Velotric Fold 1 Plus E-Bike Review: Know When to Fold ‘Em

In the past, folding e-bikes always seemed to come with a lot of compromises. Sure, these models are easier to store and transport compared to traditional e-bikes, but they can also be awkward and heavy, especially in their folded state. Incorporating the folding elements also limits the bike’s design, often impacting performance and ride quality. But the Velotric Fold 1 Plus looks to overcome those challenges to deliver a bike that is both fun to ride and easily stores in a closet or RV cargo hold. Does it succeed where others have struggled? Read on to find out.

Why a Folding E-Bike?

For those who haven’t ridden a folding e-bike before, these models have all the features of a regular e-bike—namely, an electric motor and a large battery pack—with the added element of being able to fold down in size when not in use. By releasing hinges integrated into the handlebar stem and the frame itself, riders can actually fold the bike in half, making it much easier to drop into the trunk of a car, the back of an SUV, or an RV storage bay. These design elements make a folding e-bike an especially good option for RVers, apartment dwellers, or anyone who has limited space in their home.

The Fold 1 Plus is a classic folding bike in that regard, utilizing some of the same design features as we’ve seen in similar models in the past. And like those other models, Velotric’s offering can be a bit challenging to break down at first, although it does get a bit easier after you’ve done it a time or two. When folded, this bike is still a bit awkward to move around, too, thanks in part to its 63 lb. weight. To overcome that, we recommend keeping the bike in its unfolded state until you’re ready to store it in a vehicle, closet, garage, or other space.

It is important to note that this is more of a criticism of folding e-bikes in general and less the Fold 1 Plus itself. As far as folding bikes go, this is a pretty great one, with some thoughtful features that help set it apart from the crowd. For instance, it is equipped with an electric motor that produces 750W of power, with a peak output of as much as 1100W when needed. It also comes with a 48V 608Wh battery that supports fast charging. Working in tandem, that power cell and motor can hit speeds of up to 28 MPH and offer a range of as much as 68 miles on a single charge.

As far as traditional bike components go, the Fold 1 Plus continues the industry trend of utilizing improved parts to create a better rider experience. Those include a seven-speed Shimano gear set and a hydraulic suspension with 60 mm of travel. Hydraulic disc brakes, 20” x 3” puncture-resistant tires, and an easy-to-mount step-through frame are also worth noting.

Assembly and Ride Impressions

As with most direct-to-consumer brands, Velotric ships the Fold 1 Plus to customers in a partially assembled state. Before setting off on your first ride, you’ll first have to attach the handlebars, front tire, front mudguard, kickstand, and a few other parts. Most of the assembly process is fairly straightforward, requiring less than an hour to complete. After that, you’re ready to charge the battery, a process that takes a couple of more hours, before setting off on your first ride.

Folding e-bikes have long had a reputation for being a bit rougher to ride. That’s because the frames on these bikes are more optimized for folding rather than direct rider comfort. But we’re pleased to say that the Fold 1 Plus is actually very comfortable to ride, and its front suspension does a good job of reducing the bumps and lumps we often feel on the road. The bike’s upright seating position and step-through design go a long way toward making this model more accessible to a wider audience, including folks who haven’t ridden a bike in a while.

The Fold 1 Plus includes options for using both pedal assist modes and a thumb throttle. This gives it a nice level of versatility, allowing owners to get as much or little of a workout as they would like on their rides. Exclusively using the throttle allows riders to zoom along without pedaling at all, although that does require more juice out of the battery. Velotric says riding in throttle-only mode reduces the maximum range down to about 45 total miles. All things considered, that’s not too bad considering the demands this places on the motor and batteries.

To achieve the maximum 68-mile range, you’ll want to stick to pedal-assist mode, however. Velotric has done something interesting here, by giving riders three modes to choose from, plus five individual settings within each of those modes. As you would expect, “Eco” mode provides the least assistance but also requires the least amount of battery power. “Trail” mode ratchets things up to a medium level of assistance, balancing power and distance, while “Boost” mode puts the biggest strain on the battery, but makes it much easier to roll up steep climbs or carry heavy loads.

During our testing, we found that Eco mode was more than adequate for most rides, especially since you had five additional Eco power levels to help fine-tune the exact level of pedal assist that you receive. We did bump up to Turbo mode on occasion, particularly on steep grades, but we only used Boost once just to test it out. Obviously, different riders have different needs, and this bike really does a great job of allowing you to dial in the exact settings you want based on the terrain, weather conditions, physical limitations, and other factors. We’re very big fans of what Velotric has done here in terms of giving riders such granular control.

It is also worth noting that the Fold 1 Plus rides quite nicely on flat surfaces without any kind of pedal assist at all. Sure, it is more nimble and speedy even with Eco mode set to the lowest level, but it is definitely possible to ride this bike without assistance as a way to further extend the battery and range. And for those looking to ride to get a bit more fit, will give you a better workout, too.

Performance and Features

The Fold 1 Plus ride experience goes beyond just how well it pedals or flies down the road using the throttle. The bike is also the most comfortable folding model we’ve ever tested, which makes even extended rides fun and accessible. The wide tires offer stability on a variety of surfaces and can even handle light off-road duty, although this bike isn’t really designed for that kind of riding. The gearing and chain are responsive and smooth, while the integrated headlight, taillight, and turn indicators add additional levels of visibility and safety.

During our testing, we found the advertised range of 68 miles using pedal assist to be fairly accurate. Riding mainly in Eco mode and cycling through the various power levels, we were able to easily hit 60+ miles of riding before needing to recharge the battery. Most of that distance was done on fairly level ground, with the occasional incline. As expected, longer, steeper hills drained power at a faster pace. We didn’t do a full throttle-only test to see if the claims of a 45-mile range held up, but in our limited use of the thumb throttle we found it to be fast and fun, although as expected it quickly consumed power.

As with most modern e-bikes, the Fold 1 Plus can be paired with your smartphone via the Velotric app. This unlocks some additional features, including tracking ride metrics like distance, speed, and time. It also serves as a conduit for updating the bike’s firmware with bug fixes and new features and can be used to add it to the Apple FindMe network for GPS tracking. That’s a handy feature to have should your bike go missing. The app itself is simple, intuitive, and a nice resource for owners.

All of these features combine to make the Fold 1 Plus a great all-around option for anyone looking for a fun, versatile e-bike that they can take anywhere. The bike offers a smooth, relaxed ride, and its folding capabilities allow it to be easily taken with you on a wide variety of adventures. When folded, it takes up very little room, which is why it will definitely appeal to RVers, but also apartment dwellers with limited space.

A Great Value

We definitely enjoyed our time riding and testing the Velotric Fold 1 Plus. As folding e-bikes go, it is the best we’ve seen so far. That said, there were a few rough edges along the way. For instance, the bike shipped from the factory with a few of the pre-installed parts only loosely attached. We were able to quickly and easily fix them simply by tightening up a few bolts, but that isn’t something we typically have to do with those factory-installed components.

Conversely, the rear mudguard was actually installed a little too tightly. When we set off on our initial ride, the bike was making an odd grinding noise that was a bit unnerving. At first, we thought it might be an issue with the motor, but upon further inspection we determined that it was actually the mudguard rubbing against the tire. This was also a part that came pre-installed, but this time it required loosening a few screws, readjusting the mudguard’s alignment, and tightening it back into place. After that, the rubbing noise went away and the bike rode quietly and smoothly.

To be clear, these are mostly very minor annoyances that didn’t detract at all from our overall enjoyment of the bike. Once everything was fully assembled and locked in place, it was super fun to ride, combining power, performance, and comfort into one easy-to-recommend package. Even if you never fold this bike at all, it is a great option with a nice balance of features, build quality, and design. In fact, the Fold 1 Plus is one of the best values we’ve seen in the e-bike space in quite some time. MSRP for this model is $1499, which is very competitive considering everything it offers. But as of this writing, the Fold 1 Plus is on sale for $1199, making it an outstanding bargain.

If you’re in the market for a folding e-bike that is easy to store and transport, this model should definitely be on your short list. It is nicely priced and nicely equipped, with everything you need right out of the box. It even comes in five different colors, including Mango, Stone Gray, Violet Haze, Electric Blue, and Pearl White, giving you a choice of options to meet your own personality and preference.

To learn more about the Velotric Fold 1 Plus, visit the company’s website.