In the intro section of this review, I briefly mentioned the Carbon Joy’s nimble handling and responsive PAS. These factors are core elements of how the bike feels to ride, but they are pieces of a larger whole. In this section, I will discuss many of the bike’s other qualities and address one point of critique.
To expand on the Carbon Joy’s handling, it has an airy and energetic feel when riding that is a natural side effect of its lightweight frame. Combined with small 20” wheels, a relatively short wheelbase, and 3” wide mid-fat tires, it maneuvers quickly and can turn on a dime.
The bike’s pedal assist system responds quickly to changes in pedal pressure while delivering power smoothly; there are no jarring surges or abrupt halts in motor output. As hinted at in our Speed Test section, the bike’s four PAS settings offer an approachable selection of well-balanced power levels with varying degrees of ease.
The Carbon Joy’s carbon fiber frame is made in a single size that Urtopia advertises as suitable for riders from 5’0” to 6’3”. To tailor the bike’s fit, it features an adjustable stem with 60° of rotation to alter the handlebar height and reach. It also has a dual-telescoping seatpost with roughly 10” of saddle height adjustment.
At 5’11”, I found myself splitting the range of adjustment at the stem and seatpost to find a comfortable fit. The extended seatpost had plenty of length to provide full leg extension, but even at its highest point, the adjustable stem placed the handlebars somewhat awkwardly low.
Additionally, the fact that the adjustable stem routes the bike’s cables through the headset means that finding a taller replacement option may be difficult. As such, the Carbon Joy is likely best suited for riders of short to average height.
We tested a pre-production model with a few differences from the final version of the bike. Most notably, the production model will have a softer suspension fork and handlebars with 24° of backsweep instead of a stiffer suspension fork and handlebars with only 15° of backsweep.
Without experiencing the production model’s feel, it’s difficult to comment on the changes. With that in mind, our suspension fork did feel noticeably stiff, so I think there’s a good chance that the final version of the bike will be more comfortable overall.
I liked the feel of the handlebars and saddle (the production model will also have a brown saddle instead of the black one on our test bike). The pedals can be easily replaced, but I would have preferred studded aluminum platforms to the plastic pedals with grip tape that are standard.
Simplicity is another highlight of the Carbon Joy; its cockpit is uncluttered, with only a small control panel, bell, throttle lever, and trigger-style shifter. I found the stem-mounted color display appealing, and I liked that its angle could be easily adjusted for visibility. Its color-coded PAS settings were also a nice touch.
Overall, I think the Carbon Joy’s ride quality is solid despite the bike’s sizing limitations, and I believe it has a lot to offer for those who value agility, responsiveness, and overall ease of use.
