-1:01 AM, November 14, 2021, Pacific Time

Last week, Juiced Bikes, an electric bicycle company based in San Diego, launched its latest electric bicycle RipRacer. The bicycle has a smaller frame and 20-inch wheels, making it ideal for small riders and urban residents who want to take the elevator easily and save space.

In a video posted on the company’s YouTube channel, Tora Harris, the founder and CEO of Juiced Bikes, gave us a closer look at this new electric bicycle.

In the video, Tora shows a 90% complete production prototype of the new RipRacer electric bike. The prototype car is slightly different from the production car in appearance and is expected to be launched early next year.

When looking at the bicycle up close for the first time, Tora showed the "fun size" design and the inspiration behind it.

"First of all, you will notice that this bike is on a BMX-style platform with 20-inch tires. And they are 4-inch-wide tires, so they are super fat. It really fits a bike of this size and makes the bike It’s really fun to ride."

This bicycle can be installed in a small elevator without lifting one end of the bicycle.

Although the bicycle is certainly smaller than most fat tire electric bicycles, this does not mean that it excludes adult riders. The company stated that RipRacer should be suitable for riders from 5'0" to 6'3" (152 to 190 cm).

We also saw Juiced's new G2 battery pack for the first time. Compared with the traditional battery back cover used on Juiced electric bicycles, the second-generation 52V battery has undergone many upgrades.

A handle has been added to the top of the battery, which will help carry large-capacity batteries. The battery shown in the video is Juiced's 52V 15.6Ah battery configuration with a capacity of 811 Wh, but the company also offers batteries up to nearly 1,000 Wh. Those dense battery packs can benefit from carrying handles so that they can be easily dragged around when they leave the bike.

The fuse cover on the back of the battery is now hidden, and the waterproof rating of the entire battery has been upgraded to IP65. This means that if riders experience heavy rain on their way home, they don't have to worry about the battery.

The battery also has a built-in Apple AirTag compartment to help track the bike and/or battery if it happens to be separated from the owner.

The power button on the battery has been repositioned to the bottom of the battery and locked to the bicycle. Tora explained that this adds another layer of safety, because you cannot open the bike without removing the battery to reach the button.

The video also gave us a first look at Juiced's upcoming charging dock. This rather large device can not only charge the battery, but also increase the power output port when off-grid. This includes AC power of up to 500W from a pair of 110V sockets and DC power for charging mobile phones, tablets and other electronic products via USB.

We have previously explored battery-powered generators for outdoor power sources, but they usually cost $1,000 or more. Using such a device, your large-capacity electric bicycle battery can be used as a backup battery or as a power source for camping and other outdoor activities.

Next, Tora showed the motor, which is a 750W rear gear hub motor. The bicycle in the video is a level 3 version (up to 28 mph or 45 km/h), but there is also a level 2 version (20 mph or 32 km/h). In the Class 3 version, the current limit of the controller is 25A, which means that the 750W motor is actually closer to the peak power of 1,300 watts.

The new motor uses a newer wire connection, which means it will be easier to disconnect and repair in the future.

Tora went on to say that this bike also has better braking performance:

"With the high power and speed of this bike, we are also equipped with hydraulic disc brakes. For safety reasons, it is very important that we have very powerful brakes. Therefore, you can get more power, more control, and Less maintenance."

Even with a single-speed transmission, the bicycle is designed as a comfortable pedal. The rear gear is 12t, while the front sprocket uses a 52t setting. This results in a higher gear ratio to prevent your feet from spinning at a higher speed like a food processor.

Single-speed electric bicycles have actually become more and more common. Many riders keep their electric bikes at the highest gear, because the inclusion of pedal assist means it takes less time to accelerate to higher speeds.

Tora also showed the accessory bracket and explained that this bike was designed as an accessory platform. The top tube has four bottle holders, which are used as fixing points for installing the frame bag or carrier. The head tube of the frame has a mounting plate for the front frame or basket, and the rear fork has a large M8 threaded receiver for heavy-duty rear frames.

Although many electric bicycles skip the built-in lighting and instead charge for auxiliary lighting, the basic RipRacer is equipped with bright lighting, including a 1,000-lumen headlight.

The tail light has a constant light function and a brake light function.

The seat is also custom-designed and includes a handle to help steer the bicycle.

As Tora explained, the design of this bike is also easy to repair.

"Another very important thing is maintainability. So we made this bike easy to connect to the motor, easy to connect to the controller and wiring harness. We don't have any cables through the frame, which makes it difficult to repair."

Although this may be true, there is some rotation. A few years ago, electric bicycles began to use internal wire and cable routing to create a more stylish and cleaner appearance without the need for cables like a mouse's nest. However, once hydraulic brakes became more and more popular on electric bicycles, manufacturers quickly learned that if the brakes need to work, pulling and then deflating is a headache. The same is true for replacing wires, which are more difficult to repair when they pass through the frame tube.

In Juiced's case, RipRacer has a wire channel on the underside of the down tube, which includes a wire cover to maintain a clean appearance that mimics the internal wiring. The wires seem to be hidden in the frame tube, but in fact they are only hidden at the bottom of the tube. This is the same method used by Rad Power Bikes when it launched the new RadRover 6 Plus earlier this summer.

Juiced RipRacer will go on sale on November 26, with a starting price of $1,399 for the Class 2 version. The higher-power and higher-speed Class 3 version is priced at $1,599.

Both of these are promotional prices, and the final price of bicycles is expected to increase after the holidays.

Delivery should begin in March, just in time for the riding season in most parts of the United States.

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Micah Toll is a personal electric car enthusiast, battery nerd, and the author of Amazon's number one best-selling book DIY Lithium Battery, DIY Solar, and the Ultimate DIY Electric Bike Guide.

You can send him a reminder via Micah@electrek.co

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