E-bike Urwahn Top dog

URWAHN PLATZHIRSCH EDITION

The concept Urwahn is the name of the manufacturer from Magdeburg and Platzhirsch is the model name of this unique e-bike. It is extremely shapely, technically up to date and with its design and color concept an unmistakable vehicle. The basis for the development of this urban e-bike is also special. The Urwahn team led by founders Sebastian Meinecke and Ramon Thomas spent five years working on the design with the help of partners from industry and science. And so Platzhirsch convinces aesthetically with a design resulting from the construction, high-quality equipment and excellent functionality and performance. Urwahn received a variety of prizes and awards for its e-bike concept, including the German Sustainability Award 2022 and the RedDot 2021 in the field of Bicycle Design.

The Edition "There's no surface there!" That was Erik Spiekermann's first reaction when we invited him to participate in a project URWAHN X MAGAZIN and design the surface of a bicycle frame. Erik Spiekermann is one of the most famous German designers and typographers, besides author and last but not least working neighbor and landlord of the design office of MAGAZIN in Berlin. It didn't take much persuasion, however, because Spiekermann is a bicycle enthusiast and is also associated with MAGAZIN in his love of bicycles. So the triad of brands and a fireworks of ideas quickly emerged. The result is a real Spiekermann: With a wink the supporting elements of the frame construction are named. The incidentally refers to the peculiarity of the design of the frame, because - quote Spiekermann - "... there is something missing!" With the pebble gray RAL 7032 a discreet and elegant basic color was found, the bright accent color traffic orange RAL 2009 marks - quite typical for Spiekermann's work - a part of the unusual form and lays with the chosen typo well contrasted on the main color.

The frame There are a number of high-quality and technically advanced e-bikes, but what makes Urwahn special? The frame is unmistakable. It's extremely attractive and, at first glance, completely different from the usual in its elegant and harmoniously flowing shape. The lack of a continuous seat tube and the sweep in the struts leading to the rear wheel are unusual. Even more surprising is the material. Looking at the contour of the frame structure, one tends to think of carbon, a material that has become widespread. In this case, however, the frame is made of steel, a material that is traditional in bicycle construction, but which here makes the leap to the forefront of frame construction innovation: central parts of the frame are manufactured in a 3D printer. In fact, until now, the design scope for steel as a material seemed limited, with formal advancements reserved more for carbon. Urwahn manufactures the frame using a special 3D printing process in which metal powder is built up layer by layer and fused with a laser. The choice of material and construction result in much more than a formal gimmick, because the already good properties of steel in terms of ride comfort are further improved by the lack of a continuous seat tube: shocks are not transmitted almost vertically to the saddle region, but are redirected by the swingarm-like rear triangle, literally cushioned. The production of the frame takes place in Magdeburg, the powder coater is located in Hanover and so the transport distances for this technical-craft masterpiece are small. The frame is produced exclusively to order, which rules out overproduction. And the choice of material is also smart in other respects, because steel has a significantly better CO₂ balance compared to carbon and aluminum. In addition, steel is easier to repair and can be 100% recycled later.

The Platzhirschequipment has an electric hub motor installed in the rear wheel. Its appearance as an e-bike is also otherwise inconspicuous, as no battery unit interferes with the design and appearance. Rather, the battery finds its place fully integrated in the main tube of the frame and is sufficient for about 80 - 100 km range. It is only accessible to experts via the bottom bracket for maintenance purposes or for replacement that may become necessary after years. For the rest, the list of equipment shows best components for functionality, durability and safety. We offer Platzhirsch in the URWAHN X MAGAZIN X ERIK SPIEKERMANN Edition in two versions. On the one hand with a belt drive from Gates. This is maintenance-free and is appreciated by users for its low susceptibility to dirt. It gives the e-bike a pure and restrained look and thus represents an optimal solution for mobility in the city from an aesthetic point of view. For all those users who want to conquer mountainous terrain, the equipment variant with an 11-speed derailleur from Shimano is recommended, which provides a wide range of gear ratios. More information about the components used can be found in the equipment specifications.