United City Bikes is a manufacturer based in Zurich, Switzerland and they’ve released some folding electric bikes that claim to be the lightest on the market. The Swiss startup launched its bikes on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo in April 2019 and they raised over $1.4 million in just 2 months.
The first 100 bikes were priced at just $699 but the discount rate became lower over time. At the time writing this post, you still can order on Indiegogo and the price starts from $999 now. The One bike comes in 3 different models which are U1, U2, and U3. They have just some slight changes in the disc brakes and battery.
Besides, there are a US version and an Europe version. The Europe version has the max speed of 25 km/h and can run on pedal-assisted mode only while the US version has the max speed of 32km/h and has full throttle mode. Let’s check out full specs of the bikes.
| Motor | 250W |
| Torque | 35Nm |
| Max speed | 25km/h (EU-Version) 32km/h (US-Version) |
| Start assistance | Yes, up to 6 km/h |
| Net weight | 27.6 lbs (12.5 kg) |
| Battery | 36V – 5.4Ah Lithium-Ion (U1) 36V – 7Ah Lithium-Ion (U2) 36V – 8Ah Lithium-Ion (U3) |
| Battery Range- Assisted mode | 40km (5.4Ah) (U1) 52km (7Ah) (U2) 60km (8Ah) (U3) |
| Battery Range – Throttle mode | 22km (5.4Ah) (U1) 28km (7Ah) (U2) 32km (8Ah) (U3) |
| Charger | AC100 – 240V 1.8A |
| Charging time | 3.5 hours |
| Folding size | 9.8″ x 25.2″ x 30.1″ (25 x 64 x 76,5 cm) |
| Unfolding size | 49.2″ x 20.5″ x 39.4″ (125 x 52 x 100 cm) |
| Frame | High Grade Magnesium alloy |
| Tires | 16 inches |
| Brake | Disc brakes (U1) Shimano disc brakes (U2) Shimano hydraulic disc brakes (U3) |
| Maximum load capacity | 220 lbs (100 kg) |
| Electrical support levels | Easy / normal / speed |
| LCD Display | Yes |
| MSRP | $1,599 (U1), $1,799 (U2), $1,999 (U3) |
Update: After receiving some complaints regarding deliveries of the bikes, Dirk Kochhan, Founder and CEO of United City Bikes, contacted us to confirm the bikes were still in mass production in China. He also sent me some photos to prove it.
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United City Bikes is big fake !!
They invented nothing, nothing is manufactured in Zurich !!
This bike is designed and manufactured in China by Golden Age Vehicles Ltd.
UCB just purchase in China and sell in Europe.
Their crowdfunding for ‘development’ balblabla s one big lie !!
This is just fake and a big fraud.
Thank you for your information Bruno. I dug a bit more into what you said and I found this website:
http://www.jauntybike.com/en/aspcms/productlist/list-2-1.html
I was shut down and subsequently kicked out of the campaign for attempting to share this and other information on the campaign page.
Many backers got “trapped” in that campaign. You should better update this article. The bike was made by jauntybikes and UCB just added a new logo.. Despite that, 6 months after, they are still not able to deliver…
No U3 model all of a sudden, and no shimano brakes as promised initially.
They offer no refunds, and to block users from commenting, they remove them from UCB FB official page, and they mark them as “Refunded” in IGG without issuing any refund….SCAM!! Stay away
I saw this scam a mile away. i can’t believe how much they got away with advertising on facebook ! it’s sad.
Worst company ever. Since they manage after sales this way, don’t buy.
I nicely asked for refund because my mobility is sh*t for more than 5 months since I needed it after moving to a much further place. They refused once. I asked again with legitimate arguments and didn’t answer back. I sent respectful messages and shared my experience on Facebook for others. They deleted all my messages and blocked me (which is forbidden by Facebook rules since I didn’t use any bad word and insulted them).
I then sent a message to the CEO on linkedin (dirk kochhan if you want to do the same) asking for a proper conversation. He checked my profile, read my message, but didn’t even reply.
What kind of company does that? I have a company for 10 years and my sole goal is to make my client happy, even if that implies stopping a relationship with him (in that case refund). For those that received it, I’m worried about your after sales. And those who bought, ask with me for refund or don’t buy…
Is this company a scam?
When are you refunding my money? I committed to a U3 specifications bike and paid in full for 2 bikes complete with additional XL large capacity battery and carry case. When you informed me that the U3 is no longer in production I asked for a refund.
That was in November last year, to date in February you keep on insisting on sending me a U2 lower specifications cheaper bike. The indiegogo authorities have agreed to mark me as refunded in November last year. That is within the terms and conditions, in the mean time I tried to call by phone the number on my invoice +41 44 55 22 641 only to find it is disconnected.
Are you scamming me and keeping my money? If you are refunding it I should have it in my account bu now.
I trusted you in advance by paying, are you trustworthy to refund my money?
Why is your number that’s on my invoice disconnected?
When are you going to refund my money for the U3 twin set of bikes I paid for in full in November 17, 2019 on indiegogo when you informed me you no longer making the U3 and indiegogo investigation team agreed I should be refunded on that day and marked me as refunded.
To date I haven’t got my money back US$2638.00.
The invoice dated 05.09.1999 from United Concepts AG has a phone number +41 44 55 22 641, when I call that number it is disconnected.
Today Is Easter Friday 10 April, 2020.
Are united city bike refunding my money ? Can anyone help?
Ricky, please don’t fowl the people advertising a big SCAM.
Be careful because you can take advantage of peoples first impression and not read the rest.
My bike came after a year of purchase and the motor does not work.
Read truspilol or some serious comments.
Hi,
This is not an advertisement. Their CEO even asked me to remove all comments but I decided to keep them since I’ve received many complaints. They also sent me some photos showing mass production of the bike, so I can’t tell if this is a scam.
Hi. Fyi, I ordered (“contributed”) to an ivory color U2 bike in maybe July ‘20, and did receive it late August/early September. I had someone who’s more familiar with bikes than me unbox it & put it together, and so far after the first full charge it’s working great…. just had a little fun on it near the park by our house (in Dallas). So yes, it is a legit company with a real working product. Actually made in China? I don’t have a clue. Maybe… but it’s working as it should, so I’m enjoying it. I did not try for a “U3” model, wanted the U2. So far so good….
After waiting for my bike, after 7 months, it is slated to come this week! Even though I always felt this whole thing was a scam, deep-down I was hoping I would someday actually get a bike. Then, read your reply and was immediately relieved of my doubts….after patiently waiting for the bike for that long?! Thanls for the good review
I am trying to raise some money to hire a lawyer and take legal actions against United City Bikes and Indiegogo (for supporting the scam)
I can only agree to the comments before. Dirk Kochhan and the Team of USB are NOT the inventors of the Jauntybike/”The One”. Their only contribution is a lousy start -p supported by the crowd funding platform Indiegogo. So they are not even close to the position of providing service to their customers. They are only good in the promoting an already existing ebike from China. This business model is even worse, because backers of the USB crowd funding project don’t get any chance for a sale on exchange. At the end all the staff of USB seem to be amateurs with regard to handling the sales and after-sales of this ebike. In addition the offered price is a total joke, because they don’t name additional costs for value-added tax, customs and transport, which makes about additional 50% to the proclaimed price. I’m surprised that the hole story hasn’t been published yet in more professional trade publications. Thanks for leaving these comments on your page!
i have 2 ucb (the one) i would like to sell, i am really too big to ride it. Any suggestions to sell or a type of secondary market?
Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, wait until spring and hit the right market. I should be getting one soon, but many ebikes, like this, the RadRunners, and some Green Bikes, are worth hanging on to. They actually become rare, collectors items
Do you still have them I’ll buy them
I am looking to possibly buy one so get in touch
después de esperar meses a que me llegara la bici, un día me avisan que tenía que pagar 500 euros más por gastos de aduana. Me quejé y su respuesta fué que eso lo ya lo advertían en las preguntas frecuentes. Al final la bici sale carísima y no vale la pena. Me timaron
Ich hatte einen Unfall und benötige Ersatzteile:
1 Display
1 Satteloberteil
1 Vorcerrad
1 Schraube für Lenker
La compré y coincido con los otros, es una estafa en toda regla
I finally received my bike after one year, in the Fall of 2020.
It is really an OK bike – light, foldable, and has good range. I take it with me on my vacations, and I am glad to have it.
David Robinson
Hey gang – I see the comments about the bike company being less than legit. Prob true. In the meantime, I love mine but I hit a pole (my fault) and it broke something with the electric unit. I live in Austin, TX and none of the e-bike folks feel confident enough to try and fix it. Any ideas on where I can send it to get fixed?