UBCO 2x2 off-road electric bike review

A New Zealand company has switched onto the agricultural bike market with an innovative two-wheel drive motorcycle that is light, nimble, cheap to run and able to act as a mobile power unit in the field.

The UBCO - for Utility Bike COmpany - started making its electric motorcycle three years ago and now exports to Australia and the US. It has recently appointed a WA distributor who loaned a bike to farmmachinerysales for a spin around a farm near York, 70km east of Perth.

Two models are available - one equipped for more off-road work and the other more for on-road duties. The differences aren’t huge and either will serve faithfully on a working property and have the bonus of being comfortable enough for a ride to a nearby town.

Both models - priced at around $7900 depending on equipment and location - are easily registered for the road. For many states and territories, the UBCO is classed along with a moped and may need only a passenger-car licence.

For the uninitiated, ag bikes are traditionally sturdy, noisy, capable, athletic and fun. The UBCO is all those except noisy. Even starting out for the first time produces an eerie sense that something is not right. The lack of noise and vibration, exhaust smell and heat are tell-tale signs that it’s a different game.

Stock may welcome the change. The silence of the UBCO is one of its big attractions, being able to approach stock in almost total silence has dividends.

The quiet operation also has the benefit of being not only relaxing for the rider but also allows them to keep an ear out for approaching vehicles or lost animals, for example.

The UBCO 2x2 also appeals with its user-friendliness, particularly the step-through design and its light weight. It’s 63kg and, including rider, can haul 150kg when the optional front and rear racks are brought into the equation.

At such a diminutive weight, it’s easy to load on to a trailer or ute.

Electric vehicles are inherently safe because they carry no readily flammable fuel so are not affected by exposure to heat.

Its simplicity is reflected by dash controls that consist of a speedo, battery gauge, USB ports, 12-volt plugs and a start key.

Turn the key to connect the power, twist the handlebar throttle - that’s it.

The brakes are controlled by the two hand levers - one for front, one for rear.

It will crank up to 50km/h in a whirr with acceleration that is far quicker than most first-time riders expect partly due to the lack of noise.

However, the bike works better at its designated walk-pace work where it will herd, crawl up dam walls, glide through plantings and deliver some hefty cargo.

Above all, it is the two-wheel drive that makes it very stable to ride and reluctant to slide when turning in wet or poor-traction conditions. That obviously has significant safety benefits.

Driving two wheels has some advantages for which I wasn’t prepared. Conventional rear-drive motorbikes need to be leaned into dirt corners and require some body movement to compensate for expected traction loss at the wheels.

The UBCO’s drive greatly diminishes that experience. There is far less of a demand to lean into a corner because the steering is more positive thanks to the driven front wheel that pulls the bike through the bend.

The traction is the same front and rear and with that, less of a need to move the body around to fight gravity and the possibility of a fall.

It is also less sensitive to payload because the driven wheels tend to equalise the balance between front and back.

Above all, it invokes a lot of confidence because it is easy to ride - great for people who rarely ride - and so light and narrow. The seat is relatively low, too, so it’s easy to stand with the bike, which combined with the light weight improves rider confidence.

Initially I thought the ground clearance was low, but it never grounded and in fact took to rocky inclines with ease. It can be manoeuvred into tight spaces and along thin tracks with no fuss.

The two motors are each rated at 1kW and fed by a 48Amp/hour lithium-ion battery mounted in the frame.

Much of the test work was done at slow speeds where the motors deliver their best torque. It was also a bonus not having to fear the power source stalling, especially on the inclines.

Though it delivers in spades for farm duties and even urban commuting (given the top speed in town is usually around 50km/h), it is no performance bike. The pace is quick and quiet up to about 30km/h at which point a conventional motorcycle - of almost any capacity - will pull ahead.

For people who like the cleanliness and light weight of an electric bike, the UBCO is certainly worth considering. One of its better points is there is no need to visit a petrol station and get a lungful of fumes.

Petrol-fuelled bikes have power and riding range in their favour, but the UBCO has a trick.

To extend the bike’s range (though most farm bikes generally do around 40km a day), there is regenerative braking that uses the motors as generators when coasting or braking to put some extra charge into the battery. This function requires no input from the rider.

The suspension is similar to a fully-fledged motorcycle so the ride is plush. However, it isn’t equipped to carry two people, reflecting its work ethos.

However, UBCO noted that the bike is being picked up - literally - by holiday makers because it is light enough to load and unload from the back of a 4WD or caravan or ute.

UBCO claimed that the bike will run for 120km when fully charged. The company said one charge costs less than $A1. The charge takes about six hours and can be done, albeit at a slower charge rate, via a plug to the vehicle’s electrical system which the bike is aboard.

It can also be a power source. The plugs on the bike can provide power for an electric drill in the field, or to charge up electrical equipment including a mobile phone.

An app from UBCO turns the mobile phone into a display and diagnostic tool for their 2x2. The app allows users to switch the bike to on and off-road settings and execute multiple tasks including maximise regenerative braking; reduce the power output in a learner-rider mode; update motor-control software via the Internet and check on the bike’s condition. The app also acts as a secondary instrument panel with more features.

UBCO has a range of accessories to suit the needs of the operator. For example, there are tow-bar mounts for a bike carrier; extra luggage racks and panniers; as well as GPS units.

The bike has distributors and agents around Australia and New Zealand. The UBCO 2X2 comes with a 12-month warranty.

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