Velotric Summit 1 Review 2024 | Is This THE New Entry-Level eMTB?

Range is a key consideration for many when choosing an e-bike, which is why we test our e-bikes at both the lowest and highest pedal assist levels. The Verlotric Summit 1, equipped with a 48V, 705Wh battery, underwent tests in PAS 1 and PAS 5 settings.

In the minimum range test using PAS 1, the bike covered 73.39 miles over five hours, maintaining an average speed of 13.26 MPH and climbing 1443 feet in elevation. Conversely, the maximum assist test in PAS 5 saw the Summit traveling 36.47 miles in just over two hours, with an average speed of 15.86 MPH and an elevation gain of 658 feet.

The Summit did well when it comes to range, likely due to its torque sensor, which delivers power proportional to the rider’s pedaling effort. Just note, we conducted our test on paved paths. You’ll likely have slightly lower milage along the rigors of offroad riding. .

Additionally, range anxiety is less of a concern with the Summit, as its display shows the battery percentage in numbers rather than the traditional battery level bars, which can be a bit vague to say the least. A numerical display provides a clear and precise indicator of remaining battery life, giving a slight boost to your confidence when it comes to remaining range.

Any bike that slaps the title of e-MTB on it should have enough power to climb even the meanest hills we have here in Southern Utah.

The Velotric Summit 1 has 90 Nm of torque from its 750W rear hub motor. 90 Newton Meters of torque is on the higher end of what we see and we were pumped to test it out and see how it performed on our Hell Hole Hill Test (as outlined in the graphic above).

We ran this hill test in two different attempts, the first using throttle only where our dedicated tester, Justin simply steers and observes the bikes performance on the hill. On the second test, Justin tackles the same hill but this time on PAS 5 and pedaling with a consistent level of effort.

On the first run in throttle only mode, the Velotric Summit climbed Hell Hole in just 1 minute and 9 seconds averaging 15.7 MPH, a very solid result. On the next run using PAS 5, the Velotric Summit climbed our test hill in 1 minute and 13 seconds averaging 14.9 MPH, which was another great result.

It would seem based on this data, the Velotric Summit performs well in demanding conditions like a steep incline. So, if you’re in an area with some tough hills, the Summit should have the gusto needed to tackle them all.

One area that is usually hit or miss with e-bikes, is the choice of brakes. Fortunately in the case of the Summit, it came equipped with Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes paired to 2-piston calipers and 180mm rotors. It’s an entry-level hydraulic brake choice that we have found to produce consistent and solid results.

For the brake test, we use the same tester, Griffin, for the most accurate and consistent results. Griffin gets the bike up to 20 mph and starts braking at a predetermined line. We then measure the distance it took for the bike to stop, and we do this 3 times taking the average stopping distance of the 3 runs.

In the case of the Summit, it scored a respectable stopping distance average of 23 feet 1 inch. When we take a step back and compare that to the comparable tread we find on many fat tire bikes equipped with similar setups like hydraulic disc brakes, we see the Summit falls right into the middle of the pack.

In my time with the Summit, the brakes always gave confident stopping power. Once again the Shimano MT200’s continue to give reliable and confident braking, stopping the Summit safely every time I asked it to.

While it’s easy to find areas where the “MTB” aspect of the Summit 1 could improve, the folks at Velotric did this by design. The Summit 1 may look like a true e-MTB, but the bike’s longer wheelbase and available accessories really make this bike a tale of two stories. It can be a dedicated e-MTB, but with added options like the LED Lighting front to back, a kickstand plus the optionally available fenders and rear rack prove this bike to be more of a versatile trekking or commuting bike as well.

However, the Summit is not without its own set of limitations. A prospective owner new to mountain biking might look at this bike and think they can “huck it” on any old black rated trail. But, those with some saddle time on more advanced trails know the Summit needs a couple adjustments and potentially some upgrades before they send it downhill.

At a minimum, we recommend removing the throttle and limiting the speed to 20 MPH for any real trail riding for not only safety, but also to adhere to trail rules for e-bikes. Nearly everywhere that does allow e-bikes on MTB trails, does NOT allow throttles or bikes that can propel the rider up to 28 MPH.

For my time with the Summit riding MTB trails, I removed the throttle, limited the speed to 20 MPH, removed the kickstand, bell and reflectors as they are generally a point of rattling on trails and not needed off-road. Fortunately, this took me all of 5 minutes and limiting speed in the Velotric App is a breeze.

While I’m the first to critique e-bike brands’ mobile apps, the Velotric’s app is actually very useful and user-friendly across their bikes we’ve tested, a nice surprise to say the least. This app allows for tuning at each pedal assist mode and supports over-the-air firmware updates. Users can track their rides with GPS mapping and adjust various settings like display brightness, which includes an automatic lighting mode. In-fact, the brake light settings can be adjusted between a glow or a continuously pulsing mode based on rider preference.

Up in the cockpit of the Summit 1, on the left side of the MTB-style handlebar, riders have access to the PAS menu buttons, a thumb throttle, and a bell. At the center, there is a 2.8” color LCD display with readouts of the bike’s current speed, PAS mode and odometer. Over on the right, there’s a Shimano Altus Index Shifter. The grips are made of comfortable black rubber and are lock-on, which is a nice little touch for an e-MTB.

The Summit 1 feels like a true MTB riding posture where riders are in a forward leaning upper body position. Velotric offers the bike in two frame sizes to accommodate a wide range of riders: the regular frame fits individuals from 5’1” to 5’10”, while the large frame is suitable for those from 5’ 8” to 6’ 6”, giving nearly everyone an option that should work. I’m 5’ 11”, and found the large frame size to fit me well with room to in either direction.

While the bike’s weight, absence of a dropper post, and rear hub motor present some challenges as riders advance their MTB skills, the Summit 1 is designed for easy upgrades. The seat tube is dropper post-ready, and the potential for swapping in a lighter air fork or upgrading the drivetrain are all viable options that will improve the bikes handling off-road and reduce weight at the same time.

The Velotric Summit 1 is equipped with Kenda 27.5×2.6” MTB tires, which provide good traction and handling on trails. However, the wheels are not tubeless-ready, a feature that could have been a valuable addition for those who will spend more time off-road than others.

The 750W rear hub motor feels really good and I found it to be nearly silent in my test rides. This motor is activated by a torque sensor that is sensitive at lower speeds but more noticeably powerful as speed increases. This design is likely intentional to offer riders maximum control on trails at lower speeds, a critical factor for navigating technical mountain biking terrains effectively.

The Velotric Summit impresses not only with its sleek design but also with its performance, an impressive range of up to 73 miles on a single charge and doing well in all other areas of our testing. It’s nice to see well-engineered designs with capable performance all at a great price point.

Just remember, 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, which can make jumping feel a bit awkward compared to mid-drive bikes that are more balanced in the air. It’s great for getting your feet wet, but for tougher trails and more experienced riders, you might find yourself wanting a bit more. If that’s you, then you can check out our list of top bikes we recommend and you’ll see our most recent eMTB top picks.

But for those just starting out or looking to explore the basics of electric mountain biking, the Velotric Summit presents a very solid option. Its combination of affordability, essential features, and strong performance provides a fantastic introduction to the world of e-MTBs, allowing newcomers to learn and grow their skills in an increasingly popular cycling discipline.

Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Velotric Summit down in our comments section.