How Velotric’s Latest Ebikes Help Fight CrimeForbesScott Kramer, ContributorSun, September 27, 2026 at 1:00 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleDiscover M ebike has two layers of built-in securityVelotricSome 2.4 million bicycles are stolen in America every year, with ebikes accounting for about 12 percent of them. And they're on the rise. Ebikes are targeted at 2.5 times the rate of traditional bicycles, due to expensive batteries and motors that resell quickly. And less than 15 percent of them are ever recovered. Perhaps the scariest part is that about 60 percent of the thefts happen at home, where people leave garage doors open. It doesn't take long for someone to quietly enter the garage, power up the bike, and ride off.Unless the bike is armed with an anti-theft device. Thankfully, I'm seeing a lot more models with some level of security built in. And in the case of the latest Velotric models, the manufacturer doubled down. Not only can the bikes be located on Apple's Find My and Android Find Hub, but they also need either a smartphone app or an included NFC card to power up. If you're spending the typical $2,500 on an ebike, this provides fantastic peace of mind. No randos are going to hop on and drive off, because they'd have to manually pedal. And the app's GPS would tell me exactly where it is.I've been trying the Velotric Discover M the past few weeks. It comes with both forms of security. I think this is the third ebike I've tried from this brand, and I've been impressed with the newer models. This is a mid-drive model that gets up to a 95-mile range per battery charge, and lets you toggle between Class 1, 2 and 3 modes. It has a coveted thumb throttle that only works in Class 2 mode. Some of its other safety features include turn signals that are nice and loud, so you know when to turn them off; bright headlights; and a large readout screen. Plus the bike is spunky, responsive, accelerates and brakes smoothly, and operates pretty quietly.AdvertisementAdvertisementBeyond its robust anti-theft tech, the Discover M represents Velotric's debut in mid-drive engineering. At its core lies the self-developed VeloCore power system, which pairs a 500-watt motor (peaking at 960 watts) with 100Nm of torque. By mounting the motor directly at the crank, the bike delivers a low, centered center of gravity for balanced cornering. Power modulation is guided by a magnetic rotary encoder capable of sampling rotation up to 100,000 times per second, ensuring assistance arrives as a smooth, intuitive boost rather than an abrupt surge. An intelligent Auto Mode is able to read grade changes on the fly, seamlessly scaling pedal assist up or down hills without requiring manual intervention.The chassis is designed around the brand's ComfortMax platform, pairing a low step-through frame with an adjustable air suspension fork, swept-back cruiser handlebars, and a breathable dual-layer saddle that's pretty comfortable even after longer rides. To handle high torque loads without premature wear, the 9-speed Shimano drivetrain is linked via a heavy-duty KMC reinforced chain. With IPX6 whole-bike water resistance, an IPX7-rated battery enclosure, and full UL safety certifications, the Discover M blends precision tech with long-haul durability for riders looking to upgrade their daily ride.And I'm confident in saying that I feel I won't even need to lock this one up in front of most coffee shops.This article was originally published on Forbes.com