Velotric is again with a brand-new electrical bike design, this time specializing in a light-weight metropolis journey. The brand new Thunder line really is available in two variants, the Velotric Thunder 1 and the Thunder 1 ST.
Each bikes are streamlined, environment friendly pedal help e-bikes designed to be each simple in your again and straightforward in your pockets. At simply 36 lb. (16 kg), the Thunder 1 and Thunder 1 ST are virtually featherweights within the funds e-bike trade and include little or no further heft.
However that doesn’t imply that Velotric didn’t pack in further options.
Each bikes embrace hydraulic disc brakes with adjustable brake levers, torque sensors for extremely responsive pedal help, 8-speed transmissions, mechanically activating LED headlights, thru-axle hubs for greater power and ruggedness, and internally routed cables working via the triple-butted 6061 aluminum body.
The Thunder 1 additionally has just a few fancier options that aren’t included within the barely smaller Thunder 1 ST. The previous has built-in GPS monitoring for anti-theft, which works with the Velotric app to find a stolen or misplaced e-bike. The app permits different options too similar to journey monitoring, and the bike additionally comes with fingerprint unlocking, automated rider recognition, and compatibility with an non-obligatory vary extender battery accent for 50% extra battery vary.
Whereas the Thunder 1 ST doesn’t have the identical stage of built-in anti-theft options, it does embrace Apple’s Discover My integration, which works identical to a built-in AirTag to search out the bike if it wanders away. It solely works in areas the place individuals have Apple merchandise similar to iPhones, however that principally covers each city space of the world.
In case you plan on getting your bike stolen in the course of a forest, you may wish to go for the Thunder 1’s GPS monitoring. For anybody that lives and rides round individuals although, both mannequin must be pretty simple to trace if it goes lacking.
So far as the drivetrain, each fashions share a 350W steady and 600W peak-rated hub motor that will get powered by a built-in 352 Wh battery.
The Thunder 1 ST has a rated vary of fifty miles (80 km), whereas the Thunder 1 has the next vary of 70 miles (112 km). There’s no throttle, however the 5 totally different ranges of pedal help together with the torque sensor and 8-speed derailleur ought to give riders loads of pedaling choices.
The highest pace out of the field is 20 mph (32 km/h), which retains the bike designated as a Class 1 e-bike. There’s an unlock possibility that may enhance the highest pace to 25 mph (40 km/h), which places riders in Class 3 territory (and doubtless shaves a bit off the vary).
The bikes don’t include racks or fenders, however these will apparently turn out to be out there from Velotric as add-on equipment.
The Thunder 1 has 700 x 38c tires whereas the Thunder 1 ST inexplicably has barely wider 700 x 40c tires.
The Thunder 1 ST is launching at $1,499 and is out there in sizes S and M, whereas the Thunder 1 carries a slight premium placing it at $1,799 and is out there in sizes M and L. The previous is available in a impartial Sand colour in addition to a vibrant Lava orange. The latter’s colour choices are a bit much less in your face with a mushy Frozen Blue gradient and a grayscale Crystal Black.
Electrek’s Take
In case you aren’t a pedal help fan, then these aren’t the bikes for you. I do know lots of American readers are “throttle or nothing, thanks very a lot.” However I’ve come to actually admire pedal help e-bikes for his or her lighter, extra environment friendly designs, and so I like what I see right here.
This appears like a slick body and a pleasant assortment of elements, together with the hydraulic brakes and torque sensor. I want the fenders and rear rack had been included, however at the very least the bikes are constructed to just accept them as equipment.
That GPS monitoring is a HUGE deal, although even the Apple Discover My integration is superior. I’ve come to like AirTags for monitoring all of my stuff, so the power to have an AirTag’s guts basically built-in as a part of the bike is superior.
Lastly, I’m head over heels for that Lava colour. I do know I went a bit overboard with my love for the vivid yellow Mango colour once I reviewed the Velotric Nomad 1 fats tire journey bike, however I’m going to do it once more right here. The intense orange Lava is only a nice search for a motorbike like this. Not solely is it enjoyable to have vivid and expressive colours on bikes, however I additionally think about it a security characteristic for being observed by drivers on the street.
All in all, I’d say Velotric nailed it with the brand new Thunder 1 sequence. I’m wanting ahead to testing these bikes out myself, and I’ll you should definitely let you already know in the event that they journey nearly as good as they give the impression of being.
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