Should you buy one?
The Velotric Discover 1 step-through is the e-bike my wife likes best out of everything we’ve tested, and after several weeks on it I understand why. It fit both of us, it pulled our son’s tandem trailer bike with no drama, and at $1,300 when I filmed it in 2023, it was hard to beat on specs for the money.
It’s a “budget” e-bike because of its price, but I think Velotric spent the money where it matters. The parts didn’t get cheaper since I tested this same model several years earlier, and the styling is gorgeous.
One catch today: as of Oct 22, 2026, Velotric’s Discover 1 page still shows a $1,699 price for the Discover 1 Plus, but the same page says it “is no longer available.” Treat $1,699 as the last listed price, not something you can buy today.
Check Velotric (affiliate link)
Two tests, several years apart
I’ve reviewed the Discover 1 step-through twice. The first time, I rode it for about two weeks. The second time, in March 2023, I rode it for several weeks. Most of this review comes from the 2023 test, because it’s the newer bike. The first test added a real range number and a closer look at the battery, so I’ve included it below. Where the two videos disagree, I say so.
- Pedal assist levels. In the first video I counted three levels plus zero. In 2023 I said five. Velotric’s comparison page lists five.
- Rear rack. On the first bike, the rear rack came standard. In 2023 I said the rack was an optional purchase. Check what’s included on the listing you buy from.
What the specs mean on the road
500W motor, 900W peak, 65 Nm. That’s a common size for a commuter e-bike. The sustained number is what the motor can hold, and the peak is the short burst you get when you pull away or hit a hill. In my 2023 test it was enough to make pulling our son on a tandem trailer bike effortless for my wife.
48V, 14.4Ah, 692Wh battery. Watt hours are the size of the fuel tank. I got 39 miles on throttle alone from a full battery in my first test, which I explain below.
Cadence sensor. Velotric lists a cadence sensor. It turns the motor on when the pedals turn, rather than measuring how hard you push. It’s one of the differences from the Aventon Level 3 in the comparison below.
26 x 2.5 inch tires. Wider than a road bike tire, narrower than a fat tire. That middle width is part of why our tandem trailer bike fit over the rear wheel when it didn’t on some other e-bikes.
80mm fork. Enough for curbs and rough pavement. That matches what I saw: it handled curbs, paved paths and light dirt, but it isn’t an off-road bike.
440 lb carrying capacity. Velotric’s number for rider plus cargo. That leaves room for a heavier rider with a loaded bag.
63 lbs. Velotric’s listed weight. Lighter than a fat tire bike, heavier than a non-electric bike.
Range: 39 miles on throttle only
In my first test, Velotric claimed 80 miles of range in its lowest assist mode. I didn’t test that. I used the throttle only, with no pedaling, on a full battery, and I got 39 miles. That wasn’t a flat test track, and I’m about 200 lbs.
What I measured on camera: 39 miles on one charge, throttle only, on a hilly track at about 200 lb (video, 2:22).
Throttle only is the hardest way to use a battery, because the motor does all the work. Based on that, I said I could see roughly doubling it to about 80 miles on a flat route in the lowest pedal assist level without the throttle. That’s my estimate, not a test.
Like with electric cars, temperature, rider weight and tire pressure play a huge role in the range you’ll actually get. Velotric’s comparison page now lists 58 miles on throttle and 65 in pedal assist.
The battery up close
The battery is one of the things I was most impressed by in my first test.
- Removable, and painted to match. It’s tucked into the center of the frame and painted the same color as the bike.
- Lockable. Once it’s latched in, you can lock it. That matters if you park outside, because nobody can walk off with your battery.
- Take it inside. You can unlock it and carry it into your office to charge if you commute to work.
- Charge indicator. Press a button on the battery to see how much charge it has left.
- Covered charge port. A rubber cover keeps water out of the port.
I said it was one of the highest quality battery systems I’d seen on an e-bike. In that video I also noted the bike is rated IPX5, which means it’s protected against water spray. In practice that’s rain, not submersion.
Display and lights from my first test
The display was easy to see even in bright sunlight. Anytime the bike is on, the red light on the rear fender stays lit, and when you pull either brake it gets brighter. That makes you more visible to drivers behind you, both as a running light and as a brake light.
Small gripe from my first test: warning labels
There were warning labels all over the first bike, including on the rims. It’s a nitpick.
Colors
The first bike I tested was turquoise with a finish that felt almost like powder coat. Velotric also offered colors including yellow and black at the time.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fit me at 6’1” and my wife at 5’6” with just a seat height change
- Five pedal assist levels that felt really responsive
- Throttle gives you a lot of power instantly
- Bright LED headlight built into the front fender area, plus a brake light on the back
- Battery is built into the frame in the same color
- Cables routed through the frame, and clear paint protection film by the chain
- Step-through frame my wife found easier to get on and off
- Fit our tandem trailer bike over the rear wheel, which some other e-bikes didn’t
- About $1,300 when I filmed it
Cons
- I had to install the rear kickstand myself
- Plastic pedals
- The charger plug only goes in one way
- The rack is an extra-cost option
- The gum sidewall tires I loved don’t match the plain black tires in Velotric’s website photos
- Velotric’s page now says it’s no longer available
Unboxing and setup
Unboxing was very similar to the other e-bikes I’ve tested, with one extra step: I had to put on the rear kickstand myself. It’s a small thing, but you don’t usually have to do it.
Fit and comfort
This is a comfortable bike for most people. My wife is about 5’6” and I’m about 6’1”, and both of us felt really comfortable on it. The only thing I had to do was raise the seat a little.
The reason it works for both of us is the curved handlebar and where the seat sits relative to it. We both found a comfortable position really easily. When my wife rides it, she sits upright with her elbows ever so slightly bent, and the reach fits her really nicely. My wife said she likes the step-through frame because it’s easier to get on and off. After my first test, she told me off camera that it was one of the e-bikes she liked most because of how comfortable it was. She’d ridden many of the others, including some fat tire bikes, which she said were too bulky. That’s the real case for a step-through: if swinging a leg over a high frame is a hassle, you’ll ride less.
The seat is extra cushiony. It’s similar to the seat I tested several years back, but not the same one, so Velotric either upgraded it or changed it a little. I didn’t notice anything negative about it. The hand grips are the same great, super comfortable ones from the earlier bike.
The front suspension fork handled bumps going on and off curbs and on paved paths. This is not an off-road bike, but it could handle some light dirt trails.
Controls, motor and throttle
Hold the power button and the bike and display turn on. You get five pedal assist modes, and I found them really responsive. The throttle is also really responsive. It’s touchy in a good way: you get a lot of power instantly, which is what I like to see.
The shifter on the right is a very standard shifter. There’s a bell on the left.
Velotric lists a 500W motor with a 900W peak and 65 Nm of torque. I didn’t measure power myself.
Lights, brakes and fenders
Hold the plus button and a very bright LED headlight comes on. It’s integrated with the front fender. The brakes do work, and there’s a brake light on the back that lights up when you pull the brakes, which is really nice to see for rider safety. Front and rear fenders come standard. A rack is optional.
Build quality and details
I’ve reviewed bikes several years apart where the company cheaped out on the parts the second time. I’m very happy to say Velotric didn’t. The battery is still integrated in the same color as the frame.
The little details stood out. There’s clear paint protection film on the chain slap guard, and it was doing its job; I was wiping grease off it. The cables are routed through the frame. The pedals are plastic, but I’m not too concerned about that. The crankset was just fine when my wife and I used it.
The gum sidewall tires are beautiful. They have nothing to do with performance, strictly looks, but I’m sad that Velotric’s website photos just show a regular black tire.
Charging
Plugging it in is simple. Pull the little tab out, which is a really nice design, and plug in the charger. The plug is directional, which I don’t like, but at least it’s flat on one side so it’s easy to line up. The charger light turns red while charging and green when it’s done. I’d say it takes about three to four hours to charge fully.
Riding with kids
If you’re a parent, this is the best thing about an e-bike. I love those little tandem trailer bikes, but they get super heavy, especially when the child on the back isn’t helping much. My son was pedaling a little bit.
The Discover 1 made it effortless for my wife. She could still pedal and get exercise, but she was just enjoying the ride instead of sweating or dreading the next hill. You can see in the video how easily she goes up and around a hill.
The tandem bike fit almost perfectly over the rear wheel. We’ve had issues with other e-bikes where this tandem bike won’t fit, so the slightly wider tire and the size of this bike worked out really nicely. If you’re shopping for family riding, see my parents’ guide to e-bikes.
How it compares
| Velotric Discover 1 | Aventon Level 3 | Aventon Pace 500.3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor (W, sustained) | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Motor (W, peak) | 900 | 864 | 864 |
| Battery (Wh) | 692 | 733 | 614 |
| Rated range (mi) | 65 | 70 | 60 |
| Weight (lbs) | 63 | 67 | 54 |
| Carrying capacity (lbs) | 440 | 300 | Not listed |
| Front suspension | Yes, 80mm | Yes, 80mm | No |
| Step-through version | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price, USD | 1,300 (when I filmed it) | 1,699 (sold out, Oct 22, 2026) | Not listed (US) |
Discover 1 figures are from Velotric’s comparison page; the Level 3 figures are from aventon.com; the Pace 500.3 figures are from my Pace 500.3 review.
- Aventon Level 3: if you want a torque sensor, a suspension seat post, a rack included and GPS tracking, see my Level 3 review. The Discover 1 has the higher carrying capacity on paper.
- Aventon Pace 500.3: lighter, with no front suspension. Better if you’ll lift your bike a lot.
Who it’s for
- Couples of different heights. My wife and I, 5’6” and 6’1”, shared it with only a seat change.
- Parents pulling a tandem trailer bike. It made towing our son effortless and the trailer bike fit the rear wheel.
- Riders who want a step-through frame. Easy on and off.
- Paved path and town riders. It handles curbs and light dirt, but it’s not an off-road bike.
Who should look elsewhere
- Off-road riders. Light dirt trails only.
- Anyone who needs a rack out of the box. It’s optional.
- Buyers who need this exact model. Velotric’s page says it’s no longer available, so you may end up with the Discover 1 Plus.
FAQ
Is the Velotric Discover 1 still sold?
As of Oct 22, 2026, Velotric’s Discover 1 page shows a last listed price of $1,699 for the Discover 1 Plus, and says the Plus “is no longer available.” I tested the original Discover 1 step-through.
How long does it take to charge?
About three to four hours in my experience.
Can it pull a kid’s tandem trailer bike?
Mine did. Our tandem trailer bike fit almost perfectly over the rear wheel, and the motor made the ride effortless for my wife.
Is there a high-step version?
Yes. There’s also a high-step version, which I reviewed separately.
Is it good off-road?
No. The front fork handled curbs and paved paths, and it could handle light dirt trails, but it’s not an off-road bike.
How far can it go?
On my first test, I got 39 miles on throttle only at about 200 lbs on a route that wasn’t flat. Velotric lists 58 miles on throttle and 65 in pedal assist.
Can I lock the battery?
Yes. It locks into the frame, and you can unlock it to take it inside.
Is it water resistant?
In my first video I noted an IPX5 rating. The fenders also come standard, which helps in wet weather.
Does it have a throttle?
Yes, and it’s very responsive. You get a lot of power instantly.
Price
When I filmed this in March 2023, the Discover 1 was $1,300, and you could save an extra $200 if you bought two bikes. As of Oct 22, 2026, the same page shows a last listed price of $1,699 for the Discover 1 Plus, which is marked no longer available.
Check Velotric (affiliate link; it doesn’t cost you any more)
