Urtopia Carbon Fold 2: More Refined

While not a dramatic overhaul from the original Fold 1, the new Fold 2 is an even more practical folding E-bike thanks to its refined design and new optional accessories, including an E-throttle and battery pack, which doubles this bike's range.

While this bike still has a few quirks carried over from its predecessor, after testing this for nearly 3 months now, I find that its balance of size and performance makes the Fold 2 one of the best electric bikes you can get today.

Urtopia Carbon Fold 2 review: Specifications

Urtopia Carbon Fold 2 review: Price and availability

The Urtopia Carbon Fold 2 is priced at $1,899, though it's frequently on sale for $100 off. While slightly more expensive than the $1599 price at which its predecessor was typically found, the Fold 2 continues to undercut many premium folding e-bikes while offering better range and weighing considerably less.

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The Fold 2 comes in three colors: Urtopia Orange, Glacier Blue, and Creme. I got the orange, and I think it's easily the boldest and most adventurous of the three. If you want something that turns heads, this is the one.

Urtopia Carbon Fold 1 review: Assembly and Warranty

Urtopia has always packaged their bikes well and made setup easy. Getting the Fold 2 ready took me about 10 minutes. Lift it out of the shipping box, remove the padding, install the fenders and pedals, adjust the handlebars, connect the battery, and you're done. If you get any of the other accessories, like the E-throttle, rear rack, and secondary battery, those too only took a few extra minutes to install.

The Fold 2 comes with a 2-year warranty, a 14-day open-box return policy, and 1,000+ authorized service partners worldwide should you need any repairs.

Urtopia Carbon Fold 2: $1,799 at Newurtopia

The Fold 2 is one of the most practical folding E-bikes you can get today.

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Urtopia Carbon Fold 2 review: Improved Portability but Increased Weight

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The Fold 2 carries over the core design philosophy of the Fold 1, including a carbon fiber frame, folding pedals, and compact footprint, while adding a few welcome practical touches. The most immediately noticeable of these is the built-in carry handle on the frame. It makes picking the bike up and moving it around much easier. The handlebars fold down, the bike folds in half, and the pedals fold in, making the bike incredibly compact at just 19" thick.

The folding mechanism has been upgraded and feels a bit sturdier than before, but to my disappointment, though, the magnetic retention system that is supposed to keep the bike folded shut when you're carrying or moving it is still not as strong as I'd like. I managed to accidentally unfold the bike a few times while rolling it around and lifting it, which can be pretty frustrating, especially when it happens unexpectedly while walking up a staircase. I found myself still having to squeeze the rear tires together to keep everything locked in place. Stronger magnets or some kind of locking latch would go a long way here.

Interestingly, the Fold 2 is actually heavier than its predecessor. It comes in at 35 lbs without accessories, compared to 29 lbs on the Fold 1. Nothing dramatic, but it is noticeable when picking each up. My best guess is that most of that added weight comes from the switch to an aluminum handlebar (the Fold 1 used carbon fiber, which it bragged about in its specs), though in fairness, those new bars now offer height adjustment and rotation, which does make riding more comfortable. It's a reasonable trade, but if absolute minimum weight is your priority, the Fold 1 remains king. Even with its weight increase, compared to other folding e-bikes in this price range, the Carbon Fold 2 is still roughly 3 to 5 pounds lighter and offers roughly 10 miles more range.

The removable seat post battery remains one of my favorite design elements here. Pulling the battery means the bike gets lighter, easier to carry, and also acts as a natural theft deterrent. No battery, no seat, no ride (at least I hope). This design, however, carries over the same concern I brought up with the Fold 1. The battery connectors sit on the bottom of the post and are somewhat exposed to the elements. While I haven't had issues with my Fold 1, I would try to avoid riding through puddles. Similarly, the post can drop all the way down and touch the ground. While shorter riders will instinctively want to lower the seat post as much as possible, it is very easy to hit the bottom while riding over curbs if you lower it too much. Again, with this housing the battery, this is something riders should pay careful attention to.

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While the overall design has remained largely unchanged, Urtopia has made a few other updates. The taillights have been moved to the top of the seat tube for better visibility, especially when riding at night. Underneath the seat is a new AirTag mount. It's not as seamlessly integrated as bikes with Apple Find My built in, but it does add an extra level of security.

They've also switched up the display. Rather than being built into the center of the handlebars, it's now clip-mounted on the left side, which allows it to rotate for angle adjustability. It also adds a Type-C charging port for your phone, which is handy on longer rides. That said, I still prefer the look of the fully-integrated original display from the Fold 1.

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Do you need a folding bike?

Before committing to the Fold 2, it's worth being honest with yourself about whether the folding design is actually solving a problem you have. If you're storing this bike in a tight spot like a small apartment hallway, under a desk, or in a car trunk, the folding design could be the difference between being able to own an E-bike or not.

But... if you're picturing folding it up to take on a bus or subway or carry easily up staircases, I'd push back a little. While the Fold 2's improved carry handle helps, it doesn't solve everything. At 35 lbs with that folded shape that doesn't hold together too well, it's still an awkward carry. In my experience, a non-folding e-bike with a similar weight is actually easier to manage through tight spaces.

Urtopia Carbon Fold 1 review: Performance

The Fold 2 keeps the same peak 500W hub motor and 20 mph top speed as the Fold 1, and the performance feels identical. The motor accelerates quickly and holds speed well, even on mild inclines, and the five assist modes (Eco, Tour, Smart, Boost, and Walk Assist) give you real range in how you want to ride. Smart mode remains my go-to, adjusting assistance based on your pedaling load so the bike feels more natural and intuitive, with motor assistance smoothly increasing when you need.

Riding across a mix of smooth pavement, rougher bike paths, and, of course, the classic pot hole-filled NYC streets, the Fold 2 was surprisingly slightly more comfortable to ride. Where the Fold 1 struggled most was with its lack of suspension, which made larger bumps very fatiguing to ride over. Still no suspension on the Fold 2 to keep size and weight down, but I think, thanks to the Fold 2's new saddle, it absorbs impact better and makes riding longer distances more comfortable. I was concerned that the switch from 20" wheels to 18" would equate to a less smooth ride, but the Fold 2 actually felt a bit more nimble and responsive.

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The new optional thumb throttle is one of the Fold 2's biggest additions. It's installed on the right handlebar and lets you accelerate without pedaling up to 20 mph. I use it mostly for speedy launches from stops, especially when riding through traffic. My one frustration? You have to double-press before the motor engages. I understand the safety logic, but I'd love the option to disable that for experienced riders.

Urtopia Carbon Fold 2 review: Battery life and range

The Fold 2 actually has a slightly smaller battery than the Fold 1: 244.8Wh compared to 252Wh, yet Urtopia rates it for more range: 45 miles versus 40. In my testing, with the rear rack and fenders installed and my own weight of around 160 lbs, I got right around 43 miles in Eco mode on a mixed route of flat and hilly terrain and occasionally using the E-throttle.

Charging takes about 3 hours with the included 2A charger, which is unchanged from the Fold 1, and the ability to remove the seat post battery and charge it indoors while the bike stays outside is still one of the most practical design features in this class.

If you need more range, though, the Fold 2 introduces an optional extended battery for $349 that brackets behind the seat post and can push total range up to 95 miles. Few folding e-bikes at this size can come close to that figure.

That said, I'm not fully convinced the target audience for this bike really needs it. The Fold 2's whole appeal is being lightweight, compact, and easy to throw in a car or store in a small space. Strapping on a second chunky battery runs counter to that. That said, since it is removable, you can add it for a longer weekend ride and take it off when portability matters again. If you love everything about this bike but want the option to nearly double your range when you need it, then the extended battery is a no-brainer add-on. Just know what you're trading off in weight when it's on.

Urtopia Carbon Fold 2 review: Verdict

Urtopia has never tried to make the biggest or most feature-packed e-bike on the market, and that's not what the Fold 2 is. What it is is their most practical bike yet. While it doesn't fix everything about its predecessor, that's easy to forgive when you're getting one of the best mixes of range, comfort, and portability I've tested in a lightweight folding e-bike.