Velotric GoMad Review: Fat-Tire Torque with a Class Switch for $1,999
Strong low-end pull, a big battery, and a class you can dial down make this a genuine one-bike answer for trails, dirt roads, and the ride into town.
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What the stars are rated against
The stars compare this bike with other off-road e-bikes we have scored — 36 of them, priced $1,199–$2,799. They are a ranking inside that group, not an absolute grade: four stars means it beats most of that set on the measure, not that it hits some fixed standard.
Peers are drawn from a tight price band around this bike, so a $1,000 commuter is judged against other $1,000 commuters rather than against machines costing three times as much. Change the group and the stars would change with it.
The headline Genius Score is not decided by that group alone. It blends the category ranking above with a market-wide view across every bike we publish, so a bike cannot climb simply by sitting in a weak category. How we score.
The Velotric GoMad is built to roam. Its puts out , which is plenty of low-end pull for loose gravel, soft sand, and climbs where a weaker fat-tire bike would bog down. It's a bike you set from the display, so it comes ready to ride with a for going without pedaling up to 20 mph, and you can open it up to 28 mph when you want real speed on the road.
That mix of grunt, a big battery, and serious hauling capacity earns it a Genius Score of 65 out of 100 — a solid, versatile all-rounder rather than a specialist. You're paying a fair mid-range price for a bike that covers trails, dirt roads, and the commute without asking you to own three different machines.
Pros & cons
What we like
- from the 750W gives strong pull on hills and loose ground.
- The is genuinely large for a fat-tire bike, and you can add a second one to roughly double the distance.
- A lets you ride without pedaling, and the lets you make it legal on more paths.
- A 500 lb leaves room for a passenger, loaded panniers, or a big supply run.
- with a large 203mm front rotor for confident stops on a heavy, loaded bike.
Worth weighing
- The 20-inch wheels keep it low and planted but roll over big roots and rocks less smoothly than a 26-inch bike would.
- Value is fair rather than a standout — a few rivals match its power and range for a little less money.
Key specs
The motor & power
The is what you'll feel on a normal ride, and with behind it, there's real low-end strength, so a loaded bike pulls away from a stop and grinds up loose climbs without much fuss.
Velotric also lists , but that only shows up in short bursts, so judge the bike on the 750 you'll feel day in and day out.
The is where a heavy fat-tire bike really benefits: it drags you away from a dead stop on a hill or through soft sand without any pedaling, which is exactly the moment you want extra help.
You'll see Velotric mention 1,400W peak in its marketing, while the detailed spec sheet lists 1,300W. We go with the 1,300W spec figure, and either way peak is a brief surge, so the 750W steady rating is the number that tells you how the bike actually rides.
Range & battery
At 801.6Wh, the is on the big side for a fat-tire bike, which is what lets Velotric quote up to 75 miles on a charge.
That 75-mile number assumes easy, efficient riding on flat ground. Fat tires, hills, and time spent on the throttle all take a bite out of it, so on real mixed terrain plan for a good deal less and treat 75 as the best-case ceiling.
If distance matters to you, Velotric sells a second battery that can bring the total to around 150 miles, which turns this into a bike you could take on a long backcountry day without range anxiety.
Ride & components
Stopping comes from Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with a 203mm rotor up front and 180mm in the rear, a sensible setup for slowing a heavy bike and a load on a descent. The pull with less hand effort than cable brakes, which you'll appreciate on longer downhills.
Shifting is handled by a SHIMANO 8-speed drivetrain with an 11-34T range, enough gears to find a comfortable rhythm on both climbs and flats. The 20-inch by 4-inch Kenda tires give you a wide, cushioned contact patch that floats over sand and gravel, though the small wheel diameter means big obstacles thud through more than they would on a taller wheel.
With a 500 lb , there's real headroom for a passenger seat, packed panniers, or a rider plus a weekend of camping gear. The bike itself weighs about 88 pounds with the battery, which is right in line with other fat-tire builds this size.
The GoMad switches between right from the display, so it's one bike you tune to the local rules. In Class 2 the is live and you can cruise up to 20 mph without ; Class 3 opens the assist up to 28 mph for road and bike-lane riding; and dialing down to Class 1, which is pedal-assist only with no throttle and a 20 mph cap, is often what gets you legal on shared bike paths and trails that ban throttles.
Price & value
At $1,999, the GoMad sits right in the middle of the fat-tire pack, and you get a lot of bike for the money: strong torque, a big battery, hydraulic brakes, and a huge payload.
The catch is that none of those numbers leads the class, so the value works out to fair rather than a steal, and a few competitors match its power and range for a bit less. What tips the balance is the flexibility. The switchable class and throttle mean one bike handles trail days and path-legal commutes, which is worth more to some riders than saving a couple hundred dollars.
Who it's for
The go-anywhere weekend rider
If you want one bike for gravel roads, forest trails, and the ride into town, this is an easy call. The strong motor and fat tires handle loose, soft ground, and the lets you drop into a path-legal mode on Monday and open it back up on Saturday.
The rest-your-legs cruiser
If you like the idea of coasting along on power alone, set it to Class 2 and use the up to 20 mph with no pedaling required. Just know that leaning on it over sand and hills will pull down that 75-mile range quicker than steady pedaling would.
The rocky-singletrack chaser
If your off-road really means technical, rooty mountain singletrack, the 20-inch wheels are the sticking point. They keep you low and stable but don't roll over big obstacles as cleanly as a 26-inch fat bike, so a taller-wheeled trail machine will likely serve you better.
The bottom-line bargain hunter
If your top priority is squeezing out the lowest price, look hard before you buy. A handful of rivals match the GoMad's power and range for a bit less, so if the switchable class and throttle flexibility don't matter to your riding, your money may stretch further elsewhere.
Frequently asked
Does the Velotric GoMad have a throttle?
Yes. In its Class 2 setting the is active, so you can ride up to 20 mph without pedaling.
Can you ride the Velotric GoMad without pedaling?
You can, using the throttle in Class 2 mode up to 20 mph. Riding this way uses more battery than pedaling, so expect fewer miles between charges.
How far does the Velotric GoMad go on a charge?
Velotric claims up to 75 miles from the under ideal conditions, and real mixed-terrain riding will come in lower. Adding a second battery can stretch the total to around 150 miles.
How fast does the Velotric GoMad go?
Up to 28 mph in Class 3 mode, or up to 20 mph in Class 1 or Class 2.
Can you change the class on the Velotric GoMad?
Yes. You switch between from the display with a single tap. Class 2 turns on the throttle at up to 20 mph, Class 3 raises pedal-assist to 28 mph, and Class 1 is pedal-assist only with no throttle, which is usually the setting that keeps you legal on shared bike paths.
How much does the Velotric GoMad weigh?
About 88 pounds with the battery installed, which is normal for a fat-tire bike this size.
Similar bikes
Velotric Nomad 1 Plus
A genuinely capable 750W fat-tire rig for mixed off-road riding, held back a bit by shorter real-world range and just-okay value.
Read the review Genius 65 / 100Biktrix Juggernaut Hub Duo Step-Over 2
A well-built fat-tire all-terrain bike with long range and a brake-and-drivetrain package that beats what its $2,299 price usually buys.
Read the reviewCompare against the Biktrix Juggernaut Hub Duo Step-Over 2
Velotric GoMad is ranked on:
Guides worth reading
- E-bike classes explained: Class 1, 2 and 3Three classes, two questions: does it have a throttle, and how fast does the motor keep helping.
- Nominal vs peak watts on an e-bikeThe wattage in the headline is usually the peak figure, which can be roughly double the number the motor actually sustains.
- E-bike range explainedEvery range figure on every spec sheet is a best case. Here is how to translate it into what you'll really see.
How we score: the Genius Score blends a bike's capability against same-price peers with its value for the money, weighted for what this off-road buyer prioritises. Specs are pulled from the manufacturer's live page and normalised (nominal vs peak watts, true weight with battery). Ratings are our estimate from specs, not a lab test.