Look, I’ve reviewed quite a few Urtopia ebikes over the last couple years, and honestly? They just keep getting better. They’re carving out this really unique niche in the ebike market, nearly all their bikes are full carbon fiber and impressively lightweight. So naturally, when I saw the Carbon Fold ST clocking in at just 31 lbs, I was immediately intrigued. Add in Urtopia’s history of smooth, whisper-quiet motors, and yeah, my expectations were already pretty high before this thing even showed up at my door.
Now, smaller bikes aren’t exactly new territory for Urtopia, the Carbon Joy series proved they could do compact, but the Carbon Fold ST takes things to a whole new level at just 31lbs and is capable of folding. Sure, going this light means some compromises, like the 220 lb max payload, but hear me out on what this opens up.
Most ebikes these days weigh north of 60 lbs, which makes them an absolute nightmare if you live in a congested area. Hauling one of those beasts up a flight of stairs? Good luck with that.
But the Carbon Fold ST? It’s a different story entirely.
We’re talking about an ebike that comes with all the expected goodies, hydraulic disc brakes, up to 50 miles of range, but now you can actually throw it on any standard bike rack without breaking a sweat. The weight is on par with regular analog bikes. You can take it on public transportation, up elevators, up stairs… it just opens up a whole world of possibilities for people who don’t need the heft and off-road capability that most ebikes pack these days.
So after spending the last week putting this thing through its paces, let’s dive into everything you need to know about the Urtopia Carbon Fold ST.
My Experience Riding The Urtopia Carbon Fold E-Bike
I was sent the Glacier Blue for testing, a nice pastel blue with a gloss finish that looks pretty clean in person. The bike does look small as you approach it, and to be fair, I wondered how I’d actually fit on the thing. Being a step-through model is a win for anyone who isn’t a fan of swinging their leg up and over a top tube. Whether that’s due to flexibility issues, it’s been a while since you last rode a bike, or you just don’t want to deal with it, the low standover height makes mounting and dismounting way easier for everyone.
At 5’11”, I found the fit to be fine with a small amount of room to spare for someone slightly taller. But if I’m being brutally honest, I think riders from 6’2″ to the advertised 6’5″ max would have a tough time getting a truly comfortable fit. The telescoping stem was already maxed out at my height. If I were another 5 to 6 inches taller, the handlebars would likely feel too low, and the leg area, that space from the seat post to where your knee bends at the pedal, might feel cramped.
But let’s be real, it’s an ebike designed to have a small footprint. It doesn’t require perfect leg extension and reach. Heck, you could throttle around at 6’5″ and be fine. But if you’re north of 6’2″ and like to actually pedal, I’d say go test ride one first to make sure. Planning to throttle all day and don’t care about pedaling efficiency? You’re probably good.
The 250W rear hub motor peaks at 500W and pushes 42Nm of torque. On paper, some might find this combo a bit lightweight by modern ebike standards, but when you consider the overall weight of the bike at just 31 lbs, the motor performance feels on par with bikes that weigh twice as much running similar wattage. Acceleration is smooth and consistent, not punchy or aggressive, just smooth and capable. You get four pedal assist modes: Eco, Tour, Boost, and a Smart mode that acts like automatic transmission for your ebike. Smart mode figures out how much assistance to give you as you ride without you needing to think about it. Just pedal and go.
Riding the Carbon Fold ST is completely on par with my past experiences with Urtopia bikes, and that consistent theme is smoothness and silence. From the Carbon Classic I reviewed a few weeks back to the first Urtopia I tested almost two years ago, they’re consistently good. More than that, they’re consistently silent and smooth bikes to ride. There’s no motor whine, no jerky power delivery, just a refined riding experience.
The braking system uses Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 2-piston calipers and 160mm rotors. This setup is more than enough braking power for a bike this light. They probably could’ve gotten away with smaller 140mm rotors, but going bigger with braking performance is never a bad thing in my book. The drivetrain is a commonly seen Shimano 7-speed setup with a HyperGlide 14-28T cassette and a 52T chainring up front. There’s also a nice chainguard to prevent chain grease from hitching a ride on your inner pant leg.
All in all, the Urtopia Carbon Fold ST hits a lot of selling points that bigger, heavier ebikes just can’t touch. From the 31 lb weight and the smooth, silent motor to the ability to fold it up and pick it up as a single person rather than needing a team of strong backs to lift it, it’s easy to fold, easy to manage, and makes a strong case as the ebike for anyone who wants an ebike but has a busy lifestyle that’s limited on space for big, clunky bikes. I’m so accustomed by now to the two-person lift into my truck that it was genuinely smile-inducing to simply pick this thing up and place it in my SUV without begging for help.
Range
Estimated Range (from Urtopia):
- Up to 50 Miles
Real World Range Test Results:
- Min Range Test: 35.1 miles
- MaX Range Test: 16.5 miles
Urtopia advertises up to 50 miles of range on the Carbon Fold ST. I ran two tests to see how it performs in real-world conditions, one in Eco mode and one in Boost mode. My test course is relatively flat, a city bike path with under 1000ft of combined elevation gain across both tests. There are occasional slowdowns for other bikes or walkers, but minimal full stops.
The results? In Boost mode (max assist), I got 16.5 miles. In Eco mode (minimum assist), I managed 35.1 miles. Now, full transparency here, when I saw that “up to 50 miles” claim, I was skeptical. But not confidently skeptical, you know? This is a 31 lb bike with a 252Wh battery, so maybe, just maybe, the lightweight build could stretch that range further than expected.
Once the results came in though, I wasn’t shocked to see it fall short. That 50-mile figure is very optimistic and would require near-perfect conditions, we’re talking zero elevation gain, no wind, and a rider not one ounce over 180 lbs, which is exactly what Urtopia caveats their testing at.
My 35.1 miles in Eco is still respectable for a battery this size, but if you’re planning longer rides, just know that 50-mile claim is more theoretical than practical for most riders.
Power (Motor & Battery)
The Carbon Fold ST runs a 250W nominal motor which peaks at 500W’s and can push 42Nm of torque. It uses a torque sensor for pedal assist, which means the bike responds to how hard you’re pedaling rather than just sensing rotation. There’s nothing particularly exotic about the e-system here, it’s a straightforward, reliable setup that gets the job done.
In terms of the pedal assist modes, there are 4 levels to work with: Eco, Tour, Smart and Boost. The ‘Smart’ mode is essentially a ‘auto pedal assist’ that takes the guess work out of the rider needing to think about which pedal assist mode. The system takes your pedaling effort by dynamically measuring torque and rotational cadence of the cranks as you pedal and determines how much pedal assistance you will need. I found it to be the best balance of power, speed and battery efficiency and it worked really well as I never had to correct it’s selection when riding, which just made the ride more enjoyable.
Urtopia equipped this bike with a UL 2271 certified battery, which is the safety standard you want to see. The specs come in at 36V, 7Ah capacity, for a total of 252Wh. The battery is integrated into the removable seat post, so charging is simple, just plug in the charger at the top of the sea post (no need to remove it), or, simply pull the seat post out and bring it inside needed, you have some flexibility here and at only 5.5 lbs, it’s easy to manage.
The battery and motor system are covered under a 2-year warranty. Urtopia includes a 3.5-hour fast charger in the box, so you’re not waiting around all day for a full charge.I like the idea that in 3.5 hours, my bike is fully recharged rather than needing an entire 8 hour window.
Components
The Carbon Fold ST uses a Shimano Tourney 7-speed rear derailleur paired with a 14-28T cassette. Up front, you’ve got a 52T chainring turning on alloy cranks with standard flat pedals. It’s a basic setup that keeps weight down while still giving you enough gearing options for varied terrain.
Urtopia didn’t cheap out on the stopping power here. You get Tektro 2-piston hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors front and rear. Hydraulics at this price point and weight class is a solid choice, you get reliable, consistent braking without adding much weight.
The Urtopia-branded saddle has a hidden AirTag placement built in, which is a nice touch for theft recovery. As for suspension? There isn’t any. This is a rigid frame, which makes sense given the focus on keeping weight down. You’re trading some comfort for portability here.
The stem is telescoping with 5.5 inches of adjustability, so you can dial in your fit pretty easily. The handlebar is a 560mm alloy flat bar with ergonomic grips. You get a push-button throttle, Shimano trigger shifters with a gear indicator window, and alloy brake levers. Everything feels purposeful and well-placed without unnecessary bulk.
The wiring on this bike is impressively clean. Urtopia has routed everything internally through that carbon fiber frame, so you don’t have cables flopping around everywhere. It keeps the aesthetic clean and protects the wiring from the elements and potential snags.
Screen / User Interface / App
The screen and display of the Urtopia Carbon Fold ST is a small full color display affixed to the left hand side of the
Urtopia Carbon Fold ST Model Options
The model options for the Carbon Fold ST are pretty straightforward with just a few decisions to make along the way. Frame size comes in a one-size-fits-most design that accommodates riders from 4’11” to 6’5″. The total maximum payload is 220 lbs, so if you’re a heavier rider, this probably isn’t the bike for you.
Color-wise, you get two options for the carbon fiber frame and fork. There’s the Glacier Blue you see in this review, think pastel or light blue, and a Creme option that’s more of an off-white. Both come in a gloss finish that looks pretty sharp.
Urtopia ships the bike with everything you need to hit the ground rolling. In the box, you get the bike itself, pedals, fenders, a kickstand, front and rear lighting, and that 2A charger that’ll fully juice the 252Wh battery in about 3.5 hours. There’s also a water bottle cage mounting point on the downtube if you want to add a bottle or other accessories.
If you need more cargo capacity, Urtopia sells an optional rear rack, and the Carbon Fold ST comes rear-rack ready for easy mounting. They’ve also got water bottles and rack bags available if you want to build out your setup with their accessories.
Folding the Carbon Fold ST
In a somewhat surprising turn of events, I found folding the Carbon Fold ST is so much easier than any other folder I’ve tested, and it all comes down to not wrestling with the usual 60+ lb heft.
The whole process is straightforward. The pedals fold up flat, and the stem and handlebar use a common clasp that you release to fold everything down alongside the frame. You loosen the quick release on the seat post and slide it all the way down, then unclasp the frame’s center lock and fold it in half.
However, Utopia thought this out and they addressed that annoying issue that plagues most folders where the bike wants to swing back open while you’re trying to carry or move it. They added a magnetic surface plate to the fork leg and another near the back of the frame, so when you fold it shut, it actually stays shut. Now, some brands have tried magnets before with mixed results since the weight of most e-bikes overpowers the magnetic hold and the thing just swings open anyway. But because the Carbon Fold ST is so light at 31 lbs, the magnets actually work. It holds when you’re lifting and moving the folded bike. Small thing, but it goes a long way in making life easier.
When it’s all folded up, the dimensions come in at 28″ high, 32″ long, and 19″ wide. Compact enough to fit in a car trunk, under a desk, or anywhere else you need to stash it.
Is The Urtopia Carbon Fold ST Worth Buying?
The Urtopia Carbon Fold ST is a breath of fresh air in a market saturated with heavy, bulky ebikes. At 31 lbs with a full carbon fiber build, hydraulic disc brakes, and that signature smooth and silent motor, it delivers on the promise of portability without sacrificing quality. The folding mechanism actually works the way it should, the magnetic hold keeps it closed while you move it around, and the whole package fits into spaces that would never accommodate a traditional ebike.
Look, it’s not perfect. The range fell short for me of that optimistic 50-mile claim, the 220 lb weight limit won’t work for heavier riders, and if you’re over 6’2″ and like to pedal, the fit might feel cramped. The 252Wh battery is small, which is the trade-off for keeping weight down, and you’re not getting the payload capacity or off-road capability of beefier bikes.
But here’s the thing. If you live in an apartment, commute on public transit, need to haul your bike up stairs, or just want something you can actually lift into your car without throwing out your back, the Carbon Fold ST solves problems that most ebikes can’t even touch. Urtopia keeps refining their formula, and with each bike they release, they’re carving out a more defined space in this market. For urban riders who value portability and everyday practicality over maximum range and payload, this might just be the ebike you’ve been waiting for.
Pros
- At a tested 32lbs, a fully capable folding ebike is a remarkable feat, especially at this price point.
- The Carbon Fiber frame and fork helps with vibration dampening and the ride feels very stiff and responsive in handling.
- Tektro 2-Piston hydraulic disc brakes and 160mm rotors give excellent stopping power on such a light e-bike.
- Folding the Carbon Fold is easy enough for a solo rider to accomplish on their own and with the magnetic retention system, the bike doesn’t swing open when you lift it.
- The 252Wh battery charges in a very fast 3.5 hours with the supplied battery charger.
Cons
- While the fit range is advertised as 4’11” to 6’ 5”, I found it to be comfy at 5’ 11” but I feel like a proper fit for riders north of 6’ 2” seems a bit too optimistic.
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