Pole Voima 190mm Travel EMTB

BigG

Active member
Feb 15, 2023
90
100
US, SoCal
First ride on my K2 Voima. Picked the right size at 185cm tall, bike is balanced and provides tons of mid corner grip. I needed to adjust back to full 29er as my mullet Levo tends to like to get sideways on corner exit and this just keeps gripping and maintaining speed.

Running a 180 Mezzer and a kitsuma air shock (that is due a service). The back end I thought was going to feel soggy running approx 30% sag (maybe a little deeper) but it seems to be supportive enough and gobbles up chunk. I won't comment much more on the suspension as it's going to get changed out for either a coil Kitsuma or a tuned Bomber. Fork is undecided...the 190 fork I have turns out the steerer is juuusssstt too short so maybe a Zeb.

The bike climbs like nothing I've ridden period. If you can pedal it will make it to the top of what seems like anything. Without fuss too.

I got to hit one descent quite hard and the top third was what felt like the quickest I've ever ridden it as I was getting air off undulations that my Levo would just hug the ground over. I hit a rocky entrance into a janky berm and just as I went to accelerate out no drive....unfortunately the chain had come off the new front chainring. I do need to confirm chain length but I think I'll be placing an order for the chain guide. I really do wish I could buy the bracket and the guide only without having to buy the bash guard...I might email them and ask.

Overall a very positive first ride (apart from the chain). I even PB'd a long tight climb without trying lol. This bike has serious potential!

The Bosch motor is one rattly mofo too! Coming from a near silent Levo this will take some getting used to.
There’s a 3rd party 3d printed chainguide: POLE VOIMA chainguide - VisionVelo
Fenders are nice too, recommended even if you ride dry only. Keeps shock and bearings clean too.
 

Onetime

Active member
Aug 10, 2022
468
480
Cali
Have you tried one of these? Pole versions do look a little sturdier.
The one that Pole has is made by Absolute Black and it’s nice. I’d just get that. But the vision velo fenders are nice too. I have one on the rear. Unfortunately they don’t make one for a 40 so mud hugger up front. Also, Leo from Pole recommends 28% sag for the rear shock. If you run more than that, it will be mushy, blow through the travel, won’t handle square edge hits as well. Generally it won’t perform as good.
 

Blownoutrides

Active member
Mar 22, 2021
241
176
USA
First ride on my K2 Voima. Picked the right size at 185cm tall, bike is balanced and provides tons of mid corner grip. I needed to adjust back to full 29er as my mullet Levo tends to like to get sideways on corner exit and this just keeps gripping and maintaining speed.

Running a 180 Mezzer and a kitsuma air shock (that is due a service). The back end I thought was going to feel soggy running approx 30% sag (maybe a little deeper) but it seems to be supportive enough and gobbles up chunk. I won't comment much more on the suspension as it's going to get changed out for either a coil Kitsuma or a tuned Bomber. Fork is undecided...the 190 fork I have turns out the steerer is juuusssstt too short so maybe a Zeb.

The bike climbs like nothing I've ridden period. If you can pedal it will make it to the top of what seems like anything. Without fuss too.

I got to hit one descent quite hard and the top third was what felt like the quickest I've ever ridden it as I was getting air off undulations that my Levo would just hug the ground over. I hit a rocky entrance into a janky berm and just as I went to accelerate out no drive....unfortunately the chain had come off the new front chainring. I do need to confirm chain length but I think I'll be placing an order for the chain guide. I really do wish I could buy the bracket and the guide only without having to buy the bash guard...I might email them and ask.

Overall a very positive first ride (apart from the chain). I even PB'd a long tight climb without trying lol. This bike has serious potential!

The Bosch motor is one rattly mofo too! Coming from a near silent Levo this will take some getting used to.
Weird. I don’t think my motor rattles (?). Is it maybe the battery? I put mastic tape (the kind folks use for chain slap protection) on the battery cover flanges. Tried the foam weatherproofing strip trick but it didn’t last.
 

ebikerider

Active member
Oct 1, 2019
706
484
Australia
Weird. I don’t think my motor rattles (?). Is it maybe the battery? I put mastic tape (the kind folks use for chain slap protection) on the battery cover flanges. Tried the foam weatherproofing strip trick but it didn’t last.
Battery is in there pretty tight. I'm 99% sure I have a very noisy Bosch motor. Fine when pedaling but hit rough terrain freewheeling and it is proper noisy. Quick google shows lots and lots of noisy Bosch motors unfortunately.
 

Onetime

Active member
Aug 10, 2022
468
480
Cali
Weird. I don’t think my motor rattles (?). Is it maybe the battery? I put mastic tape (the kind folks use for chain slap protection) on the battery cover flanges. Tried the foam weatherproofing strip trick but it didn’t last.
I guess I’ve been lucky, I’ve had 2 Bosch motors now, one regular and one race, and both are quiet.
 

Onetime

Active member
Aug 10, 2022
468
480
Cali
Battery is in there pretty tight. I'm 99% sure I have a very noisy Bosch motor. Fine when pedaling but hit rough terrain freewheeling and it is proper noisy. Quick google shows lots and lots of noisy Bosch motors unfortunately.
Could it be the cables rattling? Are they all taped down on the left side of the battery compartment?
 

Blownoutrides

Active member
Mar 22, 2021
241
176
USA
Battery is in there pretty tight. I'm 99% sure I have a very noisy Bosch motor. Fine when pedaling but hit rough terrain freewheeling and it is proper noisy. Quick google shows lots and lots of noisy Bosch motors unfortunately.
As soon as I said “mine is quiet” I felt the karma gods descending…

Sure enough, mine rattles too. Only in rock gardens it seems. Transmission, gorilla taped, battery taped, and foam housing dampered to the nines. It’s the motor for sure.

If it’s not rattling it’s cause you’re not sending it hard enough 😂🤘.
 

Plummet

Flash Git
Mar 16, 2023
1,152
1,634
New Zealand
8.35 kg without battery, battery cover, motor case.
Has cables, and chainring.

20230611_082329.jpg
 

Darkyhs

Well-known member
Oct 25, 2020
143
153
Freiburg, Germany
I have the full AXS(dropper + transmission) on mine, and my bike is quiet. It actually surprised me how quiet it is, as I also come from an S-Works Levo(Gen 3). Sure it does make sound, but with the quiet hub and no chain slap, it is very odd for me :D Very happy with the bike overall, I love the high BB and absolutely love how the bike rides and looks!
 

Blownoutrides

Active member
Mar 22, 2021
241
176
USA
Very, very exciting question for today: manual says 12nm for the rear axle, but it’s got “9nm max” printed on it. Which one?
 

Plummet

Flash Git
Mar 16, 2023
1,152
1,634
New Zealand
Well, I have my battery. But my centerlock magent is not working so the bike is in limp mode argh!!.

Will be finding a 6 bolt adapter tomorrow so I can put the original rotor and magnet back on.

Side note. Looks like you can adjust the wheel circumference in the Bosch smart app. So.... you don't need to take the bike to a bike shop to change wheelsize........... settings.
 

BigG

Active member
Feb 15, 2023
90
100
US, SoCal
Well, I have my battery. But my centerlock magent is not working so the bike is in limp mode argh!!.

Will be finding a 6 bolt adapter tomorrow so I can put the original rotor and magnet back on.

Side note. Looks like you can adjust the wheel circumference in the Bosch smart app. So.... you don't need to take the bike to a bike shop to change wheelsize........... settings.
The adjustment range is limited afaik. It’s enough to adjust for different tires ut not enough for different wheelsize.
 

Onetime

Active member
Aug 10, 2022
468
480
Cali
It was enough and then some on my app.
Yeah, I tried changing the wheel size on the flow app of my old Voima with the rim magnet and it didn’t actually change anything, the top speed was the same. So I had to take it to my local bike shop/Bosch dealer and they changed the programmed wheel size from 29 to 27.5 through Bosch OEM. On my new Voima, with the rotor magnet, I haven’t used the flow app for it. So I’m not sure if it will work or not with the rotor magnet. I assume it would but I’m not sure since I haven’t tried using the app on the new bike. So I took it back to my local bike shop/Bosch dealer and they changed the programmed wheel size from 29 to 27.5 again through Bosch OEM.
 
Last edited:

Plummet

Flash Git
Mar 16, 2023
1,152
1,634
New Zealand
20230616_110256.jpg

Ok

Team which plug does the speed sensor plug into?

Currently its in the green which I think is wrong. as the maget works and the cable works.... The cable has a red oring on it which makes me think its should be plugged into the red plug on the right?
 

BigG

Active member
Feb 15, 2023
90
100
US, SoCal
It was enough and then some on my app.
Effective adjustment range for speed is like 5% of manufacturer set default.
You CAN change more than 5% but that wouldn’t affect actual speed, just displayed speed. Top speed where assist cuts off is still calculated via factory value (maybe +-5%, idk).
Not sure if even 5% affects actual speed. Basically you have to ask dealer/service to adjust it if you go mullet.
 

Plummet

Flash Git
Mar 16, 2023
1,152
1,634
New Zealand
F
Effective adjustment range for speed is like 5% of manufacturer set default.
You CAN change more than 5% but that wouldn’t affect actual speed, just displayed speed. Top speed where assist cuts off is still calculated via factory value (maybe +-5%, idk).
Not sure if even 5% affects actual speed. Basically you have to ask dealer/service to adjust it if you go mullet.
Fair enough.

First I got to get it going.
 

jbrown15

Well-known member
May 27, 2020
800
659
Chilliwack, Canada
We started building the new K3 Voima at the shop I work at for my buddy that ordered one, overall very impressed with the build quality. A few little things that look odd for this expensive of a bike, you would think Pole would come up with a better way to secure the routed brake line rather than just using some black gorilla tape. You think maybe they could machine something into the down tube that could allow internally to secure cable ties to hold a brake line or dropper post or shift cables in place. I also didn't realize that they install the brand logos over the clear wrap, the logo above the top tube power button is already peeling off. And the battery was damaged in shipping, looks like due to poor packaging from Pole.

The Storm Grey looks great in person, I was thinking I would order the raw color when I go to order mine. But after seeing the grey in person I'm torn on what to order.....lol

IMG_4193.jpeg IMG_4195.jpeg IMG_4194.jpeg
 

Zimmerframe

MUPPET
Subscriber
Jun 12, 2019
14,028
20,818
Brittany, France
you would think Pole would come up with a better way to secure the routed brake line rather than just using some black gorilla tape
You could argue that it stops any chance of the cable rattling around between tie points ?

1686895165277.png
:LOL:

I also didn't realize that they install the brand logos over the clear wrap
Didn't they used to be under ? Maybe they've changed it as so many people seem to want to remove the logo's ?
 

jbrown15

Well-known member
May 27, 2020
800
659
Chilliwack, Canada
You could argue that it stops any chance of the cable rattling around between tie points ?

View attachment 117892 :LOL:


Didn't they used to be under ? Maybe they've changed it as so many people seem to want to remove the logo's ?

It looks micky mouse to have crappy gorilla tape in there like that. I'm sure there's far better ways of going about it. Just seems funny to put a lot of effort into the quality of the bike to have something like that on the inside of the frame. I get it most people don't see it, but again it's the little things that really should set this bike apart from others and that was a miss in my opinion.

The top logo is definitely on top of the wrap, I should have taken some pictures of it.
 

Zimmerframe

MUPPET
Subscriber
Jun 12, 2019
14,028
20,818
Brittany, France
View attachment 117875
Ok

Team which plug does the speed sensor plug into?

Currently its in the green which I think is wrong. as the maget works and the cable works.... The cable has a red oring on it which makes me think its should be plugged into the red plug on the right?
Should help you ..


It's green as it doubles as the Low power port when it's not used for the remote speed sensor.

Are you sure your motor is configured for the remote speed sensor and not the rim magnet ?
 

Onetime

Active member
Aug 10, 2022
468
480
Cali
View attachment 117875
Ok

Team which plug does the speed sensor plug into?

Currently its in the green which I think is wrong. as the maget works and the cable works.... The cable has a red oring on it which makes me think its should be plugged into the red plug on the right?
The green one is correct. Just make sure it’s in correctly and that none of the little tiny pins are bent.
 

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