I don’t know where you live, but e-bikes have taken over like a swarm of locusts in Ventura, California. They silently climb steep roads with ease, glide along bike paths, and cruise down city streets.
Most e-bikes have pedals that can be used to assist in generating propulsion and depending on the type of e-bike (1, 2 or 3) as well as state laws, speeds are typically limited to 20-28 mph.
But there are also electric scooters that have no pedals and rely solely on electrons to keep the wheels spinning. A popular choice among teens here in Ventura is the Surron Light Bee Xa 100-pound electric mountain bike that ships with a speed limit of 16 mph but can be “hacked” to allow speeds of up to 50 mph or more. Some of the talented daredevil riders on Surrons perform endless stunts on city streets, almost to the horror of locals who complain endlessly about the “crazy kids” on NextDoor.
Enter the UBCO 2×2, a utility electric bike built by a New Zealand-based company headquartered in Bend, Oregon, USA. UBCO bikes were originally designed for use on farms and trails, and their “utility” is evident in their sturdy trellis frames, front and rear racks, and knobby tires.
What I love about UBCO bikes is the “2×2” part – with a 1 kWh motor in each wheel hub, they are 2-wheel drive. I always wondered what it would feel like to ride one. Christini 2WD Off Road Vehicleso i thought UBCO would give me a taste. mounting a motor to each axle makes sense. not only does it improve traction with two drive wheels but it also simplifies the packaging of the drivetrain since there is no chain or belt and no gears.
UBCO’s product line includes four models. There are two models that are off-road only: 2×2 Job utility model ($3,999 for 2.1 kWh, $4,999 for 3.1 kWh) and 2×2 Hunting Version ($6,499, 3.1 kWh only), a fully loaded hunter model. And there are two street-legal dual-sport models: 2×2 Adventure ($4,999 for 2.1 kWh, $5,999 for 3.1 kWh) and Special Edition 2×2 ($6,999, just 3.1 kWh), which is the focus of this review.
The 2×2 Special Edition features a unique green paint job and comes with a number of accessories that set it apart from the base 2×2 Adventure model, including two Giant Loop Pronghorn straps for the front rack, a 12-litre centre pannier, a 30-litre rear pannier and a Peak Design smartphone holder.
You can buy the UBCO from a dealer or you can have it shipped directly to your home, which is what I did (all orders are subject to a $450 shipping fee). It arrives in a recyclable cardboard box and requires minor assembly — straightening and tightening the handlebars, bolting in the turn signals, and installing the mirrors, luggage, and smartphone mount.
Above the tapered aluminium handlebars is a colour-matched metal nacelle housing an LED headlight and a digital instrument panel, which features a battery level and regenerative braking gauge as well as speed, engine temperature, odometer and clock. Pairing the UBCO app to the bike via a smartphone and then mounting it just behind the handlebars allows the rider to see a more vivid, feature-rich display and access functions such as riding modes (Normal, Boost and Eco) and regeneration levels (Low, Medium and High).
Despite its boxy frame, the UBCO 2×2 has a tight knee-to-knee stance and a compact cockpit thanks to its short wheelbase. The wide, plush single seat is 32 inches high and flips up for easy access to the center storage compartment (perfect for two six-packs of beer). Under the seat is a “roadside kit” with owner’s manual and tools.
Operating the UBCO is easy. Press the red button near the right handlebar “throttle” to start the bike, press it again to shift from neutral to drive, then twist and go. Like many e-bikes, acceleration from a standstill is very quick. Weight is immediately transferred to the rear wheel, causing the front wheel to squeal or slide a little as it tries to grip the road.
Both the 2×2 Adventure and the 2×2 Special Edition are street legal, but their top speed is 30 mph (and thus they are classified as mopeds in most states). That’s only 2 mph faster than the legal speed limit for Class 3 e-bikes, and slower than most traffic even in 25 mph zones. So I found myself in the bike lane on city streets.
With tires measuring just 2.75 inches (70mm) wide and a total weight of just 156 pounds, the UBCO is easy to maneuver. Because it looks like an e-bike, I rode the UBCO on paved bike paths, local trails, and even the beach. The two-wheel drive was helpful on rough, uneven singletrack and deep sand exploration—the UBCO simply pulled along where larger, heavier, more powerful bikes with a single-wheel drive would plow the front end and get stuck.
Where UBCO struggles is on really steep hills. We have a couple of blocks in Ventura that rival the steepest streets in San Francisco, and UBCO just doesn’t have the power to climb them. (In a parallel race compared to Yamaha TW200 on UBCO websiteUBCO claims the 2×2 engine produces 4 horsepower.)
GEAR UP | UBCO 2×2 Special Edition
Thanks to the UBCO’s low speed limit and light weight, it doesn’t drain its battery as quickly as heavier, faster electric scooters. On one ride, I rode the Ventura River Parkway, a paved rail-to-trail bike path that runs from the beach in Ventura to the mountain town of Ojai, climbing from near sea level to about 1,000 feet in elevation. I kept the throttle steady for most of the ride, and after 26 miles and 1 hour and 10 minutes of riding, the battery had dropped from 100% to 46%. The UBCO comes with a 10-amp fast charger that plugs into a regular 110V wall outlet, and a full charge takes 4-6 hours.
Living in a small surf town like I do, UBCO is a great place to run, with plenty of bike lanes, bike paths, and trails. Its racks and bags make it easy to carry your gear down to the beach, bring home beers from local breweries, or pick up a few items at the store.
UBCO has a steering lock, but our SE 2×2 test car didn’t have one. There’s also no “ignition” key, so when parked, there’s nothing to stop some idiot from starting the car and driving away. I keep a New York Kryptonite chain in the middle of the car and lock it when needed.
The UBCO certainly looks cool. Its military green(ish) paint job and tubular trellis frame make it look like a two-wheeled jeep, and it gets a lot of attention and “What is that?” questions from people on the street.
But $6,999 is a big ask for a street-legal electric scooter that only does 30 mph, especially if you’re a frequent rider on bike lanes. There’s plenty of competition in the electric two-wheel world—the Surron Light Bee X is $4,400, the Super73 e-bike is $2,995–$4,595, and there are plenty of Class 3 e-bikes that do 28 mph for under $2,000.
The UBCO 2×2 Special Edition has a special design, but not special enough to be worth this price.
Specifications of UBCO 2×2 Special Edition 2023
- Basic price: $6,999
- Website: UBCO.com
- Guarantee: 1 year, unlimited miles
- Engine Type: Dual air-cooled 1kW brushless Flux2 DC motors (one at each wheel axle)
- Horsepower: 4 horsepower (factory power)
- Battery: 3.1 kWh
- Maximum speed: 30 miles per hour
- Maximum range: 75 miles (factory claimed)
- Charging time: 4-6 hours using included 10 amp fast charger (factory supplied)
- Final Drive: Direct
- Wheelbase: 47.8 inches
- Seat height: 32 in.
- Frame: Tubular aluminum alloy truss
- Suspension, Front: Telescopic fork, coil spring with hydraulic damping, adjustable preload and rebound, 5.1 in. travel.
- Back: Dual shock absorbers, coil springs with hydraulic damping, adjustable preload and rebound, 4.7 in. travel.
- Brakes, Front & Rear: Single 203mm disc with 2-piston radial hydraulic caliper, plus regenerative function
- Wheels, Front & Rear: Spoked aluminum, 1.85 x 17
- Tires, Front & Rear: Tube type, 2.75 x 17
- Unladen weight: 156 lb (factory claimed)
- Load capacity: 330 lb (factory claimed)
