Urtopia Carbon 1 Pro E-Bike Review: Easy Rider

The holy grail of e-bikes is one that offers all the advantages that an electric bike has to offer but is still light enough to ride without the need for pedal assistance. That’s exactly what you get with the Urtopia Carbon 1 Pro, a bike that looks and feels like a traditional model even when its electric motor isn’t engaged. This bike has plenty of high-tech features, however, ensuring riders get all of the benefits they expect from an e-bike, and then some.

Photo Credit: Urtopia

A Carbon Marvel

The first thing you’re likely to notice about the Carbon 1 Pro is its looks. The bike’s frame features a unique, sweeping design that is unlike anything else on the road. Its battery and motor are also nicely hidden away, often requiring a second look to even notice them at all. This gives it an appearance that is both timeless and futuristic at the same time.

As its name implies, the Carbon 1 Pro has a carbon fiber frame built to improve stability and aerodynamic efficiency, making it easier to ride. The design also helps keep weight to a minimum, with the bike tipping the scales at a mere 37 lbs. That’s about half what most other e-bike models weigh, and as a rider, you notice the lack of bulk immediately. On one test ride, I even set off without turning the electric motor on at all. It took a mile or two of riding before I even realized it wasn’t engaged. That’s not something that typically happens on an electric bike where the extra weight and size are evident as soon as you start turning the pedals.

The Bike’s unique design comes courtesy of Mathis Heller, who has spent 30 years working with high-profile brands like BMW, Volvo, and Siemens. He drew on that experience—and his use of carbon fiber in other projects—to create an e-bike that stands out not just for its looks but also for its ride profile. Nimble and fun, the Carbon 1 Pro is easy to ride, even if you drain the battery midway through your ride.

Photo Credit: Kraig Becker

The Tech Specs

Scanning through the Carbon 1 Pro’s tech specs, they don’t seem all that impressive on paper. It features a removable lithium-ion battery with a 352.8Wh capacity and a 36V 350W motor. Those numbers pale in comparison to some other models on the market, but because this bike is so light, it doesn’t require as much power to propel it down the road. It’s also a byproduct of its efficient aerodynamic frame, which is built to glide along in the same way that electric cars are designed to have as little drag as possible.

Despite having a less powerful motor, the Carbon 1 Pro’s pedal assist levels and Shimano 8-speed drivetrain make it easy to maintain a speed of 20+ mph. The bike features four assist modes—eco, comfort, sport, and turbo—which make it easy to zoom along at your desired pace and effort. Want a better workout? Drop into eco mode or turn off the drive altogether. Just want to go out for a leisurely ride? Crank the bike up to its highest settings and enjoy the journey.

While the bike’s performance is mostly quite impressive, we did find its range fell short of Urtopia’s estimates. The company says the Carbon 1 Pro can travel up to 80 miles on a single charge, but over multiple test rides on mostly flat terrain, we were more likely to get about half that number. Obviously, steeper hills, a heavier rider, and generous use of pedal assist will impact battery life, but to consistently only get about 40-45 miles on a charge was somewhat disappointing. That said, because the bike is so easy to ride with the electric motor turned off, it is possible to conserve power for when it is absolutely needed.

Photo Credit: Kraig Becker

Bells and Whistles

As if the Carbon 1 Pro’s lightweight design wasn’t impressive enough, the bike also comes with a surprising number of high-tech features. For instance, it has a built-in fingerprint reader that authenticates the owner before unlocking the electric drive and other electronic components. It also has an integrated anti-theft system that sets off a very loud and shrill alarm should someone try to make off with the bike. It even has Bluetooth and 4G connectivity via eSIM that enables GPS tracking and geofencing for added security.

Much of the bike’s tech features are integrated into its display unit which Urtopia calls the Smartbar. Unlike the LCD displays found on most of its competitors, the Carbon 1 Pro’s screen uses a simple dot-matrix-like design that is bright and easy to read. It eliminates much of the clutter found on some e-bike screens, with the primary mode only showing speed, remaining battery life, and current pedal assist level. We would have liked to have seen a trip odometer added to that list, but that can be found on another page, which is accessed by pressing a button on the e-bike’s controller. Much of the data can also be found in Urtopia’s smartphone app, which, when paired with the bike, collects ride data that includes the route, distance, average speed, and so on. It also allows for GPS tracking, so you’ll easily be able to find the bike should it go missing.

Those same GPS features can be used for navigating to points of interest while riding, with distances and turn arrows shown prominently on the bike’s screen. The Smartbar can also be used as a Bluetooth speaker for listening to music and podcasts, and the bike even accepts voice commands for things like turning on the headlight or locking the bike. The 4G cellular connectivity allows for future OTA (over-the-air) updates for improved firmware and unlocking new features, too.

Photo Credit: Urtopia

Other Components and Features

As a long-time cyclist, I was happy to see the Carbon 1 Pro’s components are of good quality. Many e-bike manufacturers focus on the electric components, leaving the traditional bike parts as an afterthought. Usually, the result is subpar performance when shifting gears or braking. I’m happy to say that isn’t the case here, as Urtopia has incorporated solid componentry throughout. As already mentioned, the carbon frame is fantastic, and the hydraulic disc brakes are especially responsive. The Shimano gearset is fine for the price point and is far better than those found on most other e-bike models.

The Carbon 1 Pro’s built-in headlight is bright, and using it has a negligible impact on battery life. The bike’s cables are also internally routed, giving it a clean, modern aesthetic that looks especially great in black. We did find the seat to be less comfortable than some other models, although that discomfort was offset when wearing padded cycling shorts. The tires were also grippy and sized nicely, unlike the often massive wheels found on some e-bikes.

In another departure from most of the competition, the Carbon 1 Pro doesn’t include a thumb throttle. That means riders have to always be pedaling, which could be a turn-off for some potential buyers. Personally, we never missed the throttle at all, as we generally prefer to pedal any bike we’re riding. But if you want a model that allows you to ride without putting in any kind of effort, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

On another disappointing note, the Carbon 1 Pro doesn’t seem to ever go fully asleep, even when turned off. That’s likely due to its 4G cellular connection, although I noticed it was available to connect to via Bluetooth on my smartphone at all times, too. This seems like a minor thing to mention, but it does cause some minor battery drain. Over a few days, it isn’t very noticeable, but if you let the bike sit for a week or two, you may return to find its charge level has gone down dramatically. Luckily, it recharges quickly, requiring less than three hours to fully replenish its power.

Photo Credit: Urtopia

A Joy to Ride

Having ridden and reviewed numerous e-bikes over the years, we’ve come to learn that they are often more than the sum of their parts. That’s certainly the case with the Urtopia Carbon 1 Pro, which is saying something considering all of its individual parts are excellent. The bike’s high-tech features are fun and genuinely useful, including the interactivity with Urtopia’s smartphone app. Its built-in theft-prevention features are great, too, and GPS routing is handy when exploring a new setting. Even its built-in Bluetooth speaker is fun and surprisingly loud, although depending on where you’re riding, not everyone may appreciate hearing your music.

But the best thing about this bike is that it is just plain fun to ride. It is fast, agile, and handles well even on tight turns. Its carbon frame is stiff and light—at least by e-bike standards—which will make it a popular option for longtime cyclists making the transition to the e-bike space. Braking feels safe and controlled, and it climbs hills nicely—with or without pedal assist engaged.

It’s safe to say that Urtopia had regular cyclists in mind when designing the Carbon Pro 1. As noted several times, it rides more like a traditional bike than an electric model. Don’t worry, you still have all of the benefits you’ve come to expect from an e-bike, but with the handling and responsiveness of a much lighter frame. As an added benefit, the Carbon Pro 1’s lack of bulk makes it much easier to get on and off a bike rack or to store in the back of a truck or SUV. That’s yet another advantage it has over e-bikes from most other manufacturers.

The Carbon 1 Pro carries a $2,999 price tag, although as of publication, it is on sale for $2,499. That price squarely puts it into the mid-tier space, with plenty of models available for less money and numerous higher-end options costing much more. Considering its lightweight frame, traditional bike feel, and wide range of tech features, this seems like an incredibly good value. Traditional bike riders purchasing their first electric models will especially enjoy this option, although other riders will find plenty to love, too.

Learn more about the Carbon 1 Pro at the Urtopia website.

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