Cycle News

RIDE REVIEW I UBCO SPECIAL EDITION 2X2 P86 standard with a Peak Design phone mount already placed in a perfect location, making moni- toring the information on the app very handy. The Special Edition has several additional features that separate it from the other Ubco models, such as the matching 30-liter waterproof rear rack bag and the center carry-all. I espe- cially enjoyed the center carry- all, as it was perfect for runs to the post office or carrying around chicken treats. I men- tioned the Peak Design phone mount, which comes standard on the SE, as does a two-tone paint job, a sportier front fender, and Giant Loop straps. Since the model we tested was a Special Edition, it was uniquely num- bered and featured a special logo on the swingarm. Special Edition or not, all the Ubco bikes come with sturdy attachment points for mounting surfboard racks, front flat racks and other cool offerings avail- able through Ubco's accessory catalog. In researching for this review, I also saw that many cur- rent Ubco owners make custom racks for whatever specialized activity they use their bikes for. The heavy-duty tubular frame and the sturdy mounting points lend themselves well to just about any mount you could dream up. I also found that Ubco bikes are a huge hit with over-landers and RV owners, which makes sense due to the relatively light weight of these 155-pound machines with a 330-pound carrying capacity. Besides the front-wheel slide, my only other complaint about the Ubco 2X2 SE is that the seating position makes bang- ing your knees on the tubular steel frame a regular and painful occurrence. I checked the Ubco website, thinking surely they make an accessory pad to cover the frame in that area, but to my surprise, no such part exists— although it absolutely should, in my opinion. Apparently, I'm the only one who's ever had a problem with this. I'm unsure if it's my background in riding dirt bikes, where it's natural to squeeze the bike with your knees, or if it's just my bony knees. Probably the latter. Other than that, the more I rode the bike, the more I liked it. The brakes work great, the suspension is fully adjustable both front and rear, and the ease of operation makes it perfect to hop on and go with no hassle quickly. And it's so easy to ride that everyone who visited our home during the two months I had the bike took it for a spin. And no one hit their knees on the frame. Go figure. I used the SE mainly for work around our little family farm, with occasional runs to the cor - ner store and post office—the bike is perfect for that. And if we were still living in Huntington Beach, California, I could see us- ing it for runs to the beach and cruising around downtown. This eye-catching little bike would fit in perfectly in any urban set- ting—and it's rugged enough for real use in more rural areas. Ubco is all about making access to adventure easier for everyone while being responsi- ble stewards of the environment at the same time. Their motor- bikes are designed to have the lightest touch possible on our planet, and every component is designed to be recycled when the unit has reached the end of its operational life. They're even working on alternative chemis- tries for their batteries, standing up for a responsible EV future. So, while the Special Edition MSRP seems high at $6999, it reflects the cost of creating environmentally responsible ma- chines that are built to last. CN UBCO SPECIAL EDITION 2X2 ($6999) MOTOR: 2.1kwh or 3.1kWh MAX SPEED: 30 mph DRIVETRAIN: All-wheel drive FRONT SUSPENSION: Telescopic, coil spring, preload, and rebound adj. REAR SUSPENSION: Single shock preload and rebound adj. FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL: 5.1 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL: 4.7 in. BRAKES: Ubco Quadratic brake system, active regen, disc FRONT WHEEL: 1.85 x 17 in., wire-spoked REAR WHEEL: 2.75 x 17 in., wire-spoked WEIGHT: 144.6 lbs. (2.1kWh power supply) / 155.6 lbs. (3.1kWh) WHEELBASE: 47.8 in. SEAT HEIGHT: 32 in. S P E C I F I C AT I O N S

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