Assembled in France with a local carbon frame, Ultima delivers an electric bike that is 98% European and has an ultra-powerful Valeo engine.
Making a 100% Made in France electric bike is almost mission impossible. But that does not hold back the various brands and initiatives from approaching it. Ultima Mobility is one of them, a young company from Lyon that we discovered at the Autonomy show in Paris.
Lots of space for the Ultima bike
The brand was founded by Jérôme Mortal, Brice Épailly (president of Caminade) and Didier Mennechet. According to Ultima, its first electric bike is a 98% European and 90% French creation. First, and this is very rare, the frame is made in France. And unlike many bikes, it is made of injected carbon (just like the stem), a very light and resistant material, as expensive to produce as in Asia.
Source: Matthieu Lauraux for Frandroid
Source: Matthieu Lauraux for Frandroid
Source: Matthieu Lauraux for Frandroid
For the rest of the bike, it’s almost French with Hutchinson wheels, Mavic rims, Zoom pedals, Baramind handlebars, and the Valeo electrical system. Note, however, that the battery cells are from Samsung, in South Korea. For the European part, we find the Magura brakes and the Selle Italia seat. But then, what is the remaining 2%? The adjustable seat post gives us Ultima, coming from Asia.
A bike with a very generous Valeo engine
Electric bike with an open frame, the Ultima Multipath in the basic City version is intended for urban travel, as it is rigid without suspension. However, developed in Rhone terrain, it needed a minimum of muscles for local elevations. The French VAE thus integrates the Valeo engine with a monstrous torque of 130 Nm.
We had the chance to take it in hand for a few hundred meters, to judge its electrical system passing through a single-speed chain. The assistance is simply stunning, very sustained, whether in Eco mode, sufficient for the flat, or the Turbo sending all the torque. The Ultima adds Valeo’s “Predict” mode, automatically adapting the response to the pedal.
The result is therefore similar to what is found on an Iweech or the new Cowboy 4, i.e. a leveling of the effort. Unfortunately, the motor is very noisy. Nevertheless, the co-founder Jérôme Mortal promises us to very quickly offer the “Gen 2” of the engine, which will reduce the noise.
The connected part goes through the Valeo or Ultima application, with the possibility of locking assistance, or tracking your bike via GPS in the event of theft. This tracker is offered for purchase at 249 euros with a 2-year subscription.
Cargo and long-range versions
Although recent, the Lyon brand does not stop at a single model. Ultima offers a family of electric bikes, starting with a “Long Range” version of its City, with a 630 Wh battery versus 530 Wh, or 85 km in Turbo mode (vs 65).
Small drawback, the battery is integrated but not removable. Other configurations exist, with an in-house “Trekking” single-sided suspension fork and all-terrain tires, a fork to transform the bike into a mini-cargo with a 20-inch front wheel, or even front loading with a bin or front seat.
Already available throughout France, the French Ultima Multipath electric bike starts at 3,449 euros. At this price, you have to do without a stand, rear rack or varnished paint (optional). The Long Range climbs to 3,699 euros, the Trekking to 3,949 euros and the Long Range Trekking to 4,199 euros.
For the mini-cargo variants, count 4,928 euros (ferry) or 4,988 euros for the Family Cargo with seat. Remember that the bike is modular, the brand can go, for example, to the Mini-cargo in the City and vice versa.
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