Urtopia draws a new connected electric bike, which bets on both a more affordable price than the rest of the catalog, as well as a fingerprint sensor to manage unlocking. Original.
Urtopia is one of the brands positioned on connected electric bikes, like Cowboy, VanMoof – in the grip of financial setbacks –, Angell or Elipse. Its first model, the Urtopia Carbone 1, caused a sensation with its original design and its featherweight of 14 kilos.
The company returns to the front of the stage with a brand new model by the name of Urtopia Chord. The latter is sold at a more affordable price, which could even be described as interesting for a connected VAE: 2299 euros. At this price, you are dealing with a product full of technologies.
Connectivity first
The most striking is undoubtedly the integration of a fingerprint sensor on the lower part of the central screen: with it, you can simply unlock your bike, like a smartphone. The system also includes a speaker capable of broadcasting your favorite music through a Bluetooth connection.
The screen also indicates the direction to take according to a predefined route, not without displaying your speed, the remaining battery or the assistance mode used (Eco, Comfort, Sport or Turbo). Mobiwisy tells us that the mileage, power, weather and calories burned are available on another window.
Source: Urtopia
Source: Urtopia
Source: Urtopia
Connected bike requires, remote software updates are necessarily required, as is GPS tracking from a dedicated mobile application. This feature is very practical in the event of theft, since you are able to track your mount without the thief necessarily noticing.
The rest of the technical sheet takes pride of place, with the combination of a motor (250 W) placed on the rear hub combined with a force sensor and 45 Nm of torque. As a reminder, the force sensor transmits the electric assistance in proportion to the force you put into the pedals.
Autonomy more than decent
This type of technology offers a more natural, dynamic and responsive ride, especially when it comes to acceleration and starting. This is a sensor found on some mid-range electric bikes, such as the Decathlon LD 500 E or the Nakamura E-Crossover V, and more generally on high-end models.
Source: Urtopia
Source: Urtopia
Source: Urtopia
The 352.8 Wh battery claims a range of 50 to 120 km. Here, the radius of action differs according to the assistance mode used: the less powerful it is, the greater the autonomy will be. Terrain typology and rider weight also impact the range of a bike.
Price and release date
The Tektro hydraulic disc brakes are reassuring on paper, to say the least. They come with CST tires shod on 28-inch wheels, alongside an 8-speed Shimano Acera drivetrain that seems a tad fair to us at this price point. A more successful transmission would not have been refused.
Available in open or closed frame, in white or black, the Urtopia Chord weighs a total of 21 kg and is suitable for users oscillating between 170 and 195 cm. The official website states a 2-year warranty against manufacturing defects. A total of 14 trial days are possible before a free return. Its price: 2299 euros, for deliveries between May 15 and May 30 in the event of pre-orders.
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