Electric bikes (e-bikes) are becoming increasingly popular for recreational riding, commuting, and running errands. Cargo e-bikes, with their ability to haul kids, pets, and gear, are especially versatile.
I recently got the chance to test out the Velotric Go 1, an electric cargo bike made by Velotric.
Overview of the Velotric Go 1
The Velotric Go 1 is a compact, lightweight cargo e-bike. With 20” wheels and a Step-through aluminum frame, it weighs in at just 65 lbs.
But don’t let its small size fool you – this little bike can still carry plenty of cargo on its rear rack.
Some key specs on the Go 1:
- 500W geared rear hub motor (900W peak)
- Removable 48V 14.4Ah (662Wh) LG lithium battery with UL 2272 certification
- Up to 55 miles of pedal assist range (tested)
- Shimano 7-speed derailleur
- Tektro hydraulic disc brakes 180mm rotors
- 20 x 3” CST Big Boat puncture resistant tires
- Adjustable stem and saddle with quick release
- Belltrick L300E LCD display
- Integrated front and rear LED lights
In terms of cargo capacity, the rear rack is rated for 120 lbs. And there are several mounting points to add accessories like baskets, foot pegs, and more.
I’ll dig into all the features in more detail shortly. But first, let’s take a look at the unboxing and assembly process.
Unboxing and Assembly
The Velotric Go 1 arrived neatly packed in a cardboard box. Inside, all the components were carefully wrapped and packed into separate boxes.
Assembly was quick and straightforward. The bike comes about 85% pre-assembled. All I had to do was install the handlebars, front wheel, pedals, fenders, and front light. Velotric includes a basic toolkit with hex wrenches, screwdrivers, and a pump.
Total assembly time was under 30 minutes – much faster than some other e-bikes I’ve tested! The rear rack and kickstand are welded onto the frame so no need to bolt those on.
One detail I appreciated was the kickstand design. It has a wide rubber pad that grips the ground and keeps the bike stable. Makes it easy to load cargo without worrying about tipping over.
Taking a Closer Look at the Components
With assembly complete, I took some time to inspect the bike and components in more detail. Here are my impressions:
Motor and Drivetrain
The Go 1 uses a Velotric H50 geared hub motor in the rear wheel. Rated for 500W continuous and 900W peak. Gearing helps provide higher torque compared to a direct drive hub.
Mated to a 7-speed Shimano Tourney derailleur and AGZ 180mm crankset. Gearing felt well suited for this compact bike. Enough range to tackle hills when loaded.
Battery
14.4Ah (662Wh) lithium battery made with LG cells. Secured to the downtube with a keylock and easy to remove for charging indoors. Nice to see UL certification for battery safety.
Charger is 3A so recharge time from empty is about 5 hours. Plenty fast in my opinion.
Brakes
Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors. Paired with adjustable levers that fit my hand size perfectly. Powerful stopping power even when loaded.
Tires
20 x 3” puncture resistant tires from CST. Not quite full fat bike sized but still provide some shock absorption. The relatively narrow width keeps rolling resistance lower.
Display
Uses a basic L300E LCD display from Belltrick. Shows speed, pedal assist level, distance, power, etc. My only gripe is the battery gauge is just a 5-bar icon. I prefer a voltage or percentage readout.
Lights
Integrated LED headlight and rear brake light powered by the main battery pack. Headlight is decently bright, especially paired with the secondary mount option.
Accessories for Customizing the Cargo Setup
One great thing about the Go 1 is all the available accessories for customizing your cargo configuration. Velotric sent me a number of add-ons:
- Rear basket – provides extra cargo space and attaches to the main rack. Made from sturdy canvas stretched over a metal frame.
- Foot pegs – allow a passenger to ride on the rear rack.
- Cushion pad – extra padding for the rear rack if carrying passengers.
- Front basket – smaller basket that mounts to the front handlebars. Handy for keeping items close at hand.
With these options, you can truly customize the Go 1 for your specific needs. The rear basket was definitely handy for larger grocery runs. My daughter loved riding on the back with the foot pegs too.
Ride Impressions and Performance
Okay, with the overview and components covered, let’s get to the fun part – actually riding this nimble little e-bike!
My testing consisted of everything from leisurely cruising to aggressive hill climbs while loaded with cargo. Here are my thoughts after putting nearly 40 miles on the odometer:
Motor Power and Throttle
Let’s start with the power and acceleration. With a peak of 900 watts, the rear geared hub had no issues getting up to speed, even with my 200 lb weight. Throttle is smooth and predictable. You can “feel” the power ramp up as you twist the grip.
Hitting the throttle from a standstill, I could easily hit 20 mph in a matter of seconds. Passing power is strong too. The motor can put out 800-900 watts continuously as needed to maintain higher speeds.
Pedal Assist and Cadence
Pedal assist works well and provides 5 levels of support. I found Level 1 nicely suited to flat land cruising up to around 10 mph. While Level 5 unleashes full power, allowing me to hit the 25 mph top speed with minimal pedaling effort.
One thing I appreciate is the cadence sensor doesn’t just dump 100% power instantly. It starts gentle and ramps up the watts as you pedal faster. This helps prevent jerky take-offs which can occur on some e-bikes.
Battery Range
Velotric estimates 40-55 miles of range depending on conditions and pedal assist level. For my testing, I disabled the speed limiter and ran at the highest power settings. Just throttle only, no pedaling on my part.
The battery gauge dropped from 5 bars to 3 bars after about 18 miles. After 40 miles I was just under 2 bars.
Later I checked the voltage directly with a multimeter. The battery measured 51V at the start and 47V at the end – so it looks like about 70-80% was used up. Definitely respectable range given how aggressively I was riding it!
Hill Climbing
Living in Seattle, I have no shortage of steep hills to test on! I was impressed with how the Go 1 could churn up inclines while loaded down. Standing acceleration is peppy thanks to the gearing.
For example, I tried a constant 20% grade hill climb with 120 lbs of cargo weight. The motor peaked around 900 watts but was able to maintain my 9 mph speed in the granny gear.
Same climb with a 50 lb passenger on the back. This time I got a rolling start of 11 mph first. Hitting the throttle, it peaked over 1200 watts for a few seconds to pull us up the hill without any pedaling needed.
Braking
The 180mm hydraulic disc brakes worked flawlessly to control speed on steep descents. Powerful one finger braking whether loaded or unloaded. They slowed my 200 lb mass from 20+ mph without fade or loss of power.
Having the integrated brake light on the rear is a nice safety touch when carrying cargo.
Handling
Compact wheelbase and 20” wheels makes the Go 1 very nimble compared to larger cargo bikes. It felt stable and easy to maneuver at slow speeds – important for carefully balancing heavy loads.
Tight turns and quick changes of direction felt intuitive. The low center of gravity helps keep the handling balanced with cargo on the rear.
Suspension
Suspension fork has 60mm of travel and a lockout option. It definitely smooths out sidewalk cracks, curbs, and other bumps. Handles gravel trails reasonably well at slower speeds too. The smaller tires do limit its off-road capability compared to full fat tire designs however.
Drivetrain
Shifting through the 7 speeds with the Shimano Tourney derailleur was smooth and consistent. Never had any chain drops or missed shifts.
Gearing felt well suited for road/trail use. I spent most of my time in 3-5 gear. The granny gear provides plenty of leverage for crawling up steep hills when fully loaded.
Cockpit
Handlebars offer a comfortable upright position. For my 5’10” height, the geometry didn’t feel overly cramped or stretched out. Reach to the bars was natural with the adjustable stem.
Saddle is quite wide and cushy. Combined with the shock absorbing seat post, it soaked up bumps and vibration nicely. Seat height is adjustable via a quick release lever.
The swept back handlebars and low step through frame make mounting and dismounting a breeze. Very handy when loading cargo or kids.
Carrying Capacity
As tested, the rear rack handled my 120 lb static load without any problems. No creaking from the welded frame or sagging.
However, with two adults totaling over 300 lbs, the ride quality did suffer on steep hills. The extra weight overwhelmed the front suspension, causing some loss of traction.
So for heavier riders or cargo, I’d recommend keeping loads under 150 lbs or so. Better to top out at the rated 120 lb cargo limit to maintain stability.
For lighter loads like groceries or kids, it carries weight easily and maintains normal handling. The accessories like foot pegs and padded seat come in handy here.
Pros and Cons of the Velotric Go 1
Pros:
- Quality geared hub motor provides peppy acceleration
- UL certified battery with LG cells; decent capacity for the size
- Hydraulic brakes offer great stopping power
- Adjustable front suspension smooths out bumps
- Integrated lights powered by main battery
- Rear rack provides flexible cargo options
- Quick and easy assembly out of the box
- Value priced given the robust components
Cons:
- No torque/power meter on display
- Battery gauge just shows 5-bars instead of voltage or percentage
- Max cargo weight limit is only 120 lbs
- Narrower tires limit off-road capability compared to fat bikes
- Upgraded derailleur would improve drivetrain performance
Who is the Velotric Go 1 Best Suited For?
The Velotric Go 1 hits a nice sweet spot between price, performance, and versatility. Here are some of the target user groups I think would appreciate this e-bike the most:
- Active urban dwellers needing a nimble daily rider for commuting and errands
- Parents looking for a way to transport kids and gear to school or the park
- College students wanting an easy way to zip around campus and carry their load
- Outdoor enthusiasts seeking a “basecamp” bike for light trail riding and adventures
- Small business owners who make neighborhood deliveries or carry tools from job to job
- Anyone needing an accessible option for groceries and everyday transportation
In my experience testing countless e-bikes, the Go 1 stands out for offering premium components and utility at a budget-friendly price point.
The peppy geared hub motor can tackle hills and carry real cargo weight – it’s not just for show. Build quality appears durable and able to withstand daily use and abuse. Plus it’s backed by a trusted brand like Velotric.
So if your needs align with what I’ve outlined above, I don’t think you can go wrong with the Velotric Go 1!
Accessories and Upgrades to Enhance the Go 1
Part of the fun with e-bikes is customizing and upgrading components over time. Based on my testing, here are some additions I’d recommend Velotric offer or current owners consider:
More accurate battery gauge – A voltage or percentage readout would be far more useful than the simple 5-bar icon to know your precise battery level. This is probably my top gripe.
Rear suspension – While the front fork works decently, adding some rear suspension would allow bigger tire sizes and improve comfort when loaded. Perhaps an option on a future “Go Two” model!
Integrated steering stabilizer – When riding no handed or loading unwieldy cargo, having more stability would lend confidence. A steering damper that doesn’t interfere with normal handling could help keep the front wheel straight.
Dropper seat post – Allowing on-the-fly saddle height adjustment by pressing a lever would make it even easier to mount and dismount frequently. Helpful for cargo stops where you hop on and off the bike continually.
Upgraded derailleur – The 7-speed Shimano Tourney derailleur works adequately. But an 8 or 9-speed Deore or SLX drivetrain would provide smoother, quicker shifts under load.
Wider off-road tires – For trail lovers looking to go off-road, installing some wider 4” tires would add more cushion and traction in the dirt. You’d sacrifice some efficiency on pavement but gain off-road capability.
Higher capacity battery – While the current 622Wh pack provides decent range, a larger 750Wh or even 1000Wh battery would allow even longer distances between charges. Helpful for heavy loads and terrain with lots of hills.
Front basket – The included front basket is handy for keeping small items close by. For bigger grocery runs, adding a larger reinforced front basket would expand cargo capacity greatly.
Rear seat pad – My kid was comfortable on short rides on the rear pad. But for longer distances or bumpy terrain, having more cushion would be more comfortable. An air cushion insert could help.
Final Verdict on the Velotric Go 1
After thoroughly testing out this plucky little cargo e-bike, I think Velotric has achieved an impressive balance of performance, utility, and value with the Go 1.
It has just enough power and cargo capacity for everyday errands, while maintaining an accessible price point. Build quality looks durable for daily use. And the nimble handling sets it apart from barge-like cargo bikes.
While it does have some limitations compared to full-size cargo e-bikes, the Go 1 hits a real sweet spot if your needs align with what it’s designed for.
Considering the price, included accessories, and quality parts spec, I find it tough to find much to complain about. Velotric seems to have done their homework and created an affordable, practical cargo e-bike that actually delivers when you put it to work.
So if you’re seeking an entry-level cargo e-bike that can replace short car trips and handle everyday transportation duties, be sure to take a close look at the Go 1. I think you’ll be delighted by just how much utility Velotric packed into this little ride.
Based on my experience testing, I’m happy to award the Velotric Go 1 cargo bike my “Recommended” seal of approval. To grab one for yourself, check for current pricing and availability using the links below. And don’t forget to use code “EBIKEREVIEW” to save an extra 10%!
Let me know if you have any other questions about the Go 1. Ride safe and I’ll see you on the trails!
