The bicycle of supporters of the slightest effort

Starway is a French company, more precisely from Tours, created in 2006. It is behind a lot of patent deposits, to the point of highlighting it on its website. It offers bikes using its technologies (but not only). The latest is called Urban II. It offers some good ideas, great comfort but also a lot of compromise, for the tidy sum of 2000 euros, which, in 2025, is rather a good nest egg to equip itself with a quality bike.

Trial context

The model was loaned by the brand. It is a bike that has already traveled a few thousand kilometers, which makes it possible to study a minimum durability. In order to verify the resistance of the design, the model slept on the balcony, outdoors, during the trial month. A good way to check if he rusts and struggles to resist the weather.

Technical characteristics

• Engine : S60, 250 W, 60 Nm of torque (rear wheel engine)
• Assistance : Equi Motion © system with 4 automatic modes (eco, comfort, sport, sequential)
• Battery : SANYO ID PRO 36V, 15 Ah (536 Wh)
• Announced autonomy : between 60 and 90 km depending on use
• Real autonomy measured : 53 km
• Charger : 4 A, full recharge in 3:40 (measured)
• Display : Starway Aluminum screen with brightness sensor
• Pedal : Starway TPS patented, CRMO axis, sealed bearings
• Transmission : 8m premium notching belt reinforced Kevlar, without extension
• Brakes : Tektro E350 hydraulic disc brakes, 2 pistons
• Tires : Hutchinson Haussmann, 24 ″ x1.75 or 26 ″ x1.75 depending on size
• Holder and gallows : Multiposition Tranzx Step, Adjustable Tourism Holder without tools
• Cadre : aluminum 6061, T4/T6 heat treatment, mixed geometry
• Fork : 45 mm travel, adjustable
• Its : Selle Royal Nuvola
• Very the cell : suspended, adjustable
• Anti -theft and chain : Auvray Evoloc supplied as standard
• Mudguard : double fixing, in metal
• Total weight : 25 kg (including 3 kg for the battery)
• Recommended size for 24 ″: between 1.50 m and 1.60 m
• Size recommended for 26 ″: from 1.60 m

Design and finish: it’s elegant and clean

If the finish is very correct, the Urban II pays a slew of inconsistencies and an old -fashioned operation. Starting with the use of two different keys: one for the AXA anti -theft, one for the battery. There are also 2 buttons: a serving to light the battery (and therefore the bike), present on the frame, and the other used to light the controller and its color screen. Unnecessary redundancies that can cause the loss or forgetting of one of the two keys. If it does not seem, on a daily basis, in the heat of the action of an in a hurry, it can annoy.

The battery withdraws from below, which is common. Nothing complicated, if not a little pitcher to give to blow up security.

The crutch is qualitative and well placed, since it avoids stuck the pedals.
The luggage rack, supplied as standard, supports 27 kg and adopts the Mik-HD standard. Enough to put a child seat there and take a passenger up to 6-8 years depending on the weight of the offspring.

The white paint of this model goes perfectly with the various chrome keys. The general finish is good without being exceptional either. But it must be admitted that this combination gives an appreciable dapper appearance. The color controller is difficult to read by day and the color brings absolutely nothing. A monochrome model would have been preferable.

The mudguards are made of metal and well fixed. Understand that they do not generate vibration noises and above all, cover the wheels enough to avoid projections. The chain is protected, like the pedals. Overall, the bike is designed to limit maintenance (thank you the belt).

Driving: (too) easy

Driving puts everything on comfort. The Urban II is particularly aimed at novices, retirees and other bicycle users who do not like or cannot easily pedal.

Training is based on a belt system, whose resistance varies according to your pedaling. You then have the choice between 3 different modes (Eco, Sport, Turbo), all automatic, in the sense that this pedaling resistance evolves according to your effort according to 5 levels. The system works, with a tendency to provide more power than necessary. I doubt the presence of a torque sensor, because the pedaling pace does not agree with the power provided by the audience. To the point that in turbo mode, a slight rotation of the pedal will launch the engine as much as possible. You will then have no effort to provide, to the point that this is confusing.

Therefore, if the Eco mode will ask you for slight efforts, the other two modes, they will allow you to be almost spectator of the situation. This can seduce a certain Vélotaffeur type, but will reject anyone looking for a minimum of activity. Finally, efforts you will quickly provide, as soon as a slope will be offered to you. The 60 nm of the engine are at the cleat, but quickly show their limit. This reserves the Urban II to unlawful journeys.

During the hand -loving test, the bike kept its journey and did not lead to the handlebar. A good point. Overall, if you do not like to pedal and your journeys are made on courses without pronounced elevation, the bicycle will please you. But this assistance literally kills any pleasure of pedaling and the gap between the rhythm injected by your legs and that of the engine is clearly what will make you appreciate or hate this bike.

Exceptional comfort

This aspect of the bicycle deserves its own part. The bike does not use the artifice of large tires rich in gum. No central shock absorber either. But a hanging saddle and a very effective fork at the front. It’s simple, this is one of the most comfortable bikes I have been able to try in recent years. Rolling on the cobblestones is limited to a treat, as the asperities of the road are filtered. Going down the steps also poses no problem. I insist, all this without dragging 5 cm section of section. Like what, the fatbike is not the only choice (nor the best elsewhere).

To this is added a pedaling position to keep your back straight and a geometry leaving the possibility of extending the legs. The hanger is adjustable and tilting without using a key. All this combined allows the Starway Urban II to appear in excellent ride or Vélotaf bike. In return, the right position, the management of assistance as seen above and the extension proposed by the belt system do not allow any explosiveness.

Braking: in the average

Hydraulic disc brakes are badged by the brand’s name. It is actually Tektro 2 Pistons entry -de -range. Nothing to report, they work properly and it takes 3 meters to stop it by being launched at 25 km/h, on dish, with about 100 kg above (the cyclist, the photo equipment, etc.).

Oh, and about brakes, know that the pressure of the handles activates a stop fire. Ideal in town. I do not even understand that this is not a compulsory standard.

Autonomy: ride a long time and load quickly

53.2 km traveled in auto mode, level 5, still with a 100 kg cyclist. A good score for a 536 Wh battery of capacity, but under the 70 km announced. A detail in normal use.
In turbo mode all the time, you will easily target 40 km in summer, with around 100 kg on the bike.

The good news comes from the fast charger 4 provided, which ships a full load in 3:30 am dixit the site. In real life, it was 3:40 on average. Mission fulfilled.

Verdict and comparison with competition

Displayed at 2000 eurosthe Starway Urban II is elegant, but expensive. This is at this Price, the competition offers pedals engines, more precise torque sensors, upper powers. But no automatic mode on a belt training of this type. Therefore, there are not 36 solutions, for those looking for an easy to use bicycle, comfortable and limiting maintenance.
But this is done at the expense of pedaling approval. Sensations lack naturalness. If the automatic training mode works fairly fairly, it completely erases the participation of the cyclist, who will run the pedals effortlessly none.

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