Venture Step-Thru

It's been a good 6 months now that I've had this bike, and I'm ready to put up my review.

This bike is a big improvement over my old bike. Easy to say since my old one didn't have a motor. I was searching for a bike with a torque sensor, and all the models at VoltBike with the torque sensor are mid-drives. The Venture Step-Thru is responsive, and easy to get onto, as it's a lot smaller frame than some of the other ones I was looking at. If you're not very tall, this bike could be a good fit.

It goes up hills very well, and still lets me get a good workout. The range could be a bit longer, but that would only make it heavier.

Thanks to the guys at the Calgary Bike Show for letting me see it in person and try it out on the track before buying. The bike arrived in a big box and it didn't take much to get it set up and ready to ride.

The only negative thing I could say it that the manual that came with it is pretty out of date, and didn't answer all my questions, but the website chat was helpful for figuring out a few things I was wondering about.

This week’s ride was a bit of everything. Pavement, dirt, mud, loose gravel, up and down hills the Venture Step-Thru was good with all of it. Would have been nice to use the throttle at 0 power. Did get use to going to 1 power to get throttle when needed. One thing to note my first ride I was in Stanley Park when I noticed the handle bar was very loose. Found a bike shop on Denman St for a quick fix. Other than that I have really enjoyed the bike. I am going to come in a get the Suntour suspension seat post soon.

The Venture Step-Thru by Volt is an electric bike that promises a smooth and enjoyable riding experience, but my journey with this eBike has been marked by both positive surprises and a significant disappointment that has left me contemplating a return.

Let's start with the positives. The design of the Venture Step-Thru is both stylish and practical, offering a comfortable riding position that is easy on the back. The step-thru frame is a welcome feature. The electric assistance provided by the motor is robust and responsive, ensuring a pleasant and effortless ride, especially on inclines.

However, the shining facade begins to crack when you delve into the details of the advertised specifications. The major red flag here is the discrepancy between what was promised on the website and what was delivered. The website proudly boasts of an 11-speed gearing system, a feature that played a crucial role in my decision to purchase this eBike. To my dismay, upon receiving the bike, I discovered that it only had a 9-speed system.

Upon reaching out to the company, their customer representative confirmed that they had, in fact, changed the components to less expensive ones but failed to update the information on their website. This bait-and-switch tactic left me feeling deceived and frustrated, as the gearing system was a significant factor in my decision-making process.

What exacerbates the situation is the company's lack of compensation for this discrepancy. While they did offer a return option, no compensation or acknowledgment of the inconvenience caused by the change in components was provided. This lack of transparency and accountability in handling customer concerns is disappointing and reflects poorly on the company's commitment to customer satisfaction.

To add insult to injury, considering an alternative model from the same company, the "VoltBike Venture," did not offer solace. Despite its website claiming an 11-speed system, I was informed that it, too, only had a 9-speed setup. This inconsistency in the advertised specifications across multiple models raises serious questions about the company's integrity and their commitment to honest business practices.

In conclusion, while the Venture Step-Thru by Volt offers a decent riding experience with its comfortable design and effective electric assistance, the misleading advertising and lack of compensation for the altered components are significant drawbacks. Potential buyers should approach with caution and be wary of the company's commitment to delivering what is promised on their website. At this juncture, returning the eBike seems like a prudent choice, given the breach of trust and the unsatisfactory resolution offered by Voltbike.

I have for months been searching for a bike that checks all the boxes. For a while I was looking at the Elegant V2, but for me at 5'2" it was still a bit too large for me to comfortably touch the ground. I made another visit to the showroom in Port Coquitlam and I immediately fell in love with the metallic green-ish minty-ish colour of the Venture Step-Thru.

I like how it's got the low-step bar and the same tires I wanted on the Elegant bike. The mid-drive motor is a benefit too. I didn't think I needed a mid-drive bike for the extra price, but since having a few chances now to try it on the hills around my home in North Vancouver, it's been excellent.

Looking forward to finally being able to ride with my husband Bruce who has a Bravo V2 bike. I'm looking forward to racing past him while going up hills since I've got the more powerful bike now.

Still getting used to riding this thing, but am so far very happy with this bike, and with the patience of the showroom staff putting up with me waffling between the Urban V2 and Elegant V2. Glad this came out just in time for me to get it as an early Christmas present for myself.