Ride Quality is a measure of a bike’s overall feel, encompassing aspects such as sizing, suspension, motor engagement, the user interface, and beyond. In my experience, the GoMad excelled in this area, though, like any e-bike, it has some minor elements with room for improvement.
Velotric offers the GoMad in a single-size step-thru frame that the company recommends for riders between 5’0” and 6’3”. My height of 5’11” places me within this range, and I found the bike comfortable, though I could tell that I was near the bike’s top-end limits. I set its telescoping quill stem and saddle to their maximum height for comfortable hand placement, steering control, and leg extension.
As is common with e-bikes of this style, the bike’s saddle didn’t quite reach as high as I would prefer. In most cases, this wasn’t an issue, due to the motor’s power and responsiveness, but I did feel some strain when riding in lower assist levels. I did, however, appreciate the low 16” standover height, which made getting on and off the bike a snap.
The GoMad’s contact points felt great—the soft ergonomic rubber grips and padded saddle made the ride feel generally smooth and enjoyable. Its 100mm RST suspension fork felt noticeably more plush than many other coil forks I’ve tested, and the wider-than-average 20×4” Kenda tires provided some additional cushion and traction, as well.
At the time of writing, I’m not sure if Velotric will offer a suspension seatpost upgrade. If not, such a thing may be worth considering as an aftermarket purchase, as it would raise the bike’s already high comfort level to the max.
In terms of handling, the GoMad offers a well-balanced blend of stability and maneuverability. The bike’s 4-inch-wide tires and its overall weight of around 78 lbs help it to feel stuck to the ground and sturdy when cornering, while the relatively wide 700mm BMX-style handlebars, strong stem, and 20” wheels make steering both predictable and nimble.
The tires feature a slightly knobby hybrid-style tread that works well on pavement, gravel, and hard-packed dirt. Adventurous riders looking to do more serious off-roading, however, may want to upgrade to a grippier, chunkier tread.
Our contact at Velotric shared that some early GoMad riders sought a utility e-bike for hunting purposes. As such, the brand included its “Stealth Mode” feature, which limits the GoMad’s speeds/motor noise, deactivates the lighting system, and dims the display.
This addition goes to show how versatile the GoMad really can be! In addition to daily commuting and/or errand-running, the bike is well-suited for family outings, dropping the kids at school, exploring multi-use trails, cruising around the campground, and more.
Part of the bike’s draw is its high payload/passenger capacity. Velotric offers two optional accessory kits to outfit the GoMad for carrying additional riders: the Passenger Kit and Young Passenger Kit. The former includes a seatpad, footpegs, wheel guards, and handlebars, while the latter includes the seat, pegs, and wheel guards while adding a captain-style child seat and handrail attachment.
The Young Passenger Kit also includes a dual-leg center stand that replaces the GoMad’s standard left-side kickstand. We often see this style of stand on cargo and utility-style e-bikes due to its added stability for loading and unloading. For this reason, we encourage Velotric to include this feature on the base model in the future or offer it as a separate upgrade outside of the accessory kit.
Otherwise, the GoMad comes well-equipped out of the box. It includes commuter-friendly features such as a bright 500-lumen headlight, integrated tail/brake lights and turn signals, fenders, and a color display. It also features a zippered storage bag that sits beneath the cargo rack, which can accommodate an additional battery for those who wish to extend their range.
As I mentioned in previous sections of this review, the GoMad offers Velotric’s standard suite of customization and ride tuning options. Tech-savvy riders who want a connected experience can access these features through the Velotric app—along with ride data tracking and synchronization with Apple Health—but they’re also available through the bike’s display menu.
Overall, the GoMad offers a comfortable, versatile, and expandable platform for nearly any kind of rider. It serves its purpose as a utility e-bike well, with impressive functionality, responsive pedal assist, and a great overall ride feel
