VELOTRIC.DISCOVER-1

Velotric Discover 1 Electric Bike Review – Great Choice For Those On A Budget

by freshlycharged

The Velotric Discover 1 is a budget-friendly Ebike with premium features. The paint job is stunning and the integrated battery matches to create a seamless look. Add in the brown wall tires and integrated taillight, and it creates an aesthetically pleasing look.

The best part is you can choose between 7 colors to express yourself!  If you have been thinking about picking up the Aventon Pace 500, but it is a little out of your budget, you will definitely want to check out the Velotric Discover 1.

In this review, I will tell you what love and hate about the Velotric Discover 1

Click here for the current pricing on the Velotric Discover 1: 
Use coupon code FRESHLYCHARGED60 to save $60
Use the coupon code and get it for only $1189 with their Holiday Special

What I love about the Velotric Discover 1

  • Hydraulic suspension
  • Color choices
  • The integrated battery matches the frame color
  • 2 piston hydraulic brakes with 180mm brake discs
  • Comfy seat
  • Aesthetically pleasing
  • Budget-friendly
  • Display works in direct sunlight
  • Crosshair design on handlebar and stem
  • Tail light and brake light built into the rear fender
  • Comes with fenders
  • Cable management
  • IPX6 water resistance rating
  • Brown wall tires

What type of suspension is on the Velotric Discover 1?

The Discover 1 has hydraulic suspension in the fork with 80mm of travel. You can adjust the preload but there is no lock-out.

The suspension on the Discover 1 is nice and plush, making off-road trails feel like smooth pavement. Whether you are dropping curbs or riding terrain, you’ll be pleased with the quality hydraulic suspension on the Discover 1.

Velotric Discover 1 mango step over

What type of tires is on the Velotric Discover 1?

The Discover 1 features 26-inch by 2.5-inch balloon-style street tires with brown walls.

The tires have tread that remind me of Schwalbe tires that grips well on smooth pavement.

Velotric Discover 1 cyan motor

Line up the stem and handlebar with precision!

I wonder why other companies don’t use a stem and handlebar design like Velotric bikes which makes setup a breeze.

The stem and handlebar have a cross-hair design to help you line up the handlebars with precision. It is much easier than doing it by eye.

Screen Shot 2022 11 20 at 5.52.36 PM

What type of brakes are on the Velotric Discover 1?

The Discover 1 features two-piston hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm brake discs.

The brakes are unbranded but feel great and offer plenty of stopping power. The brakes use mineral oil and remind me of Tektro hydraulic brakes.

If you notice they are a little squeaky, try putting rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and cleaning the brake discs.

Velotric Discover 1 hydraulic brake discs

What is the water resistance rating on the Velotric Discover 1?

The Discover 1 has an IPX6 water resistance rating. That means the bike can take high-pressure sprays from any direction. We seldomly see ebikes with an IPX6 water resistance raiting.

It’s nice to have a high water resistance rating but do know that most companies do not cover water damage.

Velotric Discover 1 side by side cyan and mango

Does the Velotric Discover 1 have a brake light?

The Discover 1 has a taillight integrated into the rear fender that acts a brake light. The light is always on and gets brighter when you brake. I love this feature on the bike because it helps with safety.

A lot of Ebikes have rear taillights but a lot of them don’t act as brake lights. It looks really sleek being built into the rear fender. The Aventon Level.2 is the only other ebike we have reviewed that had a taillight built into the fender.

Velotric Discover 1 fender with integrated brake light

Stand out with your favorite color!

With 7 color choices, you should be able to find a color you love with the Velotric 1. Stand out with the Mango or Cyan, or stealthily ride around in the Sand or Silver color. I love that all the batteries match the frame to create a seamless look.

The paint jobs look sleek and they have a nice glossy finish to make the bikes pop.

Does the Velotric Discover 1 comes with fenders?

The Discover 1 comes with a rear plastic fender installed and a front fender that needs to be installed. The fenders are made out of plastic and offer decent coverage.

I am impressed that Velotric includes fenders for free because the Aventon Pace is more expensive and it doesn’t come with fenders.

I would have preferred metal fenders but understand that Velotric needed to keep cost down to offer the Discover 1 at a budget friendly price.

Velotric Discover 1 cyan and mango step over vs step through frame

Click here for the current pricing on the Velotric Discover 1: 
Use coupon code FRESHLYCHARGED60 to save $60
Use the coupon code and get it for only $1189 with their Holiday Special

What I hate about the Velotric Discover 1

  • Shimano Tourney derailleur
  • Greyscale display
  • The throttle is controlled by PAS level
  • More assembly required compared to other ebikes
  • Previous versions had mechanical disc brakes instead of hydraulic brakes
  • I have seen complaints about after-sales servicing
  • Plastic fenders
  • Incorrect information on website

What is the top speed on the Velotric Discover 1?

The Discover 1 is a class 2 ebike with a top speed of 20mph in pedal assist and throttle.

One odd thing is the maximum throttle levels are controlled by the pedal assist level. In pedal assist level 1, the max throttle speed is 8 mph. In pedal assist level 2, the max throttle speed is 11 mph.

You have to be in pedal assist level 5 to reach the top throttle speed of 20 mph. I am not a big fan of this because sometimes I only want it to be in PAS 1 and use the throttle to reach 20mph. I wish there was a way to turn off this setting in the P-settings.

However, Jimmy’s wife loves this feature because she enjoys pushing down on the throttle fully while cruising at slower speeds depending on the set pedal assist level.

This Velotric ebikes are the only ones that have ever seen where the pedal assist levels impact the top speed of the throttle.

Velotric Discover 1 greyscale display

Where is Velotric’s customer service based?

Velotric’s website says their customer service team is in the US, but when I called I got a hold of a Filipino representative. Velotric ships bikes from a US warehouse and carry some parts. However, if you have a controller issue they need to send it from China which will take a while.

I have seen some people in Facebook forums complain they had issues with their Velotric bikes in warranty, and they are still waiting for them to be repaired. Most people are happy with their Velotric purchases but I have seen a decent amount of upset clients.

Velotric Discover 1 cyan and mango side by side

Quality control issues on website

I have found multiple items that need to be corrected. The website states the Discover 1 comes with hydraulic disc brakes but I have seen people receive them with mechanical disc brakes. Velotric also stated that the packaging on the Discover 1 was 100% recyclable but they have now updated the website since I stated something.

On the Discover 1 Specs, they list the suspension as having lock-out but it only has rebound adjustment. I have seen newer companies have issues on their websites and they fix them over time, but it could leave a customer upset if they receive something different from what the website states.

Velotric Discover 1 cyan and mango offset

What derailleur is on the Velotric Discover 1?

The Discover 1 uses a Shimano Tourney derailleur. The Tourney is the lowest-end derailleur that Shimano offers. It works fine but I would have liked them to use the Shimano Acera derailleur you see on the Nomad 1 bikes.

You can spend $30-$75 to upgrade your derailleur and understand that the Velotric used the Tourney derailleur to pass on the savings to the customer.

Velotric Discover 1 Shimano Tourney Derailleur

Final Thoughts

The Velotric Discover 1 ebikes are a great choice for consumers on a budget. The hydraulic suspension on the Discover 1 works much better than bikes in the same class which cost 1.5 times the amount. On top of being a great budget ebike, you can choose between 7 different colors.

The bikes have a high water resistance rating for an ebike so you should be able to ride it in light rain with confidence.

If you have been thinking about getting an Aventon Pace 500, you should definitely check out the Velotric Discover 1 bikes.

Velotric Discover 1 mango and cyan featured photo 1

Velotric Discover 1 Discount Codes, Coupon Codes, and Pricing

Click here for the current pricing on the Velotric Discover 1: 
Use coupon code FRESHLYCHARGED60 to save $60
Use the coupon code and get it for only $1189 with their Holiday Special

Click here to view all our coupons and discounts on scooters and other PEVs.

Click here to view all the safety gear that Jimmy and I use.

Facebook – Please join our eBikepedia Facebook group for the most up-to-date information.

Interested in electric scooters, check out our gotscooter blog.

Click here to check out all our coupon codes for other PEVs.

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We are Andrew and Jimmy, two guys who love personal electric vehicles, and we hope to share our experiences and reviews to help you find the best next PEV for your needs.

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