Electric bikes are proving ever more innovative as time drags on, best witnessed in the likes of newer concepts out of Audi and Icoma. For the most part, said ebikes can be quite heavy, making transportation in big cities somewhat of a hassle for commuters that traverse trains and assorted road obstructions.
Plus, more than most of the best ebikes tend to be quite an investment, ranging as high as $3,000, which isn't exactly ideal for those looking to ditch the car in favor of inexpensive transportation methods.
Enter Urtopia, an ebike startup based out of Hong Kong, China that is reinventing the way inner-city transportation can be approached.
With "Design is the Soul" as being its major backbone, Urtopia aims to produce some of the most stunning ebikes that leverage cutting edge technology, as witnessed in the firm's most recent entry titled the Urtopia Chord.
The Chord is not only a sleek and elegantly designed ebike, but likewise sports some awesome features, like an adaptive torque sensor and anti-theft GPS tracking. Given that it's marketed as an inner city commuter, that anti-theft component is an instant seller, but to add to that is a 70 mile range potential at a top speed of 20 mph.
Utopia's newest addition comes with five speed modes, which include Eco, Pedal, Comfort, Sport, and Turbo. The customized 250w motor is quiet and light, but still incredibly powerful, made all the more user-friendly with the Chord's 8-speed Shimano gearing system that allows riders to hit all kinds of varied terrain with near-instant maneuverability.
And, although it isn't advised, riding in weather conditions like rain may not be too much of a hassle thanks to the ebike's Tektro hydraulic disc brake, a highly reliable system that keeps stops smooth and effortless.
The Chord takes its design ethos from the likes of the piano. Urtopia specifically points to Croation pianist Makism as among the most prolific influences for its newest ebike, citing simplicity and elegance as being major backbones to allow the Chord to "seamlessly blend into the city landscape." The Chord's frame is built on the liquid forging technique, giving it immense structural integrity on top of its seamless appearance.
Exciting as the new entry may be, potential consumers will have to wait until late May before receiving the product, as the Chord is still in production and is currently in its preorder phase. It comes in two different colors, white and black, and two different frame types, high-step and step-through (Chord X), at a starting MSRP of $1,999. Urtopia is currently holding an early bird discount for the Chord preorder, offering $600 off its newest addition.
If the wait for the Chord is a bit too long, though, you could also opt for Urtopia's Carbon 1 or Carbon 1S, the latter of which is likewise seeing a $600 discount. Both Carbon models are stellar ebikes, both named best electric bike of 2022 by CNET. As the name implies, both rides were built on a carbon fiber frame with designs being led by none other than former BMW and Siemens designer Mathis Heller.
Urtopia is setting the stage for the ebike platform, leveraging both interesting technologies in line with design craftsmanship never before seen in the space. It will be interesting to see what the startup comes up with next as the ebike form grows in ever more exciting ways.
