The JackRabbit XG is mainly the stronger, larger brother of the well-known little JackRabbit micro e-bike, and I had the prospect to check one out to see how nicely a tiny little EV may work for the typical commuter. Because it seems, little is massive as of late!
JackRabbit is well-known within the micromobility trade for its pint-sized city runabouts. The model’s diminutive 25 lb mini two-wheelers seem like a micro tackle a roughly typical e-bike, but regardless of their small measurement they nonetheless supply 20 mph speeds and sufficient vary for many city riders.
However simply because the model has lengthy centered on being as small and light-weight as potential doesn’t imply they don’t even have aspirations for energy and options. That was the thought behind the JackRabbit XG: take every thing individuals know and love a few tiny JackRabbit and hotrod it into much more “oomph” in a mini bundle.
Try what it’s wish to throw a leg over one in all these enjoyable little rides in my video evaluate under. Then carry on studying afterward for much more!
JackRabbit XG video evaluate
JackRabbit XG tech specs
- Motor: 500W geared rear hub motor
- Prime velocity: 32 km/h (20 mph)
- Vary: 32+ km (20+ mi)
- Battery: Twin 151 Wh batteries, plus the choice to interchange with bigger RangeBuster batteries
- Max load: 125 kg (275 lb)
- Bike weight: 14.5 kg (32 lb)
- Brakes: Entrance and rear mechanical disc brakes
- Tires: 20″ x 2.4″ in entrance and rear
- Worth: $1,749
- Extras: Thumb throttle, rotatable handlebars, foldout foot pegs, bell, LCD show, kickstand, twin battery slots, optionally available fenders and different equipment
What’s it for?
Because the JackRabbit XG just isn’t an e-bike within the conventional sense (missing purposeful pedals in favor of foot pegs), you’re clearly not going to decide on a JackRabbit for those who’re on the lookout for train. As a substitute, that is purely a get-around-town kind of trip, and doubtless additionally a have-some-fun-while-doing-it trip, too.
I’ll name it a micro e-bike since that’s how JackRabbit classifies it, however you wouldn’t be fallacious to name it seated electrical scooter, both.
In comparison with the everyday standing electrical scooters we often consider, the JackRabbit XG has numerous main benefits. The wheels are bicycle-sized, giving it a a lot better trip over rougher terrain and streets with pot holes. The seat and handlebars may also really feel extra acquainted to anybody with bike expertise. But regardless of ‘feeling’ like a motorbike, it has the light-weight portability of a scooter, actually providing the perfect of each worlds.
I actually just like the sideways spinning handlebars since they will rotate 90 levels and shrink the width of the JackRabbit to only 7-inches (if you additionally fold up the foot pegs).
It solely takes a number of seconds and all of a sudden the micro e-bike is further micro. With the bars turned, it might simply conceal away underneath a twin mattress, equivalent to in a university dorm room.
It may be stashed behind a sofa or at the back of a closet with out taking on a lot room for itself.
The main upgrades
I’ve spent numerous time on JackRabbit’s smaller and extra inexpensive micro e-bike, so it was attention-grabbing for me to match the JackRabbit XG’s larger measurement and elevated options.
The largest upgrades are seemingly the dimensions of the body and the twin battery slots.
The larger body offers you extra space to stretch out by placing the handlebars a bit additional out in entrance of you, and likewise makes the bike extra sturdy to permit a better weight score of as much as 275 lb.
The twin battery slots imply the bike comes with an out-of-the-box vary of 20 miles as a substitute of 10 miles.
For riders who need much more vary, one or two RangeBuster batteries seen above will be swapped into these battery slots, giving riders as much as 48 miles of vary (or much more, for those who deliver the unique batteries with you in your pocket or bag!).
It’s essential to notice that the batteries are additionally UL-compliant, which is vital as of late for making certain battery security. And for those who follow the smaller batteries, their sub 160Wh score means you could possibly deliver them on many home airways in your carry-on baggage (however you need to test with the airline first, as batteries between 100Wh and 160Wh typically require advance permission).
Final 12 months I flew by way of a number of cities with my JackRabbit OG, and its 151 Wh battery stayed safely with me in my carry-on the entire time!
However the twin battery slots and bigger body are actually simply scratching the floor of all of the upgrades. There’s much more right here than meets the attention.
The brand new show is way nicer to make use of, lastly giving extra knowledge than the unique easy LED dot show, and it now offers controls for issues like LED lights.
Talking of these lights, they’re lastly out there to assist hold you illuminated at evening for others to see you on the highway! And since they run off the primary battery, you don’t have to fret about charging up separate LED gentle batteries.
The larger 500W motor is one other good addition because it permits for higher acceleration and likewise extra highly effective hill climbing. The velocity continues to be restricted to twenty mph, however that’s positive by me. With a wheelbase this quick, you most likely don’t wish to be hitting Class 3 speeds anyway. I don’t have any massive hills round me, however I think about bombing down an enormous hill on this factor at nicely over 20 mph can be a bit iffy.
The brand new twin brakes supply extra highly effective stopping as nicely, which is good when you will have a extra highly effective motor. You by no means wish to have extra ‘go’ then you will have ‘cease’.
There are much more attention-grabbing equipment you’ll be able to add now, equivalent to increased deal with bars and a rear strut fender for preserving the puddle spray off of your again.
Mainly, it appears like numerous thought went into the brand new designs! Since this isn’t some out-of-the-catalog white labeled e-bike, they seemingly needed to design numerous these things from scratch with out the advantage of dozens of different e-bike firms utilizing the identical components first.
One change that doesn’t thrill me although is changing the keyed lock for the batteries with a thumb screw lock.
On the one hand, it certain does make it simpler to swap your battery out if you wish to. Then again, it certain does make it simpler for a thief to steal your battery for those who lock your bike exterior and don’t deliver the batteries in with you.
After all when the batteries are this small, you’ll be able to simply put them in your bag to deliver them inside. However I nonetheless would love the choice to lock them so I’m not obligated to deliver them in with me the entire time.
Happily, JackRabbit does give us a keylock accent on their website if you wish to swap out the thumb locks, however you’ve received to pony up a further $25 per lock.
However what concerning the worth?
Yep, right here’s the kicker. Oh lordy, it’s priced at $1,749. That’s some severe dough!
I had gotten so used to the $999 worth of the smaller JackRabbit OG that the considerably increased price of the XG actually slaps you throughout the face.
On the one hand, JackRabbit doesn’t get the advantage of utilizing numerous pre-existing bike components that they will merely choose out of catalogs. Certain, some issues like tires and motors are the identical. However many different components just like the body, handlebar mechanism, and distinctive batteries all must be customized made for JackRabbit. So I perceive that they aren’t getting the identical economies of scale that deliver us ultra-cheap electrical bikes.
However on the identical time, I do know there are individuals on the market who examine watts per greenback as their essential metric, and JackRabbit won’t ever win there. If you happen to’re on the lookout for the quickest or longest vary trip for the least cash, this ain’t it. You may depart now.
If you happen to’re nonetheless right here, then you definately clearly are open to different options and benefits of particular e-bikes, and that’s precisely what JackRabbit is about. Certain, you pay a premium, however you get an excellent light-weight and easy-to-ride micro e-bike that folds as much as a mere 7 inches extensive. For some individuals, that’s definitely worth the premium. And if it’s not, then I nonetheless advocate testing the OG and OG2 fashions from JackRabbit for $999 and $1,299. You don’t get twin batteries or among the different options, however the costs are higher and you continue to get numerous the advantages discovered within the XG just like the small measurement and peppy velocity.
If you happen to’ve received the money although, the JackRabbit XG is a significantly enjoyable trip and provides far more options than I ever anticipated from such a small, minimalist little e-bike.
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