woom UP Electric Bike for Kids Review

The woom UP is an innovative electric mountain bike for kids that is sure to bring miles of smiles to young groms’ faces. Whether your grom is tackling trails with major elevations gains, pounding out 15+ mi rides or simply trying to keep you with you on the trail, the UP is a game-changer for adventure-seeking families. Updated for 2024, the woom UP is now faster, more powerful, and even more ready to hit the trails!

As a pedal-assist, Class 1 e-bike (no throttle, just pedal-assist), the woom UP gently helps young riders pound through major miles and elevation gains with a smile. Working with them as a tool, rather than a crutch, the UP helps build motivation, confidence, and basic technical skills for even the most timid of riders.

With the power of the UP, trails that previously brought tears of frustration and exhaustion will shortly deliver screams of joy and delight instead. From tips to getting started, to where the UP excelled (and where it didn’t), we’ll cover everything you need to know about the woom UP electric bike in our extensive review.

woom UP Kids ebike Overview

RATING: Exceptional

MSRP: $3,799 (woom UP 5), $3,999 (woom UP 6)

BEST FOR: Kids who want to tackle longer distances as well as larger elevation gains on anything from paved bike trails to basic and intermediate single track

SPECIFICATIONS

SEAT HEIGHT:  UP 5: 28″-34″, UP 6: 31″- 38″
WEIGHT:  UP 5: 34.8 lb w/o pedals & kickstand; UP 6: 36.6 lb. w/o pedals & kickstand
GEARING: 11 speeds with SRAM NX trigger shifter and derailleur
BRAKES: Hydraulic Promax, 160mm front and rear disc
TIRES: 2.35″ wide Schwalbe Rocket Ron with ADDIX SPEED rubber
RIMS: Double-chamber aluminum rims with through axles, tubeless ready
BATTERY: Removable with 252 Wh capacity (36V)
MOTOR: Fazua Trail 50 drive system w/ pedal assist levels, 250 W (nominal), 350 W (peak – in Boost mode), 58Nm torque

What We Love About the woom UP

  • Makes longer and higher elevation rides accessible and more enjoyable for kids without enabling them (no throttle!). Our 12-year-old tester on the woom UP 6 rode 16 miles with 2,500 ft. elevation gain in under 2 hours!
  • Provides smooth power to the pedals without jolting. Utilizes the Fazua Trail 50 system, the same system used on many name brand bikes, including the Trek e-Caliber XC eMTB
  • Highly customizable! Max power output (in Watts), required rider input (in Watts), and speed of motor ramp-up can be individually fine tuned for each power assist level. Process is quick and easy.
  • Built with smaller and more efficient kid-specific parts, including short-reach brake levers, kid-specific air fork, kid-specific saddle (different size on UP 5 and 6), small diameter grips (on tapered handlebar), narrow q-factor, shorter cranks, flip-flop stem
  • Boost mode provides short burst of extra power (amping power up to 350W) when starting on a hill or powering up a punchy climb. Easily activates via the touchpad on the bike’s top tube.
  • Ports for internally-routed dropper posts. Rims and tires are also tubeless ready (rims do need to be taped).

What You Should Know About the woom UP Before You Purchase

  • Although lightweight for an ebike, the UP is pretty heavy for a kid’s bike!  It’s hard for kids to push if they ever have to stop on the trail, or even for parents lifting it over obstacles, etc.
  • The UP is not ideal for super technical mountain biking (due to weight, no kids’ eMTBs really are), but great for basic to intermediate trails and gravel riding. The UP is also not intended to be jumped over 12″.
  • Battery cannot be charged on the bike and must be removed to charge. The UP, however can be used without the battery (requires separate purchase of downtube cover to protect the bike’s internals while riding).
  • You will want to customize the power settings on the bike. While the standards settings work fine, a little tweaking makes the bike much better for kids (more info below). Customizing is very easy and fast via the Fazua Toolbox app and is done by connecting the battery pack via the included USB cord to your computer or laptop.

woom UP Electric Bike for Kids – Results of our Test Rides

The word “game changer” isn’t quite strong enough to explain our experience with the UP. Add in a hefty dose of “confidence-builder” and “smile-maker” and perhaps you’re almost there. From building the confidence of our timid rider to ride 15+ miles, to allowing our skilled riders to reach higher and more challenging trails, the more we worked the UP, the more we all fell in love.

After years of testing, we can truly say that the woom UP is an exceptionally awesome machine. With very few kid-specific eMTBs on the market, the woom is unmatched in power and weight (yes, it offers more power than Specialized’s kids eMTB and weighs less), making it a phenomenal bike for young riders want to ride faster and further.

a collage of different testers on the woom UP ebike for kids

Before we go into the nitty-gritty of the UP (everything from battery life and motor performance, to components all covered below), we’ll first break down who we believe the woom UP is best for. We’ll also cover who it’s not ideal for to help you determine if it’s a worthy investment for your family.

If you feel like you need to educate yourself more about electric bikes for kids in general, check out our buying guide.

Who is the woom UP best for?

We found the UP to be ideal for riders who fall into any of these categories:

(1) Consistently ride trails with large elevation gains (~500ft). Anything from paved to intermediate single track trails.

(2) Have the desire to ride, but not the physical or mental stamina to keep up or go long distances.

(3) More advanced riders who want to get multiple laps in a smaller amount of time OR want to open up their options to trails farther away from the trailhead

(4) Have parents with eMTBs and need assistance to help keep up.

Large Elevation Gains: Our testers in Utah, who almost always tackle 600+ feet elevation gains within 3 to 4 miles, experienced more benefits out of the UP than our testers in Texas who face 100+ feet gains in 5+ miles.

boy simling on top of a mountain while riding his woom UP kids ebike

Physical or Mental Stamina: Regardless of elevation gains, our testers who lacked stamina saw great benefits from the UP. Whether riding on long paved bike trails or steep single track, the woom UP allows kids to happily rack up miles they couldn’t on their own.

Advanced Riders: Little shredders also deserve the opportunity to shred on the less-traveled trails miles from any trailhead.

Parents with eMTBs: As the eMTB world explodes, the gap between parents and kids can quickly turn into a vast chasm. The woom UP narrows that gap by allowing parents and kids to both experience the joy of riding eMTBs.

Who is the woom UP not ideal for?

woom does not recommend jumping or doing drops that exceed 12 inches on the UP . As a result, the UP is not a great bike for really aggressive riders who are eager to hit every feature along the trail. In addition to the jump restrictions, the extra weight of the UP made it much less playful than our testers’ standard hardtail bikes, and much harder to maneuver.

The heavy weight of the UP was also problematic in really technical terrain. Compared to a regular hardtail, hike-a-bike is much more challenging with the UP! Walking the UP up intense uphills or downhill, as well as lifting it over large obstacles (rocks, trees, etc.) is not fun for the rider or adults!

young boy trying to navigate the heavy woom UP ebike through a bunch of rocks

woom UP vs. woom OFF

Based on who we believe will get the most benefit out of the woom UP (and who won’t), many parents may be thinking… So woom UP or woom OFF AIR (woom’s hardtail mountain bike)? It really comes down to how much elevation you are tackling, but if you’re on the fence or if you ride a wide variety of trails, here’s what we found.

Both bikes are equally trail-worthy, they were just designed for a different purpose and a different style of riding. For true young groms riding various terrains, we found the UP to be a great compliment to the OFF, but not necessarily a replacement for it. The lighterweight OFF is much more playful and fun going downhill (especially on steep terrain), while the UP allows you to have fun on the uphill as well.

Our more aggressive riders who love to jump, drop, and “play” on everything from bermalicious flowy trails to root-strewn single track much preferred the OFF (even with the climb to the top). The added weight of the UP was too limiting on the downhill for them to appreciate the benefits on the uphill.

cruising around the corner on the woom UP kids mountain ebike

Our more timid and everyday riders, who would rather ride up to an epic vista than hit the jump line, much preferred the UP. With less to “lose” on the downhill, they had much more to gain on the uphill.

What if your child falls somewhere in-between? Ideally, the luckiest grom on the block would have an OFF and an UP. If we had to pick one, we would pick the bike that best matches the trails your family rides most frequently.

For trails with minimal elevation gain or more advanced terrain, the woom OFF would be our bike of choice for all types of riders (along with a tow rope if needed). For trails with higher mileage and high elevation gains, the woom UP is our bike of choice for all types of riders. Although the fun riding down isn’t as epic on the UP, it is still a lot of fun and much better than never making it to the top at all. :-).

young tester riding the woom up 6 26" emtb for kids

Also keep in mind that the UP can be ridden without the battery unit (which weighs 7 lb.). The woom UP 6 without the battery only weighs about 5 lb. more than the woom OFF AIR 6. These extra pounds are a due to the motor, more robust frame, and a larger cassette (OFF AIR is a 9 speed, UP is an 11). If you plan to use the UP without the battery, you will need to buy a downtube cover to protect the bike’s internals as you ride (woom doesn’t carry them, but they are universal for all Fazua Ride 50 bikes).

woom UP vs. woom OFF with a Tow Rope

Prior to the woom UP, we regularly relied on the TowWhee tow rope to tow our 9-year-old tester up steep sections of trail. A tow rope is, of course, a lot cheaper than an ebike, but is it a replacement? Yes and no.

After putting the woom OFF AIR and the woom UP in a head-to-head test, we realized that both options are great, but whether you need an ebike or a tow rope really depends on your child and your riding style.

The woom UP is a better option if you plan on riding long distances or more elevation. It’s easier, more fun, and allows kids to ride independently.

woom UP 6 emtb being ridden by a young rider climbing a hill

Benefits of woom UP ebike over a woom OFF with TowRope

  • Requires rider to be fully engaged when riding (versus sitting back and relaxing when being towed)
  • Helps young riders learn how to navigate rocks and obstacles uphill
  • Builds confidence
  • Allows adult rider to ride behind child and coach them up trails
  • Child rider can control their own speed and braking (not tethered to adult). Adults can also place power limits on the motor to allow kids to progress in their endurance.
  • Much easier and a lot more fun for both adult and child rider
  • Easier to tackle longer distances as well as higher elevations
  • Smoother continuous riding – don’t have to unhook when going down and then hook back up when going up

The woom OFF with a tow rope is better for those who are really in it for the downhill. If your goal is to get to the top of the hill, just so you can rock it going down, the OFF and a tow rope are your best bet.

Benefits of woom OFF with Tow Rope over woom UP

  • woom OFF provides a better riding experience for the downhill
  • Inexpensive (tow rope), lightweight, and packable
  • Tow rope can be used with multiple riders of various sizes (even adults)

woom UP vs. Specialized Turbo Levo SL Kids

If you’re already sold on the idea of a kid’s eMTB, you’re likely also considering the Specialized Turbo Levo SL Kids. While we haven’t had the chance to test one out, we did see one in the wild and were able to talk extensively to the father about his son’s bike. After our discussion and some research, there are several differences between the woom and the Specialized that we believe make them suitable for different types of riders.

  1. Size: The Levo SL only comes in a 24″ wheel size, while the woom UP comes in a 24″ and a 26″. The Levo SL is also designed for a smaller rider, as it has a lower minimum seat height, a shorter reach, and shorter stack height than the woom UP 24″.
  2. Geometry: Riders sit much more aggressively on the Levo SL as a result of its very low stack height. The woom also has a flip flop stem that allows you to raise the handlebars about an inch.
  3. Speed Assist Levels: The max speed assist for both bikes is 15.5mph, but the Specialized can be modified at a Specialized dealer to lower the max speed assist to 10mph for a younger rider. woom’s does not allow the mph to be changed.
  4. Motor Capabilities: The woom UP motor offers more torque at 58Nm versus 50Nm. Both motors offers 250W (nominal), but the woom has a max of 350W and the Specialized 320W.
woom UP 5Turbo Levo SL Kids
MSRP$3,799$3,800
Weight34.8 lb.36.6 lb.
Max Power250W (350W Boost)320W
Max Torque58Nm50Nm
Stack Height556mm491mm
Reach312mm365mm
GearsSRAM NX 11-speedSRAM NX 11-speed

Based on the numbers, we believe the Levo SL is better suited for more aggressive and experienced riders who are comfortable in a leaned-in body position on the bike. The Levo also has a RockShox air fork with 100mm of suspension, while the woom has 80mm on its F1RST air fork.

Due to its less aggressive stance, slightly lighter weight, and more room for growth, we believe the woom UP is better suited for beginning to intermediate riders as well as fast-growing kids.

How does the woom UP work?

The woom UP is a Class 1 power-assist ebike that cuts off assistance at 15.5 mph (older models cut out at 12mph). As a power-assist bike, the UP’s motor only provides a boost when the bike is being pedaled.

No Throttle – Motor Power Dependent on Child’s Effort

There is no throttle button on the UP, and even when the power is turned on, the bike will not move forward without a child pedaling it. The rider must apply power to the motor (via pedaling) in order for the motor to apply assistance to the pedals. Typically a few quick pedal strokes are enough to activate the pedal-assist motor.

Boy smiling as he happily rides the woom UP kids ebike

This balance between power provided by the rider and the motor helps to prevent rider fatigue, while still requiring the rider to make effort and be engaged during the ride. When active, the motor does NOT move the pedals for you.

The motor instead enhances each pedal stroke to increase the wattage the rider creates via spinning the pedals. For example, if the rider is applying 200 watts of power, the motor could apply an additional 100W, which allows the bike’s gearing mechanism to propel the bike with 300W of power versus just the rider’s 200W.

Safety Guard – Motor Assist Cuts Off After 15.5 mph

When it comes to speed, the UP will stop all power-assist at 15.5 mph. Class 1 ebikes can max out the pedal-assist at 20 mph, but woom cut the speed back to 15.5 mph to help kids stay safe. When pedaling on their own or flying down a hill, the woom UP has no problems traveling over 15.5 mph, the pedal-assist just won’t kick in to help.

boy riding the woom UP 5 ebike on a paved trail

3 Levels of Customizable Support

In order to vary the amount of support the rider can receive, the woom UP has 3 levels of support. Straight out of the box, the highest level of support provides 250 watts of power, while the lowest provides 100 watts. In Boost Mode (more about this below), the output is temporarily ramped up to 350W, but in order to prevent overheating and draining the battery, the bike can not ride continually at 350W.

These modes can easily be switched while riding to allow the rider to get maximum assistance for steep terrain, while little or even no assistance on flat trails. We’ll break down the differences between the levels of support later as well as explain how to customize them later in the review.

Power assist button on the woom UP kids ebike

Shifting is Still Required!

One common misconceptions about ebikes is that they will allow you to essentially power through anything. When first getting started on the bike, our testers mistakenly believed that the bike would make pedaling easy when riding up hills, but they quickly learned otherwise.

Just like on a regular bike, it is essential for the rider to shift the UP into an appropriate gear when heading up a hill. If the child is in too hard of a gear and cannot pedal, the motor cannot help them! This is a result of the bike’s built in motor delay. In order to prevent the bike from applying power to the bike when traveling at unstable lower speeds, the motor only kicks in after the rider is riding at stable speeds (more about this in the “Input to Activate” section below).

If stuck on a very steep hill headed up, the UP’s Boost Mode feature can help. Once activated, it overrides the requirement for rider input and allows the motor to kick in right away once the pedals start moving. If pedaling from a standstill, Boost Mode only overrides rider input for 4 seconds, so riders need to make sure they quickly pedal up to speed. While 4 seconds seems fast, it wasn’t a limiting factor for our riders. More information about Boost Mode below.

Trail Performance on the woom UP

While the UP made quick work of mileage and elevation on both paved and dirt trails, the UP also excelled as a tool to help kids master their technical mountain biking skills. With less exhaustion to battle, our testers could focus on proper shifting and staying the line, versus merely using all their strength and focus to power up the mountain.

Performance Uphill

With extra power at their feet, our testers had the ability and the motivation to hit uphill rock gardens and minor obstacles at a faster, more stable speed, rather than their typical, slow, uphill pace.

Familiar challenging sections of trails were easily cleared on the UP with a big smile to match. As long as our testers were in the correct gear (as explained above), the UP provided the power, allowing our testers to focus on the trail.

As a result, we saw their confidence quickly build as they began to get the “feel” for what their bikes are truly capable of. “Mom, this bike just plowed over that like it was nothing!” This was especially true with our more timid testers.

Boy reach the top of a rocky hill on the woom UP ebike

Although their standard hardtail mountain bikes are certainly capable, our timid testers often lack the power and confidence to match. By raising their game, the woom UP gave them a boost to allow them to utilize the full potential of a true mountain bike. This confidence, however, did take some time as the UP does have a bit of a learning curve for timid or less athletic riders.

riding uphill on the woom UP ebike with pedal assist

Uphill Tips for Timid Riders

We discovered three main tips to help riders better overcome the learning curve of the UP:

  • (1) Ride behind your child to coach them as they ride.
  • (2) Remind them to NOT stop pedaling when facing obstacles, and
  • (3) Focus on changing gears rather than changing power-assist level

Ride Behind Them: With the power of the UP under their feet, timid riders often don’t realize what they are capable of. We found riding behind them to provide a little coaching along the way makes a big difference.

Reminding them to shift to a low gear before heading up hill, as well as encouraging them to power through a technical section, versus slowing down or hesitating, greatly aided in their success.

Riding downhill on the woom UP ebike on a mountain bike trail

Don’t Stop Pedaling! When tackling an obstacle, remind them to NOT stop pedaling! Timid riders often hesitate and unintentionally stop pedaling while they assess the obstacle in front of them.

Once they stop and then start again, the pedal-assist will kick back in and provide them with an unexpected ramp up of speed which can lead to a crash. If they have not yet corrected course, this increase in speed can quickly take them off course.

Gears > Pedal-assist Mode: When tackling a hill, making sure the bike is in the correct gear is FAR more important than making sure they are in the right power mode.

If the rider is in too high of a gear, they won’t be able to pedal fast enough for the pedal assist to work at all. Remind them that their ebike is not an electric scooter! They have to change gears just like they would on a standard bike.

Performance Downhill

Pointed downhill, the UP certainly didn’t disappoint for an ebike. The slacker geometry of the UP (66º on the UP vs. 69º on the OFF AIR) allows the bike to feel more grounded and provides plenty of traction even with its heavier weight.

riding down a steep hill on the woom UP ebike

For more aggressive riders, the UP didn’t hesitate to get off the ground as small bumps and side hits on the trail quickly became a playground for the UP.  Unfortunately, woom bikes does not recommend the UP being jumped more than 12″, so its certainly not ideal for jump-line lovers.

Boy riding downhill on the woom UP mountain ebike for kids

Downhill Tips for Timid Riders

For timid riders who aren’t ready or likely to tackle jumps, we found the UP’s longer wheelbase (the UP wheelbases are a bit longer than the OFFs) and slacker 68º headtube (which causes the front wheel to be positioned more in front of the bike ), to provide a comfortable and stable ride. Like the uphill, however, there is still a learning curve with the UP.

Start with Lower-grade Descents: The extra weight of the UP can be a lot for young riders when going down steep trails. Our 48 lb. tester was much more hesitant to go down steep trails on the 35 lb. woom UP 5 versus his 23 lb. woom OFF AIR 5.

When trying to go slow or stop, he felt that it was much harder to stop and control the heavier UP on steep terrain. As a result, be sure to start with lower-grade descents and then slowly work up to steeper terrain as your child gets more comfortable with the added weight of the UP.

riding along a mountain bike trail on the woom UP ebike

No Power-assist Downhill: Be sure to turn off the power-assist when going downhill. When not turned off, it can lead to unexpected and unnecessary boosts of power when haphazardly pedaling downhill.

When the power-assist kicks on going downhill, it can feel a bit “jerky” as the extra power boost often isn’t needed or expected. If a trail has rolling hills, we found it best to keep the power-assist in the lowest setting.

Woom UP Sizing and Weight

What age child will fit on the woom UP?

The woom UP is available in two wheel sizes – 24″ and 26″, and is sized to fit ages 7 to 14 (depending on height).

The woom UP 5 has 24″ wheels with a seat height of 28″-33.5″. It was a great fit for our 9-year-old tester with a 25.5″ inseam with plenty of room for growth.

boy riding the woom UP on a single-track mountain bike trail

The woom UP 6 has 26″ wheels with a seat height of 31″ – 37″. Our 10-year-old tester with a 27″ inseam, as well as our 12-year-old tester with a 30″ inseam, both fit great on the bike.

Boy riding his woom UP ebike on a mountain bike trail

To adjust for height, both bikes have a stem that can be flipped to allow you to raise the handlebars about an inch.

How much does the woom UP weigh?

The 24″ woom UP 5 is listed at 34.8 lb., while the 26″ woom UP 6 is 36.6 lb. Our woom UP 6 demo came in at 38.6 lb. with the included kickstand and pedals. Our battery unit, which is the same on both the UP 5 and 6, weighs in at 7.2 lb.

When compared to the few other kids-specifc eMTBs on the market, the woom UP holds it own. The new 24″ Specialized Turbo Levo SL weighs two pounds more at 36.6 lb. while the Commencal META HT POWER 24″ comes in at 41 lb.

For kids who have outgrown their 24″ bike, woom is the only brand that we know of that makes a 26″ kids-specific eMTB. Other brands assume your child is ready to move up to an XS or S adult eMTB, which are not only more expensive, but are likely 10+ lb. heavier than the woom UP 6.

Battery and Power Assist Details

While riding an ebike isn’t hard, anything electrical comes with technical details. As you’ve probably learned with other electronic devices in your life, you’re best off learning how it really works so you and your child can get the most out of the bike.

How long does the battery last on the woom UP?

Truly designed for the long haul, none of our testers ever came close to draining the capacity of a fully charged battery. The longest ride out of all of our testers was 16 miles long with just over 2,500 ft. feet of elevation gain. At the end of that ride, the battery had 1/5 of the battery remaining.

woom UP ids eMTB battery pack

The life of the battery also depends on what level of power assist is used (outlined below). According to woom, if set to the highest pedal assist level (250 watts), the battery would reach capacity at an hour of continuous use. Continuous use, however, is not the same as the bike being turned on and ridden.

Continuous use means that (1) the child would not stop pedaling for an hour, (2) they would be pedaling fast enough to apply enough input into the motor to activate (must be applying enough force to the pedals – not just turning them), and (3) they would not reach speeds of over 15.5 mph (upon which the pedal-assist turns off).

All in all, unless you are planning on taking the woom UP on a several-day bike packing trip on which you wouldn’t be able to recharge the battery at night, the battery on the UP should be more than sufficient for your needs.

What are the three different levels of power-assist?

The Fazua motor has three different levels of power-assist, which they call Breeze, River, and Rocket. On all power-assist modes, the UP smoothly and consistently delivers power. While other ebikes often have trouble with spinning out or losing traction due to applying too much power at the wrong time, our testers never experienced this issue on the woom UP.

The power-assist modes are changed by pushing an easy-to-reach remote on the bike’s toptube. The black, rectangular remote has one button (the raised “y” shape) as well as two touchpads – the smooth flat areas above and below the “y” button. Pushing the center button turns the bike on, while the touchpad above raises the pedal assist level and touchpad below lowers it.

A line of colored LED lights lets the rider know what level of power assist they are in, as well as how much battery life it left. Five LED lights mean the battery has a full charge. In the picture below, the battery has three LED lights lit up, so the battery is at 3/5 capacity.

With the standard motor settings, the lowest Breeze mode offers 100 watts of assist and is indicated by a green LED light. The middle level, River, provides 210 watts with a blue LED light. The highest level, Rocket, provides 250 watts of power and a pink LED light. The white LED means the motor is in standby mode – it’s on, but not providing any pedal assist.

woom UP standard Power Assist Levels

Power assist levelPower provided
Breeze (green)100 watts
River (blue)210
Rocket (pink)250
the different power assist levels on the woom UP ebike

Our testers all started rides out in Breeze (green) and then moved up to higher assist levels as needed (due to fatigue or to tackle climbs). If a longer ride was planned (15+ miles), we encouraged our testers to rarely use Rocket mode to help save battery life.

Input to Activate Levels (Support Relation)

Each power-assist level has its own customizable delay that prevents the motor from kicking in until the rider applies a set amount of power into the drivetrain via the pedals. This delay is essential in maintaining the natural ride feel of the bike as the motor won’t kick in at lower speeds and ensures the rider won’t get support until they really need it.

woom calls this delay “input to activate”, as in the amount of input (in watts) needed to activate the motor. Fazua, the motor manufacturer, calls this “support relation”.

It may be easier to think of this delay as a threshold level. The motor won’t kick in until the rider is able to apply enough watts into the drivetrain (by pedaling) to reach the set threshold. Once the rider reaches (and maintains!) the threshold level, the motor will apply power to the drivetrain.

These thresholds are why it is essential for the child to learn to use their gears properly. If the child is in too low a gear, they won’t be able to spin the pedals fast enough to create enough force to reach the threshold. The same applies to being in too high of a gear (especially on a hill) and not being able to pedal.

As shown below in the chart, each power-assist level has a different threshold level. Breeze has 120W threshold, River 250W and Rocket 150W. Once these thresholds are reached by the rider’s personal power input, the motor will begin to apply power into the drivetrain in accordance to the set power-assist level.

woom UP standard Power Assist Levels

Power assist levelInput to activatePower provided
Breeze (green)120 watts100 watts
River (blue)250210
Rocket (pink)150250

Customizing this delay allows the UP to be a true training tool for your rider. As the riding season progresses, you can modify these settings to ensure your rider is building their endurance. If you are tackling a particularity steep trail with lots of elevation, you can also lower the settings before the ride to ensure enough support.

From the get-go we found the 250W input to activate threshold on the middle River level to be too high as our testers felt that River was harder than Rocket (150W input to activate), but via Fazua’s toolbox software we were easily able to modify it.

Customizing the woom UP Power Assist Levels

Changing the settings on the woom UP is quick and easy. Just download the Fazua software and then hook the battery pack up to your computer via the included USB cord. Once connected, the user interface is pretty easy to use and has plenty of descriptions to help you along the way.

Fazua toolboox used to update the woom up 6

We chose to lower the input to activate (support relation) requirement for the River mode from 250W to 110W. Considering here in Utah we tackle a lot elevation, we also lowered the inputs for the other two levels. We adjusted the input to activate on Breeze from 120→90 and Rocket from 150→120.

Our woom UP Customizations

Power assist levelInput to activatePower provided
Breeze (green)90 watts100 watts
River (blue)110210
Rocket (pink)120250

Besides customizing the “input to activate”, you can also increase or decrease the “power provided” by the motor for each power-assist level. For maximum support, you should decrease the input to activate, and increase the power provided.

For those who really to fine-tune their machine, Fazua also allows you to configure the percentage of ramp up for each pedal assist level. This settings allows you to determine how fast the motor ramps up to the max power wattage once the input the activate level has been reached.

If you are beyond lost on all these numbers, Fazua’s 7 minute video about customizing their evation drive can also help. The video is in German, but has English subtitles. If you watch it with the Fazua Toolbox open on our computer, it will certainly help.

What is Boost Mode?

If you are concerned about making sure your child has enough power to climb up punchy hills, be sure to familiarize yourself with Boost Mode! In Boost mode, the motor will provide 350W of output (regardless of what pedal assist level you are in) for 4 seconds if you are starting from a standstill or 12 seconds if you activate it while pedaling.

Boost mode also temporarily overrides the “power to input” requirement! As a result, it is extremely helpful when getting started from a standstill when heading uphill. Power from the motor is provided from first pedal stroke – there is no delay. Once over, the motor will revert back to the set power-assist levels.

To activate Boost mode, push and hold down the top button for 2 seconds. Once activated the LED lights will crawl up the control panel while blinking (they will blink in accordance to whatever pedal assist level you are in).

On really technical trails, activating the Boost Mode can be a bit tricky while pedaling. As a result, don’t anticipate younger, less experienced riders to use Boost Mode while pedaling. Using it from a standstill, however, wasn’t a problem.

What is Rain Mode?

One last setting to know about is Rain Mode. Rain Mode deactivates the top and bottom sensory-activated touch pads and only leaves the center physical button working. Turning the touch pads off prevents them from accidentally being activated by rain or a sweat drop.

To activate Rain Mode, hold down the center button until you see a blue light trickle down. To turn off Rain Mode, hold down center button for 2 seconds until you see the lights animate and then return to their pedal assist color.

Components on the woom UP

The woom UP comes spec’d with high-end components ready to hit the trails. From drivetrain to grips, every component is carefully selected to fit smaller kids’ bodies.

Brakes and Drivetrain

With the ability to quickly gain speed, the woom UP features Promax hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors on both the front and rear wheels. The levers are easy to reach, easy to pull, and the brakes provide plenty of stopping power for this faster, heavier ebike.

boy cruising around the corner on the woom UP ebike

Designed to climb, the woom UP features 11 gears (the woom OFF only has 7) with a responsive SRAM NX drivetrain with trigger shifters. With a large range 11-42 cassette, the woom UP 5 features an impressively low gain ratio range of 1.56 to 5.9 that is perfectly suited for climbing. With a longer crank arm than the woom UP 5, the larger woom UP 6 gain ratio range is slightly lower at 1.3 to 5.2.

Tires & Rims

The UP features 2.35″ Schwalbe Rocket Ron tires on super lightweight woom brand wheels. The tires feature Schwalbe’s ADDIX SPEED compound to help them roll super fast while still providing plenty of traction. The Rocket Rons also have plenty of volume to be able to run at lower pressures on chattery trails and are tubeless ready.

riding through the woods on the woom UP mountain ebike for kids

The tires roll on lightweight and tubeless compatible woom branded rims made by Alexrims. In order to convert the bike to tubeless, you will need to purchase and install rim tape as well as sealant and tubeless valves.

Suspension Fork

The UP comes equipped with an RST air fork with adjustable compression, rebound dampening and lockout. The UP 5 has 80mm of suspension while the UP 6 has 90mm. Fine-tuned for lighter weight riders, the fork does an amazing job adjusting to the weight of a small child and rebounds quickly without the “stickiness” often experienced by other forks.

riding the woom UP ebike for kids on a single track trail

Internal Dropper Ports

An upgrade from previous models, the UP now comes with ports for internally-routed dropper posts. woom does not sell dropper posts, but we have successfully used this 27.2mm PNW dropper on our new woom OFF AIR (with the same internal ports as the new UP) as well as their 27.2mm Pine dropper for our older woom UP with no internal ports.

internal dropper ports on the new woom UP

Chainstay Protector

To prevent frame damage from chain slap, a thick rubber chainstay protector comes installed on the UPs and runs the entire length of the chainstay.

rubber chainstay protector on the woom UP

Grips

Small riders have smaller hands, so in order to prevent fatigue and allow for stronger gripping, the new UPs come with narrower grips. The grips also have a large rubber bumper at the end to help protect hands during falls. These new 100% silicon grips are locking to prevent them from slipping along the handlebar (as shown on the older UP grip model below on the left).

woom up grips as compared to wider grips on the older model

Our testers raved about the comfort of the new grips without any prompting! On the flip side, however, due to the unique tapering of the handlebar to accommodate these narrow grips, the UP is not compatible with other grips on the market.

Saddle

woom UP saddle comparison

To round off all the touch points, the newly updated woom UP comes with a more ergonomically designed kid’s saddle. The saddles are size-specific so the saddle on the woom UP 5 is smaller than that on the woom UP 6. In addition to added comfort, the saddle also has sidewall protection to help protect the saddle when leaned up against a wall.

woom UP Electric Bike for Kids Bottom Line

Designed to minimize fatigue and maximize fun, the woom UP is thoughtfully designed to act as a tool, rather than a crutch. No free rides here! As a Class 1 pedal-assist bike, the UP only provides assistance once the child makes an effort and applies force to the pedals.

Providing a gentle, yet powerful boost to help kids tackle longer trails and higher elevation, the UP is an innovative pony that any adventure family should eagerly welcome into their stable. Whether you have plans to climb up and flow down high alpine trails or pound out mileage along the river trail, you’ll love watching your child’s confidence soar as they eagerly tackle previously daunting mileage, inclines, and terrain.

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