(02-25-2025, 10:40 PM)Paul M Wrote: Hi Scott. I am 68 years old and looking to buy my first e-bike. I’m interested in the Velotric Discover 2 and Summit 1, as well as the Lectric X-Peak 2.0. I want a bike that will be off road capable, but I’m not looking to do any serious mountain biking. One of my concerns is the weight of the bikes. Your reviews of the Velotric mentioned their size and weight as negatives, and mentioned there’re were others that were much lighter, but you did not give any specifics. Can you give me an idea of others to consider that would be easier to handle? I am also intrigued by the Velotric T1 ST plus given its weight, but I realize it would be really limited for trail riding. It’s reviews and price point make it attractive for what would probably be 85% of my riding to start. I am not in a position to be owning multiple bikes and want one to give me several years of increasing enjoyment. An acquaintance 10 yrs older and and a longtime e-bike rider really stressed to me the comfort and stability of fat tire bikes with suspensions, how much easier on the body they were, as well as safety when it comes to road hazards, curbs etc. so this has always stayed in my mind. Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.. thanks in advance.
Hey Paul! Thanks for watching the reviews and great question to ask! I often mention the weight of e-bikes since it seems to be an easily overlooked stat. I find the weight does not affect the ride quality as much as the ability to easily lift, store and move the bike while it is unpowered. In the Summit 1 review, I mention that there are other lighter options, but I am speaking mostly about more high-end E-MTB, which are often lighter due to mid-drive motors and lighter, more expensive components throughout. I really focused on how the Summit 1 differed from a more purpose-built E-MTB in the review, so in many ways, if you plan to ride light trails and are not intending to jump and drop the Summit 1, the concern about weight is not a large issue.
I really like the Velotrics, and of the recent bikes I have reviewed, I was impressed by the build quality. I can suggest others if you are looking for a fat tire bike, but I think one of your three options here will keep you out riding with a big smile for years to come.
The Summit 1 weighs 64 lb, and the Discover 2 is 69 lb. In contrast, the T1ST+ is only 42 lb, but you are not getting as much battery capacity, suspension, or carrying capacity. If you do not need to climb stairs or lift the bike into the bed of a truck, I do not see the weight limiting you too much for recreational riding, whatever you choose.
Looking at the 3 options we have, I would personally choose either the Summit 1 or Discover 2 for a multipurpose e-bike if you're only going to own a single bike. The reason is that the T1ST+ is very specific for its use. It is a "fitness e-bike" and only offers a torque sensor, which requires more pedal input, but the bike is great if you want to get a workout on your rides. But its lack of suspension and thin tire set limits its abilities on gravel or off-road. Its battery range is also much shorter, so you have to work hard if you want to have a decent range and not use motor power. The hill climbing is also limited, and the bike does not have the same adjustability and accessories available. I would suggest the T1ST+ if you are looking for a bike for fitness and short urban commutes and rides only.
Between the Summit 1 and Discover 2, I would choose the Summit 1 because I enjoy MTB style bikes. A big difference between the two is the frame style and ride position. The Summit 1 is more bent over the bike, putting more force into the pedals, and it's a great trail bike. This ride position is great for people who cycle and enjoy that athletic stance, I find it more comfortable then being straight backed. I also like riding it on the road, and having options like adjustable speed limit, 15 PAS modes and the torque or cadence sensor makes it easy to find the right amount of assist. It also has great battery capacity and range, so hills and long rides are easily within your reach. If you want a bike that is very capable and can ride any terrain, then the Summit 1 is the bike for you. The downsides are that you will need to buy the additional fender kit for riding on roads and wet conditions without getting soaked and a rack if you want to add cargo. But having the Summit 1 with those 2 add-ons is the perfect do-it-all bike. So if you're looking for one bike to ride anything, that would be my choice.
The Discover 2 comes with the fenders and rack, and it also has many of the other great features of the Summit , 15 adjustable PAS modes, torque and cadence sensor, and adjustable speed limit. It also has good power and range, on par with the Summit 1 (Summit 1 goes a little further). The big difference is it is heavier by 5 lb and has a step-thru frame. So, its harder to lift but it's much easier to mount without throwing a leg over the back. The ride position is straight-backed, which some people really prefer. The bike can handle light trails just fine, but it's definitely intended to be more recreational. Summit 1 could take you on many different trails, and you could push its limits. The Discover 2 is much more of a pavement and light trail bike, it will not have the same ride quality if you decide dedicated trail riding is more of your jam, but its got a more relaxed ride feel. The Discover 2 would be great for those who do not intend to ride trail very often, mainly urban riding, grocery getting or nice gravel bike paths at the park & beach. It's very comfortable and comes with the fenders and rack ready to go.
Getting to fat tires, I am split on this issue. I agree that fat tires are great on some e-bikes, especially the heavy moped or moto style. They offer increased float on loose surfaces, better traction, and additional suspension if you use the correct tire pressure. I can also see how riders can find them safer in some ways, they can assist with balance and are more forgiving. They can also help with suspension since you can run lower pressures due to the increased volume of the tire, but that also runs the risk of damaging a rim if you go too low. The downsides of fat tires are they are heavy, cumbersome and change the ride feel of the bike. On e-bikes, you're mainly going to notice this on turns, tight trails, and when lifting or moving the bike without power.
Having said that, I am an avid mountain biker, and mountain bikes can ride very challenging terrain on 2.0-2.6" volume tires, maintain great traction and are very easy to ride. I think if you are a reasonable cyclist you can get great ride quality out of a non-fat tire, and get the same or better traction while also enjoying less roll resistance and decreased weight. This is something I enjoy about the Velotrics, I find too many e-bikes throw fat 3-4" tires on a bike and say "now its an offroad machine" ignoring the fact many attributes all combine for ride qaulity, so its kind of a cheap trick. But Velotric found a nice mix; the Summit 1 uses 27.5" X 2.6" tires, which is a great size and is perfect for the bike, and I did not find any situations where I wished for a larger or smaller tire. The Discover 2 uses a smaller 27.5"X2.4" tire with a light tread. So the Discover 2 will have much less traction in mud and dirt.
I hope that helps to guide you a little bit in your decision! Let me know if you have any other questions or would like me to elaborate on something. I am always happy to chat about the bikes!
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