The Fold 1 Plus from Velotric just dropped this spring, bringing Sensorswap and FindMy technology to folding electric bikes. Photo: Skyler Fitzmaurice//The Inertia
Electric bikes have quickly become a staple in the world of personal transportation, with folding ebikes being one of the most popular frame styles for a number of reasons. They’re easy(er) to transport than a full-frame electric bike, can be stored in small spaces, and are often on the lower end of the ebike price spectrum. However, with that foldability and generally lower price point, they often miss out on the sorts of features that can elevate one’s electric bike experience.
Enter the Velotric Fold 1 Plus ($1,499), a massively upgraded version of Velotric’s long-standing and well-loved Fold 1 series of electric bikes. The Fold 1 is already a standout in the folding ebike market with an integrated rear rack capable of taking a full-sized adult passenger, and the Fold 1 Plus brings cutting-edge features such as Find My tracking and Velotric’s new SensorSwap technology to swap between a torque or cadence sensor for different riding styles. Since the bike was released in early April, I’ve been testing this ebike here in San Francisco, and so far, I’m seriously impressed.
Bottom Line: The Velotric Fold 1 Plus is a folding ebike with serious capabilities. A powerful motor and a decent-sized battery provide great speed and range. The welded rear rack and a massive 450 lb payload let you take a passenger or haul some serious gear. Velotric’s SensorSwap lets you choose between a cadence or torque sensor depending on how and where you ride. Integrated Find My tech provides peace of mind… It’s hard to believe it’s only $1,500.
check price on VelotricRelated: Best Folding Electric Bikes | Best Electric Bikes | More Ebike Reviews
I’ve spent the past couple of months testing the Fold 1 Plus in and around San Francisco, and so far have come away all smiles. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia
Testing the Velotric Fold 1 Plus Electric Bike in San Francisco
San Francisco offers the ultimate testing grounds for an electric bike. The hills are notorious, the many parks provide plenty of dirt and unpaved paths to test a bike’s off-road capabilities, and plentiful friends and acquaintances provide easy test subjects for double-up riding. In the past couple of months since the bike was released in early April, I’ve put it to the test in a wide variety of scenarios in and around SF.
Velotric Fold 1 Plus ($1,499)
Payload: 450 lbs
Range: 68 miles
Top Speed: 28 mph
Weight: 63 lbs
Sensor: Cadence and Torque with Sensor Swap technology
Pros: Loaded with features, high-quality construction, welded rear rack capable of taking a passenger
Cons: Center folding latch required some fiddling/adjustment to close properly
Notable Features of the Velotric Fold 1 Plus
Payload and Integrated Rear Rack
If there’s anything that speaks to the ruggedness and capability of the Fold 1 Plus, it’s this. The bike features a rear rack that’s welded to the frame, making it capable of supporting up to 120 lbs. The bike’s overall payload is rated to 450 lbs, which is wildly impressive for a folding ebike. But powered by a 750-Watt/75 Newton-meter motor, it has the internal chops to handle such a load. In testing, I was super impressed by the raw power of this ebike. Motoring up steeper hills in San Francisco at 18 mph is performance I rarely see, and I’ve tested a lot of different electric bicycles in my time writing for The Inertia.
Mounts for passenger pegs are set back and a little higher up than usual, so the passenger sets their legs in more of a motorcycle stance than an upright one. I recommend using a seat pad of some sort (Velotric sells its own proprietary model) to raise the height of the passenger for better comfort.
A sturdy, welded rear rack can support a passenger. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia
SensorSwap
Sensor swapping technology is a new feature that’s just recently hit the market, and Velotric is one of the first to bring this feature to their ebikes. Integrating both a torque sensor and a cadence sensor, you get to choose which mode you want to ride in, depending on your goals for the ride at hand. Looking for some exercise? Activate the torque sensor, and you’ll receive an even boost to match your pedaling efforts. Rather cruise? Let the cadence sensor do the work for you.
Before testing the bike, I had some skepticism about the SensorSwap system. Would it really provide a true torque-sensing experience and a good cadence sensor, to boot?
SensorSwap is one of the many options you can customize through the Fold 1Plus’s display. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia
Despite my initial concerns that the SensorSwap system might somehow provide a compromised experience in one or both of the modes, I was pleasantly surprised. The torque sensor provided a well-tuned experience, and the cadence sensor gave the easy pedaling I’m used to with such ebikes. Both have five levels of pedal assist to choose from, as well as three different “acceleration curves,” as Velotric calls them: Eco, Trail, and Boost. It’s a lot to choose from, but it is a nice layer of customization that I enjoyed.
The torque sensor provides the best range, and the peppy cadence chews through battery rather quickly, so keep an eye on the battery when you choose that mode.
Ebike tracking is a hot new feature, and as someone who has had two ebikes stolen before, it’s one I’m very excited about. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia
Find My Tracking
Ebikes can be a thief’s dream. They are fairly high-ticket items, and as we all know (or should do our best to keep in mind), even the best bike locks are merely a deterrent, rather than a guaranteed theft-prevention method. And once that lock is off, all it takes is the push of a button to turn the bike on and zoom away. To combat this, a number of manufacturers are beginning to roll out ebike tracking features. Velotric, like some other manufacturers, has chosen to use the tried-and-true Apple Find My network, so if you’re an Apple user, sync things up with your phone and you’re ready to go! However, it will likely come as a disappointment to Android users who will need to find an aftermarket workaround to equip their ebike with a similar tracking system.
Other Highlights
Turn signals, fully assembled upon delivery, strap to hold the bike together when folded, full-sized color display with easy-to-use controls, USB-C charging port, a bell, strong hydraulic disc brakes, 3-inch tires for on and off-road performance, mounting points for passenger footpegs (sold separately), there’s a lot to love here. For more in-depth info, check out the product page.
A USB-C Charging port is located under the controller. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia
Drawbacks
Despite all that I love about the Fold 1 Plus, no honest review is complete without discussing some downsides. That said, I only have a couple of nitpicks to give here.
First off, it’s worth noting that as a folding ebike, the ride quality simply won’t be up to par with full-frame electric bikes. Smaller wheels give less of a smooth ride, and a folding frame does not provide the same level of stiffness as a non-folding design. However, plenty of adjustability on the Fold 1 Plus means you can dial in the sizing to fit your height and preferred riding style. The rear rack is a bit cramped for larger passengers, but a seat cushion can help alleviate that and provide a more cushy ride.
Another small but noteworthy drawback is that the Find My integration only works with Apple devices. As an iPhone user, this wasn’t an issue for me, but if you’re on Android, you’ll want to look into potential workarounds if the Find My feature is something that’s important to you.
San Francisco’s notorious hills are no match for this ebike’s 750-Watt motor. Photo: Skyler Fitzmaurice//The Inertia
The Competition
The Fold 1 Plus has a number of features that elevate this bike above the majority of folding ebike options currently on the market. Sensorswap technology, FindMy, a welded rear rack, and a beefy 750-Watt motor, to name the most notable ones. However, that does come with an increase in price. All those bells and whistles add up, and the Fold 1 Plus clocks in with a pricetag of $1,500 as a result. Compare that to popular folding ebikes like the Ride1UP Portola ($995) or the base-level Lectric XP4 ($999) – both of which, by the way, have welded rear racks – and some of you here will find that those extras just aren’t worth the extra cash.
For reference, the Velotric Fold 1 (not plus) costs $1,300 and lacks the Fold 1 Plus’ sensorswap and FindMy tech. As a city rider myself, the security features are well worth it to me, and I’ve found myself enjoying the ability to swap sensor styles as desired. However, those who feel that these bells and whistles are unnecessary should check out the base-level Velotric Fold 1, the Portola, and the XP4 as comparable options.
Zippy acceleration helps you cross intersections quickly and safely. Photo: Skyler Fitzmaurice//The Inertia
Final Thoughts
The Velotric Fold 1 Plus is at the top of our list of Folding Ebikes for a reason. It’s surprisingly powerful and loaded with features that elevate the experience and provide great versatility and security. Build quality is solid (so far), and we’ll update this review if anything comes up as we continue to test the bike.
check price on VelotricRelated: Best Folding Electric Bikes | Best Electric Bikes | More Ebike Reviews
