friendly componentry to good use. They’ve specced smaller, child-friendly diameter grips, the brake levers are equally suitable for small children’s hands and the cranks are much shorter than on adult bikes.
The spec of the Woom UP eMTB 5
Fork RST 80 mm (eMTB 6: 90 mm)
Motor/Battery FAZUA Evation 250 Wh
Drivetrain SRAM NX 1×11
Brakes Promax, hydraulic 160/140 mm
Stem forged aluminum 50 mm
Handlebar Alu 600 mm (eMTB 6: 680 mm)
Wheelset Woom DISCO TEC double-walled aluminium rims
Tires Schwalbe Rocket Ron 24″x 2.35″ (eMTB 6: 26″x 2.35″)
Weight 15.3 kg (eMTB 6: 16.0 kg)
Weight limit 80 kg (rider and gear)
Price ca. € 2,800 (eMTB 6: about € 2.990)
Availability: Spring 2020
Our initial impression
The Woom UP eMTB will get kids away from the Playstation and motivate them to ride their bikes more often, which is why we think the eMTB 4 and 5 is a sensible addition to Woom’s existing range of bikes for older kids. Thanks to the child-friendly componentry and the lightweight FAZUA motor, the bikes are reasonably light and tailor-made for the needs of kids. Woom’s eMTBs are sure to create a new market and their competitors won’t be far behind.
For more information head to woombikes.com
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Words & Photos: Manne Schmitt
