The electrification of the bicycle has traditionally meant simply that: A motorcycle, however with an electrical motor. You may discover another sensible conveniences on higher-end fashions, however “less is more” has often been the way in which. Urtopia, the newest e-bike model from China, has different concepts. Its debut trip is, on paper, one of the tech-heavy bikes we’ve seen. The spec sheet reads extra like a cellphone’s than a next-gen fixie.

For instance, past the 250W hub motor with three ranges of driving help (and an estimated 30-80 mile vary), there’s an built-in dot-matrix show, a fingerprint reader, GPS, 4G (through eSIM), mmWave sensors for automobile detection, an built-in alarm and, effectively… the checklist goes on.

The bike itself has a hanging aesthetic that doesn’t trouble to cover the truth that that is presumably essentially the most technologically superior mannequin you’ll see this 12 months. The body was designed by Mathis Heller who has expertise with BMW and IKEA amongst others, and it’s pure curves and racing strains. The stealth bomber look is additional enhanced with all of the cables hidden from view contained in the body. The Urtopia is pitched as a metropolis bike and whereas the (detachable) battery isn’t overly apparent, there’s little doubt to even essentially the most informal of glances that you just’re not wielding an everyday analog pedaller.

When this factor arrived, I used to be dreading placing it collectively. Previous expertise has taught me that whereas not complicated, you’ll wish to put aside a while (and house) to get issues arrange. Turns out, the prototype mannequin I examined solely actually wanted the entrance wheel inserted and the tires pumped and I used to be good to go.

The apparent draw right here for gadget followers would be the “smartbar” — an onboard laptop constructed proper into the handlebars. The dot matrix show is the centerpiece of the bike and solely dials up that “bike from the future” vibe. On the right-hand facet the place the bell would often be is the fingerprint reader which interacts with the pc in a couple of methods (it’s additionally a digital bell). The left-hand facet homes the four-way D-pad which is the place you alter modes and settings together with powering the bike on (however not off, extra on that later).

Despite that lengthy checklist of sensible options, not all of them have been accessible to check on the prototype I used to be despatched. The {hardware} for the mmWave sensors is there, however there’s no method to activate it. The GPS and eSIM require the companion app to work and that’s not prepared but additionally. Sadly, these are some very fascinating options we’ll have to attend and see on, however most every part else was current and proper.

Before the enjoyable stuff, the essential e-bike performance (energy/speeds/vary and so forth.) seems to be on par with different hub-motor bikes I’ve tried. For instance, I just lately examined the Tenways metropolis bike, which has a 250W battery and motor in comparison with the Urtopia’s 360Wh cell. But each have 250W torque-based brushless hub motors and the identical Gates carbon belt.

Things get extra thrilling when you flip the bike on. You’ll be greeted with a wooshing sound from the speaker within the smartbar and the corporate brand showing on the show earlier than defaulting again to the speedometer. I’m knowledgeable that a number of the sounds will probably be user-configurable and I hope that features the choice to show them off. Before you trip, you’ll wish to familiarize your self with the controls. Up and down on the D-pad will cycle by means of the help ranges: Pedal mode, Eco, Comfort and Sport (there’s additionally a “Turbo” mode which is akin to a “throttle” mode).

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Tap left or proper, and also you’ll be introduced with flip alerts projected on the bottom (these additionally stay on when the lights are on however flash once you provoke a flip). To swap the precise lights on, nevertheless, includes talking to the bike — there’s no handbook management, solely voice.

This is the place issues get a bit of goofy. Urtopia warns in its press supplies that the voice recognition system hasn’t been totally “trained.” Yet, for me, it labored completely. Perhaps they solely skilled it on dull-voiced Britons? Anyway, to show the lights on you’ll want to position a digit on the fingerprint reader and look ahead to the face icon to seem on the display screen letting you already know you may subject your command like some kind of Belgian Michael Knight. It’s cool however I’d nonetheless like a bodily swap in order that I don’t have to speak to my bike in public, not least as a result of once you’re driving, it’s more durable for the smartbar to listen to your voice because of the rustling wind, and so forth. The result’s you both should cease for a second or lean into the handlebars as you go, neither could be very elegant.

The checklist of issues you may at the moment management together with your voice contains: Change pace mode, lock the bike, point out a flip and alter the smartbar’s quantity. All of these, bar the quantity (and lights) have bodily controls too. It’s a cute concept and presents a hands-free possibility, however in apply, I do marvel how helpful it’s over a pleasant button you may mash.

Another function that looks like know-how doesn’t essentially enhance is the bell. On this bike it’s constructed into the fingerprint reader. An extended press prompts voice recognition, a brief press will emit a digital “ring ring.” It works nice, nevertheless it’s not as responsive as a bodily bell can be. I had instances the place I used to be approaching somebody from behind and needed to alert them to my presence, just for the bell to sound half a second after I handed them. Other instances it took two or three tries for it to even set off.

The expertise with the alarm additionally wants a bit of smoothing out. I really like the concept that I can depart the bike “locked” and if anybody strikes it, it’ll subject an audible alarm. The drawback is, the Urtopia will do that any time it’s locked. This may appear nice till you be taught that “locked” is mainly “standby” and the bike will probably be on this mode as quickly as you join the battery. So should you put the battery in after which begin wheeling the bike out the entrance door, the alarm will sound.

There’s a simple repair for this, but in addition not totally useful. Simply flip the bike on and that may disable the alarm. In equity, it is a quirk of it being a prototype. Production fashions will mean you can disable the alarm with the fingerprint sensor or the companion app, however this isn’t one thing I might check. It’s value mentioning that, proper now, there’s no precise method to flip the bike off apart from by eradicating the battery, so fingers crossed these are some kinks that may be ironed out by launch. I requested an organization consultant if this was the plan and he confirmed that it was.

So, tech apart, what does this factor trip like? The sitting place places you leaning ahead in additional of a racer pose than a typical city bike the place you is perhaps extra upright. It’s comfy although, even after mid to lengthy rides (the longest I managed was 11 miles however I used to be up for extra) though the Velo saddle might be a bit of simpler on the butt — it’s pretty exhausting and doesn’t seem like gel-lined.

In pedal mode, there’s no noticeable resistance from the motor as anticipated with a hub of this sort. At 13Kg/30 kilos, it’s fairly mild for an e-bike — largely because of the carbon fiber physique. This means should you don’t wish to use the battery it’s nonetheless a purposeful common bike. Tap up on the D-pad although and issues get enjoyable actual fast. Like most e-bikes, the Urtopia is restricted on its energy help primarily based on territories. The US model tops out at 20 MPH earlier than you’re by yourself and the EU model will cap out at 16 MPH of electrical help.

The three energy modes all really feel fairly quick. That’s to say, even “eco” mode will assist you alongside properly. Step as much as Comfort mode and also you most likely have practically all the ability you must get the place you’re going and have an excellent steadiness of train and help. In Sport mode, this factor feels actually fairly quick regardless of the usual limitations. I usually discovered myself dropping again right down to Comfort mode when different people have been close to as it will possibly really feel fairly full of life — in a great way.

If you actually are feeling like chilling out and letting the bike do all of the work, there’s additionally that Turbo mode. Long press Up on the D-pad and even the lightest of pedaling will quickly get you to 20mph. Given the racey aesthetic and the ahead seating place, it is a lot of enjoyable for not a variety of effort.

With that in thoughts, I ought to point out the vary. Urtopia claims you ought to be good for something between 30 and 80 assisted miles. This will clearly rely upon the terrain and which energy mode you’re in, and it’s fairly a large estimate. I haven’t run the battery down but, however the indicator on the smartbar did appear to get fairly low even on a 10-mile trip. It’s exhausting to know if it is a prototype quirk or simply that the battery is draining quick (which, once more, might be one thing that adjustments in closing {hardware} with closing firmware? Hard to know).

This is why I saved the part on GPS and the 4G connectivity till now. One of the extra fascinating promoting factors right here for me is that it is possible for you to to trace and find the bike on a map at virtually any time. The firm tells me it plans to supply information bundles for the 4G connectivity for about $30 a 12 months — which appears fairly cheap for the peace of thoughts of having the ability to find your bike anyplace if it have been to go lacking. My query is… what affect may this have on the battery if it’s pinging GPS and operating 4G whereas idle? Alas, a query I can’t reply till we get to strive the ultimate mannequin.

The similar query goes for the mmWave sensors. Another factor I’m at the moment unable to check.

What I do know is that because the bike is correct now, it’s extremely enjoyable to trip and because of the burden, pretty simple to deal with (I reside in a fifth-floor house, so wrangling it into the small elevator is fortunately extra manageable). The techno styling won’t be to everybody’s style, however I’m fairly keen on it. And most significantly, it’s good to see one thing so tech-forward, even when a number of the headline options weren’t prepared. I’m desirous to strive them as soon as they’re and after talking with the corporate I bought the sense there may be extra to come back. I jokingly urged they need to permit music by means of the smartbar speaker (the bike has Bluetooth) and so they urged that was attainable as are the required OTA updates to ship such new options.

Right now, the Urtopia is out there for pre-order through Indiegogo. As such, the usual caveats apply, however given how near closing the prototype I’ve is, it doesn’t appear to be there’s any extra improvement to be finished, just a few fine-tuning on these remaining options. If you do pre-order you’ll be capable of choose one up for $2,000 which is a very aggressive worth even for the bike with out these further options enabled. According to the marketing campaign, that worth will virtually double as soon as it goes to retail, so should you’re taken by what you see, there’s a good incentive to get on board sooner relatively than later.