About a year ago, Velotric launched a successful Indiegogo campaign to fund an urban step-through ebike capable of rolling for up to 80 miles. Now the startup is back with a fat-tire adventure model called the Nomad 1.
Velotric was launched in July 2021 by the co-founder of Lime, Adam Zhang, and has folks from Lime, Giant, Specialized and Decathlon in its employee ranks. Following Indiegogo success, the company's first ride – the Discover 1 – had its retail launch in March.
Where that urban/city roller is a step-through-only model, the Nomad 1 comes with the option of a step-through or step-over aluminum alloy frame to accommodate riders ranging from 5.08 to 6.75 ft (1.55 - 2.05 m). Cabling is routed internally to keep the look clean, front and rear fenders are included, and optional front/rear racks can be had for hauling up to 88 lb (40 kg) of gear or shopping – with the ebike rated for a total load of 440 lb (200 kg).
Velotric has bumped up the power for this one too, with the Nomad 1 sporting a 750-W (1,200-W peak) rear-hub motor for 55.3 lb.ft (75 Nm) of torque and five levels of pedal assist up to 20 mph (32 km/h), plus a thumb throttle for an even easier hill climb. And there's an 8-speed Shimano gearset for more flexibility during a ride, particularly on inclines.
Matched to the motor is a removable (and lockable) 692-Wh downtube Li-ion battery tested for cold weather performance and offering a per-charge range of up to 55 miles (88 km).
The adventure ebike rides on 26-inch chunky rims wrapped in 4-inch-wide puncture-resistant CST tires, there's a terrain-smoothing hydraulic lockout suspension fork with 80 mm of travel, and stopping power is provided by hydraulic disc brakes with 180-mm rotors.
Elsewhere, Velotric has mounted a 3.5-inch backlit LCD display mid-handlebar for checking speed, battery status and assist level while riding, there's a USB port for topping up gadgets while out and about, and an integrated LED headlight for day/night visibility.
The Nomad 1 is up for pre-order now in a choice of eight frame colors in step-through or step-over for US$1,599, with the retail launch planned for November 1.
Product page: Nomad 1
