Kenny Lane
It’s rare to get an e-bike that is marketed as an off-road bike. This is because most people who spend their time riding off-road don’t want an electric bike. They want the challenge of pedaling over those uneven surfaces. Not everybody, though.
If you’re searching for a quality off-road e-bike, then you might want to read this VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 review, because this e-bike might be just the ticket.
Who Is the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 For?
As we said, not many e-bikes market themselves as being for off-road riding. They may mention all-terrain use, but the team behind the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 goes to major lengths to show that their e-bike has been designed with off-road riding at the forefront of their mind.
So, the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 is for those who want a fat tire off-road e-bike to tackle tough trails. While we see no reason why this e-bike couldn’t perform on-road too, it has been designed (mostly) with off-roaders in mind, so if you’re not planning on doing off-roading, it isn’t for you. If you’re doing a lot of off-roading, then reading this VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 review may be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made.
The VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 Specs
Let’s give you an overview of the specs. We won’t cover every intricate detail here, but the ones that will be most important for those riding the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0:
- Motor: BAFANG Geared Hub Motor – 750W, peak 1000W.
- Battery: 48V 25A
- Maximum Range: 60+ miles in pedal assist, 40+ miles in throttle assist (assuming perfect road and weather conditions, and that the ride is below 75KG in weight)
- Maximum Speed: 28mph by pedal, 20mph by throttle. These are hard limits.
- 7-Speed Shimano, Long Cage Rear Derailleur.
- 26” X 4.” Kenda Fat Tires, reinforced to handle off-roading.
- Gross Weight: 46kg
- Weight Limit: 150kg
What You Need to Know About the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0
Now for the part of our VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 review where we highlight some of the most important parts of the e-bike, and what your riding experience will be like once you hop on it. Again, we’ll cover the things that are most important to our readers and, hopefully, this information (coupled with the product page) will help you to decide whether the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 is the right choice for you.
How the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 Rides
It rides beautifully, just like every other VELOWAVE e-bike we’ve ever been fortunate enough to ride on.
When they say that the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 has been designed for off-road riding, you can really tell that it has been designed for off-roading. The bike is sturdy, has enough power to tackle some pretty tough hills, and is responsive when you’re trying to steer it (which is important when you’re handling some of the trickier trails, which we have no doubt the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 can do).
Obviously, this is a bit heavier than your non-electric bike. In fact, it is considerably heavier. However, most people have no issues taking this on the trails. It just takes a little bit of getting used to.
We loved the suspension on the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0. It managed to absorb the worst of the bumps and lumps on the trails we rode on, while also not making the riding experience completely smooth (you still want to ‘feel’ something when you’re riding off-road).
The Maximum Speed of the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0
The maximum quoted speed of the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 is 20mph if you’re going full throttle, or 28mph if you’re using pedal assist (there are 0-5 pedal assist settings).
Since you’re riding off-road, you might not come close to this, particularly on the more packed trails. However, if you’re taking the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 on the streets of your town/city, then it will just fly along the road with no issues.
When we were riding off-road, we normally got closer to 15-18mph when we were going full throttle (on a pretty tricky trail), and around 22mph when we were pedaling on the highest pedal assist setting. This is perfectly respectable and, unless you’re cycling downhill, a more traditional bike wouldn’t even get you close to these speeds.
All the speed settings are controllable from the handlebar, making it easy to switch between pedal assist modes (handy when changing surfaces), or switching to full throttle, if needed.
The Maximum Range of the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0
The maximum range of the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 is a little lower than competing e-bikes. Well, we say lower. We just think their quoted range is a bit more realistic.
In ideal conditions, you can get up to 60 miles on pedal assist, and 40 miles in throttle assist. Honestly? Even in tougher off-road conditions, we wouldn’t be surprised if you managed to get a range that was close to this. The battery performance specs have been quoted with off-roading in mind, which is why they are more realistic than some of the other e-bikes you’ve encountered.
Do bear in mind that the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 can hold up to 150kg in weight (so you, and some cargo if you wish), but the more you go over the 75kg ideal weight, the lower the range goes. So, you might not want to take this out on a multi-day riding expedition, unless you’re fine cycling home (or you bring some spare batteries with you).
Comfort of the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0
Don’t expect a highly padded seat when you climb onto the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0. It has padding but is closer to a more traditional e-bike. A lot of people love this for off-roading, so it is not a major concern. However, if you’re doing a lot of on-road riding, you might want to look elsewhere for a more ‘padded’ seat. You’ve got a decent amount of adjustment on the seat, which means you’ll have no issues setting the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 up how you like.
The suspension is great, and it helps to smooth out the ride on the e-bike. You’ve got decent brakes too. Even when you are riding fast, you’ll have no issues slowing down quickly, and safely.
Moreover, the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 is a step-through e-bike. This means that mounting is easy. We love this as, normally, when we’re riding off-road, we’re getting on and off the e-bike almost constantly.
Additional Features You Should Know About
We’ve covered almost every feature the VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 offers. In addition to what we’ve mentioned, it has got a full-color cycle computer (which gives standard readouts, e.g. distance covered, battery level, current speed), and a light on the front for cycling in the dark. It’s basic stuff, but very handy.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Designed for off-roading.
- Good range for an off-road e-bike
- Lots of power
- Responsive steering
- Good braking system
Cons
- Seat isn’t that comfortable.
- It might be tougher to hit the higher maximum speeds
VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 – Is It Right For You?
If you want a quality off-road e-bike, then yes. The VELOWAVE Grace 2.0 is one of the best dedicated off-road e-bikes on the market. If you’re planning on doing most of your cycling on-road, then you might want to look elsewhere. This e-bike is good, it just hasn’t been designed with you in mind.
Read Also:
VELOWAVE Ranger Step-Thru Electric Bike Review: Power, Style & Versatility Unleashed
VELOWAVE Ghost Electric Mountain Bike Review: Sleek & Powerful E-MTB
