From the May 2017 issue
With the population density of the world?s largest cities trending upward, Pasadena, California?based URBAN626 is looking to ease the daily commute to the office or public-transportation connector with its URB-E. The electric scooter?s lightweight aluminum frame folds up with one pull, providing easy portability and storage when not in use. Since sales started in 2015, URBAN626 has sold about 2700 URB-Es, with the bulk of buyers in coastal cities: New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. We rode ours in Ann Arbor. Through the halls of our office, actually.
Pricing for the base URB-E Sport starts at $899. Like cars, the URB-E is available in various trim levels. At the top is the perform­ance-oriented Pro GT ($1999). The Pro ($1699) and the Pro GT feature pneumatic 10-inch tires, a large saddle atop a coil spring to smooth out rough terrain, and a top-spec 50-cell, 36-volt lithium-­ion battery providing electrons to the 0.5-hp motor. Carpet-shredding stopping power is provided by a cable-actuated disc brake on the rear wheel. The GT designates more off-the-line thrust by means of an up­grad­ed motor-control unit. The scooter will wheelie, but even our in-house motocross veteran had trouble finding the balance point on such tiny wheels. On the road, the URB-E?s short 28.5-inch wheelbase makes for twitchy steering, as responses to small inputs are immediate. At a standstill, the carbon-fiber handlebar and stanchion feel flimsy, but over broken co...