"Now, This Is Innovation!" Sums Up All Urwahn Brings to the Cycling Table: The Street Hawk

Folks, Urwahn is one of those crews that you can identify simply by seeing their products. Why? Because there's no other team on the market that can build a bike quite like theirs. I mean it; even big-name brands don't have the brass to do what this team has successfully achieved.

Sure, there have been one or two names that build a similar frame, but not quite the same. This includes Urtopia, a team that hasn't had much movement in recent times, and F1's Fernando Alonso with his Kimoa e-bike. Those, however, are bikes built out of carbon fiber, while Urwahn is using age and timeless steel.

But not just any steel; Urwahn actually manufactures frame components separately using a 3D printer and then welds them together to create the beautiful shape you see. Best of all, the moment you eliminate a bicycle seat tube, something magical happens; typically, they fall apart!

Yet, I've ridden an Urwahn machine, and all I have to say about it is that it's one of the softest and most powerful rides I've experienced in a long time. The lack of that seat tube allows the frame to flex just enough to soften up your rides, and for some reason, when you press down on a pedal, it feels like this frame is pushing you forward with massive intention. In short, nothing is falling apart here. On the contrary, in the words of a buddy of mine that's active in the cycling industry and working with Giant, Trek, and a few others, "Now, this is innovation!" Did I mention all this steel is recyclable? That is a story for another time.

With the frame out of the way, let's explore what Urwahn aims for with the Street Hawk. Like most other bikes this crew has unleashed and unveiled to the world, the Street Hawk frame sees no difference in terms of geometry and all that magic. Instead, Urwahn defines each of their for-the-masses machines, be it for urban, gravel, or street, by throwing on terrain-specific components. In short, the frames are all the same, and the gear makes all the difference.

With that in mind, the Street Hawk is available in two variations, 100% eco-friendly goodness, powered by nothing more than your legs and hearty breakfast, or with the help of a Mahle X35 hub-mounted motor. The choice is yours, but it comes with a price difference of €1,000, with the electrified version costing as little as €8,000 ($8,700 at current exchange rates). I say "as little as" because the configurator allows you to add some personal touches, and that's going to cost some extra cash.

Overall, the electric version is rocking a Mahle X35 setup, which brings 40 Nm (29.5 lb-f) of torque to your assistance and is said to have a peak range of 100 km (62 mi). An optional range extender can add another 60 km (37 mi) tops. Pretty dang good if you ask me, but I'm just not a big fan of hub-mounted motors; they're much more susceptible to vibrations your wheel takes up from the road.

If you're wondering where most of your money is going, you also need to consider that the electrified version, with that juicy steel frame, battery, motor, and all the other gear needed to compose a complete bike, only makes up 13.4 kg (29.5 lbs) of the machine. Pretty dang light, considering the average e-bike sits between 20-30 kg (44-66 lbs), but this is no average machine.

For €1,000 less, at €7,000 ($7,600), you'll be able to get your hands on a mechanical version; this is the one for those riders that don't care just how far they ride but rather are searching for that burn. Overall, this version sports an SRAM Force AXS tuned to the sounds of 1x12 gearing. Actually, so does the electric version, so there is no difference there, except for the price.

Now, the rest of this bugger is equipped with top-of-the-line gear. After all, you're spending thousands of dollars on a Street Hawk; only the best will suffice. So, to ensure the longest and most comfortable rides, a carbon fiber fork is thrown on, ensuring a light configuration and vibration-dampening, Ergon provides the cockpit comfort, and Continental supplies the rubbers. Shimano also makes its presence known with a pair of GRX brakes with 160 mm (6.3 in) rotors.

But, there's something a bit more special about the Street Hawk and where Urwahn is at this time in its business history: this is considered its first mass-produced product. Until now, Urwahn has only been tapering to personal requests, often crafting one-of-a-kind machines, displaying all sorts of crazy color schemes and equipment. In short, this crew's hard work has paid off, and news has spread like wildfire that a Urwahn bike is something else.

If you still have doubts about this sort of frame style and the experience you'll be getting, let me just point out that ever since I first rode a Urwahn, I've been in love, and I am currently in line to create my own personalized edition, and yes, it's going to cost me around €5,000 ($5,500). Starting to get the idea?