Voima Sizing Questions/Views/Opinions

[cozzy]

The 6'3" pinkbike reviewer preferred the k2 size over the k3 after riding both due to the agility.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

The 6'3" pinkbike reviewer preferred the k2 size over the k3 after riding both due to the agility.

Interesting. I’ve met Seb and he is definitely a tall chap - hopefully the K2 is the one!

 

[cozzy]

Interesting. I’ve met Seb and he is definitely a tall chap - hopefully the K2 is the one!

But he did have slight problems with the lower seat tube of the k2, so worth checking the article. (Don't read the comments though )
For me at 6' this won't be an issue when I purchase.

Review: Pole's 190mm-Travel Voima is Long, Slack & High - Pinkbike

The Voima marches to the beat of a different drum, and that's not a bad thing.

m.pinkbike.com

 

[Sherman]

I wonder how long guys with K2 will find the seated position. 591mm top tube, that's only like 6mm more than on the smallest (S2) Kenevo

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

I wonder how long guys with K2 will find the seated position. 591mm top tube, that's only like 6mm more than on the smallest (S2) Kenevo

I reckon there's a bit with seat position on the rails that will help here. At the expense of seat angle, we could maybe slam back the saddle to gain 30mm ish? Obviously would reduce seat angle a bit. But can likely get a similar seating length to bars as a K3 if both are at extremes of seat rail position (K3 slammed forward, K2 slammed backwards)

 

[irie]

I reckon there's a bit with seat position on the rails that will help here. At the expense of seat angle, we could maybe slam back the saddle to gain 30mm ish? Obviously would reduce seat angle a bit. But can likely get a similar seating length to bars as a K3 if both are at extremes of seat rail position (K3 slammed forward, K2 slammed backwards)

Yebbut wouldn't that mess up your relationship with the bb?

When I set up my '22 Rail L cockpit I first found my ideal seat position in relation to the pedals then messed around with stems, bar height, sweep, rise etc ...

 

[Paul Mac]

Got to put a shout out for Seton Tuning in Colchester, Essex.
I had a trip there today with the intention of sitting on the K1 and k2 for size.
On my arrival I was met by the owner Phil Seton who has a massive background in motor cycle racing and is expanding into the Ebike scene with Pole.
He along with his colleague James took the time to size me up on both bikes and then let me go on a extensive test ride on both bikes.
I have rarely seen this sort of specialist customer service.
So guys if your in the market for a Voima but are wary of all the international sales etc, you now have a hub here in the UK.

Race Bike Preparation and Engine tuning | Seton Tuning

seton-tuning.co.uk

 

[Tankboy]

I wish Pole would at least offer the option of a slacker seat tube. I've found my K3 Voima way to short in the seat to handlebar measurement meaning that your hands and arms get prematurely tired on a ride, I'm 6ft/183cm with monkey long arms? The only thing that has made it liveable is a seat rearward extender?

I feel that they have designed the seat tube for just going up extreme gnarly hills rather than normal everywhere else riding which is about 99.9 % of the riding I do seated?

 

[Onetime]

I wish Pole would at least offer the option of a slacker seat tube. I've found my K3 Voima way to short in the seat to handlebar measurement meaning that your hands and arms get prematurely tired on a ride, I'm 6ft/183cm with monkey long arms? The only thing that has made it liveable is a seat rearward extender?

I feel that they have designed the seat tube for just going up extreme gnarly hills rather than normal everywhere else riding which is about 99.9 % of the riding I do seated?

You can get a longer stem and or an offset dropper. 9point8 make a dropper with front/rear and center offsets. And if your hands and arms are getting tired, I’d suggest raising your bars or getting higher rise bars to take the pressure off of your hands. I find the seat tube angle great for climbing or flats. My seat at full extension is about an inch or 2 lower than my bars and I have no issues with hand or arm pain or fatigue, but I also have 40 rise bars and 20mm spacer under my stem.

 

[jbrown15]

You can get a longer stem and or an offset dropper. 9point8 make a dropper with front/rear and center offsets. And if your hands and arms are getting tired, I’d suggest raising your bars or getting higher rise bars to take the pressure off of your hands. I find the seat tube angle great for climbing or flats. My seat at full extension is about an inch or 2 lower than my bars and I have no issues with hand or arm pain or fatigue, but I also have 40 rise bars and 20mm spacer under my stem.

How does an offset dropper work? Never heard of that before. same concept as an offset headset?

 

[Tankboy]

You can get a longer stem and or an offset dropper. 9point8 make a dropper with front/rear and center offsets. And if your hands and arms are getting tired, I’d suggest raising your bars or getting higher rise bars to take the pressure off of your hands. I find the seat tube angle great for climbing or flats. My seat at full extension is about an inch or 2 lower than my bars and I have no issues with hand or arm pain or fatigue, but I also have 40 rise bars and 20mm spacer under my stem.

I did solve it with spacers underneath the direct mount stem plus the seat extender mount which pushes it back 27mm plus the seat rammed right back? It's not a problem for most, just my monkey long arms. BTW don't like stems longer than 35mm!

As Pole are making bikes to order it would be great if you can custom tune each within pre-set boundaries to the customers order as there all CNC'ed separate with no molds to worry about? In fact I think Leo was talking about Ai applied to bike manufacturing hinting at such an option?

 

[Onetime]

How does an offset dropper work? Never heard of that before. same concept as an offset headset?

How does an offset dropper work? Never heard of that before. same concept as an offset headset?

They have a 25mm rearward offset post head available.

Fall Line 75-150mm Stroke Dropper Seatpost

Features: Black-Ti coated Titanium hardware. Anti-galling. Inline/Offset CR heads only. State-of-the-art rotational anti-backlash design (Patent Pending). Light weight: from 462g post only. Independent adjustment of the seat angle and seat fore/aft position Micro-adjustable seat angle...

9point8.ca

 

[Plummet]

Hey guys,

I am looking at purchasing a Voima,

Voima sizing has be a bit uncertain about which size to choose. K1 or K2

I am 178cm and typically run a size medium bike even though the stats typically put me in size large category.

I am currently riding a 2018 Rocky mountain Slayer which has a reach or 434mm and an effective top tube of 600mm. I do ride tighter more technical steeper terrain than most and typically like a smaller bike.

• K1 reach is 28 more longer than what I currently use, but the top tube is 40mm shorter. I don’t mind the idea of 28mm longer reach, but I am worried that 40mm shorter top tube will be too cramped while seated pedaling.
• K2 reach is a whopping 58mm longer than what I am currently using. Effective top tube is 9mm shorter. This size would be more comfortable for climbing but I worry that the reach will be too long.

Your opinion with sizing would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Hey guys,

I am looking at purchasing a Voima,

Voima sizing has be a bit uncertain about which size to choose. K1 or K2

I am 178cm and typically run a size medium bike even though the stats typically put me in size large category.

I am currently riding a 2018 Rocky mountain Slayer which has a reach or 434mm and an effective top tube of 600mm. I do ride tighter more technical steeper terrain than most and typically like a smaller bike.

• K1 reach is 28 more longer than what I currently use, but the top tube is 40mm shorter. I don’t mind the idea of 28mm longer reach, but I am worried that 40mm shorter top tube will be too cramped while seated pedaling.
• K2 reach is a whopping 58mm longer than what I am currently using. Effective top tube is 9mm shorter. This size would be more comfortable for climbing but I worry that the reach will be too long.

Your opinion with sizing would be greatly appreciated.

@Paul Mac might be able to help!

 

[Paul Mac]

Hey guys,

I am looking at purchasing a Voima,

Voima sizing has be a bit uncertain about which size to choose. K1 or K2

I am 178cm and typically run a size medium bike even though the stats typically put me in size large category.

I am currently riding a 2018 Rocky mountain Slayer which has a reach or 434mm and an effective top tube of 600mm. I do ride tighter more technical steeper terrain than most and typically like a smaller bike.

• K1 reach is 28 more longer than what I currently use, but the top tube is 40mm shorter. I don’t mind the idea of 28mm longer reach, but I am worried that 40mm shorter top tube will be too cramped while seated pedaling.
• K2 reach is a whopping 58mm longer than what I am currently using. Effective top tube is 9mm shorter. This size would be more comfortable for climbing but I worry that the reach will be too long.

Your opinion with sizing would be greatly appreciated.

I've just ridden both today.
I'm 175cm and currently ride a medium 22 Rail.
I could ride both the K1 and k2 fine, but I can manual and wheelie the K1 easy, where as I couldn't manual the k2 at all and could only wheelie it with a lot of effort.
The K1 was set up with a 50mm stem and 40mm rise bars, where the K2 had a 30mm stem and 30mm rise bars. From the cockpit, the K2 was still fractionly longer, but not much.
I was all set on a K2, but I think it will now be the K1, it was so much more playful.
Me on K1 on the bottom and K2 on the top, for size reference.

 

[dobbyhasfriends]

I've just ridden both today.
I'm 175cm and currently ride a medium 22 Rail.
I could ride both the K1 and k2 fine, but I can manual and wheelie the K1 easy, where as I couldn't manual the k2 at all and could only wheelie it with a lot of effort.
The K1 was set up with a 50mm stem and 40mm rise bars, where the K2 had a 30mm stem and 30mm rise bars. From the cockpit, the K2 was still fractionly longer, but not much.
I was all set on a K2, but I think it will now be the K1, it was so much more playful.
Me on K1 on the bottom and K2 on the top, for size reference.

View attachment 109382 View attachment 109383 View attachment 109384

they both deffo fit you, the K2 looks like a better fit though. It looks like the K1 would be cramped, did you do any downhill on the test ride ?

 

[Plummet]

I've just ridden both today.
I'm 175cm and currently ride a medium 22 Rail.
I could ride both the K1 and k2 fine, but I can manual and wheelie the K1 easy, where as I couldn't manual the k2 at all and could only wheelie it with a lot of effort.
The K1 was set up with a 50mm stem and 40mm rise bars, where the K2 had a 30mm stem and 30mm rise bars. From the cockpit, the K2 was still fractionly longer, but not much.
I was all set on a K2, but I think it will now be the K1, it was so much more playful.
Me on K1 on the bottom and K2 on the top, for size reference.

View attachment 109382 View attachment 109383 View attachment 109384

Oh for awesome. That's pointing me towards the K1.
I'll be honest, I'm more interested in down performance than up performance.

 

[Paul Mac]

they both deffo fit you, the K2 looks like a better fit though. It looks like the K1 would be cramped, did you do any downhill on the test ride ?

Unfortunately they are based in Colchester, Essex so no proper down hill, mainly trail riding.
But I could really dominate the K1, where the K2 I could ride just as fast, but when it came to trail features i.e logs etc, I could easily bunny hop them on the k1 but clattered over then on the k2.
I can't manual, I can't manual my current Rail, where today on the K1 I pulled the longest manual I've ever done a good 20 yards! I reckon I will crack the manual on the K1

 

[dobbyhasfriends]

Unfortunately they are based in Colchester, Essex so no proper down hill, mainly trail riding.
But I could really dominate the K1, where the K2 I could ride just as fast, but when it came to trail features i.e logs etc, I could easily bunny hop them on the k1 but clattered over then on the k2.
I can't manual, I can't manual my current Rail, where today on the K1 I pulled the longest manual I've ever done a good 20 yards! I reckon I will crack the manual on the K1

This thread is starting to make me rethink about getting a K2 instead of the K3, everyone seems to love downsizing this bike

 

[Paul Mac]

This thread is starting to make me rethink about getting a K2 instead of the K3, everyone seems to love downsizing this bike

Tell me about it!
I've been confidently getting the K2 all along, but this really though a spanner in the works.
Man I could pop that K1 up on the back wheel at will, and all the numbers are bigger than my current bike on the K1

 

[cozzy]

Helpful pictures

Them pics were very useful thanks. I agreed the k1 looks a little short. I don't suppose you have standing pics also?
I have little interest in pedalling a bike bar the brief time it takes to get to the top for another run, so will happily take the shortened sitting position for what I feel is the correct reach for my height & preferred wheelbase.

 

[Lightme]

I’m 189, ordered a K3 race ID frameset last night. I almost went K2 but decided it might be too much of a gamble. Can’t wait to get it! Not sure if I’ll put a Fox 40 or Zeb 190 on it. Maybe a mullet?

 

[Paris Doo]

Maybe it's just the photos but both sizes seem too small to me. Personally I can't understand why would someone size down in frame and then size up in stem, use offset seat posts to move the seat back etc? As I don't understand why we need 80 seat tube angles that reduce effective top tube length?

 

[Onetime]

Maybe it's just the photos but both sizes seem too small to me. Personally I can't understand why would someone size down in frame and then size up in stem, use offset seat posts to move the seat back etc? As I don't understand why we need 80 seat tube angles that reduce effective top tube length?

The 80* seat tube is why it climbs like a mountain goat and probably the best climbing ebike made. And as people who have ridden both say, the smaller size is more playful and easier to throw around, manuel and bunny hop. You don’t have to get a smaller size if you don’t want to though, so get whatever size you want. But once you’ve ridden it you’ll understand.

 

[Paris Doo]

Don't get me wrong but "climbs like a mountain goat / more playful and easier to throw around, manual and bunny hop" are the most common Pinkbike (or any other review) cliche.

I have ridden bikes with really steep seat tube angle and they are really uncomfortable in everything except for the steepest uphills.

 

[Paul Mac]

Don't get me wrong but "climbs like a mountain goat / more playful and easier to throw around, manual and bunny hop" are the most common Pinkbike (or any other review) cliche.

I have ridden bikes with really steep seat tube angle and they are really uncomfortable in everything except for the steepest uphills.

I agree the playful, agile terms get thrown around without any context.
But I can flat out tell you riding both back to back I could stand the K1 up to balance point on the flat, where I could only get the K2 up a foot.
It was black and white (trying not to use cliché) , I mean night and day. (Damn it)

 

[wavekiter]

The 80* seat tube is why it climbs like a mountain goat and probably the best climbing ebike made. And as people who have ridden both say, the smaller size is more playful and easier to throw around, manuel and bunny hop. You don’t have to get a smaller size if you don’t want to though, so get whatever size you want. But once you’ve ridden it you’ll understand.

Let me play devils advocate

I'd argue against downsizing, but rather increasing stack.

I'm 180cm, T-REX posture with very long legs and short torso /arms

I went for the K2 and never looked back...
It's a great bike for manualing and bunny hop, and I find it honestly agile... after having installed a riser bar.

The wheel base allows to ride very aggressively, while the high bottom bracket makes for fast cornering (remember to keep weight distributed on both pedals).

Personally, I don't recommend downsizing for someone who wants to go fast.

 

[Onetime]

Let me play devils advocate

I'd argue against downsizing, but rather increasing stack.

I'm 180cm, T-REX posture with very long legs and short torso /arms

I went for the K2 and never looked back...
It's a great bike for manualing and bunny hop, and I find it honestly agile... after having installed a riser bar.

The wheel base allows to ride very aggressively, while the high bottom bracket makes for fast cornering (remember to keep weight distributed on both pedals).

Personally, I don't recommend downsizing for someone who wants to go fast.

Well, I think Leigh Johnson, (Pole’s factory e-ews pro racer) will beg to differ. He is tall and he downsized to go faster. The bike is fast either way, it just comes down to rider preference. As they say, to each his or her own, or different strokes for different folks. I didn’t have a choice, at 5’7, I’m always on a small. Oh, and I also had, (sold my Voima frame and ordered the race ID frameset) a high rise bar on mine.

 

[Paul Mac]

Well, I think Leigh Johnson, (Pole’s factory e-ews pro racer) will beg to differ. He is tall and he downsized to go faster. The bike is fast either way, it just comes down to rider preference. As they say, to each his or her own, or different strokes for different folks. I didn’t have a choice, at 5’7, I’m always on a small. Oh, and I also had, (sold my Voima frame and ordered the race ID frameset) a high rise bar on mine.

Their other team rider at the time was Joe Nation, he's 5'10" and sized down to the K1.
I think that's the beauty of this bike you go with what you prefer, there's no right or wrong

 

[Nathan79]

Hi all

struggling to choose between k1 and k2.
5 foot 8.
29 inch inseam.
also. According to seat post calculator. Says I can only fit a 125. This seems very short.
anyone running a longer post over and above what the calc suggested.?