Velotric’s new Thunder 1 took a more traditional approach.
Unboxing & Assembly
Like any direct-to-consumer ebike, be prepared for a large box on your doorstep.
Pulling the Thunder 1 ST out of the box is refreshingly easy, as is putting it together.
It’s easy enough that anyone can do it.
The entire process shouldn’t take you more than 15-20 minutes.
see to it the battery is charged and hit the pavement.
Instead, it uses Velotric’s all-new E35 drive system and torque sensor.
But what does that mean?
A torque sensor measures how hard you pedal to determine how much electric power it sends to the motor.
This results in an extremely smooth, safe, and enjoyable ride.
As you do, it engages the motor and only stops sending power when you stop pedaling.
This often delivers a jerky experience as the electric motor kicks on and off.
It’s gentle, easy, and the more you pedal, the faster the bike goes.
It’s pretty impressive.
The tires are skinny, and there’s no suspension.
So, how does it ride?
That’s not the case with the Thunder 1 ST.
Instead, it never feels like the motor is doing all the work.
You’ll have to pedal to keep the motor engaged.
This is different from most bikes, where it’s on the handlebars.
Around that button is an LED ring light that displays five different colors for each pedal assist level.
Overall, the Velotric Thunder 1 ST is exceptionally smooth, comfortable, and easy to ride.
A beginner could enjoy all it has to offer with no problems.
The high-end hydraulic disc brakes worked great, and I always felt in total control of the bike.
Anyone with an iPhone should be familiar with Find My.
If any nearby Apple unit spots another, it’ll be in the Find My online grid.
It’s not very loud, mind you, but at least it’s an option.
you could also lock the bike if it’s stolen, making the electric bits useless to a thief.
Thankfully, the bike seems more than capable enough to go 50 miles on a single charge.
Last weekend I went on two 10-mile rides throughout town.
I expected a bit less, so that was a welcomed surprise.
Again, battery life was never a concern.
Is the Velotric Thunder 1 ST Worth Buying?
But again, this is a road bike, so verify that’s what you want.
Just hop on, pedal, and enjoy the wind in your face.
The motor helps enough to keep on pace without making it feel like I’m simply riding a moped.
Look elsewhere if you want to squeeze a throttle and reach top speeds without any work.
Instead, it’s a well-rounded and competent modern ebike that’s an absolute blast to ride.
