Velotric Summit 1

This is a review of the Summit 1 by Velotric, an electric hybrid with a 750W hub motor, a 705Wh battery, 2.6″ Kenda mountain bike tires, and a suspension fork.

In this review, we’ll discuss the Summit 1’s specifications, its performance in our standardized tests, and the key pros and cons, finishing with an overall assessment of the bike.

Who Are Velotric?

Velotric is a California-based e-bike brand with a wide range of electric bicycles in the commuting, cargo, urban recreation, and fat tire segments.

We’ve tested several of the company’s recently released models, all of which, in our view, deliver solid performance and value. But does the Summit 1 live up to this?

What Is the Summit 1?

The Summit 1 is a hybrid electric bike. The beefy hardtail frame and 120mm suspension fork, relatively slack head angle, wide bars, and chunky tires give it the look of an e-mountain bike, and it’s compatible with a dropper post.

However, in its marketing materials, Velotric avoids the term mountain bike, instead focusing on the Summit 1’s capacity as a multi-terrain adventure bike. As will become clear later in the review, this makes sense, as, despite its looks, this isn’t a true mountain bike.

The bike has a 750W hub motor, a 48V, 14.7Ah battery, switchable torque and cadence sensors, and an 8-speed Shimano drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes. The frame comes in two sizes.

The Summit 1 has the same 15-level pedal assist system found on many Velotric bikes, with three ride modes and five PAS levels in each. The removable throttle and modifiable top speed (between 12 and 28mph) mean the bike is easy to configure for all three e-bike classes.

Pros

Motor

The Summit 1 achieved excellent results in our hill-climb tests and impressive 0-20mph acceleration times. The powerful hub motor provides plenty of assistance, and power ramps up nicely across the PAS levels and ride modes.

At higher PAS levels, the motor has more than enough to handle any hill we encountered in testing, but PAS 4 of Trail mode (assist level 9/15) is required for steeper hills.

True to its name, Trail mode is ideal for riding trails, with a good spread of power across all five PAS levels. Boost mode is great for maintaining high speeds on the road and for quickly getting over the steepest paved climbs, and with the top speed set to 28mph, it’s easy to ride in traffic.

The thumb-lever throttle provides good control over power output and the motor responds quickly to throttle engagement.

Control and Adjustability

Velotric has made the Summit 1 highly customizable. Having three PAS modes with five levels in each gives riders a lot of control over pedal assist power. Additionally, users can choose between torque and cadence sensors and fine-tune the Summit 1’s performance to suit personal preferences and riding styles.

The bike can be set up for Class 1, 2, or 3 thanks to the easy-to-remove throttle and top speed that’s adjustable between 12 and 28mph in mile-per-hour increments.

The rear light has three modes, including a steady light with brake activation, flashing light with brake activation, and steady light with a flashing brake light.

The bike has mounts for fenders and a rack, and the frame accepts an internally routed dropper post, although doing that requires running the taillight’s wiring outside the seatpost. Velotric has a video outlining this process.

Overall, there’s more scope to personalize this bike than comparable bikes we’ve tested.

Geometry and Ride

The Summit 1’s geometry feels similar to that of a mountain bike. Riders seeking a bike for commuting or recreational rides on pavement with an MTB-like feel will likely appreciate this.

The Summit 1 rides well on pavement and light trails. It was particularly enjoyable for commuting and cruising around town due to the mountain bike feel. However, this bike is not for serious mountain biking, which will become clear in the following section.

Cons

Limited Gearing

The first area where the Summit 1 falls short is the gearing. First gear is too high for low-speed technical trail sections and ascents, forcing the rider to rely on the motor’s assistance. This can be a big problem on slippery or technical climbs where the motor’s power, even with the torque sensor selected, causes the rear tire to lose grip. With better gearing, this wouldn’t happen, as it would be possible control power output better.

Basic Suspension Fork

The non-adjustable suspension fork also hinders the Summit 1’s off-road aspirations. The 120mm suspension fork quickly reaches its limits over the big roots and bumps on blue-rated trails. It’s very stiff, so while it doesn’t bottom out easily, it also doesn’t absorb the impacts from these roots and rocks.

On uneven pavement or light trails, this fork is much smoother than the cheap suspension found on many e-bikes in this price range, but on rocky and rooty trails, entry-level air forks from RockShox, FOX, and DVO would be far better.

Again, the Summit 1 isn’t the bike for someone planning to hit serious trails. It’s fine for commuting, recreational riding, and light trails, but it isn’t going to stand up to the abuse of mountain biking.

At nearly 65lb, the Summit 1 is heavy. The rear hub motor upsets the balance, limiting the ability to pop the front wheel and jump the bike. On trails, the bike’s weight makes it clumsy and hard to move around.

Hardtail e-MTBs with 120mm forks can weigh as little as 35lb. Burly electric mountain bikes with similar power levels are still some 15lb lighter than the Summit 1, with vastly superior suspension. That said, these lighter e-MTBs cost a lot more than the Summit 1.

Velotric markets this bike as a multi-purpose hybrid, so anything more aggressive than light trails will exceed its intended use. Nonetheless, it’s still a lot of e-bike for the money.

The App Is Required to Select Sensor

Switching between the torque and cadence sensors requires the Velotric app; there’s no way to do it through the display. This means it’s not possible to do it on the fly.

With every other setting easily adjusted via the display and the great menu layout, it doesn’t make sense that this key setting requires the app. Velotric says there’s no way to fix this via a firmware update, and it has been supplying upgraded displays for some bikes to address this. However, as of this review, Velotric hasn’t decided how to handle this going forward.

What Does It Do Best?

The Summit 1’s motor is both powerful and responsive when using throttle or pedal assist. Whether mixing with traffic or scaling steep hills, this bike has enough power. It also performed well in our range tests, covering 46.6 miles and 1,526 feet of elevation at an average of 14.4mph in PAS three of Trail mode (assist level 8/15).

Having the choice of cadence or torque sensor means riders can enjoy the ease of the cadence sensor when dealing with traffic and switch to the torque sensor for trail riding.

The brakes are both powerful and quiet. The speed limit can be varied between 12 and 28mph, and there’s very little ghost pedaling. The Summit 1 handles well and is plenty of fun on pavement and trails. It’s a versatile bike that can handle work or play. Adding fenders and a rack turns the bike into a great commuter, and it’s reasonably capable off-road.

Overall, the Summit 1 is well-designed and well-made, with quality levels similar to Velotric’s Discover 2 and T1 ST Plus.

Reasons to Look Elsewhere?

Despite its looks, the Summit 1 is not a serious mountain bike. It lacks suitable gearing, the suspension fork isn’t sophisticated enough for challenging trails, and the bike’s overall weight and balance mean it’s not worth investing in a better fork. Additionally, setting it up as a commuter requires the added cost of a rack and fenders.

Specs

Electric Bike Class: Class 1,2, or 3
Warranty: 2-year, conditioned and limited
UL Certification: UL-2271, UL-2849
IP Rating: IPX6 | Battery – IPX7
Total Weight: Claimed: 62lb – Actual: 64.6lb
Motor Brand: Velotric-branded
Motor Type: Rear hub
Motor Nominal Output: 750W
Max Torque: 90Nm
Battery: 48V, 14.7Ah (705.6Wh)
Range Claimed: Up to 70mi
Range Tested (PAS 8/15): 46.6 mi – 1,476 ft. – 14.4mph avg.
Range Tested (PAS 15/15): 34.8 mi – 1,243 ft. – 18.9mph avg.
Speed: 12 to 28mph
Throttle: Thumb-style
Pedal Assist: 15 levels – 5 PAS x 3 Modes (Eco, Trail, Boost)
Charger: 54.6V 3A output
Charge Time: 5 hours
Display: 2.8” color LCD
Frame: 6061 Aluminum
Fork: 120mm hydraulic coil
Brake Levers: Shimano MT200
Brake Calipers: Shimano MT200
Brake Rotors: 180mm
Chain: KMC
Crankset: 170mm – 44t Narrow-wide
Derailleur: Shimano Altus 8-speed
Shifter: SL-M315 – Shimano Altus 8-speed
Cassette: 11-32t 8-speed
Rims: 27.5” aluminum
Tires: 27.5” x 2.6” Kenda K1227-008 – Honey Badger XC
Fenders: Not included – Available full coverage
Lights: 120-lux front LED – Rear with brake indicator and 3 modes
Grips: Rubber lock-on
Saddle: Velotric sport-style
Pedals: Aluminum platform
Handlebar: Aluminum alloy, Φ31.8mm, 760mm (R)/780mm (L)
Stem: Adjustable, Aluminum Alloy, φ31.8mm, 35mm (R)/50mm (L)
Kickstand: Included single-side
Payload Capacity: 440lb

Frame and Geometry

The Summit 1’s frame looks good, with a nice shape, smooth welds, and an overall polished feel. Our test bike has the Space Black finish, which looks dark grey in person. The Summit 1 is also available in Sunrise Orange and Royal Blue.

The fork is a hydraulic coil with 120mm of travel and lockout but no other adjustments. It has a threaded thru-axle and 15x110mm Boost spacing. The frame has clearance for tires up to 3” wide.

This test bike has a 780mm handlebar and 50mm stem. The regular size has a 760mm handlebar and 35mm stem. Velotric says size large fits riders from 5’8” to 6’6”, but the upper limit is closer to 6’3” or 6’4”. The bike is a comfortable fit for me, and there was still more room, both in the saddle height adjustment and in the cockpit, but probably not enough for a 6’6” rider.

The Summit 1 feels very long, which provides confidence at higher speeds and on descents. Overall, I found the ride quality similar to other hardtail MTBs I’ve ridden.

There are mounts for fenders and three sets of bosses inside the main triangle. The cables, including the wiring for the rear light, are routed internally for a clean look. It’s possible to route a dropper post, but doing so means the wiring for the taillight must be partly outside the frame.

Finally, the Summit 1 can carry up to 440lb.

Measurements

Seat Tube: 18.70“ (475mm)
Reach: 15.82” (402mm)
Stack: 25.55” (649mm)
Stand Over Height: 29.48” (749mm)
Virtual Top Tube Length: 27.16” (690mm)
Saddle Height Min: 32.67” (830mm)
Saddle Height Max: 39.40” (1001mm)
Wheelbase: 49”” (1244mm)
Recommended Rider Height: 5’8” – 6’6”

Display and Control

The Summit 1 has a large 2.8” color display mounted in portrait format in the middle of the handlebars. The display is bright and easy to read, with all relevant information laid out in a logical manner. This display also has a USB-A charging port.

As with other Velotric bikes we’ve reviewed recently, the menus are laid out well, with names for settings and functions that make the interface easy to understand and use. Like the Discover 2, you can access and control all settings via the display, except for switching between the torque and cadence sensors, which can only be done via the app. Over-the-air updates are delivered to the bike using the Velotric app.

The controls are next to the left grip. They include a power button, plus and minus buttons, and a menu button. There’s no lock to secure the display or the bike, but the Summit 1 does have built-in Apple Find My tracking.

The display shows battery level, power output, speed, PAS level, ride mode, and info section (trip distance, trip time, average speed, max speed, calories, C02 saved, odometer, total time). The battery indicator is a graphic with percentage.

The Summit 1 has an auto-light function that turns the lights on and off based on ambient light. It also dims the display when light levels fall. This function can be disabled via the menu.

Lastly, users can easily set the bike up to meet Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike rules by adjusting the speed limit via the display and removing the throttle, if necessary.

App

Check out our Discover 2 review for more details on the Velotric App.

Motor

The Summit 1 has a Velotric-branded rear hub motor with a nominal power rating of 750W, a peak power rating of 1,300W, and 90Nm of torque.

The throttle can be set to give full power or be restricted to the selected PAS level. Velotric says the Summit 1 uses the company’s proprietary E-series drive system, which it claims is one of the smallest, lightest, and quietest hub motors with a torque sensor.

This motor is quieter than other 750W, 90Nm hub motors I’ve tested, so they have achieved that aim. However, it’s not as quiet as the mid-drive motors I’ve tested, but it wasn’t a distraction on the trails.

The motor is responsive and torque-heavy at high PAS levels and when using the throttle. As a result, the Summit 1 did very well in our hill-climb tests.

On the less steep hill, this bike was in the middle of the pack, but the Summit 1 outperformed all comparable bikes we’ve tested on the short, steep hill.

Similarly, the Summit 1 achieved great times in our acceleration tests, getting to 20mph one second faster than the other bikes we’ve tested.

Battery and Charger

The Summit 1’s battery is a 48V, 14.7Ah unit. With the 3A charger, it should take about five hours for a full charge. At 705.6Wh, this is a little undersized for a 750W motor, but the bike still performed well, with good results in our range tests.

Using PAS 5 in Boost mode, the Summit 1 achieved a range of nearly 35 miles and 1,243 feet of elevation, putting it in the middle of the pack. On PAS 3, however, the battery lasted 47 miles with over 1,500 feet of elevation gain, puting it right up there with the best we’ve tested.

The battery is integrated into the down tube and can be charged on or off the bike. The charge port is easy to access and protected by a flap.

Drivetrain

The Summit 1 has a Shimano Altus 8-speed drivetrain with a 44t chainring and an 11-32t cassette, meaning no ghost pedaling until around 28mph. However, low-speed technical sections and steep climbs are a challenge. The Summit 1 would benefit from a bigger cog at the back to help maintain a higher cadence in these situations.

As a result of the high first gear, you rely more on motor assist on steep climbs and in low-speed sections, increasing the risk of loss of traction at the rear wheel and making it even harder to negotiate technical terrains.

Although this is the kind of gearing found on most recreation e-bikes, it falls short of the demands of more dedicated trail riding. Velotric markets the Summit 1 as a multi-terrain e-bike, and for this purpose, the gearing is acceptable. However, the bike’s MTB appearance could be confusing, so it’s worth highlighting here that the Summit 1 handles off-road terrains pretty well, but that isn’t its primary intended use.

Brakes

The brakes are Shimano MT200 hydraulic discs with 2-piston calipers and 180mm rotors. They performed well on trails and the road. In our brake test, these brakes did very well, needing just 14.5 feet to stop from 20mph. They were also quiet throughout testing. Lever reach is adjustable using a hex key.

Wheels, Tires, Fenders

The Summit 1 has 27.5” wheels with Novatec hubs and 2.6” wide Kenda tires. Velotric says there’s clearance for tires up to 3” wide. I haven’t tested this, but it looks like there is plenty of room.

The tires carry Kenda product codes for Honey Badger XC tires but they don’t have the markings normally seen on these tires. Velotric says the tires have puncture protection, but there are no markings to confirm this.

The chunky XC tread provides plenty of traction on pavement, dirt, and gravel. Given how much debris these tires throw up, it’s a shame that fenders aren’t included. Our test bike came with optional fenders that can be purchased from Velotric.

Accessories

The Summit 1 has integrated lights. The headlight is a bright 1300-lux unit. The rear light is mounted to the saddle and has a choice of three modes: flashing, steady, and awareness and braking.

The bike also comes with Apply Find My tracking and a single-sided kickstand. Velotric sells fenders and a MIK-HD-compatible cargo rack for this bike. Those cost extra but were included for testing. The fenders worked well and Veloric offers a range of accessories that expand the rack’s utility.

Touchpoints

The grips are rubber lock-on grips. They feel like regular MTB grips and are comfortable and secure.

The Summit 1’s saddle is more sporty than the plush seats found on many Velotric bikes. The MTB-inspired saddle’s smaller size and lack of padding led to discomfort on longer rides. However, this saddle matches the bike’s style.

The bike comes with large aluminum pedals with metal pins that provide good grip, making them suitable for off-roading.

Conclusion

Riders that want a true e-MTB should look elsewhere. Yes, this bike can handle basic mountain bike trails on the Summit 1, but that’s about it. Between the rearward weight bias, limited gearing, and basic suspension fork, the Summit 1 soon reaches its limits on dedicated MTB trails.

The powerful motor, great adjustability, and easy configuration are real pluses. However, making the most of this bike as a commuter requires paying extra for fenders and a rack.

The Velotric Summit 1 is a fine choice for anyone seeking a competent, high-speed commuter or urban runabout that can easily handle light trails, and it’s especially appealing to riders who like mountain bikes.

Score Breakdown

• Build quality: 90
• Performance / Innovation: 90
• Design: 90
• Ride quality: 95
• Price / Value: 90

Overall: 91

If you plan to do serious mountain biking, you might eventually opt for a higher-end model, but the Summit 1 is a great starting point.

I ended up sending Velotric the video where I… blew out the fork, and the response was [that] this bike is more of a trekking bike for normal mountain biking…

… the Velotric Summit 1 is a solid starter e-MTB, but if you’re really serious about mountain biking, you might soon be eyeing upgrades like a better air fork and a dropper seat post. It’s also a bit on the heavy side, especially in the rear hub…

This bike may not have all the bells and whistles of the high-end bikes I got back in my garage. For the price, you really can’t beat that value… I would definitely recommend this bike for entry-level riders…

As a whole, the Summit 1 is a solid performer… [it’s] enjoyable to ride, comfortable, and very powerful. With light-duty mountain biking in mind, we see the Summit 1 being even more beneficial for e-trekking and an absolute blast for the sporty commuter.

We have tested over 100 bikes on the channel, and I can’t think of any other e-MTB that I would recommend unless you are willing to spend more money.