Woom Up 5 and Up 6 E-Bike Review: Longer Rides Minus the Bellyaching
It's expensive, but the Woom Up will give your young cyclist the boost they need to keep up with you on the trails.
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The Woom Up is an e-bike built for kids ages 7 to 14 years old with a starting price of $3,599. That is undeniably a lot to spend on a kid's hardtail mountain bike, motorized or not. But you do get what you pay for. With three levels of pedal assist up to 12 mph, the bike can make those long rides with kids painless -- and with fewer complaints.
Woom currently offers two models. The Woom Up 5 is $3,799, with 24-inch wheels designed for kids 7 to 11 years old who are 50 to 57 inches tall. The Woom Up 6 is $3,999, equipped with 26-inch wheels and built for kids 10 to 14 years old who are 55 to 65 inches tall. The Up 5 weighs just under 36 pounds, while the Up 6 is 37 pounds.
Both models are powered by a 250-watt Fazua drive system combined with an SRAM NX 11-gear drivetrain, adjustable air suspension fork and hydraulic disc brakes. The Fazua system is a lightweight and compact battery-and-motor combo that can be easily removed, shaving off 7.3 pounds and leaving you with a high-end traditional mountain bike. The battery can be charged on or off the bicycle. The Fazua Rider app lets you view bike data such as speed, mileage, battery charge, navigation, motor power and more. Riders can adjust bicycle assistance levels on the fly by using the touch sensor toward the front of the frame, with each level of assistance indicated by illuminating in different colors.
The frame is made from lightweight, high-quality 6061 T6 aluminum with butted and hydroformed tubes. The fork has a hydraulic air suspension, adjustable compression and rebound damping, plus lock-out. It has Promax hydraulic disc brakes and ergonomic brake levers designed for children's hands.
I tested, or I should say my daughter tested, the Up 5, and it was a simple and quick assembly process with some minor adjusting for my daughter's comfort. Tools were included, along with instructions for assembly and use, which are also available on the company's website.
My daughter really enjoyed the ride, and there was little motor resistance that you might find on some other e-bikes. The tires were great for going on and off the road with extra cushioning from the front suspension. Both bikes support up to 160 pounds, but I took the Up 5 for a quick spin to confirm her feedback. The bike handled great and made no creaking noises when I hopped on and off. Though it's ergonomically designed for children, the seat was comfortable even for my larger frame.
The battery performance will vary depending on the rider's size, terrain and assistance level, but I only had to charge it once after she used it sporadically for a week. Given how fast kids grow, the price tag is intimidating. But the resale value is good, as is the quality of the bike. All in all, if you don't mind dropping the money, the Woom Up is easy and light enough to use as a regular pedal bike while giving your kids a boost to keep up with you on the trails.