Velotric T1 Review: A Versatile, Feature-Rich Electric Bike For The Masses

We independently select all products and services. If you click through links we provide, we may earn a commission. Learn more Forbes Vetted Velotric T1 Review: A Versatile, Feature-Rich Electric Bike For The Masses Dave Johnson Forbes Staff Forbes Vetted Contributor Group Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Following Jul 6, 2023, 02:46pm EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The Velotric T1 electric bike was named the best electric bike overall in our recent testing and review of the best ebikes . Read on to see why it’s the ebike we recommend for most people right now. The Velotric T1 could very nearly pass for a traditional, non-electric bike.

Its streamlined frame doesn’t look like it’s hiding a battery (but it is). And it’s packed with a surprising array of smarts and security features that pack a ton of value into its reasonable $1,800 price tag. That’s the shorthand way of saying that, after testing nearly a dozen bikes for the Forbes Vetted roundup of the best electric bikes, I found that the Velotric T1 is the best overall electric bike you can buy today.

The Velotric T1 packs a lot of features into an affordable frame. Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailer The Velotric T1 proves that you can have your cake and eat it too, at least when it comes to electric bikes. Until recently, I considered VanMoof the best overall ebike, and the new VanMoof S4 remains a close runner-up for the crown.

But the T1 is prettier, rides better and you can make a good argument that the T1 offers better theft protection. Intrigued? Read on for more on why I love the Velotric T1. Best Electric Bike Overall The Smartest, Prettiest Ebike Under $2,000 Velotric Velotric T1 Buy From Velotric Class : 1/3 (20 mph/unlockable to 25 mph, no throttle) | Weight : 36 pounds (330-pound max load) | Range : 70 miles | Motor : 350 watt (600-watt peak) hub | PAS sensor : Torque | Shifter : Shimano 8 speeds | Tires : 27-inch (700-by-38c) puncture resistant | Warranty : 2 years Best for : Easy portability thanks to super light weight Peace of mind with great security features Superb ride and excellent performance Skip if : You must have a throttle You want a digital display without using your phone You need to carry a lot of cargo MORE FROM FORBES VETTED The Best Garden Hoses To Give Your Lawn A Serious Makeover By Kate Morgan Contributor The Best Pool Floats To Add To Your Collection In Summer 2023 By Camryn Rabideau Contributor Velotric T1 Features You’d Barely Realize It’s Electric The T1 barely looks like an electric bike, which is great for folks who eschew the modern ebike aesthetic that can look like some sort of sci-fi conveyance.

In fact, the only thing that betrays its identity as an ebike is the somewhat fat downtube that houses the battery. Otherwise, it’s an ordinary city bike with a stunning paint job. And I really mean that—I’ve tested some really pretty ebikes lately, like the sexy and sporty LeMond Prolog and the avant garde VanMoof S4, but the two-tone blue T1 may be my favorite of all.

There’s no external cabling or visible battery to mess with the aesthetics, either. If the front and rear lights were integrated into the frame, it would be perfect. And this is a very lightweight bike.

At just 36 pounds, it’s light enough to carry around with one hand, hoist onto a bike rack or carry up stairs. If that weren’t enough, the bike has a “walk mode” that powers the wheels at a leisurely 2. 5 mph to help you walk it when needed (just press and hold a button on the handlebar).

Hardly an essential feature, but one I absolutely adore because it’s such a thoughtful and convenient flourish. The absence of any real display on the handlebars is another feature that makes this bike seem not-quite-electric. A button on the top tube turns the bike on, and successive presses cycle through the five pedal assist levels (and “off,” which is pure human power).

It’s also a subtle battery level indicator. A mobile app provides all of that information and lets you view your speed and otherwise control the bike, and the T1 comes with a phone mount for the top of the handlebar post. The Velotric T1’s power button is but one of very few details that let you know this is an electric .

. . [+] bike.

Dave Johnson For Forbes A Fun And Comfy Ride Remember the power button? It’s actually a fingerprint reader that can store up to a dozen different fingerprints. Place your finger there for a moment and the bike turns on. Alternatively, you can wake up the bike with the mobile app or configure the app to sense your phone’s proximity and turn on the bike as you approach.

The proof of any bike is in the riding, though, and here I was thrilled that the T1 was just as good in motion as it looks. It’s a cross between a Class 1 and Class 3 bike; out of the box, it can go up to 20 mph, but you can easily unlock a top speed of 25 mph with a few button presses. There’s no throttle, but this bike does have a smooth-as-butter torque sensor that delivers a very enjoyable pedaling experience—something I expected to find only in a more expensive bike.

I rode this bike extensively on flat and hilly terrain, and the 350-watt hub motor was more than up to the task. Velotric includes an eight-speed Shimano shifter and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, two high-end components that are a surprising value in a bike at this price point. And man, do all those parts work well together.

The shifter has a great range to keep your legs engaged across a wide range of grades, and you can dial in the pedal assistance level you need to maintain speed or get some help on hills. Despite the modest battery size (352. 8 watt-hours), Velotric claims the T1 has a maximum range of about 70 miles.

That’s a little optimistic based on my testing, but if you use conservative power-assist levels, I am certain the bike can routinely deliver around 50 miles, and that ain’t bad. Theft Is Not An Option Because I am neurotic about the potential for bike theft, one of my favorite features in the T1 is its cellular-based GPS tracking feature. As long as the bike is locked (not turned on and ready to ride), the security system is engaged.

If your bike is moved, you get a theft alert on your phone, and you can locate the bike at any time by tapping a “Find My Bike” button in the app. That’s a feature that’s included at no additional charge, by the way, so you won’t be on the hook for a monthly subscription fee like the one VanMoof charges for a similar tracking service. VanMoof fans can argue the superiority of VanMoof bikes’ kick lock, which immobilizes the rear wheel if someone tries to steal it.

In that event, a would-be thief literally has to carry the bike away, which they’d really have to put their back into, since the S4 weighs a not-inconsiderable 45 pounds. Would it be awesome if the T1 had a kick lock? Of course. But the bike tracking is built into the cost of the bike, whereas it’s an optional subscription if you get a VanMoof.

The T1’s Smart+ Hub allows you keep tabs on your bike’s location from your phone. Dave Johnson For Forbes How Does The Velotric T1 Compare To Other Electric Bikes? The most obvious comparison is to the VanMoof S4, another very smart and good-looking ebike in the same general price range. But there’s no question that the T1 is a better ride.

The eight-speed shifter, five levels of pedal assistance and responsive torque sensor blow the VanMoof’s ride out of the water. The S4 features a limited two-speed autoshifter and a cadence sensor for pedal assist that can be slow to respond. Combine that with the fact that you can’t change pedal assistance levels without the mobile app, and it’s no contest.

The T1’s superiority over other bikes is even greater. Models like the Cannondale Adventure Neo Allroad and Gazelle Ultimate C380 are respectable, solid, fun-to-ride bikes, to be sure, but they’re outclassed by the T1’s combination of features and convenience. The Velotric T1 is exactly the bike I’d want to use to commute around town and ride for fun on the weekends.

My Expertise I have been a technology journalist since the 1990s, and I chose this career in large part because I enjoy playing with gadgets, gear and technology of all sorts. I’ve racked up countless writing credits at publications as diverse as Forbes, PC World, Digital Camera Magazine, CNET, TechHive and Insider (not to mention authoring nearly three dozen books), and I’ve gotten to test and use all sorts of gear along the way. I managed to mix all that with my love of biking.

I was an early adopter of electric bikes, writing about them from their earliest days on the market while using them to get around town and go on long weekend trips. I’ve managed to stay abreast of the latest developments in electric biking, so when I started preparing to test bikes for this article, I already had a small collection of ebikes in my garage (almost to the point that I couldn’t fit my car). How I Tested The Best Electric Bikes When selecting electric bikes for this roundup, it was important to include the most popular and common ebikes on the market—the ones that Forbes Vetted readers are most likely to consider.

I included both direct-to-consumer ebikes (from online, mail-order brands) and models you need to visit a dealership to purchase. I assembled a cross-section of bikes in styles most people want to ride, like commuter and city bikes, folding bikes, off-road bikes and utility bikes that can carry cargo. Assembly Once all the bikes were on hand, I evaluated how easy they were to assemble.

Some bikes come fully assembled, while most are partially built and can be finished in less than an hour with some simple tools. A handful of bikes require substantial assembly; if you’re not already a confident bike mechanic, you’ll want to factor another $100 into the price to have a local bike shop assemble it for you. The bottom line is that I noted the overall difficulty—and potential expense—of the initial out-of-box experience.

Ride Experience Then it was time to hit the road. I took every bike on a handful of 10-mile treks across city streets, onto dirt and grass paths and on a paved bike path that cuts across a substantial part of the state of Michigan. I noted each bike’s comfort, handling, shifting and braking.

In other words: How well did it work as an actual bike? Power And Range As with any electric vehicle, it’s important to understand how much power the motor delivers and what kind of range you can expect to get. To assess how well the motor could power the bike, I paid attention to pedal assist and throttle response on level ground as well as on a particularly steep overpass that would otherwise require any average biker to walk their bike up and over. I also tracked real-world range, though this can vary enormously depending on a wide variety of factors.

Smart And Security Features I love so-called smart features, and I explored whatever each bike offered, like integrated displays, electronic shifting and high-tech security. Some bikes had few or none of these capabilities, while others were veritable props from a science-fiction story. I assessed how easy these features were to use and whether they were practical or useful.

Bikes with integrated anti-theft or security features tended to earn extra points. The T1’s pedal assist feature helps you go farther while using less energy. Dave Johnson For Forbes How Fast Does An Electric Bike Go Without Pedaling? This depends on the bike and the class it falls into.

Most bikes are limited to a top speed of 20 mph on level ground. Here’s how it breaks down: Class 1 ebikes have a top speed of 20 mph using pedal assistance (PAS). The motor is designed to cut off if you exceed 20 mph, and no Class 1 bikes include a throttle.

Class 2 models contain a throttle that can propel the bike up to 20 mph even when you’re not pedaling—and can go up to the same maximum speed with pedal assist. Class 3 bikes can be a little confusing. They all have a top speed of 28 mph when using PAS, and Class 3 bikes may optionally include a throttle.

The throttle can be used to accelerate the bike without pedaling, but it’s limited to a maximum of 20 mph. To go the full speed of 28 mph, you need to use pedal assist. How Much Should I Pay For A Good Electric Bike? The cheapest ebikes tend to start around $900, but the low end of the market comes with some significant compromises.

You won’t see name-brand components, bike makers may use cheaper mechanical brakes instead of hydraulic brakes, you shouldn’t expect any fancy or premium features, and the bike designs put less emphasis on comfort and aesthetics. In this price range, build quality and battery reliability may suffer as well, so my general advice is to beware of any ebike—especially one offered by a relatively unknown brand—for under $1,000. One notable exception: Lectric is a leading direct-to-consumer ebike brand that makes superb bikes at aggressively low prices.

Its XP 3. 0 is on this list as our favorite value-priced ebike. The median price for ebikes is in the $1,500 to $2,500 range, and these bikes tend to have better quality components and more advanced features.

For the average consumer who wants an ebike but doesn’t have specific requirements that would result in a pricier model, this is a good price range. And there’s almost no upper limit on what you can spend on a premium electric bike. It’s not hard to find models that clock in over $10,000.

But you certainly don’t need to spend anywhere near that much money unless you’re shopping for a carbon fiber sport bike, a rugged mountain bike or some other specialty model. Follow me on Twitter . Check out my website .

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