VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited Electric Bike Review Part 2: Ride & Range Test [VIDEO]
After many miles of testing the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited it has proven to be a powerful eFat bike with impressive range and overall value.
With its 4″ wide off road tires and 750 watt motor it is ready for almost any kind of riding; sand, snow, mud, and pavement for everyday commuting and exploring.
Its 48V 16ah lithium battery gives the Yukon 750 Limited impressive range (see range test results below) so you can feel confident getting out for longer rides.
At $1,799 + $49 shipping the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited offers a lot of value when considering the high capacity battery, powerful motor, quality components, and well rounded accessory selection (which includes a helmet).
In this second part of the full review you will get an idea of the ride characteristics, range test results, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this electric bike.
Make sure you check out part 1 of this review with large pictures and specifications to get a detailed look at this e-bike.
What you can expect from the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited:
To get acquainted with the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited, checkout this video:
Riding the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited:
Overall there are some characteristics of the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited that really stand out when riding this eFat bike. To summarize they are:
- An all-terrain eBike that is also equipped well for the daily commute
- A powerful 750 watt geared rear hub motor
- Impressive range for an eFat bike
The Look & Feel of the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited
The VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited has a bold look with its 4″ wide high volume fat tires and stealthy black color assortment. It is also available in a white frame color.
Another style highlight is the full accessory package that makes the Yukon 750 Limited ready for all sorts of adventure rides and the daily commute. VoltBike also offers a Yukon 750 without the accessories for $1,699.
The electric components blend in well with the overall look of the bike with the battery housed in the downtube and the 750 watt motor matching the proportional size of the fat tire wheel size.
And speaking of the large 4″ wide fat tires, the hydroformed aluminum frame and fork are designed to wrap around the large tires while still providing clearance for mud, sand, and snow.
The hydroformed tubes are also designed to accommodate a wide variety of rider sizes.
For instance the top tube has been shaped to provide some additional standover height in the middle of the bike.
VoltBike offers 2 different frame sizes:
20″ frame to fit riders in height from 5′-7″ to 6′-4″
17″ frame to fit riders in height from 5′-3″ to 5′-9″
The bike in this review is the 20″ frame size and at 5′-11″ the bike fit me well.
As mentioned before the 48V 16ah lithium battery is housed in the downtube of the frame for a clean integrated look and ideal weight distribution.
That battery location is low and centered which helps with the overall bike handling characteristics and it also provides a more balanced feel when picking the bike up.
Another frame design highlight is the internal cable routing through the large downtube for a clean look and protection of the cables.
Now let’s take a look at the large high volume 4″ wide fat tires!
Fat tires give the Yukon 750 Limited that bold and sturdy look and they also provide a very stable all-terrain ride feel.
The VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited comes equipped with the Kenda Krusade Sport 26″ x 4″ tires with a 60tpi thread rating. These are the higher end Kenda fat tires.
There are 2 aspects of fat tires that set them apart from traditional bike tires: high air volume and a huge tread patch.
The high air volume provides a significant amount of built in suspension effect when they are run at lower pressures.
At the lower air pressure these high air volume tires mold over rough terrain and provide an amazing amount of traction because of the large tread patch on the ground.
Those characteristics make fat tire bikes well suited to ride in almost any kind of terrain.
They can “float” on soft terrain like sand and snow because of that large tread patch instead of cutting through like a narrow tires are prone to do.
Below are tire pressure recommendations for different terrain:
Sand and Snow: + or – 8 psi
Hard pack to muddy roads/trails: 12-15 psi
Urban riding: 20-30 psi
It is important to test different tire pressures for the terrain you are riding on while considering your weight and riding style. 1 or 2 psi can make a big difference in the way a fat bike feels.
At the lower tire pressures the bike does feel a bit sluggish in the corners when compared to traditional mountain bike tire sizes.
That sluggishness is most noticeable when carving into a turn because you can feel the larger mass of these big wheels as you are cornering.
Here is a video that compares the attributes of a Fat bike vs. Plus (2.6″ to 3″ wide) bike tires.
Another benefit of these fat tires is that the outer tire diameter is relatively close to a traditional 29er tire diameter so they roll over obstacles well and the built in suspension effect helps to absorb rocks and roots.
Pinch flatting the tube is much less likely than conventional tires because the large air volume can absorb more impacts without pinching the tube on the rim.
If you want to eliminate the inner tube completely a tubeless tire sealant system can be added.
A tubeless system (Orange Seal for example) uses tape to seal the rim and a sealant to seal many voids in the tires, including cuts from small objects like thorns, glass, and other small objects.
Now let’s take a closer look at the ride position of the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited.
The first noticeable characteristic is the upright and easy going ride style.
This is mainly attributed to the handlebar stem that can be adjusted up or down to fit your preferred position.
It can be set to be very upright with shorter reach for a more comfortable position. Or it can be set to the lower performance position with more reach. And there are all the ride positions in between.
The wide handlebars give the Yukon 750 a stable ride feel with the proper leverage to handle the large 4″ wide front tire.
The faux leather grips provide some wrist support with their ergonomic “wings”. They do have a tendency to rotate a little when riding and it would be nice to have lock on collars to prevent them from rotating.
Also on the front of the bike is the Mozo suspension fork that provides 3.5″ (90mm) of travel. It has a very smooth feeling to it and helps to further smooth out the road or trail in addition to the built suspension effect from the fat tires.
The spring rate can be adjusted to fit your riding style and weight.
On the right side of the fork is a lockout dial that makes riding more efficient on smooth roads by preventing the fork from moving up and down when you are standing out of the saddle and pedaling hard.
That is a nice feature for around town commuting if you live in an area with smooth-ish roads.
The Velo Plush saddle has a mid width profile for an overall comfortable ride feel.
If you want to a smoother ride effect you could add a suspension seatpost.
Now let’s take a look at the electric assist system.
As the name implies the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited is a 750 watt eBike which is the max power for the US market. They are limited to 500 watts for the Canadian market place.
That pedal assist and/or throttle power is provided by a Bafang geared rear hub motor that really does provide a lot of kick!
In addition to the 750 watts of power the motor provides up to 80 Nm of torque that is a good match for an eFat bike like the Yukon 750.
At the higher assist levels (there are 9) and/or when using the throttle you can definitely feel the quick acceleration from a stop and it gets up to 20 mph quickly. The Yukon 750 also powers well up many hills and maintains its speed on those climbs.
On the pavement that power and torque may seem like a lot but those characteristics are put to good use on loose terrain like sand and most likely snow (I didn’t get a chance to test it in snow).
The Yukon 750 can power through the the loose sandy conditions well. In addition if you want to carry heavier cargo the power and torque comes in handy for that too.
At the lower assist levels the Yukon 750 casually cruises along and this is good for riding in congested areas. Those lower assist levels are also good for easy going casual rides while getting the most range out of the battery.
The pedal assist system uses a cadence sensor with 12 sensors to determine when to add the pedal assist. There is some delay when adding and stopping the assist which takes some getting used to when riding the Yukon 750.
That delay in stopping the assist can be handled with engaging the brakes levers slightly. There are sensors in the brake levers that will stop the assist as soon as either brake lever is engaged. You don’t necessarily need to engaging the braking, just squeeze the brake levers slightly.
The twist grip throttle is a good way to get a boost at the lower assist levels for quickly getting through an intersection or for some additional help on a climb.
There is a lot of variability in the throttle much like the volume dial on a radio with a linear progression from a little power all the way to full power.
A red an on/off button on the twist grip throttle offers you a way to limit its use if you want to prevent accidentally engaging it.
Like most geared hub motors the Bafang 750 watt motor does create a bit of noise. It is noticeable in most riding conditions but it does dissipate a bit in the 20 mph range when the assist reduces and wind noise becomes more dominant.
There is also a walk mode that powers the bike up to a few mph and it is helpful for walking with the bike uphill or up stairs. It is activated by holding the (-) button on the control pad down for a few seconds.
Powering the motor and front and rear lights is the high capacity 48V 16Ah (672Wh) lithium battery pack that uses Panasonic NCR18650B 3400mAh cells.
As mentioned before the 9.25 pound battery pack is located in an ideal location on the downtube for low and centered weight distribution. That helps with the overall handling of the bike and balance of the bike.
With the battery removed the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited weighs 61.0 pounds and the total weight of the bike is 70.25 pounds.
There is a USB charging port on the right side of the battery for charging a smartphone, tablet, or other USB device.
Okay, now let’s take a look at the control center for the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited.
The LCD display is mounted in the center of the handlebar and provides information on:
- Battery level
- Odometer & trip distance
- Current speed, average speed, max speed
- Pedal assist level.
There is a backlit option for riding in low light and it can be turned on by holding the up arrow on the control pad for a few seconds. That also turns the headlight and taillight on.
The important parts of the display are large and easy to read like the speed, battery level, and pedal assist level. The odometer and trip distance text is smaller and a little harder to read at a quick glance.
The display has a quality look and feel that adds a nice touch to the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited.
Slowing the Yukon 750 Limited down is handled by the Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors front and rear.
These brakes have the solid and powerful feel that is typical of many hydraulic disc brakes. That adds to the overall quality feel of this bike.
The brake lever reach can be adjusted to fit your hand size and riding style.
There are sensors in each brake lever that will stop the motor assist when the brake levers are slightly engaged.
That is helpful to quickly stop the assist while pedaling in a congested area where you may not want to have the pedal assist.
The full accessory package is another highlight of the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited that makes it ready for almost any kind of riding.
Full coverage aluminum fenders give the Yukon 750 Limited a quality look and feel. They are a nice upgrade when compared to plastic fenders.
The rear rack has many attachment points for baskets, bags, and panniers. It also has a good top platform for strapping items directly to it.
Front and read LED lights are powered by the eBike battery so you don’t have to worry about charging separate batteries for the lights.
The front light provides a good beam of light for seeing the road and being seen at night. The rear light provides a solid beam for being seen but it may be a good idea to add an additional flashing light for extra visibility.
The bell on the handlebar also includes a compass so you know where you are going; a nice addition!
There is also a water bottle cage attached to the seat tube. Not many other eBikes come stock with a water bottle cage.
Rounding out the bike’s accessories is the kickstand that has adjustable height so you can vary the pitch of the bike when its parked.
And finally, the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited comes with a helmet that is included in the total price. It’s a moped/motorcycle style helmet that has substantial padding for a comfortable fit. It is lacking in much ventilation though so it is probably be best for cooler riding days.
Okay, let’s see how the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited did out on the open road!
VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited Range Test Results:
Here is the real world information on how the Yukon 750 Limited electric bike performed on a riding circuit that includes hills, flats, traffic, wind (when available) etc.
While testing these bikes I like to put them through the toughest conditions to see where their bottom line is in regards to range and speed. I tested the Yukon 750 Limited in the highest pedal assist level (Level 9) with average pedaling on paved roads.
Range: As you can see from the GPS info that I recorded, the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited traveled 37.1 miles and did a total elevation gain of around 3,200 ft. Considering that I weigh 190 lbs and I pedaled at an average pace this is good range for a eFat bike with a 48 Volt 16 ah battery pack (768 Watt Hours) with a 750 watt motor assisting up to 20 mph.
Watt hours are the total energy in a battery pack and it is based on the volts x amp hours of a pack. This is a way to compare the size of the “gas tank” of electric bikes.
Please keep in mind that if you pedal more, weigh less than me, ride slower and/or you use the bike in terrain that is not as hilly you will get more range. These results are from tough testing.
Speed: The Yukon 750 Limited will assist up to 20 mph with pedal assist only and/or throttle. This is a Class 2 electric bike.
Weight: The Yukon 750 Limited tips the scales at 70.25 lbs which is on the heavier side for an electric bike. Removing the 9.25 pound battery brings it down to around 61 pounds.
The weight distribution of the Yukon 750 Limited is somewhat back heavy because of the rear hub motor and rear rack while the battery is low and centered on the bike.
Pros:
Powerful: The 750 watt Bafang geared rear hub motor really provides a lot of kick! It accelerates quickly and it can really fly up hill in the higher assist levels. The power and torque is useful when riding in sand or snow conditions and it is also good for carrying heavier cargo loads.
Impressive Range: The VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited posted impressive results in the range test with 37.1 miles of range in the tough range test (highest assist level) with an elevation gain of 3,200 ft of total climbing. In more moderate riding conditions you can expect to get even more range.
Price: $1,799 +$49 shipping is a good price point for this eFat bike with the high capacity battery, powerful motor, quality components, and full accessory package that includes a helmet.
Cons:
Heavier: At 70.25 pounds this is on the heavier side for most electric bikes. Removing the battery helps a little for lifting the bike up but it still is 61 pounds.
Motor Noise: The Bafang geared rear hub motor does make a bit of noise that is in the medium range when compared to other ebikes on the market. The noise does dissipate near 20 mph.
Conclusion:
Overall the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited is a powerful eFat bike with impressive range and a well rounded accessory package.
The Yukon 750 Limited is a good all terrain eBike that is well equipped for adventure rides and the daily commute.
Its impressive range results are a big highlight because you can feel confident tackling longer rides.
And if you really want to fly the higher assist levels and/or throttle can really put the 750 watt motor to use!
At $1,799 + $49 shipping the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited offers a lot of value when considering the high capacity battery, powerful motor, quality components, and well rounded accessory selection.
Please keep in mind that this is a relatively short term test. This testing can’t really give you the long term review of durability and reliability. My thoughts on the quality of this bike are from previous experiences with similar bikes. If you own this bike and have some input on the long term durability, please share your comments with the Electric Bike Report community below.
Where to buy a VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited? Check with the VoltBike website.
Do you have any questions about the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited? Do you own a VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Thanks!
-Pete
Review Note: Each company pays a fee for a review on Electric Bike Report because of the considerable amount of time that it takes to provide an in-depth review of each eBike. A lot of time is spent on the full range test with distance & elevation profile, the wide variety of detailed pictures, in-depth video, and the write up with the specifications, ride characteristics, pros, cons, and overall thoughts. The reviews on Electric Bike Report are focused on providing you with a detailed “virtual” look at each eBike to help you determine if it is the eBike for you.
P.S. Don’t forget to join the Electric Bike Report community for updates from the electric bike world, plus ebike riding and maintenance tips!
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[…] Part 2 of the VoltBike Yukon 750 Limited review will give you info on the ride characteristics, results from the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this eBike. […]
Jack Trudel says
A very nice design for the money. Next iteration will have a few things to address.
The rear luggage rack looks solid but doubtful it will handle more than twenty-five lbs over time without folding up or torquing the screws loose,,Rack has no vertical support over the rear axle and no place to hook panniers on at the base.
The rear frame wheel supports need beefing up as well for a 2nd rider. Kids will double up – it’s a given. Make the beefier supports an option and include foot pegs and a 2nd helmet
Minimum clearance in rear fender. It will be a constant issue keeping it from rubbing on the tire Recommend dirt bike clearances
Great design on the battery pack, I’d dump the cheap lights and offer plug-in options; include directionals and colored LED strings for lateral night time visibility
Bafang’s 3/4 HP motor is a beast. My experience with it? The pedelec is only effective up to level 4. Above 4 you’re better off just overriding with full throttle. There’s enough play in the throttle to back off as necessary.