General / Spectrum: A bike brand called Urwahn…. The name, the product and also the design, actually the entire approach are different. Simply fresh and unconventional and with the potential to become a cult brand!?
City bikes are no longer boring or “grandma bikes”… companies like Urwahn prove that. I don't want to deny it, this article is full of praise, because I celebrate companies for building the best product and not just selling large quantities in a target price range. A certain portion of idealism, which is in every bicycle enthusiast, should also resonate in the process of creating the beloved bicycle. I talked extensively to Ramon from Urwahn Bikes and was told how it all started...
"We wanted to think things differently, find different approaches, be different..." Ramon makes it clear right at the beginning of our conversation. And even the first look at the city fox, as their first bike is called, confirms that. From an engineer's point of view, the design, which is reminiscent of a "softride" frame, is risky, because the missing seat tube places a lot of load on other parts. But the makers know what they are doing, the EFBE tested the bike according to DIN ISO 4210 and it passed. But we are already too far with that... one after the other.... You actually have to start with Sebastian Meinecke, who came up with Urwahn Bikes in his head.
Sebastian has always been interested in bicycles, including during his studies. In 2013 he founded his own 1-person bike factory (SME Bicycles) and produced around 60 highly individual one-offs. That not only helps to finance my studies, it is also the spark that gets the whole thing rolling, it tasted blood.
In 2014 he decided to develop a really user-oriented bike entirely himself. It should be sophisticated, clean and stylish and it should make people want to get around in a healthy and sustainable way. His studies are just right for him, because during his studies "Sport and Technology" he gets to know the process model "IDE", i.e. Integrated Design Engineering. Ultimately, the master's thesis deals with the urban bicycle, constructing the frame and the components around it. The frame is finally registered for a patent.
Funding from the Europabund makes it possible to optimize the frame at the University of Magdeburg with the help of computers and the first prototypes can be built. bmp Ventures AG recognized the innovation potential of Urwahn in 2017 and invested in the newly founded Urwahn Engineering GmbH as part of the Start Up Gladiator. Incidentally, the portfolio of bmp Ventures also includes the eBike manufacturer HNF Heisenberg and the navigation provider Komoot. With the support of the newly won partner, Urwahn was able to expand the team and the premises and get the production of the first series off the ground.
It is 2018 when the manufacturing process is finally defined. The frame is different, so the production must also be different than any 0815 frame. And it works, the steel frame goes through the globally recognized test according to the DIN ISO standard at EFBE Prüftechnik GmbH and passes it without restrictions. The product is thus ready for series production and the official starting signal for the production of the Urwahn bikes is given. The first complete bicycle with the organic frame will be the Stadtfuchs, the name could not be more appropriate for a clever, well thought-out city bike.
A steel frame like steel frames are not
The wheel's curved shape, the flowing lines make the viewer think of carbon fiber or some other more novel material, but it is steel, the material from which the first of all bicycles were made. However, nothing is reminiscent of the straight round pipes that could also be water pipes. Ramon reports: "...it was very important to us: the frame should appear aesthetic, i.e. organic or bionic. This is very easy to do with 3D printing..."
The dropouts, bottom bracket, head tube and the connections between the seat tube and seat stays or the top tube and seat tube are printed. This is happening near Dresden at a company that normally recruits its customers from the aerospace or automotive engineering sectors, but parts such as artificial joints for medical technology are also made there. Even details such as the cable mounts and the mount for the seat post clamp are printed directly. In this way, the lighting can also be integrated particularly nicely into the frame.
The installed pipes are also not the usual standard goods. They come from the Hanover area and are only made for the Urwahn frame. They made their own tools for this. The drop-shaped cross-section of the tubes not only makes sense in terms of construction, it changes the silhouette, the refraction of light and even the haptic perception when the hand runs over the seamless transitions to the organic connecting elements.
At Rotor Bikes in Leipzig, tubes and printed connectors are soldered together. The so-called brazing creates a very durable connection, not unlike a weld seam. However, the steel is not exposed to as much heat as in the welding process, which prevents cracks next to the weld, a defect that welded frames often suffer.
Powder coating takes place near Dresden, the final assembly then takes place in the home region of Magdeburg. Urwahn manufactures each individual city fox according to the wishes of the customer before it leaves the fox's den on the way to its new owner. There are now a number of partners from whom you can get an Urwahn bike, you can find them on a map on the homepage, but you can also come to Urwahn's studio in Magdeburg.
The primal delusion of the city fox in detail
A configurator with which anyone interested can create their very own city fox is to come, but the current model also offers a lot and leaves little to be desired. The Urwahn frame can be opened so that a belt can be driven. Combined with this, an Alfine hub gear is installed, which promises relaxed driving and little maintenance. A Son hub dynamo, the best you can get, powers the lights as a reliable power source.
The Conti Grand Prix Urban tires get the city fox up to speed quickly, after all 50 are also allowed in town, a city bike doesn't have to be slow. Fully hydraulic Tektro brakes bring the city fox to a standstill when speed is not the order of the day. The grips and saddle come from Ergon, a specialist in ergonomic bicycle components, so that the rider feels comfortable during all manoeuvres.
We ordered a Stadtfuchs as a test bike and will drive the Fuchs through the city. We will tell you how he fought the pack of hunters.
A fox has to do what a fox has to do
Taking responsibility for one's own actions is something that distinguishes people and companies. I don't want to hide the fact that it plays an important role for me and that I would like everyone to judge their purchase decision under aspects such as environmental compatibility or social importance. Urwahn communicates a clear orientation here: “Our regionally rooted and sustainably oriented value chain is a symbiosis of profound environmental awareness, transparency towards you and fair conditions for all actors involved. Based on this social responsibility, we not only strengthen the local economy, we also create and promote new areas of competence in the long term.”
Implementing the frame production completely in Germany, with strict environmental regulations and high wages, deserves recognition. All in all, building and riding a bicycle is perhaps also a message, a message about where you stand.... “Cities are exploding, becoming ever denser, bigger and polluting our environment. With our sophisticated Urwahn Bikes, we will sensitize people to emission-free means of transport and motivate them to switch.”
Side note - the city fox speeds up
Urwahn recently presented a racing bike variation of the distinctive frame, i.e. the same frame with Schmolke carbon parts, racing bike components and with a very noble-looking copper coating on the surface.
Here is a more detailed impression of the Urwahn Renner:
fox + electricity = antler bearer ?
The Renner would prove that the Urwahn frame is not "only" beautiful and individual, but also very versatile. And of course a young and forward-thinking company doesn't close its eyes to trends. So we are already looking forward to Urwahn's eBike, which will be called "Platzhirsch".
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