UBCO, a New Zealand-born brand now headquartered in Bend, Oregon, was founded to fill a void in the e-moto category with an all-wheel-drive bike tough enough to haul gear across any terrain. The brand offers four different models, all virtually identical in frame and feel, but each specialized for a different style of adventure.
I tested the UBCO 2×2 Special Edition, a limited-run model with a classic aesthetic and features that place a premium on storage, and after four months of hard riding, hauling gear and exploring deep into the backwoods, it’s the best all-around e-moto I’ve found for a variety of adventure needs.
A commuter in the city, a workhorse in the country. Choose your own adventure with the UBCO 2×2.[/caption]UBCO 2×2 Specifications
- Price: $6,999
- Top Speed: 30mph | 50kph
- Max Range: 75mi | 120km
- Charge Time: 4-6 hours (Includes Fast Charger)
- Runtime: 4-6 hours
- Range: Up to 75 miles
- Weight: 116lbs (156lbs with battery)
- Battery: 3.1 kWh
- Storage: 30L rear carry case, 12L carry-all tote
Quick-Read Summary
In a word, the UBCO 2×2 Special Edition is a workhorse.
Its welded aluminum trellis frame is riddled with mounting points for hauling cargo, and encases a long-lasting battery and hardy power system turning burly all-terrain tires. The Special Edition’s adjustable dual suspension accommodates up to 330 pounds, and its rear and forward rack mounts are designed to customize.
The Special Edition packs more 42 liters of removable cargo, with sturdy front and rear racks for hauling loads of all sorts. [/caption]The 2×2’s unique two-wheel-drive power is controlled by an app that allows users to manipulate settings through their smartphone, which can be fixed magnetically and locked to an integrated phone mount below the bike’s digital dashboard, which displays things like speed and battery life.
With a top-speed of 30mph and more than five hours of range tested and confirmed, the Special Edition is a reliable e-moto for kinds of adventure and work, from surf-checks to hauling tools to off-road exploring.
Key Features
- Remote push-button start
- Dual-hub motor (all-wheel drive)
- Headlight, tail light, turn signals and rear view mirrors
- Easy app-controlled operating system
- 42 liters of removable storage
- 330 lbs capacity
- Powerful disc brakes
- Long-lasting battery (6~ hrs)
- Adjustable suspension
The Testing Scenario
The UBCO 2×2’s 72″ wheelbase easily fits in a truck bed, but also pairs great with a sturdy hitch rack, like the Xtreme Duty heavy e-bike rack pictured here.[/caption]I needed an all-purpose two-wheel hauler for fun, work and adventure around a large, wooded property in the mountains of Northern California. Over the course of four months, I put the UBCO to work regularly hauling tools around the property, carting my girlfriend to the neighborhood tennis court, taking my dog for runs around town, joyrides on steep trails and a few lengthy excursions deep into surrounding wilderness. After testing numerous e-motos across classes, the UBCO 2×2 Special Edition ticked more boxes than most bikes.
Tester loved
- Registerable as street-legal
- Fits well in my truck camper with lots of room to spare
- Reliable for long rides (down to 25% battery)
- All-wheel-drive helped a lot in certain scenarios
- Tough, all-terrain tires worked well on and off-road
- Build withstands a serious beating
- Tons of mounting lugs for customizing
- Rear rack made a nice seat for my girlfriend
With more than a dozen lugs spaced around the frame, the UBCO 2×2 is designed to be accessorized for your style of adventure.[/caption]Tester disliked
- With no warning, the test bike shut off with around 20% battery left on the display. I could start it again and go a few hundred feet, then it’d shut off again. It would have been a problem if I wasn’t close to home.
- Slight delay in throttle response (better than many e-motos, but not the best). Most e-motos carry a split-second or more delay between the throttle and power. The UBCO’s is noticeable, but it’s still quicker to respond than a lot of e-motos I’ve tried.
- The fixed two-wheel drive lost traction in loose terrain and up hills, and could benefit from a traction control system.
- I’d love for UBCO to offer a rear seat cushion accessory for my girlfriend.
An All-Wheel-Drive E-Moto
Note the front hub motor, which worked wonders for pulling me out of sticky situations.[/caption]All UBCO bikes are all-wheel-drive, a unique feature on e-motos and one I found to be great for powering through slick and muddy terrain, less so in loose, dusty dirt where the front wheel is liable to spin in place without traction.
While it adds welcomed power and serves well to get unstuck at slow speed, the 2×2 aspect takes some getting used to. I ate it a couple times trying to accelerate through turns on dry dirt roads, and fell off-course occasionally going up dirt hills with my girlfriend on the back. Once I learned to keep my weight forward on hill climbs and finesse the throttle through turns, having torque on both wheels became an awesome advantage.
Hauls More Than Most
42 liters of removable cargo carriers, two racks and a dozen lugs make the UBCO 2×2 a gear-hauling machine.[/caption]More than a dozen lugs are welded around the Special Edition’s frame, serving as attachment points for all sorts of accessories, from hunting and surf racks to Molle panels and gun mounts.
The Special Edition also comes with a durable, removable 30L case that velcro-straps to the rear rack, as well as an open 12L tote that fits between the legs of the driver for throw-and-go storage. The integrated luggage makes a clean-looking system for hauling tools or camping gear, and when removed, the rear rack serves tons of other uses.
While UBCO doesn’t advertise it as a two-passenger vehicle, the Special Edition did great for me taking my girlfriend on rides. At a combined 320 pounds, we pushed the bike’s 330-pound capacity (I tightened up the adjustable suspension to accommodate), but it held up well and easily handled the task. One of my biggest suggestions for UBCO is to make an optional seat cushion and foot pegs for the rear passenger. I bought some off Amazon and mounted them to the bike, which was easy with all the attachment points on the frame.
Comfortable For Long Outings
With a max speed of 30mphs and a slight delay in the throttle response, the UBCO wouldn’t fare well on a motocross track, but it wasn’t built for racing. Its broad, cushy seat and relatively soft suspension are more geared toward comfort than high-performance. Still, the bike is nimble, quick and fun to ride, and it performs well above average for a ton of use-cases. Its mid-level power also makes it a great option for families, since it’s easy enough to operate for both parents and bigger kids.
Tester’s Overall Takeaway
Where other e-motos cater more toward motocross-style riding, the UBCO 2×2 Special Edition is all about functionality.
Aside from its classic aesthetic, which appeals to me because it vaguely resembles an old-school army scooter, the UBCO distinguishes itself with exceptionally rugged build quality, reliable power, 2-wheel-drive and storage galore.
The operating system, which can be switched between on and off-road modes, is quick to set up and easy to use, well-suited for analog guys like me. I haven’t registered my UBCO, but appreciate the option to make it street-legal. That’d be a requirement for me if I lived in an urban area.
All-wheel-drive on an off-road e-bike has its pros and cons. It’s weird until you get used to it, and I wouldn’t want it on a high-performance bike, but for hauling, exploring, and the e-moto equivalent to overlanding, it’s an asset I never knew I’d want.
After four months of heavy use, nothing’s broken on my UBCO, and it hasn’t required any major maintenance. For the price—almost $7,000—my expectation is that it stays that way for years to come. The UBCO 2×2 ain’t cheap, but in the realm of e-motos, I’ve learned the hard way that you get what you pay for. With the UBCO 2×2 Special Edition, that’s a fun-to-ride, easy-to-operate, reliable all-purpose workhorse that the whole family can cruise. I constantly find myself appreciating it.
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