E-bikes come in a wide range of forms, from cargo cycles to compact, portable mobility devices that resemble scooters. Momentum’s Voya e+ 3 e-bike is smack dab in the middle of the pack. It has the lines of a classic bike, and that’s exactly what you’ll assume it is at first glance.
The battery is tucked away in the down tube, but it is not as bulky as so many other e-bikes in this class. It may appear to become just another bike just on the grocery store’s rack, but it conceals a pedal-assist engine in the back wheel that delivers plenty of power for zipping about town on errands. It’s a nice bike to ride, and it’s well-made.
If you’re after one of the top electric bikes that don’t look or feel like an e-bike, the Voya e+ 3 is a good choice. However, you’ll have to go without features like that an LCD handlebar screen and integrated lighting.
What you will see here?
Price and availability
The Momentum Voya e+ 3 prices $2,400 and is available for purchase on the Momentum website. The 3 sizes available are Small, Medium, and Large. Momentum’s website shows you which bike would be the greatest match for you based on your height.
The bike will not be delivered to you; rather, it will be delivered to a Momentum dealer for skilled assembly.
For an extra fee, you may have had the bike delivered straight to your home after it has been constructed, albeit this service is dependent on whether or not your local merchant offers it.
Within 14 days of the invoice, Momentum also provides free returns. You must return your bike to just a Momentum dealer who is allowed to do so.
Design
The Momentum Voya e+ 3 does not appear to be an e-bike at first appearance. The somewhat fat downward tube and larger hub are the only indicators. Aside from that, the bike appears like any other slimline commuter bike you’d ride on your own.
Aluminum is used for the frame and fork. The Voya e+ 3 came with a riser bar that has a modest lift to it out of the box. It maintains the cyclist in a more upright posture, but it’s still short enough that it doesn’t seem like a beach cruiser.
The seat stays are somewhat lowered, which means they join to a seat tube lower than that of the top tube junction. This permits both seat post & seat tube to bend fore-and-aft, resulting in a more pleasant ride.
Tektro hydraulic disc brakes come standard on the Voya e+ 3. They have a lot of stopping power as well as modulation. If you’ve never tried hydraulic disc brakes earlier, give them a few test applications to get an idea of how powerful they are.
A 9-speed MicroShift transmission offers enough gearing choices to allow you to pedal the Voya about without using the power. Because the bike is under 40 pounds, it is possible and even pleasurable to ride without the motor.
A button just on the top tube activates the pedal-assist motor. The four aid modes, as well as the remaining battery life, are indicated via LED lights.
The Voya’s 700c wheels are best for city riding, however, with the 38meters wide tires, you could ride it easily on dirt trails as well.
Performance
A well-designed cycle has a distinct feel to it, one that is both robust and nimble. This Momentum Voya e+ 3 gets enough of it. The steering is swift and responsive without being jittery, and the frame is well-built and supportive without transmitting every road disturbance to the rider.
In the end, the Voya seems like a well-designed city bike with a motor added for pedal-assist convenience. This isn’t always a negative thing; in fact, the bike shines in this scenario since it seems like a bike you’d love riding without a motor.
Of course, the sleek appearance and feel of the Voya come at the cost of a few comforts. For example, the power/control switch is located right in behind the head tube on the top tube of a bike. That means, unlike most other e-bikes, you won’t find an LCD monitor located on the handlebars.
For two reasons, this is an issue. To begin, you must remove your hands from the handlebars to alter the help mode just on the fly. It’s a difficult position to get into, and it might have an impact on your steering stability.
Second, you won’t get any notifications on your speed, mileage, journey distance, battery life, or anything else. The power mode & battery life are shown by LED lights just on the top tube button, however, they are more difficult to read on the run than just gazing at a screen.
Giant Ride Control apps
You can get this information and more by pairing your phone with the Giant Ride Control app. You can even use Strava to track your rides. As a result, you can clip your phone on your handlebars and obtain real-time riding data.
However, I believe that having a dedicated monitor attached to your handlebars is significantly more handy than this solution. For starters, if such features and information are always visible, you’re more inclined to use them. I’m not great at remembering to take out my phone, connect it with the app, and attach it to my handlebars, where it may be destroyed by the environment or an accident. (Also, make sure you’ve got one of the top bike helmets on the market.) It appears to be less convenient and, as a result, less user-friendly.
The Voya additionally lacks front and rear integrated lighting. That’s a standard feature on many high-end e-bikes, so it’s strange that the Voya doesn’t have it. If you do get this bike, you’ll also want to invest in a set of the best bike light too.
Momentum Voya e+ 3 Back Hub Motor
Once you begin pedaling, the pedal-assist seems smooth and quick. The back hub motor generates enough torque to keep you whizzing around town, even when you’re starting from a halt at a stop sign. When it comes to starting from a complete stop on an uphill, the Voya, like other rear hub motors I’ve tested, feels somewhat underpowered.
On most slopes, this isn’t a problem until the gradient becomes rather high. It’s also not a deal-breaker, since it won’t be an issue for the majority of the riding you’ll do with the Voya.
You also have a 9-speed transmission with a large gear range for different terrain. On steeper hills, you always can shift into the simplest gear to start going swiftly and effortlessly.
Specifications
- Frame: ALUXX-Grade Aluminum
- Fork: ALUXX SL-Grade Aluminum, OverDrive steerer
- Rims: GX03V Double Wall Aluminum 622×21
- Hubs: eTracker Sport,9mm QR [F] SyncDrive Move Rear Motor [R]
- Spokes: Stainless 13G[r], 14G[f]
- Crankset: Forged Alloy, 42T
- Shifters: microSHIFT ADVENT
- Rear Derailleur: microSHIFT ADVENT 9-speed
- Chain: KMC e.9 Sport, e-bike optimized
- Brakes: Tektro HD-R280 hydraulic disc, 160mm rotor
- Handlebars: Aluminum Riser 31.8×600/640/680mm
- Pedal: Aluminium Platform
Battery life and range
The Momentum Voya e+ 3 features a Panasonic 250Wh battery. It’s slim and incorporated into the down tube of the bike. It is not removable, however, so you will need to contact Momentum should the battery want replace by any other e-bikes battery life. The battery will be fully charged in 3.4 hours, according to Momentum.
According to Momentum, the maximum range is 45 miles. Naturally, this is dependent just on the assist level you’re applying, and the terrain and circumstances you’ll be riding in.
The battery life looks to be consistent with the claimed range during testing. This battery life signal had not moved from the fully loaded LED pattern after 8 miles of riding.
However, because there is no handlebar screen (common on most e-bikes) to indicate your overall distance, battery life, trip mileage, speed, and so on, it’s a little more difficult to judge the veracity of the battery life claims.
Accessories
The Voya e+3 and available on the Momentum website with a variety of attachments, including front & rear racks, or bumpers. However, it is unclear how or where these accessories may purchase. The website’s accessories section contains a variety of add-ons built exclusively for a further Momentum bike, called PakYak.
Competition
The closest competition to the Momentum Voya e+ 3 is Cannondale’s Quick Neo SL 2, which costs just slightly more at $2,550. Both motorcycles use a back hub motor and a 9-speed transmission. The Quick Neo SL 2, like the Voya, loses a handlebar display in favor of a presentation at the top power button.
Similarly, the Cannondale features combined front lights but does have an integrated backlight. And you’ll get a carbon fork on the Cannondale (the Voya’s fork is aluminum), which saves a bit of weight and damps more vibrations to give a comfortable ride feel.
The VanMoof S3 is similarly priced to the Momentum Voya and has a similar streamlined design, but it features an integrated headlamp and taillight. It, too, has a simple display and links to a mobile application for a more comprehensive look.
Conclusion
The Voya e+ 3 is a great commuter bike for someone who wants a pedal-assist bike that doesn’t look or feel like an e-bike. It’s easy to ride because it’s light, agile, and comfy.
But if you like the conveniences of integration — most notably, front and rear lights, and an easy-to-read LCD mounted on the handlebars — the Voya might disappoint. Because the power button is on the top tube, adjusting different power levels on the fly is more complicated.
But with the motor shut down fully, the Voya offers adaptability since it is comfortable and enjoyable to ride. It has a nice appearance, and a sturdy feel, and is enjoyable to ride.
