Urtopia is paving a brilliant path with an array of stellar, sleek, and extremely well-optimized electric e-bikes. With a state-of-the-art companion application that allows users to do everything from check bike maintenance to easily navigating local streets with peace of mind, Urtopia has a well-fit platform built for riders of all kinds.
And when it comes to the firm's newest entry, which takes its design ethos from the likes of the piano, Urtopia did not put its e-bike ingenuity to waste. At a mere $1,799, the Urtopia Chord is a sleek and iconic commuting platform that leverages some interesting internals.
While I was only privy to the prototype, the Chord still looks and runs with unparalleled brilliance. It does have its setbacks, which we will get into, but overall the system itself, in tandem with Urtopia's brilliant app, makes this e-bike a commuter's dream - so long as you live in a well-paved area.
That's not to say the system itself is subpar. The Chord leverages an adaptive torque sensor that essentially aids your pedaling as you move. You're doing most of the work, but the bike's assisted push makes the ride feel so much more freeing and invigorating.
The lack of a push function button, which can be found on a bit more expensive e-bikes, might turn some off, but the Chord still feels great to ride.
I would have liked a button, but pedaling offers users a bit more of a workout and ensures you're in control of the speed most of the time. The Chord can also hit a range of up to 75 miles, which is quite a stunner for those who have quite a long travel distance to work.
As with most bike rides, I took the Chord down to the river and road it to about the end of Edgewater, close to about a 15-mile trip from there and back. It was smooth energy-wise, but the ride itself felt a bit too rough. The roads around me aren't exactly paved the best or well-kept over the ages, making the ride on the Chord, which doesn't have any dedicated suspension, kind of rough.
I didn't have any trouble with pedaling. The lack of suspension coupled with the bike's rather thin wheels make it a bit painful when riding on more rugged and unkept streets. In the city, it fared quite well in specific bike lanes, as I wouldn't recommend riding on the road in general. Breaks felt intuitive and firm, I didn't worry too much about safety when slowing down.
The bike plays host to four modes and eight gears, giving it a ton of versatility depending on the type of ride you're trying to take. Turns feel quick and responsive, but with those really thin tires, less knowledgeable riders and newbies might not be prepared for the radius change. Even for me, turns had to be precise and hit with accuracy, otherwise, I'd lose balance in a flash.
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When it comes to app integration, Urtopia hit the mark with this. In the app, you can customize everything from the bike's ringer tones and loudness (as it plays soft melodies and piano tunes to evoke that design ethos) to checking your riding stats and so much more. The app also comes equipped with a fully-fledged tracker, as the bike has an e-sim to alleviate theft.
This tracker, however great for such a beautiful bike that could easily be stolen, comes with an important downside: always-on functionality. This means that although you might be able to keep the bike tracked via your device and even lock it to avoid thievery, the Chord stays on all the time, which eats away at the battery. I charged it up and let it sit overnight, only to turn the bike back on to about a 70% charge.
So, while I do think the anti-theft integration is astounding and perfect for the bike, it comes with the downside of limiting your battery. Luckily, even if someone did try to steal the Chord, it's equipped with an alarm system, as well, so you'll know exactly when and where it's being nabbed.
Overall, I think the Chord is a brilliant bike that has several key disadvantages for those living in less well-built out cities like where I'm based. I think it's still an exciting new platform, made all the more brilliant thanks to its design. Not merely can users see its beauty in the fine lines and craftsmanship, but even down to subtle details like the penned "Artist" tag on its upper frame. It all comes together on a beautiful platform that's worth its MSRP in looks alone.
The only major downsides for me are its thin wheels, lack of suspension, and always on anti-theft e-sim. These come together to make me give the Chord an 8 out of 10 on our ruling scale.
The design proves to make the Chord truly memorable. I can't count on my fingers how many times I was asked what kind of bike I'm riding, all because of its flashy looks.
It comes in both black and white, and given we were granted early access with the prototype, our ride was missing fenders, so you won't have to worry about that.
Urtopia is paving a brilliant path with its design ethos and carving a name for itself in the e-bike ecosystem that should last quite some time as the firm continues to expand and innovate with its multitude of e-bike offerings.
What's next for the firm we'll just have to wait and see.
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