Velotric Summit E-Bike Review

The Summit was Velotric’s first entry into off-road riding, an aluminum hardtail built for riding light trails. The original Summit 1 marketed itself as an e-MTB, even though its gearing, suspension sophistication, and overall weight kept it from competing with true mountain bikes.

The Summit 2 repositions the line as a hybrid instead. Velotric calls it an “SUV-style” e-Bike, for commuting, errands, and weekend trail riding instead of serious technical terrain. Both of these bikes are still available, so you need to know the differences before you buy.

The Summit 2’s battery is physically interchangeable with the Summit 1’s, but the firmware needs to be updated to the latest version first, since the Summit 2 pack has more capacity than the original frame was designed for.

Both Summit 1 and Summit 2 bikes allow you to switch between sensors. This means they have a torque sensor that measures how hard you pedal for precise control, and a cadence sensor for smoother, more relaxed riding. This gives you a mode for picking your way down a trail, and another for just covering ground on a bike path.

The suspension is where the two bikes feel most different. The Summit 1’s fixed-rate coil spring fork does a reasonable job on bumps but doesn’t adjust to rider weight. The Summit 2’s RST Vibe air fork can be tuned to match your weight, with separate rebound adjustment on top, a real functional upgrade instead of a marketing one.

Both bikes switch between Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 riding modes. The Summit 2 does this with one-touch switching and a Custom Mode that unlocks throttle use up to 28 mph, though it isn’t available in California and may not be legal everywhere else. The Summit 1 handles Class compliance differently, with a throttle that can be removed entirely when local rules require it. It’s worth checking e-Bike street legality in your area either way to stay out of trouble.

Braking on the Summit 2 comes from Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes, a real step up from the Summit 1’s more basic hydraulic brakes, and it holds up noticeably better in wet conditions.

Both bikes use a 750W hub motor rated at 1,300W peak, but the Summit 2’s 100Nm of torque beats the Summit 1’s 90Nm. You’ll be thankful for that extra torque on steep climbs and when carrying extra weight.

The Summit 2’s 801.6Wh battery is a significant jump from the Summit 1’s 705.6Wh, and Velotric’s claimed range moves from 70 miles up to 95 as a result. As with any electric bike, the real-world range depends heavily on Class setting, sensor mode, and assistance level, so treat those figures as a ceiling instead of an expectation. Both batteries carry UL 2271 certification, and both bikes carry UL 2849 certification for the electrical system.

The Summit 2 also adds Pulse Mode, a feature that connects to an included heart rate strap or a compatible smartwatch and adjusts motor assistance to help keep your heart rate in a target zone. It’s aimed at riders who use the bike for fitness as much as for transportation, and it isn’t available on the Summit 1 at all.

Custom Mode has regional limits on the Summit 2. The 28 mph throttle-plus-pedal-assist combination isn’t available in California and may not be legal everywhere else.

Neither bike is a dedicated mountain bike. Both handle light trails reasonably well, but riders looking for serious technical mountain biking should consider a purpose-built e-MTB instead.

The Summit 2’s display and controls sit off-center. The new display and button controller are positioned on the left side of the bars, freeing up central handlebar space but requiring some adjustment if you’re used to a centered display.

• Riders on a tighter budget who still want off-road capability should look at the Summit 1. The motor and frame are sufficient even with less torque and a smaller battery.
• If you want one bike for both daily commuting and weekend trail riding, with better brakes and suspension adjustability, you should look at the Summit 2.
• Fitness-minded riders who want heart-rate-based assistance should go with the Summit 2, since Pulse Mode isn’t available on the original.
• If you want a dedicated, aggressive mountain bike, you should look elsewhere in either case. Both Summit models are built for versatility, not technical trail performance.

The Velotric Discover 3 leans more toward comfort-oriented commuting, worth considering if trail riding is a rare occasion instead of something you do all the time.

The Velotric Nomad 2X is a separate, heavier-duty model for fat-tire hauling capability instead of the Summit’s lighter, more agile version. It’s worth a look if payload capacity is more important to you than trail agility.

The Summit is a hybrid built to cover commuting, errands, and light trails, for years of mixed use. This makes either Summit a strong candidate for buying pre-owned. Every e-Bike on Upway goes through a 50-point mechanical inspection before it’s listed, and any battery with a capacity below 80% is replaced first. You get a one-year warranty on the frame, motor, and electrical system, plus a 14-day return window, and the bike arrives mostly assembled.

Browse the current electric mountain bike selection on Upway, or check out the wider range of used electric bikes and the current sale collection to compare your options.