Woom Explore 5 in Review

Edgier and more elongated than the Originals (now called Go), more off-road capable, but not yet completely geared towards MTB like the Offs – this is how the bikes of the three-part Explore line presented themselves at their market launch last fall. With the new all-rounders, Woom had developed the previously missing link in their portfolio – designed and made not just visually but also functionally for older kids.
With wheels in 20, 24, or 26 inches, reliable disc brakes, and grippy all-terrain tires, the Explore 4/5/6 is aimed at kids aged six to 14 who see their bike as a partner for everything: commuting to school, weekend trips, forest adventures, rides to the pool, or ice cream parlor. And all of this at prices ranging from €599 to €699.

Three years of development went into this model, and true to Woom’s style, this resulted in low weight (measured at 8.99 kg on the Woom 5) and a design that, thanks to the combination of the respective main color with matte black from the frame to the rims, looks significantly cooler than the beginner bikes paired with white.
With the geometry, the children’s bike specialists aimed to achieve a dynamic riding position that optimizes handling while also providing comfort and visibility. In terms of components, Woom also sought a blend of comfort and safety – for example, with hydraulic disc brakes that reliably decelerate in any weather and feature child-friendly adjustable levers, or with tires that roll well while still offering plenty of grip in all weather conditions and on any terrain.

But enough of the descriptive words now. “Lisi, we finally want to riiiiide!” Highly motivated, Toni and Fini, supported by helmet tester Sophie, got to work.
The genius of this setup: The test duo was able to draw comparisons from two different perspectives. While one privately rides a Woom Off 5 mountain bike with fat knobby tires, Sram X5 trigger shifters, and a carbon fork, the other, as already mentioned, comes from a Woom Original 4 with twist shifters, V-brakes, and narrow, almost treadless 20“ wheels.

The transition was particularly significant – not just due to geometry, as already explained above – for Fini. Nevertheless, she immediately felt at home with the Explore.
The more responsive brakes, which should initially be used with a bit more caution? “I already noticed that!” The thumb-and-forefinger-operated triggers? “This way it gets easier and I go slower, this way it gets harder and I go faster, it’s pretty logical.” The larger, wider, and more profiled wheels? “That’s totally cool, it bumps around much less!”

Quite the opposite situation for young biker Toni, who experienced a partial downgrade with the Explore.
"A bit more slippery," the narrower tires seemed to him on the gravel downhill trail. "But I was super fast on the asphalt at the bottom!" he grinned proudly. And he initially asked, somewhat confused, if someone could please explain how the gears worked. After all, his bike has one more gear but requires one less finger to operate. However, the Acolyte logic was immediately clear to him once explained.

Speaking of immediate: How quickly the ideally sized junior biker was able to adapt to the new machine was a joy to watch. A couple of starts on a straight bike path and a winding side trail, twice up and down the embankment, and Toni and the Explore 5 already seemed like they had been a team forever.
This is partly, of course, due to the young gentleman's cycling skills. On the other hand, Woom seems to have hit the nail on the head with its geometry.

The Flatmount discs from Promax impressed not only with their well-modulated braking power but also with the fact that they require surprisingly little hand force to activate. The gear translation allows for a pleasingly wide range to be generated; nevertheless, the eight gears provide a fairly fine gradation, enabling both continuous speed buildup and longer uphill challenges—one of Fini's favorite exercises—to be tackled without issue.
And the Magnetic Blue chosen by the girl also pleased the boy and the second girl. The adults, on the other hand, were almost magnetically drawn to the color with its hard-to-describe, almost mystical depth.

Criticism of the Explore is hard to pinpoint after Woom has already corrected the size recommendation on its own.
Possibly, the drive-side chainstay could use a slightly more robust impact protection than the current film, depending on the extent and frequency of off-road use. And the fact that at least one of the two sticker sets, which Woom offers for €9.90 each to customize the bike, is not included as a freebie in the price, we find a bit petty. But otherwise ...

… this bike truly is, and in a very captivating way, a sporty all-rounder as described in the book:
Light and smooth enough to be gladly used daily and even more so for longer tours.
From the geometry to the components to small but fine details like the mudguard on the seat tube or the GoPro=clip-on light mount, thoughtfully designed to ensure comfortable and safe cycling at all times – even on moderate terrain, and even when it gets wet or dark.
Additionally, the Woom Explore is cool enough to appeal to kids across a wide age range thanks to the futuristic colors combined with plenty of black.

Through these and other features, it enables kids to experience independence, adventure, and eco-friendly mobility - we like!