Zooz Urban Ultralight 250 review

The Zooz Urban Ultralight 250 hails from Chicago, and its shiny chromed-steel frame and classic unicrown fork ape the classic BMXs of the 1980s. Its 24-inch cruiser-class wheels bring usability into the equation too.

An epically long chopper-style seat sans backrest, that also doubles up as a cover for the large removable battery, rounds out the build.

With an unmovable saddle, the Zooz isn’t exactly what you’d call practical, and neither is it a full-on BMX like the 29-inch wheeled GT Power Performer I tested back in the summer.

Cycling Plus and BikeRadar photographer and tester Russel Burton called the Zooz a "BMX lounger". I think he’s pretty much on the money with that description.

The Zooz Urban comes in three models – this 250W version that complies with UK electric bike laws, and two much more powerful 750W and 1,100W options.

UK electric bike laws mean the latter two would be illegal to use on the roads because they're not classed as an EAPC.

For US readers, the more powerful options will add both speed and range.

Zooz Urban Ultralight 250 ride impressions

The more I rode the Zooz, the more I enjoyed the experience.

It’s not designed for long rides to work, like the best bikes for commuting, though the 576Wh battery has given me an exceptional range of 45 miles or more between charges.

The Zooz has nimble handling, and the steep head angle and tall bars will be familiar instantly to anyone with any BMX experience in their past (even distant past, in my case).

The big, rounded Kenda tyres have plenty of grip, so you can zip the bike through corners, or even carve your local skatepark with confidence.

The Zooz is great fun when sweeping through traffic, taking shortcuts down steps, launching off curbs and cutting through parks.

Zooz Urban Ultralight 250 motor

The rear-hub motor has plenty of punch and I was impressed by how smoothly it picks up.

Unlike most rear-hub electric bike motors, which usually incorporate sensors into the hub itself, the Zooz uses pedal sensors to power up.

The bike comes with a throttle that’s designed to assist you getting away from the lights, or to provide a gentle uphill boost.

Assistance can be switched between five levels via two buttons on an LCD control unit.

This unit is a familiar off-the-peg model I’ve seen on other similar-priced electric bikes from the likes of Mycle. It's robust and easy to use.

The display shows speed, mileage and battery life, and you can scroll through average and maximum speed, and voltage.

The five modes feel distinctly different.

I found riding around in mode three gave the best balance of power to range, but the Zooz isn’t designed for sensible range-busting riding. To enjoy the bike as intended, I would encourage you to whack it up to full power and make the most of the powerful motor to zip through traffic.

The lower modes are best reserved for sit-down steady cruising on the way to the coffee shop or bar.

Zooz Urban Ultralight 250 specifications

The Zooz build kit is comprised of good solid stuff.

I was impressed by the Zooz-branded hydraulic disc brakes working on nicely waved and machined 160mm steel rotors.

The braking is powerful yet controlled, and you can lock the rear wheel for some proper sideways BMX-style cornering on dirt.

The single gear is fine for round-town riding and gentle hills, though I was happy to have the throttle fitted when I tried a couple of steep local climbs to see how the Zooz faired.

The big, long bench of a saddle is plush and comfortable. However, because it’s fixed at one height, it makes pedalling something of an oddity when seated. If you’re not as tall as me, you’ll probably find it a much easier proposition.

The broad seat initially feels weird when standing and pedalling because you can feel it on your inseam.

I soon got used to it and found myself using the plush seat as something to brace my leg on leaning into turns when my riding got spirited.

Though it’s called the Ultralight, the Zooz really isn’t at over 20kg, but I never found it overly heavy.

Its compact shape is easy to move around, and the big seat gives you plenty to hold onto.

The weight distribution with the battery set in its midriff means it’s easy to lift up and wheelie around too.

Zooz Urban Ultralight 250 bottom line

Overall, the Zooz is a bike that absolutely should not work. It’s not that practical, it’s not that light, and it only comes in one size.

Despite all of that, it’s one of the most fun ebikes I’ve tried to date.

Cruising around and sitting on the plush couch of a seat that’s long enough to give a friend a lift is bound to put a smile on your face.

Stand up and spin the cranks and you have a slice of bicycle motocross fun that’s as at home in the city as it is on a track or skatepark.

The sensible side of my psyche couldn’t really muster up a reason to buy the Zooz over a similarly priced practical ebike with lights, racks and mudguards, but I want the Zooz over any of those grown-up options.

So, I fully recommend embracing your inner child and having fun on this classy cruiser. It’ll make you smile every time you sling a leg over that two-foot long saddle.