Ride Review: Velotric Breeze 1 Ebike
The Velotric Breeze 1 ebike is easy to ride, and lighter weight compared to many other ebikes.
I've been reviewing Aventon bikes for years now, and they've been consistently practical, affordable, reliable and innovative. One of Aventon's most popular models is the Pace (review below), a step-through commuter/general-purpose e-bike also available with a standard-format frame. It's one of Aventon's best sellers.
Last year, I reviewed my first Velotric e-bike, the Summit 1 electrified mountain bike, which competes with Aventon's new eMTB, the Ramblas. Both had their strengths and weaknesses, but it was also clear that Velotric was serious about competing with the more established Aventon. Now, Velotric has debuted the Breeze 1, which clearly aims at the popular Aventon Pace, now in its third generation. Both have an MSRP of $1,799 (for now) and comparable features, and I've been riding around on the new Breeze 1 for several weeks as spring weather finally reaches the Pacific Northwest.
The Breeze 1 comes in several colorful color options.
As noted, the Velotric Breeze 1 is a standard-style e-bike designed primarily for commuting and general urban riding. Currently, it is only available as a step-through model, while the Aventon Pace (specific model: Pace 500.3) is offered in both step-through and standard frame options.
Overall, the bikes share a number of commonalities: Both are aluminum-framed hardtail bikes with no suspension. Power comes from in-frame 48-Volt batteries. Both have 27.5-inch wheels with wide mountain-bike-type tires and hydraulic disc brakes, adjustable height flat handlebars, 400-lumen LED headlights with tail/brake lights, turn signals, and a color LCD display with Bluetooth for connecting to the respective smartphone apps that offer fine-tuning and more ride information. Both are also Class 2/Class 3 bikes with thumb throttles to 20 mph and pedal assist up to 28 mph, but both can also be set to go 28 mph on throttle alone via menus or app. Both bikes come with a Shimano 8-speed rear cluster. Front and rear racks and full-coverage fenders are available for both bikes.
There are differences, of course. The Breeze 1 has a 750-watt hub motor that produces 65 Nm of torque, while the Aventon offers a 500-watt hub motor that generates 60 Nm of torque. The Breeze battery provides a 13.4 amp-hour charge for a range of 70 miles, while the Pace features a slightly smaller 12.8 amp-hour pack for 60 miles of range. The Pace has four assist levels, while the Breeze features Velotric's more tunable three 'ride modes,' with five levels of assist in each mode. The Pace weighs 54 pounds, while the Breeze weighs 48 pounds. The Pace uses a torque sensor for pedal assist, while the Breeze packs both torque and cadence sensors, allowing the rider to choose their preferred type of assist.
Racks and other accessories are available for the Breeze 1 for commuting duties.
As expected, the riding experience between the bikes is similar. However, the Breeze, which is a little more svelte and a bit more powerful, has a slight performance edge over the Aventon. With the Breeze powered 'on' so the LCD panel, lights and so forth work but with assist set to zero ("off"), it's very similar to an analog bicycle when pedaling without assist or help from the throttle. A bit heavier, but still very similar.
The Breeze (and most Velotrics) feature three ride modes: Eco, Trail and Boost, with Eco as the default on boot up. Each mode offers five levels of assist (so, Boost Level 5 is max output), and I found that for my size and weight (large and heavy), Trail mode was the sweet spot while a steep hill might require switching to Boost. At first it seems like a lot of button pushing to get the bike into the right mode, but the system is simple to use and I appreciate the flexibility it offers, from very, very light assist while riding on open roads to quite stout assist up a big hill.
The color LCD panel is highly legible and shows a lot of information.
The menu system on the horizontal format screen is easy to navigate, and most functions are also duplicated on the Velotric app for even easier adjustments, including switching from torque sensor assist to the cadence system. Personally, I left it in torque mode almost all of the time as it seemed to have more finesse adding in pedal assist. The thumb throttle is typical and ramps to full power a bit too quickly, a common complaint with almost every thumb throttle I've used.
Once accustomed to the Breeze 1, most functions can be operated without looking, and I also pointed the Breeze off the pavement at a local forested park for some light gravel and dirt road riding, which it handled well thanks to the decently treaded Kenda tires. But the Breeze 1 works best on smooth and clear pavement, and sprints down the road at 28 mph under pedal power or throttle. I traversed the full distance of Portland's Springwater Corridor rails-to-trails route and arrived back home with almost 20% battery remaining, but again, if you run the battery out, the Breeze is easy to pedal and operate like a regular bicycle, provided you don't have to cross the Alps (or Cascades) to get home. At night, the Breeze's headlight casts a wide beam of light and doesn't really need any help in dark spaces. And I love that it has turn signals, ditto the Aventon.
I felt Aventon's Pace was a bit roomier than the Breeze, but simple handlebar and seat adjustments can easily make up that difference. Both the Breeze and Pace exhibit some frame flex under hard pedaling, which is to be expected from step-through configurations. It was not annoying and did not affect the ride quality of the Breeze. Aventon does offer the Pace with a standard frame; the Breeze is only available as a step-through so far.
Been off bikes for a while? The Velotric Breeze 1 makes it easy to get rolling again.
Both bikes are solid choices for most riders, especially those getting back on a bike after some time on the sidelines. The Breeze 1 has a slight advantage due to its lower weight and larger motor, along with its more customizable ride modes, though some may find them confusing (Pro Tip: Read the manual). Overall, it's hard to go wrong with either model, but the new Velotric Breeze 1, with its extra power and highly adjustable operating options, may have the edge in the battle of the step-through commuters. Choose one and go for a ride.
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