We Tested the Velotric Packer 1 Cargo E-Bike and Loved It!

We love cargo e-bikes. They are practical, eco-friendly, and fun to ride. But not all cargo e-bikes are created equal. Some are too heavy, too slow, or too expensive. 

That’s why we were excited to try out the Velotric Packer 1, the first full-size cargo e-bike from Velotric, a company that specializes in electric bikes with Apple Find My integration. 

In this post, we will share our honest review of the Packer 1, based on our own testing and riding experience. We will cover the features, pros, cons, and who should get this bike.

What Makes the Velotric Packer 1 Special?

The Packer 1 is a Class 2 e-bike that can go up to 20 miles per hour with pedal assist or throttle. It has a 48V 14.4Ah LG battery that is UL rated for fire safety and can be easily removed with a key. 

The battery also matches the color of the frame, which comes in four options: black, white, blue, and red. The bike has a rear hub motor with 750W nominal power and 1200W peak power, producing 75 Nm of torque. 

The bike can handle up to 440 pounds of total weight, including the rider and the cargo. The rear rack can carry up to 176 pounds and has a bamboo hardwood seat that can accommodate two passengers or various accessories. 

The bike also comes with a large bag in the center frame that has a lock and can store the charger and other items.

Here is a table that summarizes the main features of the Packer 1:

How Does the Velotric Packer 1 Perform?

The Packer 1 is not only a practical cargo e-bike, but also a fun and comfortable one. Here are some of the pros of this bike:

• The bike looks amazing with its sleek paint job, matching battery, chain guard, and bamboo seat. It also has tape on the frame to protect it from scratches during shipping.
• The bike has Apple Find My integration, which means you can use your Apple device to locate your bike if it gets lost or stolen.
• The bike has hydraulic suspension that makes a huge difference in ride quality. It absorbs bumps and vibrations and gives you more control over the bike.
• The bike has hydraulic brakes that are very powerful and responsive. They can handle the extra weight of the cargo and give you confidence in braking.
• The bike has a large rear rack that can fit two people or various accessories. You can customize your bike with different options from Velotric’s website.
• The bike has a large bag in the center frame that can store your charger and other items securely.
• The bike has a UL rated battery that gives you peace of mind about fire safety.
• The bike has an affordable price for a cargo e-bike with these features. It costs $1,799 during the first month of its launch.

Unboxing and Setup

The Packer 1 arrived in a large box that had some damage from shipping. However, we were relieved to see that the bike itself was well protected by tape and foam. 

We only needed to install some parts like the pedals, the display, the light, the reflector, the bell, and some accessories like the seat pad and the foot boards. 

Velotric provided some tools like a screwdriver, some Allen keys, and a crescent wrench for this purpose. They also included a quick start guide. The setup process took us about 30 minutes and was not too difficult.

Ride Quality and Handling

We took the Packer 1 for a spin around the city and we were impressed by how smooth and stable it was. 

Here are some of the aspects of the ride quality and handling that we noticed:

Suspension and Tires

The front suspension and the balloon tires made a huge difference in ride quality. The suspension had 80mm of travel, which was more than enough for most urban roads. 

We could also lock it out or adjust the dampening to suit our preference. The tires were 26 by 2.4 inches, which were big for a cargo e-bike. They provided good traction and cushioning on various terrains.

Riding Position and Stem

We also liked the upright riding position, with a swift handlebar and an adjustable stem. We could change the height and angle of the stem to fit our height and comfort level.

Motor and Pedal Assist

The rear hub motor delivered plenty of power and torque. We could choose from five levels of pedal assist or use the throttle to get a boost. 

The pedal assist was controlled by a cadence sensor, which meant that it detected the rotation of the pedals rather than the pressure. This resulted in some delay and run-off in the motor response, especially on the higher levels. 

This meant that the motor did not start or stop immediately when we pedaled or stopped pedaling. We could always cut off the motor by using the brakes, which had sensors that overrode the pedal assist. 

The throttle worked only when we were in pedal assist one or higher, so we could not use it in pedal assist zero.

Brakes and Lights

The hydraulic brakes were very impressive for a cargo e-bike. They had four-piston calipers and 180mm rotors, which offered excellent stopping power and modulation. 

They could handle the extra weight of the cargo and gave us confidence in braking. The bike also had front and rear lights that were integrated with the battery and had brake sensors. The front light was mounted on the stem, which allowed us to adjust its direction. 

However, the light was small and blocked by some cables, so it did not have a wide beam or enough brightness for night riding. The rear light was always on and flashed when we braked, which increased our visibility.

Derailleur and Chain Guard

The eight-speed Shimano Altus derailleur and trigger shifter worked smoothly and reliably. The gears were well suited for different speeds and inclines. 

The bike also had a chain guard that matched the frame color and protected our pants from getting dirty or caught in the chain.

Rear Rack and Bag

The rear rack was large and versatile. It could carry up to 176 pounds of cargo or two passengers. The rack had a bamboo hardwood seat that was comfortable and durable. It also had multiple attachment points for different accessories like baby carriers, seats, bags, etc. 

We could customize our bike with various options from Velotric’s website. The bike also came with a large bag in the center frame that had a lock and could store our charger and other items securely.

What Are the Drawbacks of the Velotric Packer 1?

No bike is perfect, and there are some drawbacks to the Packer 1. Here are some of the thing that could be better in this bike:

• The bike has a cadence sensor that causes some delay and run-off in pedal assist. This means that the motor does not respond immediately to your pedaling and keeps going for a bit after you stop pedaling.
• The bike does not have metal fenders, which would look better and last longer than plastic ones.
• The bike’s front light is small and blocked by some cables. It does not have a wide beam or enough brightness for night riding.
• The bike’s display is grayscale and does not have color or advanced features like GPS or Bluetooth.
• The bike’s throttle does not work in pedal assist zero. You have to be in pedal assist one or higher to use it.

Who Should Get the Velotric Packer 1?

The Packer 1 is a great cargo e-bike for people who want to carry a lot of weight, have a stylish and comfortable ride, and enjoy the Apple Find My integration. 

It is suitable for city dwellers, families, commuters, and anyone who wants to replace their car with an eco-friendly and fun alternative. 

The Packer 1 is also a good choice for people who want to save some money and get a quality cargo e-bike with suspension and hydraulic brakes.

If you are interested in the Velotric Packer 1 Cargo E-Bike, you can order yours today without any hesitation. We can assure you that you won’t regret buying it!