Performance-wise, there’s no pedal-assist or throttle lag, as I’ve experienced on some cheaper ebikes. I thought this would feel unnervingly fast, but the sturdy frame and wide tires are incredibly stable. I felt totally comfortable going fast (for an ebike). I avoided taking corners and tight turns at full speed because the bike is so heavy, but otherwise, I felt self-assured during testing.

With a 505-pound on-bike weight limit, the Nomad 2 has a higher load capacity than other ebikes I’ve tested, particularly folding models. Velotric also advertises a 1,000-pound towing capacity. That number registers impressively high to me, but I haven’t tested the claim. Even so, I’m skeptical of how long the battery would last while towing 1,000 pounds of cargo.

The battery range is pretty standard for a full-size ebike, though impressive for a model of this heft. Velotric advertises a 65-mile range for pedal-assist and 45 miles for throttle, and I appreciate that both ranges are listed. That said, I’ve maxed out at around 37 miles on the throttle and at around 47 miles with pedal assist. To be fair, I’m often riding on hills and bumpy surfaces, which also drains the battery faster. I also enjoy the IPX7 waterproof battery housing, as I’m liable to get caught out in the rain during the shoulder seasons of southwest Montana, where I live. My Rad Powerbike can’t handle rain with its partially enclosed battery, so I’m more likely to take the Velotric out if the weather is iffy.

An Off-Road Delight

Photograph: Maggie Slepian

I tested this bike for commuting purposes on the paved roads of my very suburban town. I also used it off-road on bike paths, gravel, rutted dirt, and in open fields. It worked well in all scenarios. The massive 4-inch Kenda tires, which came perfectly inflated, do a wonderful job absorbing impact while rolling easily over obstacles. I encountered some ruts and ridges that I thought would yield a painful thud, but the bike handled them smoothly.