Last year I had an UBCO 2x2 on loan for a few days. It's a New Zealand designed electric bike that can be ridden on a car licence. Top speed is 28mph. Weight is 70 kilos. Range is around 60 miles. Price is £6000 plus.
I think this is much more the immediate future of electric bikes rather than the super sport type bikes Zero and others are producing. I accept that that is what the current battery technology is capable of and that the work Triumph are doing with range and more importantly short (20 to 30 minutes) charging times is going to open up other bike type possibilities, but as things currently stand I could use a rugged run around like the UBCO a lot more than I could use (or afford) a fast bike with a short range.
Agreed. There'll all trying to churn petrol rivalling performance when the interest is more from newer 'riders' who just want transport. The Birmingham bike show was interesting, lots of new brands with new electric bikes, but none of the big manufactures had anything small, affordable in the electric sector. Maybe they don't see profit in it but it does seem a bit short sighted.
Yup, same with e cars to some extent as well. I think the corporate companies are thinking they can tempt petrolheads out of ice vehicles and into evs with silly acceleration figures and so on. Who knows perhaps they're right, but I hope not.
Starting to see a few on the back of motorhomes. Had a test ride on one and it was a ton of fun. Great for getting around small acreage properties where you don’t want to annoy the neighborhood.
The UBCO has a wonderful concept by putting a hub motor on the front too. I hear these are excellent on snow, I imagine on mud too. Being able to do 45 mph on it would be the icing on the cake.
Not sure it's for me, but I like the concept. 2x2 is different enough to give people used to riding motorcycles something new to enjoy about it. I think it could be a fun commuter if you live in a city where there are some trails cut through small wooded areas. Might even be able to do a little stealth camping with a tent and sleeping bag strapped to those mounting points. Damn. Now I do kinda want one 😅
Nice review Nathan - and nice to see these are street legal (in the UK at least) as when I saw them at Overland Expo a few year's ago, they were not street legal (in the US at least) which I thought was missing a trick... Regarding your musing about why Honda have not made something along these lines - I think you answered you own question a little further into the review - now that a universal [physical] battery size has been agreed between a number of the major motorcycle manufacturers, I can see Honda leading the charge with more 'utility'/commuter style electric bikes... since I imagine they purposely have held off until that agreement was reached with regards to swappable batteries since build-in battery size/range has always been the limiting factor when it comes to 2-wheeled EVs. Interestingly when I saw their recently introduced Navi scooter, I actually thought that was electric - the black 'storage' box where a traditional engine would be seems ripe for a battery location, and I'm sure we'll see an E-volution* of that model in the next couple of years. *see what I did there ;o) Finally, with regard to the 2WD aspect of the UBCO - I agree, it would have made sense (particularly since these are electric, and have hub motors front and rear) to have the front wheel drive selectable via a bar switch, as and only when required?
I was going to comment on the wide bars. I really like them. I like the bike, too. Easily as involving as a small twist and go petrol scooter. One of these would be perfect for me in Chiang Rai. Apart from the fact there would be a lot of import duty. 40/45 mph would make it safer on the road. The range is enough. I do about 20 miles on my Aerox 155 on the days the 390 stays at home. I think the UBCO is quite handsome in a rugged kind of way. The front-wheel drive isn't its selling point, I suspect. Or are all electric vehicles front-wheel drive? Very interesting video.
Hi love the review.... What are your thoughts on travelling around the world on this?, or anything else or like you would recommend? ... Looking for bike, ebike... To travel world any ideas much appreciated thanks 😊
This is sort of what I want. I like the the Bultaco Brinco's too. Just a little more off-road suspension perhaps as you say? (DT or CR or KX like-ish).
I'd love to ride this along from braunton to Ilfracombe taking the scenic coast route , croyde woolacombe mortehoe Lee and over the torrs to Ilfracombe. Would be a lovely ride on this😎
Yeah I think that's what it's going to be most useful for, strapping to the back of the camper van and having a 'bike' to scoot around on when you get somewhere. Far more practical in that usage than a CT125.
Ok if it had to be 2 wheels but Citroen’s Ami is going to be a similar price. Has a big of crash protection, a lot more weather protection and luggage space too. Speed and range much the same. 🤷♂️
Sort of replaces a Mobylette, most of which which didn’t have any suspension at all apart from a sprung seat. Very practical and the industrial looks aren’t so bad, but very expensive for what’s there! When the Chinese put one out for half the price it will be more interesting.
Hey, i am being told i can not buy a TPS for my Himalayan i must buy a complete throttle body at about £400ish , Any ideas have you heard anything like it ?
I passed my bike test on an ST70 a long time ago. It was really great off road, we even used to take it to ride on an old copper mine spoil heap near where I used to live in Cornwall.
Does it need, insurance, Tax , Mot If so, what sort of costs are we looking at It's not for me personally, but I can see the campervan world buying them
I would guess that 2x2 is great in the wet. 45mph and 200 miles? Yes please. I would very happily travel with a couple of soft bags like my bicycle panniers. People will have to accept travel will change. Refuelling might nean a meal or cinema or shopping outing. And how long before your local Costa coffee has charging points for this sort if transport outside? Pay for a charge with your skinny katre. Like it. Happy travels 👍
The problem in the wet is that when you're turning out of a junction the front wheel wants to wide, almost like it understeers on the power. But yeah maybe in mud it'd be better. We had an oddly dry April by the looks of the footage!
@@rabbit1k973 Looking at the footage that was taken last April, then yes, I would say last April was a nice month. The lottery numbers, haven't a clue.
It seems to be causing a chirp into your mic every now and again. If it is causing radio interference it will soon Amoy people with radio equipment or who are recording videos. It might not be hard to fix or it might just be your mic setup has something loose going on. It looks like a good bit of kit though if you can work within its range and speed limitations.
Didn't ADV Forums post an article saying the UK is voting soon on banning all green lane access by motor vehicles?? Hope not! PS I spoke to the UBCO dealer here in the US just before the big pandemic and he said they are working on a 45 mph UBCO MET 2WD
Would be worth looking at Chinese electric bikes. They banned combustion engine bikes in alot of major cities almost 10 years ago now. Most folks in cities over there are on affordable electric two wheeled machines and have been for quite a while.
Get a derestricted sur ron for cheaper, 47mph and can upgrade for way more power but lose the practicality of the racks, now if Surron built a frame like this with all there tech and power upgrades they would have another winner, something with longer travel suspension, can fit 2 or more batteries in with a date x type of gizmo to use both batteries at the same time but uses way less power from both and gets more distance then you have an ideal bike.
Good review, thanks Nathan 👍 Confirms for me that electric bikes/cars ain't my thing. And it sounds like my dear departed, biker father's mobility scooter, no thanks, not yet, I've still got some vinegar to squirt ! 😂 Kind regards, A contented dinosaur 😉
An overpriced toy in my opinion -- just another lifestyle accessory unless you're a New Zealand sheep farmer. If you want an electric mountain bike they're available for a grand or so. Saying that, if you owned an UBCO in Australia, you might be able to charge a second battery in some kind of trailer/solar panel contraption as you rode slowly in the 38 degree C heat of sunny central Oz, but you'd have to steer clear of any rough tracks! I'd say you made the right choice Nathan.
Ill take my ar50 any day over that. Oh to be 16 again. So glad I was born into the petrol generation. Sorry battery stuff just don't do it for me. I use ev every day so do know what I like. Great video though as always
Think I'd still wear gloves ! As you mentioned if you're on a track that walkers use and they take umbridge to your electric bike then it's goodnight Vienna ! Not sure where all this power came from but it's like all the rights recently handed to cyclists who now are abusing that and riding even worse and more inconsiderate than before anyone fires up their keyboard I'm also a cyclist ! Good review but it's not my cup of tea !
I cycle around 300 to 400 km a month and I'm not sure inconsiderate cycling has much to do with the new Highway code, I think it is much more of a lockdown leftover, after all, how many cars have you seen lately that indicate in good time before a junction? As for rights of way, it is far far too easy for a Local Authority to downgrade a RoW with the hope of ridding themselves of complaints from walkers..... which they don't, because some people will always find something to complain about.
@@neilmackinnon3371 Nothing to do with lockdown or wether a car indicates before a junction that's just muddying the waters ! In my local area there is a marked rise in packs of cyclist using pretty busy routes that are double solid white lines for some quite extended stretches , the stretch past where I work which is a route for our tankers leaving site is one of those 60 mph double white lines and uphill both directions and ALL of our drivers have mentioned the rise in cycling groups using this road since the new rules came out !
@@themoog3889 I'd say that was much more a matter of perception on the part of your drivers, who are clearly professionals due to their level of awareness of the new Highway Code. However, if more people have been encouraged onto bicycles as a result of the new code, then I can only see that as a good thing, both for peoples individual mental and physical health, but also because it possibly means less cars on the road, so good for the environment too.
@@neilmackinnon3371 I agree cycling is great for people I do it myself ! But the cold hard fact that people overlook is the road network infrastructure was built for motorised vehicles people need to get to work , goods need to be moved end of story ! cycling does not solve the getting to work problem entirely not everyone lives close enough to cycle and it certainly doesn't solve the delivering goods problem either . As for a perception by our drivers its backed by a study by our QSHE guy and he agrees that instances of cycling groups on the stretch of road has increased , that road hasn't suddenly become a cycling mecca , I think groups of cyclists are using it quite provocatively to cause people inconvenience using thier newly granted rights as some kind permission ! I wouldn't cycle down that road and it's only a matter of time before someone gets squished 38 ton versus lycra there's only one outcome !
I delivered to a farm over the weekend on a popular trial for cyclists near Ilkley. They hated the bicycles. So i guess any group can overdo its welcome.
Sorry don't like electric bikes or cars to many restrictions on how far you can go, not for me been riding petrol bikes for the last 54yrs ain't going to change now
