ActiveCyclingThis stylish ebike conquers London’s traffic and has great anti-theft featuresAn electric bike with great urban performance and security features that make insurance cheaperWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ActiveCyclingThis stylish ebike conquers London’s traffic and has great anti-theft featuresAn electric bike with great urban performance and security features that make insurance cheaperWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
An electric bike with great urban performance and security features that make insurance cheaper
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Volt)
(Image credit: Volt)
There’s no doubt this is one of thebest electric bikesI’ve ridden and it’s also perfect for the city it’s named after. It’s probably perfect foranyUK city but realistically, I don’t think anyone outside of London will buy it, because it is called ‘London’. Perhaps Volt could just rebrand it for Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and all the rest of Britain’s lesser cities, so they’ll have one less thing to moan about.
The integrated lock on the Volt London is key operated and rather brutal(Image credit: Duncan Bell)
The integrated lock on the Volt London is key operated and rather brutal
The integrated lock on the Volt London is key operated and rather brutal
(Image credit: Duncan Bell)
I recently wrote about theBirdBike, which is a competitor to theVanMoof S3andCowboy 4and various other urban ebikes. Also the soon-to-arrive, upgradedVanMoof S5. However, where all those bikes are rather self-consciously ‘futuristic’ in design and have a very hipster kind of urban feel, Volt’s new ebike just looks pretty much like a bicycle and has a more practical air to it.
I would definitely use it with a U-Lock as well, personally, but an interesting thing here is that insurers consider this locking system enough of a deterrent to cover you if it’s stolen. Specifically, Volt has confirmed this with bike-specialist Pedal Sure, who also offer 30 days of free insurance as an introductory offer. Hopefully you won’t need it quite so soon.
Having used it, I can definitely say it’svisuallya good deterrent, which is all you need when dealing with all but the most determined and well-equipped thieves. Sure, it probably won’t stand up to an angle grinder for long, but if it’s nicked, at least you know you did enough to protect it to ensure that your insurers will cough up (eventually).
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The electronic immobiliser is a very useful addition here. Hilariously, Volt says that thieves have brought London bikes back to their shop complaining that they are ‘broken’ because they can’t get the motor to start. The clots! Needless to say, this sets up a visit from the local constabulary, and the bike goes back to its rightful owner.
The sturdy front-mounted luggage frame means you can easily transport craft beer, ironic hats, drill mixtapes and all the other paraphernalia of inner London life(Image credit: Volt)
The sturdy front-mounted luggage frame means you can easily transport craft beer, ironic hats, drill mixtapes and all the other paraphernalia of inner London life
The sturdy front-mounted luggage frame means you can easily transport craft beer, ironic hats, drill mixtapes and all the other paraphernalia of inner London life
(Image credit: Volt)
None of this would matter much if the Volt London wasn’t worth stealing in the first place. However, I can say with some certainty that this should be one of the most sought-after ebikes in town. It rides very well, has enough power to deal with all the ‘hills’ in London (nb: there are no real hills in London, except Highgate) and is beautifully simple, thanks to the absence of any gears.
I’ll have a full review soon, but Volt London is certainly among the top 10% of ebikes I’ve ridden in actual London. It’s easy to love but hard to steal. What more could you want?
Volt London: price and availability
Volt London: the perfect London ebike(Image credit: Volt)
Volt London: the perfect London ebike
Volt London: the perfect London ebike
(Image credit: Volt)
Volt London is available from Volt, in London, and also through its website. At £2,199 I’d say it’s extremely good value. Volt ebikes are designed and made in the UK and as far as I can tell, they are not available anywhere else at present. However, if they were, that pricing would equate to US$2,700 and AU$3,900.
Here are some more ebikes at great prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikesSpecialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikesSpecialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikesSpecialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikes
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all prices
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all prices
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all prices
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0
$4,500View
$4,500
$4,500
See all prices
Gocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all prices
Gocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all prices
Gocycle G4i
Gocycle G4i
$3,499View
$3,499
$3,499
See all prices
Brompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all prices
Brompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all prices
Brompton Electric Folding Bike
Brompton Electric Folding Bike
$3,950View
$3,950
$3,950
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Electric Bikes deals$26.40ViewLow Stock$323.70View$1,099ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Electric Bikes deals$26.40ViewLow Stock$323.70View$1,099ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Electric Bikes deals
$26.40ViewLow Stock$323.70View$1,099View
$26.40View
$26.40View
$26.40View
$26.40
$26.40
Low Stock$323.70View
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
$323.70View
$323.70View
$323.70
$323.70
$1,099View
$1,099View
$1,099View
$1,099
$1,099
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Show More Deals
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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