Fat-tire electric bikes are all the rage these days, designed to triumph on the trails but just as often seen conquering the pavement. Now the newly-released Velotric Nomad 2 is here to take a slice of that adventure-ready market. Designed for riders who want a mix of commuting practicality and off-road capability, this e-bike brings a powerful motor, excellent comfort, and a surprising amount of premium features at a relatively affordable price. But how well does it actually perform? I put it to the test to find out.
Velotric Nomad 2 Video Review
Velotric Nomad 2 Tech Specs
- Motor: 750W rear hub motor with 90Nm of torque
- Top speed: 28 mph (50 km/h) when unlocked to Class 3 mode
- Range: Claimed up to 65 miles (up to 105 km)
- Battery: 48V 14.7Ah 705Wh
- Weight: 75 lb (34 kg)
- Load capacity: 505 lb (230 kg)
- Frame: Aluminum alloy
- Tires: 26×4.0″ puncture-resistant fat tires
- Brakes: Dual-piston Tektro hydraulic disc brakes on 203/180mm rotors (front/rear)
- Price: US $1,999
- Extras: Color LCD display with USB-C phone charging port, 15 pedal assist levels, front and rear LED light with brake light and rear turn signals, 100mm travel hydraulic suspension fork, kickstand, internally routed cables, removable battery, cadence sensor and torque sensor (user selectable to switch back and forth between the two), UL-compliant battery and e-bike system, adjustable stem, and suspension seat post
Big on power, big on tires!
At the heart of the Nomad 2 is a 750-watt rear hub motor cranking out 90 newton-meters of torque. With all the new regulations hitting e-bikes, Velotric seems to be a bit cagier about publishing peak power specs, but the motor feels like it’s one of those 1,300-ish peak watt motors, and the 90 Nm torque spec reveals there’s some serious oomph in that hub motor! That’ll make it strong enough to take on steep hills and power through loose terrain like sand or gravel without breaking a sweat.
I’m glad to see a torque sensor included on the bike for smoother and more responsive pedal assist, but interestingly, riders can toggle between cadence and torque sensing in the settings, which is a unique touch for a bike at this price. The torque sensor offers a more natural pedal feel, responding to how hard you push, while the cadence mode is better suited for those who just want an easy ride with minimal effort. In effect, the cadence sensor basically works like a foot-activated throttle. If your feet are moving, the motor is working.
In practice, both work well, though torque sensing is where you’ll get the best mix of efficiency and responsiveness that makes it feel more like a pedal bike… just a pedal bike being ridden by someone with a professional cyclist’s tree trunk leg muscles.
Speaking of having the power to handle loose terrain like sand and soil, the Nomad 2 rides on 26-inch fat tires, meaning you get plenty of grip and rollover capability for uneven terrain. It also comes with a 100mm travel front suspension fork, helping to smooth out the bumps. And to add even more comfort, a parallel linkage suspension seat post gives you a nicer ride on your own caboose than the cheaper telescoping suspension seat posts we often see. Velotric spent the extra change necessary to upgrade that component, and it’s one you can really feel when the riding gets bumpy. A quality suspension seat post like this makes a big difference. It’s not the same as true rear suspension, but it goes a lot of the way there for casual riders wanting to take the jolts out of their riding. Combined with that hydraulic suspension fork, the bike rides quite nicely on uneven terrain.
The Nomad 2 ships in 20 mph (32 km/h) top speed mode, but you can go into the settings and unlock a top. speed of 28 mph (45 km/h) on pedal assist. You’re still limited to 20 mph on throttle, but pedaling gets you the higher speed for long straightaways that are more fun at higher speeds.
You can even limit the speed lower if you’d like, down to 12 mph (20 km/h). Basically, you’ve got a lot of room to play around with limits on the bikes.
The 705 Wh battery is UL-certified and claims a range of up to 65 miles (105 km), though that’s in ideal conditions with pedal assist. In the real world, they claim a throttle range of 45 miles (72 km) on throttle when riding on flat ground. If you’re a heavier rider or have less-than-ideal conditions, you’ll get a bit less. But with a big 700+ Wh battery, there’s still plenty of energy in there for long rides, especially since few of us spend more than 40 miles in a row in the saddle on any single ride.
Charging is relatively fast, taking about five hours from empty thanks to the 3A charger. The battery is removable, so you can bring it inside to charge instead of hauling the whole bike to an outlet. At 75 lb (34 kg), hauling the entire bike around is a bit of a chore, so removable batteries are a must for many people who don’t have easy access to an outlet, such as in a garage. Apartment dwellers with bike rooms on the ground floor, I see you because I am one of you.
With hydraulic disc brakes on 203mm front and 180mm rear rotors, the Nomad 2 has plenty of stopping power. The brake levers feel solid, and there’s no mushy response when grabbing a handful of brake at speed.
Quality brakes are a must for a powerful, fast, and heavy electric bike. Velotric definitely delivered there.
Handling is predictable and stable, thanks in part to Velotric’s frame geometry, which helps the bike feel planted at higher speeds. Even with the bulk of a fat-tire bike, it never felt too unwieldy.
There are even two sizes available so riders can choose a frame closer to their ideal size. That also helps out shorter and taller riders who tend to find themselves at the extreme ends of the size spectrum on one-size-fits-all electric bikes. With multiple sizes, plus options for step-over and step-thru frames, riders have a lot of fitment choices.
Velotric packed in a surprising amount of tech for a bike in this price range. The 2.4-inch color display is bright and easy to read, offering all the ride stats you’d expect. The bike is also Apple Find My compatible, meaning if someone swipes it, you’ll have a shot at tracking it down, as long as you have an iPhone. I LOVE when companies incorporate this technology because it gives me added peace of mind knowing there’s some hope of finding my bike if it ever walks off.
Other notable features include an AirLock system for keyless unlocking via the Velotric app, a 360-degree lighting setup, including an automatic headlight that adjusts brightness based on surroundings, and integrated rear turn signals. I often ridicule e-bike makers for including turn signals that are unclear and a waste of space. In this case, Velotric’s are actually decent, though still not idea. They’re pretty close to the centerline of the bike making it a bit hard to tell that they are directional signals, but the amber color instead of red does help somewhat distinguish them. These have a prayer of being understood to be directional indicators, though I definitely still signal with my arms when I want to be more confident that drivers understand what I’m about to do. I know some of them will still be oblivious, but I want to give myself the best odds possible.
Overall, I’d say the lighting features are a welcome upgrade in the commuter-friendly category. Adding in the included rear rack and fender set, which both come standard, makes this fat tire adventure bike equally read for on-road commuting adventures.
Closing thoughts
I think it is fair to say that the Velotric Nomad 2 isn’t a hardcore trail bike, but it’s also not just a casual cruiser. It hits a nice middle ground for riders who want an all-terrain e-bike that’s just as comfortable on pavement as it is on dirt trails.
At $1,999, it’s not the cheapest fat-tire e-bike out there, but for the build quality and features, it puts up a good fight. You can definitely get your off-roading rocks off for less money elsewhere, but the added features like solid lighting, UL certification, submersible battery, location tracking, cadence/torque sensor selection, and more all combine to add some real value here that you don’t find from many other brands. It’s also backed by a solid company with many years of solid reputation building, which is becoming more important in an industry flooded with questionable brands still popping up all over the place.
I’d say that the Nomad 2 delivers a lot for the money, especially when you factor in its power, range, hydraulic brakes, and premium tech features. It’s smooth, fast, and versatile enough to handle commuting, off-road riding, and everything in between.
Velotric clearly put effort into refining the ride experience, and it shows. While it doesn’t reinvent the fat-tire e-bike, it does a lot of things right—and that’s exactly what most riders need.
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