The Smartest E-Bike within the World?

Electrical bikes are fairly good generally.

They make it easier to stand up hills. Loads of them have lights related to the battery. Some actually have a kickstand.

The Urtopia Carbon One doesn’t include a kickstand as normal.

But it surely does have a built-in GPS tracker. You possibly can unlock it together with your thumb. It alerts you if somebody tries to steal it. It has indicators. It has a carbon-fibre body. It seems a bit like a lightning bolt. You possibly can discuss to it. It even has built-in audio system!

It’s the all-singing, all dancing, e-bike of the long run.

However do you have to truly purchase one?

City Utopia = Urtopia

Earlier than I am going into an excessive amount of element about what the Urtopia Carbon One can/can’t do, let’s simply take a minute to understand this body design.

This must be one of many coolest e-bikes I’ve ever seen. It seems quick even when it’s at a standstill.

And maybe I shouldn’t be shocked by the attractive design contemplating that it was designed by Mathis Heller – who’s additionally designed for the likes of BMW, Ford and Siemens and gained a number of awards whereas doing so.

Carbon Fibre Electrical Bike

This e-bike is undoubtedly distinctive when it comes to design and options. However I’ll pigeon-hole it a bit so you may get to grips with what it truly is/has:

And that’s simply the essential function checklist.

As a result of the Urtopia One additionally has:

And, to be sincere, I’ve in all probability missed some.

So, after studying that checklist, you’re most definitely pondering: “so how a lot does this factor price”? And the reply is €3,299 if you happen to’re in mainland Europe and $2,799 within the US. Sadly, Urtopia bikes at present aren’t accessible within the UK, however there needs to be some sellers quickly.

My Expertise with Urtopia

Upon receiving my Urtopia bike, I used to be grateful to understand the package deal was nowhere as tough to hold and transfer because the one I obtained for my Himiway Fats Bike. And that’s as a result of it weighs lower than half of that e-bike.

Assembling the Urtopia was additionally significantly simpler, though there are some fiddly bits. Particularly, as a lot of the wiring is include contained in the body, squeezing it into the hole behind the bike seat was a little bit of a faff – however nothing main. The video beneath (which I didn’t uncover till after I constructed the bike), exhibits the meeting steps.

As soon as the temporary meeting was full, it was only a matter of connecting my bike to my smartphone. Certainly, if you wish to use {the electrical} help of the Urtopia, it’s required to obtain the app on a smartphone. It’s because the bike is turned on by urgent the fingerprint reader on the bike, one thing you must arrange in your telephone. Fortunately, Urtopia know a factor or two about design, and the app is simply as straightforward on the attention because the bike itself.

The Urtopia mechanically tracks your trip stats, exhibiting length, common velocity, energy burned and CO2 saved, in addition to a map of your route.

However the performance of the app is admittedly taken to a different stage whenever you use to maps function. Enter your location within the app in your telephone and it’ll mechanically sync together with your handlebar dashboard to present you real-time navigational directions.

The opposite key function of the app is the power to trace its location even whenever you’re not using – i.e. ensuring pesky thieves don’t attempt to steal it.

This function works properly and even shortly notified me when my companion moved by bike on the terrace. The fingerprint scanner can be nice for theft prevention as even when a scumbag manages to make off together with your bike, they gained’t be capable of take pleasure in any of {the electrical} help it offers. So, if nothing else, at the least the thief might be sweating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETGmFtHNAvk

Urtopia One Vary

However amongst this in depth function checklist, there was one factor that caught out to me above all others: a claimed vary of 100km – which might make it one of many longest-range e-bikes round.

So after assembling the bike and charging it up, I exploit it for my normal 3.5km to my coworking house and again. Then I didn’t trip for a number of days, earlier than doing the identical mini commute. Nonetheless, on the best way again from that second trip, I used to be dismayed to see that the battery was practically empty.

Anyway, I charged up the bike once more and repeated my commute. After coming residence, I verify the battery stage – which was nonetheless exhibiting as primarily full. Once more, I didn’t trip for a number of days after which began my bike up once more. The battery was half empty. What was occurring?

I made a decision to get in contact with Urtopia about this and so they knowledgeable me that the anti-theft perform GPS perform makes use of about 7% of its battery per day, even if you happen to don’t use the bike. The workaround they advisable was to take away the battery between rides – offered my is in a safe place.

I examined out this principle and it was proper. I didn’t get the claimed 100km, however I did handle to do 60km (with full help energy), as long as I eliminated the battery between rides.

Eradicating the battery is simple (merely flip the important thing within the built-in lock and it pops out), however it’s undoubtedly annoying to have to do that (and keep in mind to do that).

The excellent news is that Urtopia are quickly to launch a setting within the app that lets you turn-off the GPS tracker whenever you need – so it doesn’t drain the battery. Which means you may have the GPS safety enabled if you happen to go away your bike out on the road, however flip it off in a single day if you happen to deliver it inside your house, for instance.

My Urtopia Expertise

Whereas my battery experiencing was somewhat underwhelming, my trip expertise on the Urtopia wasn’t. It is a enjoyable bike to trip.

This e-bike is extraordinarily responsive and nippy. By regulation, in Europe, e-bikes are restricted to 25kmh, however it’s straightforward to pedal past this with this light-weight bike – one thing I’ve discovered virtually unimaginable to do on heavier e-bikes, except you’re going downhill.

Dashboard and Lights

The good options of this bike are centred across the bike’s dashboard that connects to the app in your telephone. The LED display can present instructions, velocity and provides alerts. The first controls for the bike will be discovered simply to the left of this, with somewhat sq. that can be utilized to alter energy settings, flip lights on/off and point out. Fortunately, it’s extraordinarily intuitive to make use of.

Belt-Pushed E-Bike

Belt-driven bikes have additionally lengthy appealed to me as I’m completely hopeless at bicycle upkeep. The Urtopia One incorporates a premium Carbon belt-drive and – together with using the Honbike Uni4 on the similar time – this was my first actual expertise with using an electrical belt-driven bike.

The standout function of belt-drives is which can be exceptionally low upkeep. You don’t have to faff about with oils, lubes and even candles to set the temper. If it will get filthy, simply spray a little bit of water over it and also you’re good to go.

The draw back of belt drives is that they’re not fairly as environment friendly as chains and having gears is extra difficult (an inside gear hub might be wanted).

However with electrical bikes, pedal effectivity and gears aren’t so vital. You possibly can have gears on e-bikes, however you don’t really want them such as you did with an acoustic bike. The one problem can arrive whenever you to go up a steep hill from a standing begin, if you happen to don’t have a throttle, which this bike doesn’t.

On the Urtopia One, I really like the belt-drive. The trip feels very responsive, and I don’t want do any upkeep. There aren’t any gears, however it’s exceedingly uncommon that I ever miss them on this bike because it’s so nippy and lightweight. Even going up hills isn’t a difficulty.

The All-Singing, All Dancing E-Bike

And whereas the Urtopia retains issues quite simple when it comes to the core e-bike using expertise to nice impact, it has added just about each bell and whistle you possibly can think about with its inboard dashboard pc.

In addition to the anti-theft performance and trip GPS monitoring, you can even discuss to your bike (and it’ll courteously reply, not like your unloving ex bike). Simply press the fingerprint scanner when you’re using and you may give the bike instructions as a way to modify the settings if wanted.

Probably the most sensible options of this bike is certainly the built-in navigation – particularly if you happen to wish to discover new locations. Simply set your vacation spot within the app and the display in your bike will provide you with instructions as you want them.

Urtopia Carbon One E-Bike Overview Abstract

It’s fairly unbelievable what Urtopia have squeezed into such a tiny package deal. Weighing simply 15kg (33lb), this Carbon fibre bike has a treasure trove of options, together with GPS monitoring, built-in alarm programs, back and front lights, a safe fingerprint scanner and even built-in navigation.

That is the primary bike that Urtopia have produced and it’s actually spectacular. It’s not good with the GPS draining the battery, however there’s a lot to construct on for this firm and I believe we’ll be seeing some actually thrilling improvements from Urtopia sooner or later (together with their newly-released Urtopia Chord).

This e-bike is way from cheaper at $2,799/€3,299, however it’s a good worth for the premium construct high quality and fancy options that you simply get. Oh, and most significantly: the Urtopia Carbon One is a whole lot of enjoyable.