Test Woom Up 5: When the children's bike experts build an e-MTB, the result is, as expected, something light. With a regulated Fazua motor, it is equipped for children and is also equipped with high-quality components and, as is typical for Woom, first-class add-on parts. The drive is convincing and only falls slightly behind in direct comparison with others.
Woom approaches children's e-bikes from a different perspective than most other manufacturers, who are strongly rooted in the e-bike and MTB segment. This brand specializes in children's bikes and offers a wide range of useful and very light models for young children, from balance bikes for small children to youth cargo bikes. Mountain bikes have also been part of the range for a few years, and here too, Woom attaches great importance to lightweight material with child-friendly functions.
Compact mid-engine, limited to 20 km/h
The Fazua mid-engine has achieved a comfortable market position in light e-bikes. The unit from Munich weighs around 3,2 kilos including the battery; It can be completely removed except for the gearbox on the bottom bracket, so that the electric bike becomes a bio-bike with a storage compartment in the down tube and only a slight additional weight. The drive has proven itself on e-racing bikes, for example, as it really offers no resistance above 24 km/h. With its 55 Nm it also has enough torque and has a pleasantly long range with its 250 Wh battery. With the Woom, the engine is factory-limited to 20 km/h, which makes sense in traffic and is sufficient off-road.
No mistakes when choosing size
The drive is housed in a slim frame with a relatively low overhang height, which, according to the manufacturer, fits children between 128 and 145 cm tall. Practical: Woom indicates the minimum and maximum seat height, i.e. the measurement from the saddle surface to the floor (715-850 mm) - so you can hardly make a mistake when making your selection. Using these values, you can easily compare the Up 5 with an existing children's bike and ensure that it is the right size. If it is too small, you can switch to the Woom Up 6 with 26-inch wheels.
High-quality equipment and slightly less thrust
With a lightweight air suspension fork, front and rear quick-release axles and eleven-speed gears (11-42 teeth), the Woom is equipped to a high quality and ambitious standard - with such equipment you have a good chance on the terrain. However, the Fazua drive doesn't quite keep up with this: the unit provides somewhat more restrained support uphill and required our test rider to have high pedaling frequencies. This puts the Bavarian engine at a disadvantage compared to Bosch SX & Co. Young bikers who had no means of comparison were, of course, very impressed with the Woom, which weighs just under 16 kilos.
The placement of the control unit on the top tube is unfavorable: To select a different riding mode, you have to take your hand off the handlebars, which is of course difficult off-road. On the other hand, given the drive performance, you can always drive in the strongest mode anyway; So this is not a real disadvantage. The look of the Woom is also appealing: The matt paint makes the typical color scheme appear more adult, while the contrasting rear triangle that matches the fork emphasizes the technical character of this successful children's e-MTB.
At the currently reduced price of 2.499 euros, the Woom Up 5 is available very cheaply - given the technology it offers, the bike is hard to beat in terms of price-performance. The 26-inch model only costs 100 euros more; In order to ensure a longer service life, you should check whether this bike also fits.
