Velotric Summit 1: An Affordable Entry-Level E-MTB For Town & Country – CleanTechnica Tested – CleanTechnica

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

---

The Velotric Summit 1 electric mountain bike has a lot going for it at a great price point. If you’re looking for a good all-around e-bike that can handle anything the city streets throw at it, while also being fully capable of taking on trails and singletracks with ease, this affordable entry-level eMTB ought to be on your short list of bikes that are well worth considering.

Velotric is fairly new to us here at CleanTechnica, with only two reviews of the company’s e-bikes so far, the Nomad 1 and the Discover 2, but both of those bikes measured up to our standards. And the company itself, which is led by the hardware co-founder of Lime, Adam Zhang, and has team members that hail from a variety of household names in bicycle and micromobility firms, is successfully following its vision of producing e-bikes that are “elegant, stylish, high performance, reliable, safe, and affordable.” Velotric also has a philanthropic side to it, donating 1% of every Velotric purchase to the buyer’s choice of nonprofit.

The Velotric Summit 1 is the company’s eMTB model, powered by a proprietary 750W rear hub motor featuring 90Nm of torque, which is paired with a 48V 705.6Wh battery capable of a range of up to 70 miles per charge. The Summit 1 ships as a Class 2 e-bike, with the throttle and pedal-assist features limited to a top speed of 20 mph, but can be configured as a Class 3 in order to reach a top assisted speed of 28 mph, which allows riders to conform to local regulations or to suit their own comfort level.

The Summit 1 essentially has 15 pedal assist options, as there are 5 levels selectable in each of three riding modes (Eco, Trail, Boost), so the bike’s power output can be dialed in on the fly to match the terrain or riding conditions. This type of granularity in the power settings of e-bikes is a fairly newish feature, but one that puts older e-bikes that only have somewhat clunky and broad power settings to shame. And when coupled with another great feature of the Summit 1, the torque sensor, it allows for a very natural pedaling feel and motor response, which I believe to be a key element in getting more people on e-bikes, as they ride very similar to non-electric acoustic bikes.

The front hydraulic suspension fork of the Summit 1 has a good amount of travel (120mm) that can help eat up bumps and uneven surfaces on or off the road, or can be locked out if desired. It rolls on a pair of 27.5″ x 2.6″ puncture-resistant MTB tires, employs an 8-speed Shimano gearing system, and stopping power is provided by 180mm Shimano hydraulic brakes, all of which together provide a consistent, reliable ride.

One interesting feature of the Summit 1 is that it not only has a torque sensor, but also a cadence sensor, and riders can switch between them to best fit their route or terrain. For example, while a torque sensor is the better option for trail rides with diverse terrain because of its natural pedal feel and very accurate response from the drivetrain, using the cadence sensor while on longer predictable routes at higher speeds can allow for a more relaxed feel in the saddle. The Summit 1 also has a 2.9 mph Walk Mode option, which could come in handy when maneuvering the 62-pound bike.

Fenders, racks, water bottle cages, mirrors, and other accessories can easily be added to the Summit 1 to best suit the rider’s needs, such as commuting or running errands, etc., but it is ready right out of the box to go from urban streets to off-road trails and back again without any additions (though a water bottle or two should be the minimum add-on, in my opinion).

My experience with the Summit 1 has been nothing but enjoyable. I can ride right out of my house onto a dirt road and then a singletrack trail that can take you either into town or further out into the desert, and this e-bike was a solid performer no matter which way I chose.

It has plenty of torque to power up hills, and its top assisted speed of 28 mph is plenty fast on pavement (and feels pretty wild on dirt), while its frame geometry, front suspension fork, and hydraulic disk brakes made for a nimble and responsive ride whether up- or downhill. The ability to choose just the right power/acceleration curve through its 15 levels of assist makes for an excellent all-around e-bike, as it allows for riders to really dial in the bike to the exact route or terrain or skill level.

The color display is easy to read while riding, the Velotric app (optional but recommended) can track mileage, routes, and live bike data, and the inclusion of Apple Find My technology in the company’s e-bikes can add some peace of mind when it comes to security (or forgetting where you parked it). With a bright LED headlight and brake/tail-light on the seatpost as standard features, visibility after dark is good, though I always recommend wearing a bright headlight and a red blinky light on your helmet as well.

For an electric mountain bike with a torque sensor, 15 levels of assist plus a throttle, a high travel suspension fork, hydraulic disk brakes, a powerful and torquey motor, and a decently sized battery, the regular retail price of $1999 for the Summit 1 makes it a contender as a capable and affordable entry-level e-bike. You can check out all the specs at Velotric, which is also offering a $50 off coupon plus a bundle of free accessories for the Summit 1 right now.

[Disclosure: Velotric supplied the Summit 1 to the author for review purposes.]