Pole Voima 2022 Exclusive First Test: An E-Bike Downhill? (2023)

CNC golden porn! The Voima Pole is guaranteed to turn heads with its unique appearance and construction. With the Bosch Smart System, a 750Wh battery, and 190mm of total travel, it should be ultra-capable, especially downhill. Read on to find out more about Finland's rocket fees.

The Finnish boutique founded by Leo Kokkonen has always followed its own path and revolutionized the industry a few years ago.Pole Enduro Enduro Bike. Now they have introduced its electric counterpart, the €11,240 Voima, based on the same unique manufacturing process. Named after the Finnish word for power or strength, the Voima is Pole's first electric bike to be made in Finland and offers custom options via the online configurator, but more on that later. According to Pole, the Voima was designed for a wide range of versatile uses, suitable for everything from the occasional spin on your home trails to extensive descents.

The unique CNC manufacturing process of Pole Voima 2022

Today, carbon is the frame material of choice for most manufacturers in the high-end segment. However, Pole decided to swim against the current and opted exclusively for aluminum. As explained in arevealing article in our sister magazine ENDURO, there is not only carbon in different qualities, but also aluminum, so it is not possible to say which of these is better or worse overall. Ultimately, what counts is more than the material itself, that it is used and processed correctly. Since Leo Kokkonen developed a unique manufacturing process for Pole's aluminum frames, we've also given him his opinion on this topic in the previous article.

There is not a single weld on the Voima: unlike traditional frames, it is not made of tubes welded together. Instead, the frame halves are CNC-milled from blocks of solid aluminum and then glued together with a special adhesive. Therefore, much of the manufacturing process can be done by machines. The elaborate layers of coal, which require a lot of manual labor, are no longer necessary. Because there is no welding, the pole can use the much stronger 7075 T6 aluminum which is very difficult to weld. Also, frame design changes are much faster and easier to implement through the CNC program.

Pole Force 2022 in detail

The first thing you will notice is the striking gold color. If you want to stand out, do it! If you like it a bit more subtle, you can go for the Raw Clear or Storm Gray options. The frame is not painted, but coated with the appropriate color using a special coating technique called electrophoretic clear coat. The main frame features curved lines and the raised rear swingarm is more like a motorcycle swingarm, lacking the typical chainstays. The ribbed surface is CNC machined, adding another dimension to the alluring appearance of the bike - WOW! With Pole Voima you will stand out whether you want to or not, especially if you choose the striking color True Gold.

To ensure the anodizing survives scuffs unscathed, the entire frame is wrapped in a protective film that is precision cut to fit every part of the frame. That's fine, but it feels a bit like squeezing a well-designed iPhone into a bulky case, since you lose quite a bit of looks. At the bottom of the down tube and on the drive side of the rear triangle is a flexible polyethylene (PE) shield that would otherwise be exposed to dirt and drafts. On long rides on hot days, you'll appreciate the bottle holders on the down tube, above which are two more holders for your tools and spares.

The cabin feels a bit cluttered due to the many separate cables and terminals for engine controls, height adjustment, and brakes. Fortunately, the cables are routed from the head tube to the frame. They only appear briefly at the transition from front end to back end before re-entering the frame and being directed to the end point.

The Bosch Smart System No. 2022 Polo Voima

The powerful 85 Nm Bosch Performance Line CX motor is completely enclosed in the robust aluminum frame. It is powered by a large 750 Wh Bosch PowerTube battery. The battery is hidden in the down tube behind a solid aluminum cover, which is of course CNC-milled. It can be removed for charging and can be locked to prevent theft. Pole has opted for a motor display and relies exclusively on Bosch's LED remote control, which can display important basic information such as battery status and assist mode. If you want more information, you can always connect your smartphone via the eBike Flow app. If you can't do without a screen, the Bosch Kiox 300 is available as an optional extra in the online configurator for an additional charge of 150 euros.

Testing the components of the Polo Voima 2022

With the online configurator you can customize the Pole Voima to your liking. Pole lets you choose the suspension, drivetrain, brakes, wheels, seatpost, and cockpit. The cheapest version starts at 8,056 euros, but if you don't want a complete bike, you can also order the frame separately. While some manufacturers like NICOLAI ship their bikes almost ready to assemble in a huge box with straight handlebars and rear wheel mounted, when ordering from Pole you need to have a screwdriver handy. The fork and other components still need to be assembled after receiving the bike. Our $11,240 gold-anodized $250 test bike came with RockShox suspension. EITHERZEB Ultimate 2023 GabelIt offers 190mm of travel, and the Charger 3.0 shock lets you customize compression and rebound settings for high and low speeds. At the rear, the RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock also offers 190mm of travel, low-speed compression and rebound adjusters, and a two-stage lockout lever for climbing. The shock is rotated 90°, which Pole's designers did to remove the reservoir and leave enough room in the front triangle for a water bottle.

SRAM CODE RSC four-piston brakes were paired with a 220mm rotor up front and a 200mm version at the rear, offering plenty of stopping power. They allow tool-free adjustment of the lever reach and the so-called SwingLink technology reduces the effort required when braking. The drivetrain featured a SRAM X01 Eagle rear derailleur paired with a 10-52t GX Eagle cassette and offered clean, crisp shifting. The front derailleur was also from SRAM's X01 range and we had a little chain guide to keep the chain in place.

The SDG TELLIS 150mm dropper post offers very little travel and the super short seat tube prevents it from being fully inserted into the frame. A pipette with a longer stroke is available in the configurator, but you can't fully use it either. With the 20mm high and 760mm wide SRAM Descendant 35 carbon handlebar, you keep everything in check that was combined with a SRAM Descendant 40mm stem.

A 2.5″ MAXXIS ASSEGAI in the front and a 2.4″ MAXXIS Minion DHR II in the rear were mounted on beefy 30mm wide Mavic E-Deemax 30 aluminum wheels. Both featured the soft MaxxGrip compound, which offers plenty of grip. In addition, the robust Doubledown casing allows driving with lower tire pressures without risking punctures and offers additional damping in combination with Huck Norris tire inserts. Unfortunately, tire inserts are not available in the online configurator.

A geometry for 2022 Pole Force

Pole has an internal sizing system for frame sizes. Depending on the type of controller, you can choose up to two sizes. The Voima Pole is available in 4 sizes from K1 to K4 that should cover riders from 160cm to 195cm in height. We tested the Voima on the K2 frame size, which has a 480mm reach and a fairly tall 648mm stack height. The seat tube is extremely short at 360mm so we couldn't get the seat post all the way in. However, when dropped, the saddle was low enough to provide adequate freedom of movement. The 80° seat angle is too steep, shifting a lot of weight forward while sitting. Chainstay length is static, so it remains the same for all frame sizes.

First Ride Report: The Pole Voima 2022 on the road

Heading to the trailhead, you'll notice the seating position is central but a bit heavy when you're on the Polo Voima. The main reason for this is the steep 80° seat angle, which pushes the rider forward. However, this seating position gives you an advantage on steep climbs as it keeps your front wheel on the ground and is easy to control without having to shift your weight forward. On more technical climbs, the rear end reacts sensitively, soaking up bumps and generating plenty of traction.

Once you get to the top and head down the trail, you'll immediately feel at one with the bike. Thanks to the balanced weight distribution between the front and rear, you always have enough grip even in loose open corners and the handling is intuitive. When the turns get tighter, rapid changes of direction require a lot of driver input. Rather than fight through technical passages, the Pole prefers to drive directly over rocks and roots. Fortunately, the chassis offers many reserves. Very capable of swallowing big blows, Voima cries out for more: the more rocks and roots, the better. The Pole really shines at high speeds and offers confident handling that inspires confidence. The durable aluminum frame and pillars ensure precise handling no matter how fast you drive. As such, the Voima is a great choice for anyone who wants a strong hitter for everything from their home trails to bike park laps to full-throttle DH runs without having to rely on a riser.

Corrida UNNO ​​BOÖS contra Pole Voima

The Pole Voima joins the ranks of newcomers as one of the few true boutique eMTBsUNNO BOÖS Race with Bosch Smart System, which we tested exclusively. They both have a unique and distinctive look and character, although they do things very differently.

The UNNO ​​BOÖS Race Carbon has a need for speed, offers a high level of integration and carefully specified components at a very fair price of €9,995. The unique design with the distinctive seat tube offers some advantages, but it also has its drawbacks in terms of ease of use. It takes a few laps to get used to the character of the 22.7kg (size S2) bike, but once you've ridden it with confidence and capability, you won't be able to hold back when you take on the more demanding trails you master - the more! steep, better! However, it's still responsive enough for quick changes of direction. The centered seating position and high front end mean you sit comfortably on long journeys, while the Voima feels heavier in the hand.

Voima is just as special and eye-catching, not just with True Gold anodizing. With its attention to detail, high-quality workmanship, and exquisite CNC looks, it's a mechanic's dream. With a little more lift and weight (25.82kg on K2) and a similar "plow through the middle" attitude, the Pole Voima loves fast, punchy descents and is spec'd to match. He generates enough traction to tackle technical climbs with ease, and while I'm not a fan of tight corners and quick directional changes, he scores well in terms of smoothness and suspension with plenty of reservations. At €10,800 the Finnish bike is a bit more expensive, but UNNO ​​is able to offer their bikes so cheap partly because they have outsourced their production to Asia. Both bikes benefit from an experienced rider, not only during setup, but on the trail as well!

Our verdict on Pole Voima 2022

Whether on the go or with a post-ride beer, the Pole Voima will impress you with its unique look, high-quality workmanship and attention to detail. It offers a good selection of components that can be customized in the online configurator. He is a competent climber on the climbs and has little to hold him back on the descents. Finland's Handmade Voima Polo Shirt may not take you to the moon, but it's still a rocket ship!

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Words:mike foméPhotos:mike fomé