The Velotric GoMad Electric Utility eBike — CleanTechnica Tested

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Velotric has emerged as one of the largest ebike brands in the US, offering a wide range of models for buyers to choose from. Having a wide range of models with differing capabilities is increasingly a key factor for buyers when deciding which ebike to buy, as it allows them to upgrade or swap out for a different model to accommodate different stages of life.

They reached out to CleanTechnica about a review and we were excited to play with the Velotric GoMad Electric Utility bike, because it is just so darn flexible in what it can do. You can throw a set of bags on the back rack or a passenger kit to bring a friend with you. You can put a basket on the back and deliver pizzas, or you can just throw a backpack on and ride around town solo. It truly looked like the jack of all trades, so we pulled the trigger, and after a few days, it showed up.

Disclaimer: Velotric provided the GoMad to the author for the purposes of this review. 

Assembly

Assembling the Velotric GoMad is similar to the process for most e-bikes. It can be done with a basic set of tools that are included with the bike, and takes between 30 minutes and an hour depending on how much of a hurry you’re in.

After that, it’s a simple matter of attaching the pedals, mounting the handlebars to the stem, installing the front wheel and tire, connecting a few of the electrical connectors between the handlebars and the bike itself, airing up the tires, and you’re on your way. Ours took a few minutes longer than normal to bolt on the optional Passenger Kit

First Ride

Taking in the Velotric GoMad, it is an attractive bike with great proportions. The battery is integrated into the main downtube on the frame, which makes it look slightly bloated, but in a way that fits into the overall proportions of the bike. The oversized tires help with this, making it look like it can go absolutely anywhere.

The rear hub motor kicks out plenty of power, and with a range of pedal assist modes. You can choose just how much power you need for the ride you want. You can choose from the motor being completely off, Eco, Tour, Trail, Sport, and even the full-out Boost mode that can give you exactly the support you need.

It’s perfect for when you’re carrying a load, powering up a hill, or just feeling tired. The motor is always ready to step in to provide assistance. At the upper end of its power cycle, the motor controller is more sensitive to the pedaling cadence, resulting in the motor pulsing on and off, providing for a bit of a bumpy sensation when pedaling. It’s only something you’d notice if you’re really paying attention, but it’s there.

The GoMad is designed with an integrated rear rack and a hidden storage pocket. The rack can also be converted into a seat for a second passenger with Velotric’s passenger kit. The passenger kit itself is amazing if that’s what you’re looking for, and this is further accentuated by the bike’s compact footprint. The tradeoff is that the main seat has a flat rear, which does make it slightly less comfortable than more fully built-out options.

The passenger kit comes with a set of pegs down below for the passengers’ feet to rest on, a rear grab rail for the rack, and a front handle for the passenger to hang onto as you’re boosting around town. Given the compact footprint of the bike, it feels like it was designed to be used as more of a teenager-plus-one setup, but if you want to put it to work as a husband-and-wife date night setup, its 500 pound weight capacity is more than up to the task.

I rode around on it with my wife on the back and it was very comfortable and stable for both of us. The foot pegs and the solid support bars that come with the passenger kit make it feel much safer and more comfortable for the passenger. I took a few pics of us on the bike, but, hilariously, none of them had the bike in frame and she wasn’t a fan of my one handed stunts. Of course, that’s for you to decide what you want to do with your life and how you want to set up your bike and put it to use.

Overall

The Velotric Nomad is an extremely capable bike at a mid-level price point for bikes of this quality and capability. It’s currently listed as $1,899 with a special Black Friday offer that includes a free young passenger kit.

The fact that its 750W continuous power output motor has a peak of 1,300W means it’s got plenty of pep to take even the largest and least-in-shape riders wherever they want to go. The specs across the board and the integration of the torque and cadence sensor make it feel like a very natural ride that will surprise you with just how intuitively the power is coming from the motor.

I especially love the colorways this bike comes in. They have a nice modern-looking sage that feels classy and refined, a dark amber that’s somewhere between a bright orange and bright red that looks like a pop of lipstick that really sets the whole frame off, and finally an obsidian, which is what our review bike came in.

The obsidian has a base color that looks almost black, but then when you put it in the sunlight, it has a rainbow pop of color that peeks out every once in a while. It’s not so much that it feels like it’s covered in glitter, but it’s just enough to make it feel fun.

For more information about the Velotric Nomad e-bike, head over to their official website, where you can learn all about it or purchase one for yourself.

Specs

• Bike Size: One Size
• User Height Range: 5’0″ to 6’3″
• Frame: Triple-Butted Aluminum Alloy
• Fork: RST Hydraulic Suspension, 100mm Travel with Lock-out, 36mm Inner Tube
• Motor: 48V, 750W (1300W Peak Power), 85Nm
• Battery: 48V, 16.7Ah (801.6Wh), IPX7, UL2271 Certified
• Cell: Samsung/LG 21700, UL2580 Certified
• Charger: 48V, 3A Fast Charger
• Sensor: Torque and Cadence Sensor
• Display: 3.5″ Full Color, High Brightness, Bluetooth, NFC, Adjustable Angle
• USB Port: USB Type-C Phone Charging
• Throttle: Trigger-Control, Removable
• Pedal Assist: 5 Riding Modes plus Stealth Mode and Ride Tuning
• Walk Mode: 2.9 MPH, Walk & Hold
• Front Light: 500LM High-Output Integrated LED, Adjustable Angle
• Rear Light: Braking Indicator, Turn Signal, Steady/Flash, Integrated with Rear Rack
• Water Resistance: IPX6
• App: App with OTA Updates
• Anti-Theft: Apple Find My and Google Find Hub, NFC Card Unlock
• Max Speed (Default): 20 MPH
• Max Speed Adjustable Range: 12 to 28 MPH
• Ebike Class: 1/2/3
• Pedal Assist Range: 75 Miles
• Throttle Range: 50 Miles
• Chainring: 52T Narrow-Wide
• Crankset: Aluminum Alloy, 165mm
• Freewheel: 8-Speed, 11-34T
• Rear Derailleur: SHIMANO 8-Speed
• Shift Lever: SHIMANO 8-Speed
• Chain: KMC 8-Speed
• Brakes: Tektro Hydraulic Disc
• Rotors: 203mm Front, 180mm Rear
• Brake Levers: Aluminum Alloy, with Power Cutoff
• Rims: Aluminum Alloy
• Front Hub: NOVATEC Aluminum Alloy, 15x135mm Thru-Axle
• Tires: KENDA 20×4.0″ eBike Puncture-Resistant
• Handlebar: BMX Style, 31.8mm Bar Clamp, 700mm
• Grips: Durable Ergonomic, Lockable
• Stem: Quill Stem, 31.8mm Clamp, 30mm Length, 140mm Vertical Adjustment
• Saddle: VELOTRIC Comfort Ergonomic Seat
• Seatpost: Aluminum Alloy, 30.9mm
• Seatpost Clamp: Aluminum Alloy, Quick Release
• Fenders: Plastic, Front and Rear Full Coverage
• Rear Rack: MIK HD Compatible, Integrated with Frame
• Pedals: Plastic
• Kickstand: Aluminum Alloy, Rear Mount, Included
• Rear Rack Bag: Included as Standard Equipment
• Bike Weight: 77 lb
• Bike Weight (Without Battery): 67 lb
• Rear Rack Load Capacity: 176 lb
• Max Bike Load Capacity: 500 lb