Velotric
T1 ST Plus City Ebike
Lightweight urban commuters who want a torque-sensor ebike under 40 lbs with GPS tracking and Class 3 speed, and don't need a throttle.
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Strengths
- 39 lbs is genuinely ultralight for a full-featured commuter, easy to carry up stairs, onto transit, or onto a car rack.
- Torque sensor provides natural, proportional power delivery that mimics a regular bike's feel at Class 3 speed.
- IPX6 water resistance and Apple Find My GPS built in, premium features at a mid-market price.
- 700c x 40c Kenda tires balance rolling efficiency and road comfort for mixed urban/light trail use.
- Up to 70 miles rated range (real-world 40–50 miles in mixed riding) from a 352.8Wh battery is class-leading efficiency.
Weaknesses
- No throttle, pedal-assist only. Not ideal if you want throttle for intersections, hills, or tired legs.
- 350W motor (600W peak) is lighter than hub motors in the $1,500–$2,000 range, fine for flat to moderate terrain, not a hill climber.
- 352.8Wh battery is compact by design; fast charging and efficiency compensate but it's a small pack.
- Shimano Tourney 7-speed drivetrain is entry-level, works fine but will need more frequent adjustment than higher-grade components.
Specs
- Top Speed Mph
- 28
- Classification
- Class 3
- Range Miles
- 70
- Motor Watts
- 350
- Motor Peak Watts
- 600
- Motor Torque Nm
- 40
- Battery Wh
- 352.8
- Weight Lbs
- 39
- Max Rider Weight Lbs
- 264
- Rider Height Range
- 5'1" – 6'2"
- Throttle
- No
- Pedal Assist
- Yes
- Drive System
- rear hub
- Brakes
- Tektro hydraulic disc, 160mm rotors
- Tires
- Kenda 700c x 40c
- Ip Rating
- IPX6
- App Connectivity
- Yes
- Apple Find My
- Yes
- Safety Certification
- UL 2849
The Velotric T1 ST Plus makes a specific tradeoff that turns out to be exactly right for a certain type of urban commuter: accept a smaller motor (350W, 600W peak) and no throttle in exchange for a genuinely 39-pound bike with a torque sensor, Apple Find My GPS, IPX6 weather resistance, and Class 3 speed, all under $1,400.
The weight argument
Ebike weight matters far more than spec sheets suggest. At 39 lbs, the T1 ST Plus is easy to carry up two flights of stairs without dreading the return. It lifts onto a car trunk rack solo. It goes on transit without blocking the aisle. Most commuter ebikes in the $1,200–$2,000 range weigh 50–65 lbs; every pound in that range adds up in a daily-use scenario. Velotric gets to 39 lbs by using a compact 352.8Wh battery pack (vs. the 480–672Wh packs competitors use) and a lighter 350W motor. The efficiency of the torque sensor compensates for the smaller pack: real-world range is 40–50 miles in mixed riding, which covers nearly any urban commute.
Torque sensor versus cadence sensor
At the $1,200–$1,600 range, many commuter ebikes use cadence sensors, simpler and cheaper components that deliver power based on pedal rotation speed rather than pedaling force. The T1 ST Plus uses a torque sensor, which reads how hard you’re pushing and modulates motor power proportionally. The practical difference is feel: a torque-sensor bike responds like an extension of your own effort, rather than turning on and off. For riders who care about a “real bike” feel, this matters more than raw wattage.
What it’s not
The T1 ST Plus is a city-and-light-trail commuter, not a cargo hauler or hill climber. The 350W motor handles moderate grades without issue but isn’t the choice for San Francisco-grade climbs with a loaded pannier. There’s no throttle, if you want to motor through intersections or rest your legs on a grade, look at the Lectric ONE or Aventon Soltera 2.5 instead. And without a throttle, the T1 ST Plus is purely PAS, which means if the motor system fails, you’re on a (well-built) conventional 39-lb bike. For a daily urban commuter who pedals anyway, that’s not a downside.
Sources
Every claim in this guide that isn't first-person experience is traceable to one of the sources below. URLs verified at publication; some may rot. Let us know if so.
- Velotric T1 ST Plus, official product page — Velotric, 2026-06-07Source for motor, battery, weight, classification, and IP rating specs.
- Velotric T1 ST Plus Review, Simple, Light, and Impressive — Electric Bike ReportIndependent review confirming torque sensor behavior, range testing, and component assessment.
- Velotric T1 ST Plus Review, A Lightweight and Feature-Packed Ebike — Ebike EscapeReview covering Apple Find My integration, IPX6 water resistance, and urban ride feel.
- Velotric T1 ST Plus Review, Getting Fit Was Never This Fun — ElectricBikeReview.comAdditional independent assessment confirming 39 lb weight and hydraulic brake upgrade.