They stand in a long line in front of BKK Rumbach’s Sebestyén utca headquarters new Bubi bikes. Specifically, 30 pieces, a mixture of normal, foot-powered and electric assist. Passers-by look at them curiously, some would even take one of them for a spin.
However, BKK’s own testers are only just starting to test the bikes, and in July, users with a valid BudapestGO pass will also have the opportunity to test them. The service will be available to everyone from the second half of July. On Friday, Telex had the opportunity to be one of the first to try the new system.
Higher, almost chopper-like steering wheel with small basket, more robust, heavier but simpler frame, brake light, seat adjustment lever with grip, 4G smart lock – we already saw the new bikes themselves in Marchwe were now able to see how the software (the application of the service) and the hardware (the bike itself) work together.
Standing next to the Bubi station in the hot sun, we start by updating the Mol Bubi application on the mobile phone. iPhone users only need to update, Android users will need to download the app again. The first thing that stands out is the new booking function. This is a useful innovation, because who hasn’t had someone hit their bike right in front of their nose while looking at it in the app?
So if we tap on the selected bike at the selected station, we can reserve it for ourselves for 10 minutes, that’s how much time we have to get there. If during the trip we decide not to take the bike, there is no problem, cancellation of the reservation is free.
Photo: István Huszti / Telex
In order to use it, you must register first. Most people will probably buy the monthly pass, because without it, the 60 HUF per minute fee can quickly accumulate a significant sum. Roughly a three-quarter-hour ride gives the price of the monthly pass, which according to our information will be HUF 2,500 for the plain Mol Bubi bikes, and HUF 3,500 for the electric Mol Bubi.
As we learned, if someone redeems the HUF 3,500 monthly pass for the e-Bubi, they can of course also use the sturdy Mol Bubi in exchange, they do not need a separate pass. What’s more, the good old custom remains that if someone wants to cycle home from somewhere with their partner or friend on traditional bikes, they can unlock another one for free in addition to their own – with the same half-hour time limit, of course. This does not apply to electrically assisted versions.
Another change will be that Mol Bubi has been integrated into the BudapestGO system, so it detects if someone has a BKK pass, and in this case gives a 20 percent discount on the Mol Bubi pass, but only for mechanical bicycles, not electric ones. That is, BKK season ticket holders will pay HUF 2,000 or 2,800 for the monthly Bubi season ticket. The annual pass is also worth it: you will have to pay HUF 21,250 for the plain Mol Bubi, and HUF 29,750 for the e-Bubi.
We also found out that they do not vary, the minute fee will be HUF 60 for both Bubi versions. The novelty will be that before e-partying, you will have to pay a HUF 250 cancellation fee, which is not included in the monthly or annual pass.
From the second half of July, you can expect that the service will start at the 222 old Bubi stations with a total of 3,300 bikes (of which 2,500 are mechanical and 800 are electrically assisted). From September, Mobi-points (500 units) located on the capital’s roads will be added to the old Bubi stations, which means that bicycles will also be able to be left where there are now mainly scooters.
Instead of docks, bikes can be parked in GPS-based zones at stations and Mobi points, the system tolerates an external distance of 10-20 meters (buffer zone). If someone were to put the bike down a little further, the system would signal and not allow the journey to be completed. If there is a problem and the cyclist gets stuck on something on the bike, he can report the problem immediately. If the chat bot does not know the answer, it will transfer the customer to the real customer service representative.
According to BKK’s promise, they monitor the movement of the Bubi bikes and collect anonymous data even during the tests. After a sufficient amount of these, they will be able to tell which stations should be grouped with more bikes and which should be grouped with fewer.
Well, now is the time to start with the test bike, because the free half hour passes during the many texts. Our test course winds between Deák tér and the Buda bridgehead of Margaret Bridge. We bring an e-Bubi, which received the molos and mastercard sponsor stickers since the last test, and their torque was also adjusted.
Last time, I found that the 32-kilo electric Mol Bubi is pushed by the helper in such a way that the extra 8 kilos added compared to its predecessor are not noticed. The electric motor handles every climb with ease. Fortunately, BKK has increased the gearing torque experienced on the first bike, and in 3rd gear you no longer have to twist the pedal to reach a speed of over 15 km/h like a motolla grafted into a squirrel wheel.
Photo: István Huszti / Telex
The bike climbs the concave curve of the Lánchíd easily, with a maximum assistance speed of 25 km/h, and accelerates smoothly to over 30 km/h downhill. The bike, like most e-bikes, is supported by the electric motor up to a speed of 25 km/h, above which you can only ride with your own muscle power. It’s easier on the slopes, and more difficult on the uphills.
At the final station, I click the smart lock with the usual ease, and within seconds the summary of my journey arrives on my phone. In it, I can find not only the price (HUF 0), the travel time (13 minutes) and the distance traveled on the map (3.4 km), but also the number of calories burned (45 kcal) and the amount of carbon dioxide saved (0.3 kg). My soul is lighter with that.
If you want to read about the features of the new bikes, check out our articlein which we identify them in detail.
Last December, the period of the Bubi public bicycle system in Budapest ended since 2021, but the system did not stop, until March 5 it was possible to ride a bike With a HUF 500 Mol Bubi Pilot pass.
on November 26, 2025 decided by the Metropolitan Assembly about Bubi, and it could already be guessed that they would not be able to solve the transition to the third generation network without a shutdown. The contract concluded with the previous service provider expired on December 23, and the public procurement procedure for the selection of the new actor was delayed.
Update: In the article, we clarified that the pass discount and double use only apply to traditional Bubiks, not to those with electric assistance.
