Month: February 2021
Juiced Scorpion 6 Month Review – 50+ Dual Sport Mobility Solution?
Update: Base model is discontinued but Scorpion X being released, same as base except bigger battery, torque pedal assist, key, and some other differences. $2199.
Short answer: After 6 months and 600 miles over every type of terrain and road, I really like this bike. I think it is an especially good ride for 50+ aged riders who want a safe, stable, fun ride with lots of utility. BUT, realize you are buying direct-to-consumer. There is no dealer, there is no service department. You will have to be your own bike mechanic, or have a shop that can handle this type of bike, and not all can. You’ll probably need a few new tools, and a new bike rack for a bike this size.
The Good
The bike is smooth and comfortable to ride. It is responsive and handles well in a variety of conditions, I rode it everywhere I could. It’s a bit heavy for backcountry trails, but groomed dirt bike trails or dirt roads, no problem. Even did well in the sand by the lake. The utility of the bike has been impressive. The back rack comes in handy for a shopping basket, a tool bag, or a passenger. I also hooked my 14′ tandem kayak to it and hauled it down to the boat launch. I put an extra small camera bag I had on the back where I carry a lock, and my tools. Passengers just sit on the bag. I use a rafting strap to cinch a bike basket on top when I run errands. Ease on, easy off.
Speed, it goes about 20 on the throttle before upgrading to the the off-road throttle. I could get up to 25 peddling and maybe 26 REALLY peddling. I added the off-road controller and now get 23-26 mph throttle only and I generally don’t go faster. Range is about 20-25 miles with the standard battery. Hydraulic brakes work good, but make a horrible grinding sound.
Lights work great, and control panel is easily to program. Shifting is easy enough. The indicator numbers are upside down because they used an exist component that is usually on the other side. It doesn’t affect the performance.
I added the Juiced Alarm/Horn. You charge it independent of the battery and it has a wired button you run up to the handlebars that fits perfectly. The horn is pretty loud and sounds like a scooter or electric motorcycle horn. You set the alarm with the included remote and if someone moves the bike, it goes off. Most of the time what sets it off is me forgetting I set the alarm and then moving the bike. The horn seems startling to people on trails, so I added a simple bike bell that I can use at slow speeds around people. Doesn’t startle them nearly as much.
Juiced Bikes as a company has met or exceeded my expectations. All my interactions with them have been professional and polite. I think launching a new product line in the midst of a pandemic is tricky. I think the popularity of their products led to some initial hiccups, and I think there are some people who have gotten bikes that did not work. From what I see in the Juiced Facebook group, their journey has not been simple and easy. My experience has been pretty straight forward.
There is a lot of information available in the Juiced Bike community. Users readily share their mods and fixes, and where they get their parts or upgrades.
The Not-So-Good
Juiced Bikes is not a shop down the street. Anything you need to resolve will be on-line and shipping will be involved. Hang on to your box after opening.
This bike is heavy at 100 pounds with the battery. While the acceleration is fine, it’s not exhilarating. The riding position is good, but the seat height feels a bit low to me. They do sell a seat riser.
The pedals come pretty close to the ground, closer than I would like.
The brakes. They are noisy like everyone says.
The kickstand broke, but Juiced replaced it.
From what I can tell, when people buy these bikes, it is just a starting point, I have seen multiple customizations. You can check places like the Juiced Scorpion Owners Facebook Group page to see what people have done. I prefer to keep mine pretty stock, but I had made some changes.
What I Added
Off-road controller – $149 *With the off-road controller the motor gets more electricity. Goes faster, quicker and feels right. Definite add for me.
Kenda Krusade tires from Rad Bikes $39 x 2 – DEFINITE add for me. In my opinion, the bike without this type of tire hasn’t met its potential.
Mr. Tuffy’s $65
Slime $9
Mirrors $40
Pedal Extenders $16
Horn $49
Bike Bell $10
Helmet $149
Phone Holder $16 – Works great
Gear bag
Luna Charger $99 – Very handy to be able to change charge rate and %
Passenger Seat Kit $129 – comes with passenger pegs. Wife complained they were too close to my feet. Changed to these preferred passenger pegs.
Passenger pegs $39
Preferred Passenger Pegs $13 Amazon
Folding Ramp $69
Total = $$$ for extras
The Long Story
Our travel trailer became our home just as I got the bike in June. We were working from “home” as we camped and worked from our hotspot for the summer. Luckily for me, the original IG backer’s Scorpion has spoke wheels and a quick-release on the front tire. I made a fork bracket out of the shipping bolt and some scrap wood, moved the handlebars to a lowered position, and loaded into the back of our Nissan Armada. I immediately put this bike to the test.
Country roads, dirt roads, trails, mountains, deserts, city streets, long rides, short rides, rides every day, riding double. Riding triple with the grandkids. Pulling the kayak down to the boat launch. A lot. Multiple lakes. Riding at night. It got rained on, and it got rained on again by campground sprinklers. Right now I have over 600 miles on my odometer. I haven’t ridden 600 miles on a bike in the last 10 years combined. I think I found some magic.
How I Got Here
I decided 60 was the year I was going to get myself a real electric bike and give up my last motorcycle. I was down to my Honda CT 110, and that was too much for me now. I still loved riding it, but I hurt too much when I was done. So I backed the Scorpion on Indiegogo.
I had taken notice of the Juiced Camp Scrambler when it was first introduced. I loved the retro styling of the frame that was reminiscent of my Taco 22 mini bike from the 1970’s. I wondered if something like that could fill the bike/motorcycle role for me and keep me moving. The fat tires looked ride softening, but it only had front shocks.
Then in October 2019 Juiced announced the Scorpion, an electric moped style bike with front AND rear suspension. Fat tires, step-thru frame, passenger option, disc brakes, headlight, LCD control, brake-light, fenders, 7 speeds, hydraulic brakes. Drivetrain: 750W motor and 52V 13aH Lithium battery (base model), 20+ mile range , 20 mph throttle only, 28 pedal assist. And it looked a lot like my Honda CT110.
I backed it and began my nervous anticipation. One sunny day in June, the Fed-X truck pulled up and delivered my beautiful, new, 100 lb. electric bike, partially assembled in a box.
Putting it together was not too hard, just put on the handlebars, pedals and front tire. The hard part is the bike is heavy, so having someone help hold it while you do you assembly is important. After that I charged the battery, pumped up the tires, choose a few settings and then hopped on and started riding. And riding, and riding and riding. I found myself making excuses to go riding.
This bike rides like a cross between a small motorcycle and I heavy bike. It is sure-footed, smooth and easy to control. I switched to knobbed tires and it feels even better. I feel more in control, especially at the highest speeds. After riding many trail miles now, a knobby tire is essential for this bike to reach its true potential. They work great on trails and feel much more secure on pavement. No real speed loss with the Kendas. No flats in 3 months so far with them, knock on wood. Had a couple of flats with the stock tires.
Have ridden a fair amount 2-up it feels fine to me with a passenger. The front tire starts getting a little loose, but nothing scary. Wife feels comfortable, grandkids like it, and when I tried it I liked it..
The base model has been perfect for me, it stays within the laws of my state and I am legal for many bike trails. The beefier Hyper Scorpion, maybe not. The Hyper Scorpion goes faster and frankly, if I had it, I would go faster. I don’t need to go faster, the base model is fast enough.
For 50+ riders, this bike offers a lot. Very stable, very smooth, good power, comfortable ride, utility, and it looks great. Perfect for keeping up with my wife on her peddle bike, or for following her on her walks or runs. It is easy to ride fast or slow. For people with limited mobility, this bike can really open up horizons.
I’m glad I have the base model because it is still legally an electric bicycle and because frankly, if I had the faster Hyper Scorpion, I would go too fast too often. I have encountered only one other Scorpion rider in the wild, 50+ rider, and I chased him down and talked about to him about his experience. Then his wife pulled up on one. Then his friend pulled up on another. His experience? Loved it so much his friends wanted to try it, when they did they bought one too.
I strongly recommend the Juiced Scorpion for 50+ aged riders looking for mobility in urban areas and outdoors. Sure-footed, substantial feeling, good set of controls, make this an electric dual sport that delivers the sensation of riding a bike and a motorcycle combined. You can ride it slow around people on trails and cut it loose on open roads. Juiced would be wise to market this bike to 50+ riders.
