Great review! I have both the Voima and the Vikkela and love them! I upgraded to the Mavic Deemax S 30 wheelsets at purchase and have had no problems. I also put 27.5 rears on both, an S 30 Deemax on the Vikkela and a Onyx vesper hub laced to a Derby dh rim on the Voima. Mulettizing made the head tube angle 61.5 so I installed 2 degree Works angle adjustment headsets which brought it back to 63.5. These Poles suit my riding style better than anything I've ridden! I've owned multiple (9 I think ) Intense bikes including a Tazer and 2 Specialized Levos. I have a 22 S-Works turbo levo that I haven't ridden since I got the Voima.
I have the analog version - the Pole Vikkela- same as Voima just no motor and only 36lbs. Its awesome. Climbs like a goat, decends like no other. Pedals amazingly efficient . Killer enduro rig .
Thanks for sharing, man! There is not much info about how Vikkela rides - actually there is very limited info. If possible, please, share more about it.
@@finroddd- From one of my earlier posts a few months back and it's only gotten better from then to now as I learn it. - This is just a quick review of my new Vikkela K3 with MY 23 suspension (after coming off a KTM Prowler Sonic Large 160/150 FOX factory Grip 2 and Fox Float X for 4 years) So far 6 rides composed of 10,000 + feet of climbing, made up of some technical very steep 23% grades, and then average climbing. Some fast flow descents, rocky descents , switchbacks with and without berms, and lots of fast rocky single track. After initial build and setup of suspension, I find this setup for me . Height 6.0' Weight 193lbs Rear - 30% SAG, HSC one click from full open, LSC 2 clicks from full open rebound as required to keep it lively but not poppy. Front set to rider weight no tokens ,HSC 2 clicks in from full open, LSC 2 clicks in from full open. 40mm stem , 40 mm riser bars with 30mm of stack spacers below stem.(factory steerer length) Initial impressions: The Vikkela is an amazing technical climber, I mean REALLY good, It has to do with seat angle and wheelbase. Its amazing. Never any issues with rear traction even on the very steep stuff. If your legs will get you up the climb, the Vikkela will not be the limiting factor. Very good pedal bob resistance with 30%SAG and 2 clicks on LSC . about 3mm is all the bob you get. My knees have taken a bit of time to adjust to the steeper seat angle as the pedals are more under you than on my KTM Prowler with a 76 degree seat angle, so expect that . On trail it feels very stable, but surprising me the most is the ability to turn very predictable and solid. Front end weight is perfect. in the rough it shines , tight switchbacks climbing or decending are a NON ISSUE. At speed it is very well mannered and very natural "neutral " feeling. It's REALLY well behaved but tips in on turns VERY quick! for a 63.5 degree head angle and LONG wheelbase it is an amazing turner. "AGILE" is true. I really like it overall and will be racing it in an enduro series this summer.
@@finroddd its awesome, I live in the bottom of a bowl, so everywhere we go ride local we need to climb for an hour or more to get to the top and enjoy the descents, ,My Vikkela is a very adept efficient climber for a 190/190. And going down it pure fun. The rougher and faster the better.
I own the Vikella and would like to add a few notes for potential buyers. Try it in 29 before u try to do a mullet setup. I was amazed that the rear tire doest buzz my butt in 29 compared to my 2021 orbea Wild in 29. I tried to mullet it with a cane creek angle set to make the head tube 1 degree steeper and I found that it didn’t hand as well for me. Pole recommends going with a 180 fork if u go mullet so that might have worked out better handling wise, I just didn’t want to lose any travel. I’m 5’8 215lbs. At my weight I didn’t find the race axels too stiff, I can’t speak for lighter riders. If ur close to my weight or heavier I’d say go for the race axels. For sizing at 5’8 I went with the K2 for my local steep rocky trails and Fast flow trails and love it for that. There are a few trails that are super tight and crazy technical where I think a K1 might have been better, but I’m glad I went for the K2 for most of my rides. This bike loves going fast. I run a 170mm dropper and It drops into the frame enough to where I don’t notice it on descents. Im coming from a 2022 commencal meta SX and much prefer the pole. Thanks for the review Loam Wolf, Pole doesn’t get enough love. They make amazing bikes and it’s nice to see a quality review.
Very interesting. At your height, do you find the front wheel is stuck to the ground?? Easy to manual over obstacles and pop off things?? I'm struggling between K1 and K2 choice and I am 5'9" and a little bit ! LoL. I know a 5'10" enduro racer who went K1 and said the K2 is just way too big and only good in a straight line
If u want something more playful I’d say go for the K1. The K2 does feel a little big at 5’8. It certainly does great in a strait line, isn’t too shabby on tight turns. My riding style isn’t super playful but if it was I would have gone K1 at my height.
I got one. I still can not belive what this bike can do. This is it for now and a long time to come… maybe a few pounds lighter, but please no cracky carbon ❤
Ya also gotta give a good chunk of credit to Bosch for the impressive climbability. But i get this was a very good impression of the featured bike itself to fill in the blanks in curiosity of such a unique bike build. I rode with a guy who had one of these (fyi, he was like 6'7"/220lbs) and from what I've witnessed, this review seems to be pretty well on point. No doubt it's an agile monster truck 🚜🏍
The Bosch motor is a good one for sure, but the Pole is able to harness the motor's full potential better than other bikes. No shin pads here, only the Leatt riding pants!
Wow - I was asking just the other day for Pole bikes reviews - and here it is, thanks a lot Loam Wolf! I have a question about the dropper - I am sure it cannot be slammed down all the way. So how this affects riding down?
I have a 213 Bike yoke on my K3 and its as low as it can get in the frame and still has 4 inches or so of post outside the frame top tube, but the top tube is so angled its way lower than it looks when standing up, so the saddle when down is very low.
Yo im deciding between the trail and enduro bcuz trails climb better uphill as i have a hilly area but also a area that goes down a lot so in your opinion how goid is the enduro in climbing is it like crazy good in climbing or ok in climbing
I’m looking for the most comfortable plush bike I can get. Like a old Cadillac driving down the trail. I wonder if this bike is comfortable? And I live in Florida lol
Is it foolish one of the only things holding me back from considering it is the idea that my frame is held together by glue even if its industrial grade? It's just one of those psychological things where you know it's probably fine, but when I research I keep hearing past issues about it that doesn't inspire confidence. I would gladly pay more just to have it wielded and to never worry about it. Otherwise I 100% lust over that Lavender frame 😍
Parts of airplanes are glued together too. A proper bond is every bit as strong as a weld, if not stronger, so we wouldn’t worry! They’ve done their testing and from what we’ve seen there hasn’t been many failures.
It's aerospace glue and it's catg 5 certified (downhill) no way this ride is coming apart. I've got one , it's insane , going up and down has never been so good
Further to the other replies on glue I note Pole mills the high-strength billet aluminium to a 0.01 mm tolerance. As a result, the pairs of milled parts seat together without any visible gaps. Their bonding of their two frame halves together with industrial adhesive has more precision than almost any consumer product. To put that 0.01 mm in context, standard eyeglass lenses are ground to a precision tolerance of 0.05 mm and only very high quality lenses (like for a SLR camera) have a tolerance of 0.01 mm. Pole aren't just using innovative technology, they are showcasing the highest quality it can produce.
@@TheLoamWolf their bikes their choices but to me its gets more complicated to buy some thats has not been tested and i mean by no "mainstream" magazine or "this is the best ebike ever till the next one" youtubers. Pole aint either a "mainstream" brand. Pole give this guys a test bike and leave them alone they know what to do
Problem is, the Voima is so different to ride from mainstream bikes, it would be easy to get in one after riding a number of conventional bikes and mark it unfavourably. But once you gel with it all the other bikes feel wrong. I just got a Voima after a Trek Rail, the Pole is better in every respect.
@@Paulmac2011 thats even weird if the bike perfomance is good why they dont let everyone test it? I know a few magazines and channels who has ride it but honestly i dont trust their reviews.
@@TheLoamWolfSuper weird since Leo seems really proud of this (and all of Pole’s) bike. I was wondering the same thing. It is a bit of a crapshoot with some reviewers having strong opinions, but that’s the game. The exposure is worth it in my opinion.
I originally had the Voima on pre-order when it was first announced, but couldn’t commit to a bike that seemed so radically different without being able to test ride it first-not to mention no reviews pre-release. I ended up going for the Scott Ransom after it won the 2022 shootout. I think the Voima is a great bike, but probably not the best for my local terrain (Bentonville). Also, I really like jumping, and I’ve heard this is not a great jumper. Sounds like tight switchbacks and jumping are it’s two biggest weaknesses.
The Ransom is a great bike and I'm sure you're enjoying it! The Pole has a higher ultimate capability, but larger drawbacks. The increased travel definitely makes it harder to pop and play on the Pole, but it's not necessarily a bad bike to jump once you get used to it, especially on faster jumps. Tight switchbacks and ultra technical trail sections are the most difficult on this bike.
@@oliverbourne9599 a lot - it starts with the TCU being integrated in the top tube and the micro remote on the left handle. The frame has been redesigned here and there to save weight, get a better cooling of the Bosch engine and so on. there is a whole video from Leo Kokonnen describing all the changes. New software on the engine…
Okay list some bikes equally specced that are less, I can barely think of a few the options are very limited if you want under that. Most are way more and weigh about the same well over 50
Thats what i was thinking before purchasing one. But since acquiring the voima it definitely changed my mind. It kinda feels different at first but once you get used to it, its really a capable bike and on par with the big brands. I live in Finland, a reason also why i bought this bike😅
Glad to finally see this review. My Voima is coming in the mail shortly 🚵♂️I wish there was a little bit more interaction (several riders) and excitement built into the review, but the comments were definitely valid and informational. The comment section is great, and it’s awesome to see all the support for Pole.
Some will climb better than others. Things like traction and the ability to keep the front wheel down all make steep climbs easier. Geometry and suspension characteristics vary between bikes.
For those who wants to get one, get it. Did not regret my purchase and this thing rips.......and it turns very well too!
Thanks for sharing. There’s a bit of a learning curve to figuring out how to turn it the best, but it definitely does well once you figure it out.
How tall are you and what size did you go for?? .... and for what type of riding ? Cheers
I seriously considered this bike but went Crestline, mainly for the lighter carbon frame
What about the warranty w or l
Get one where? I yet to find a website anywhere to purchase one of these.
Great review! I have both the Voima and the Vikkela and love them! I upgraded to the Mavic Deemax S 30 wheelsets at purchase and have had no problems. I also put 27.5 rears on both, an S 30 Deemax on the Vikkela and a Onyx vesper hub laced to a Derby dh rim on the Voima. Mulettizing made the head tube angle 61.5 so I installed 2 degree Works angle adjustment headsets which brought it back to 63.5. These Poles suit my riding style better than anything I've ridden! I've owned multiple (9 I think ) Intense bikes including a Tazer and 2 Specialized Levos. I have a 22 S-Works turbo levo that I haven't ridden since I got the Voima.
I have the analog version - the Pole Vikkela- same as Voima just no motor and only 36lbs. Its awesome. Climbs like a goat, decends like no other. Pedals amazingly efficient . Killer enduro rig .
Awesome thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing, man! There is not much info about how Vikkela rides - actually there is very limited info. If possible, please, share more about it.
@@finroddd- From one of my earlier posts a few months back and it's only gotten better from then to now as I learn it.
- This is just a quick review of my new Vikkela K3 with MY 23 suspension (after coming off a KTM Prowler Sonic Large 160/150 FOX factory Grip 2 and Fox Float X for 4 years)
So far 6 rides composed of 10,000 + feet of climbing, made up of some technical very steep 23% grades, and then average climbing. Some fast flow descents, rocky descents , switchbacks with and without berms, and lots of fast rocky single track.
After initial build and setup of suspension, I find this setup for me . Height 6.0' Weight 193lbs Rear - 30% SAG, HSC one click from full open, LSC 2 clicks from full open rebound as required to keep it lively but not poppy. Front set to rider weight no tokens ,HSC 2 clicks in from full open, LSC 2 clicks in from full open. 40mm stem , 40 mm riser bars with 30mm of stack spacers below stem.(factory steerer length)
Initial impressions: The Vikkela is an amazing technical climber, I mean REALLY good, It has to do with seat angle and wheelbase. Its amazing. Never any issues with rear traction even on the very steep stuff. If your legs will get you up the climb, the Vikkela will not be the limiting factor. Very good pedal bob resistance with 30%SAG and 2 clicks on LSC . about 3mm is all the bob you get. My knees have taken a bit of time to adjust to the steeper seat angle as the pedals are more under you than on my KTM Prowler with a 76 degree seat angle, so expect that .
On trail it feels very stable, but surprising me the most is the ability to turn very predictable and solid. Front end weight is perfect. in the rough it shines , tight switchbacks climbing or decending are a NON ISSUE.
At speed it is very well mannered and very natural "neutral " feeling. It's REALLY well behaved but tips in on turns VERY quick! for a 63.5 degree head angle and LONG wheelbase it is an amazing turner. "AGILE" is true.
I really like it overall and will be racing it in an enduro series this summer.
@@86309 thanks man - it sound like a really amazing bike! Ride well!
@@finroddd its awesome, I live in the bottom of a bowl, so everywhere we go ride local we need to climb for an hour or more to get to the top and enjoy the descents, ,My Vikkela is a very adept efficient climber for a 190/190. And going down it pure fun. The rougher and faster the better.
I own the Vikella and would like to add a few notes for potential buyers. Try it in 29 before u try to do a mullet setup. I was amazed that the rear tire doest buzz my butt in 29 compared to my 2021 orbea Wild in 29. I tried to mullet it with a cane creek angle set to make the head tube 1 degree steeper and I found that it didn’t hand as well for me. Pole recommends going with a 180 fork if u go mullet so that might have worked out better handling wise, I just didn’t want to lose any travel. I’m 5’8 215lbs.
At my weight I didn’t find the race axels too stiff, I can’t speak for lighter riders. If ur close to my weight or heavier I’d say go for the race axels.
For sizing at 5’8 I went with the K2 for my local steep rocky trails and
Fast flow trails and love it for that. There are a few trails that are super tight and crazy technical where I think a K1 might have been better, but I’m glad I went for the K2 for most of my rides. This bike loves going fast.
I run a 170mm dropper and
It drops into the frame enough to
where I don’t notice it on descents.
Im coming from a 2022 commencal meta SX and much prefer the pole.
Thanks for the review Loam Wolf, Pole doesn’t get enough love. They make amazing bikes and it’s nice to see a quality review.
Definitely not enough love
Very interesting. At your height, do you find the front wheel is stuck to the ground?? Easy to manual over obstacles and pop off things?? I'm struggling between K1 and K2 choice and I am 5'9" and a little bit ! LoL. I know a 5'10" enduro racer who went K1 and said the K2 is just way too big and only good in a straight line
If u want something more playful I’d say go for the K1. The K2 does feel a little big at 5’8. It certainly does great in a strait line, isn’t too shabby on tight turns. My riding style isn’t super playful but if it was I would have gone K1 at my height.
@@ronaldsilver8499 Cheers
Nice work mate great review!
Thanks Sam!
I just received my Voima ID Race edition. Riding here in central Colorado in the rough and steep terrain really shows the bikes strength.
Right on, enjoy it!
How tall are you and what size did you go for bud ??
@@oliverbourne9599 6’-5” and went with the S3
I ABSOLUTELY Love mine 😊
Good to hear!
I got one. I still can not belive what this bike can do. This is it for now and a long time to come… maybe a few pounds lighter, but please no cracky carbon ❤
You would expect the weight will come down over time, but with 190mm travel it needs to be built strong!
No cracks on my Crestline carbon but significantly lighter
Crestline is a china version Santa Cruz lol
@yofoo138 frames are made in Vietnam like most of the major builders, you have no clue
I sold my Yeti SB160e to keep this bike. That is how much I love it.
Does great in downhill bike parks too.
Best Bike Reviewer on the Net !
Wow, thanks!
Ya also gotta give a good chunk of credit to Bosch for the impressive climbability. But i get this was a very good impression of the featured bike itself to fill in the blanks in curiosity of such a unique bike build. I rode with a guy who had one of these (fyi, he was like 6'7"/220lbs) and from what I've witnessed, this review seems to be pretty well on point. No doubt it's an agile monster truck 🚜🏍
Oh, and Robert, if you don't mind dropping me the shinguard setup you appear to be rockin'?
The Bosch motor is a good one for sure, but the Pole is able to harness the motor's full potential better than other bikes.
No shin pads here, only the Leatt riding pants!
I have it, and it is f....... fantastic. Best Emtb so far. Just been in the Alps. Check out the footage 🙂
Thanks for sharing, those trails look fun!
Man this guy can review well. Nice job!
Hey, thanks!
Got one coming to me sooon 🇺🇸
Congrats should be a fun ride!!
Ditto. Can’t wait.
if only...❤. best looking emtb currently availablebin my humble opinion
Beautiful bike
Man I want one of these so bad!
Lord, help me!
Wow - I was asking just the other day for Pole bikes reviews - and here it is, thanks a lot Loam Wolf! I have a question about the dropper - I am sure it cannot be slammed down all the way. So how this affects riding down?
I have a 213 Bike yoke on my K3 and its as low as it can get in the frame and still has 4 inches or so of post outside the frame top tube, but the top tube is so angled its way lower than it looks when standing up, so the saddle when down is very low.
Happy to get it out! Thanks for watching.
@@86309 that is the answer that I was hoping for! No way to get this info except from somebody that actually rode the bike. Thank you again!
How is the rear suspension when braking?
Nice Video❤
Thanks 🔥
Yeah that's pretty awesome!
I wants! But would need to get rid of a couple other bikes first. LOL
More bikes is always better!
Yo im deciding between the trail and enduro bcuz trails climb better uphill as i have a hilly area but also a area that goes down a lot so in your opinion how goid is the enduro in climbing is it like crazy good in climbing or ok in climbing
It’s a weapon.
I’m looking for the most comfortable plush bike I can get. Like a old Cadillac driving down the trail. I wonder if this bike is comfortable? And I live in Florida lol
It sure is, can be set up to be very comfortable, but still manageable to pedal thanks to the suspension configuration and good angles with the motor.
Is it foolish one of the only things holding me back from considering it is the idea that my frame is held together by glue even if its industrial grade? It's just one of those psychological things where you know it's probably fine, but when I research I keep hearing past issues about it that doesn't inspire confidence. I would gladly pay more just to have it wielded and to never worry about it.
Otherwise I 100% lust over that Lavender frame 😍
Parts of airplanes are glued together too. A proper bond is every bit as strong as a weld, if not stronger, so we wouldn’t worry! They’ve done their testing and from what we’ve seen there hasn’t been many failures.
It's aerospace glue and it's catg 5 certified (downhill) no way this ride is coming apart. I've got one , it's insane , going up and down has never been so good
The wings on the commercial flight you took has its wings glued on , I think you are OK
Further to the other replies on glue I note Pole mills the high-strength billet aluminium to a 0.01 mm tolerance. As a result, the pairs of milled parts seat together without any visible gaps. Their bonding of their two frame halves together with industrial adhesive has more precision than almost any consumer product. To put that 0.01 mm in context, standard eyeglass lenses are ground to a precision tolerance of 0.05 mm and only very high quality lenses (like for a SLR camera) have a tolerance of 0.01 mm. Pole aren't just using innovative technology, they are showcasing the highest quality it can produce.
Ha I do appreciate the encouragement. I ended up getting an Arrival 170 mx but I'll still be thinking about that Voima when I go ebike 👍
Is going to be on the next shootout?
They opted not to take part in this year’s shootout, so unlikely they will join next year we guess.
@@TheLoamWolf their bikes their choices but to me its gets more complicated to buy some thats has not been tested and i mean by no "mainstream" magazine or "this is the best ebike ever till the next one" youtubers. Pole aint either a "mainstream" brand.
Pole give this guys a test bike and leave them alone they know what to do
Problem is, the Voima is so different to ride from mainstream bikes, it would be easy to get in one after riding a number of conventional bikes and mark it unfavourably.
But once you gel with it all the other bikes feel wrong.
I just got a Voima after a Trek Rail, the Pole is better in every respect.
@@Paulmac2011 thats even weird if the bike perfomance is good why they dont let everyone test it? I know a few magazines and channels who has ride it but honestly i dont trust their reviews.
@@TheLoamWolfSuper weird since Leo seems really proud of this (and all of Pole’s) bike. I was wondering the same thing. It is a bit of a crapshoot with some reviewers having strong opinions, but that’s the game. The exposure is worth it in my opinion.
I originally had the Voima on pre-order when it was first announced, but couldn’t commit to a bike that seemed so radically different without being able to test ride it first-not to mention no reviews pre-release. I ended up going for the Scott Ransom after it won the 2022 shootout. I think the Voima is a great bike, but probably not the best for my local terrain (Bentonville). Also, I really like jumping, and I’ve heard this is not a great jumper. Sounds like tight switchbacks and jumping are it’s two biggest weaknesses.
The Ransom is a great bike and I'm sure you're enjoying it! The Pole has a higher ultimate capability, but larger drawbacks. The increased travel definitely makes it harder to pop and play on the Pole, but it's not necessarily a bad bike to jump once you get used to it, especially on faster jumps. Tight switchbacks and ultra technical trail sections are the most difficult on this bike.
@@TheLoamWolf Did you find running yours at the lowest end of the SAG range made it perfectly fine to jump or is it a real issue??
oh, your are still on the old one. Mine is the new 2023 ID, even better !
What's different for 2023 ?
@@oliverbourne9599 a lot - it starts with the TCU being integrated in the top tube and the micro remote on the left handle. The frame has been redesigned here and there to save weight, get a better cooling of the Bosch engine and so on. there is a whole video from Leo Kokonnen describing all the changes.
New software on the engine…
@@rgemtb Appreciate the answer thanks. Will also look for Pole's video on the differences
Wight?
56lbs
Those trousers are always confusing in that it looks like you’re wearing Jackboots at first glance 😂
They’re definitely an interesting item.
all ebikes should hav 220mm brakes f/r stock
Not bothered but.. say - Voi…ma not vo ….i …ma👍 a bit like oi ! But add the V
Noted, thank you
Great bike, stand over is too high even on the "small".
Thanks for sharing
Get on if u like to Smoke 💨 pole.
you cant ride it on screen no way i hated this waste of time the bike did nothing ctrappy work wowow so lazy so so incompetenat no ride? really
heavy as anvil and overpriced as shit... and only 5yrs warranty? This is a joke..
Okay list some bikes equally specced that are less, I can barely think of a few the options are very limited if you want under that. Most are way more and weigh about the same well over 50
Thats what i was thinking before purchasing one. But since acquiring the voima it definitely changed my mind. It kinda feels different at first but once you get used to it, its really a capable bike and on par with the big brands. I live in Finland, a reason also why i bought this bike😅
Glad to finally see this review. My Voima is coming in the mail shortly 🚵♂️I wish there was a little bit more interaction (several riders) and excitement built into the review, but the comments were definitely valid and informational. The comment section is great, and it’s awesome to see all the support for Pole.
Thanks for the feedback!
you said the Rocky Mountain was magic
That’s before he rode this😉
The Rocky motor with this geometry would be unstoppable on the way up.
@@streddaz 120nm has the Rocky. how many nm has the Pole?
@@josmith8205 the Rocky Mountain has 108Nm not 120. The Pole runs the Bosch motor with 85Nm
That’s a silly question. Is this e-bike the best climber? It’s an e-bike they are good climbers. There answered.
Some will climb better than others. Things like traction and the ability to keep the front wheel down all make steep climbs easier. Geometry and suspension characteristics vary between bikes.
@streddaz gets it! Not all e-bikes are created equal.