Juiced Bikes RipCurrent S Electric Fat Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs

The new Juiced Bikes RipCurrent S fat eBike commuter is in for testing & review!

The RipCurrent S is an interesting combination of fat tire (4″ wide) eBike with up to 28mph of pedal assist. 

With its full assortment of accessories it is ready for the daily commute and adventure ride almost every kind of terrain and weather. 

Just some of the highlights are high capacity lithium battery options, a 750 watt hub motor, suspension fork, hydraulic disc brakes, pedal assist & throttle, and much more. 

The Juiced Bikes RipCurrent S pricing starts at $1,699 with free shipping (mainland U.S.) and they have a month payment options as well.

In this first part of the review you will get a detailed look at this bike with a BUNCH of pictures and the specifications.

Part 2 of the Juiced Bikes RipCurrent S review will give you info on the ride characteristics, results from the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this eBike.

Alright, let’s take a closer look at the Juiced Bikes RipCurrent S!

The Juiced Bikes RipCurrent S is ready for the daily commute and fun exploration rides. 

In addition to this red color, the RipCurrent S is available in black and brushed aluminum. 

There are 3 different frame sizes that are offered:

Medium 16.5″: fits 5′ 5″ to 5′ 9″ 

Large 18″: fits 5′ 8″ to 6′ 1″ (used in this testing & review)

X Large 20″: Fits 6′ 0″ to 6′ 4″

And there are 3 different lithium battery sizes (18650 LG cells) offered with the following prices for each complete bike:

48V 13ah 624 Wh: $1,699 USD

48V 19ah 920 Wh: $1,999 USD

52V 21ah 1,092 Wh w/ GPS tracking: $2,999 USD

The frame is constructed of hydroformed aluminum tubing that is shaped to wrap around the large 4″ wide tires and to incorporate the high capacity lithium battery in the downtube. 

Here is a look at the solid connection of the headtube, toptube, and downtube. The downtube has a very large rectangular design with a large surface area connection to the headtube while the triangular shaped toptube connects to the downtube. 

There are bolted connections (bosses) in the seat tube and top tube that are for water bottle cages or a lock holder. Juiced Bikes sells a number of accessories that can be added to the RipCurrent S. 

The high capacity lithium battery sits in the downtube of the frame for centered and low weight distribution. This is a a good location for the overall handling of the bike. It is also a good way to blend into the overall looks of the bike.  

Here is a look at the other side of the battery (left side of the bike). The on/off button is on the top of the battery and the charging port is on the top left side. There is a plastic cover that rotates to the side for charging. 

Here are the battery capacity options again with pricing for the whole bike:

48V 13ah 624 Wh: $1,699 USD

48V 19ah 920 Wh: $1,999 USD

52V 21ah 1,092 Wh w/ GPS tracking: $2,999 USD

The 52V system adds more speed and more torque and a lot of capacity for more range. The RipCurrent S is the first production fat bike to use the 52V standard. Here is more detailed information on the 52V battery. 

All of the battery pack options have the same external case size. 

The 52V 21Ah lithium battery also comes with GPS tracking built in. With an app (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android) you can locate the bike if it is stolen. You can also set up a motion trigger, Geo fence trigger, and speed threshold trigger with alerts sent via text, push notifications, or email.

There are also other useful features offered with the GPS tracking. 

The battery is removed by unlocking the pack with the supplied key (2 supplied) and rotating the pack to the left side of the bike. 

Here’s a look at the downtube of the frame with the battery removed. Juiced Bikes gives you the link for technical support, with QR code too!

When the battery has been removed the bike weighs 64.5 pounds. The total bike weight with the 48V 19ah battery is 74.1 pounds. 

The battery can be charged on or off the bike. The 48V 19ah battery weighs 9.6 pounds and Juiced Bikes states that the 52V 21ah battery weighs 12 pounds. 

The 2amp charger for the 48V battery models is about the size of a laptop charger. The 48V 13Ah battery will have a 100% charge time around 6.5 hours and the 48V 19ah will charge from empty to full in around 9.6 hours. 

There is the option for super fast 2 hour charging for those batteries with the optional 8amp programmable battery charger. 

 

At 8amps the 52V 21ah battery can be charged in around 3 hours, which is very fast for the high capacity battery.

Juiced Bikes also states that the charger can be programmed to allow for over 1,500 recharge cycles to be extracted from the battery. 

Here is more info on the 52V programmable charger. 

This is the Mozo 80mm (3.15 inches) air suspension fork that has a substantial amount of clearance for mud and/or snow. 

On the right side of the fork is a lockout lever that prevents the fork from moving so you get a more efficient ride when riding on smooth roads.

With 4″ wide off road “fat” tires, the Juiced Bikes RipCurrent S is an all terrain eBike that can handle mud, sand, and snow, all while making the daily commute a comfortable ride.

“Fat” tires have a lot of air volume with their 4″ width and they can be run at lower pressures to provide a lot of traction as the tire conforms to the terrain.

They also have a built in suspension effect because of their large air volume. This will be covered more in ride characteristics portion of the RipCurrent S review (Part 2). 

Here is a closer look at the 26″ x 4.0″ wide Kenda Krusade Sport front tire.

It has a solid off road tread pattern for handling a wide variety of terrain. 

Providing the power assist is the 750 watt Bafang geared rear hub motor that offers up to 80 Nm of torque. It has a fairly compact size considering that it is a 750 watt motor!

The RipCurrent ships as a Class 2 electric bike with assist up to 20 mph and 750 watts of power. In locations where it is allowed, there is an option to make the RipCurrent S a Class 3 electric bike with pedal assist up to 28 mph (throttle limited to 20 mph). 

Here is a look at the other side of the 750 watt Bafang hub motor with the Star-Union hydraulic disc brake with 180mm rotor. 

This is the front Star-Union hydraulic disc brake with 180 mm rotor at the suspension fork. 

Now, let’s take a look at the handlebar controls of the RipCurrent S.

On the left side of the handlebar is the Velo lock on grip with ergonomic shape for wrist support, the front Star-Union hydraulic disc brake lever, thumb throttle, and the display/control pad. 

The brake levers reach can be adjusted to fit the size of your hand.

The thumb throttle on the right has a lot of variability and you can choose to pedal or not pedal. The + and – buttons under the display adjust the pedal assist levels and cycle through other information on the display.

The Juiced Bikes RipCurrent S also has a lot of additional unique features like:

Throttle Assist Boost (TAB): Up to 1,000 watt boost when pedaling and holding down the throttle. Available up to 20 mph. Helpful for getting through an intersection quickly.

Cruiser Control: Yes this bike has cruise control! This can be set at any speed below 20 mph and is deactivated when the brake is applied, pushing any button on the display, or when adding any additional throttle. 

Walk Mode: Up to 6 kmh of assist for walking the bike uphill or up stairs.

There are also additional features speed limiter, assist level limiter, low voltage limiter, display brightness, and more. These are covered more in the video below. 

Here is a closer look at the LCD display that provides information on the:

• Battery level & voltage
• Trip distance
• Current speed
• Pedal assist level. There are 5 levels of pedal assist: ECO, 1, 2, 3, Sport
• Watts that the motor is providing

There is a backlit option for riding in low light and it can be turned on by holding the + button on the control pad for a few seconds. That also turns the headlight on. 

Additional information is provided in the advanced display by pushing the on/off button and + button simultaneously. 

https://youtu.be/6wSu9eMjrpc

Here is a detailed video with Tora Harris (founder of Juiced Bikes) showing all the functions and adjustments that can made with the display/control pad. This video is using the Juiced Bikes CrossCurrent S which has the same system as the RipCurrent S.

On the right side of the handlebar is Velo lock on grip with ergonomic shape for wrist support, the rear Star-Union hydraulic disc brake lever, and Shimano Altus 9 speed rapid fire shifter.

There are 2 chainguards on either side of the front chainring that keeps the chain from falling off in rough terrain and it helps with keeping your pant legs clean. 

Here is the top view of the double chain guards. 

This is the Shimano Altus rear derailleur that shifts through the 9 speed Shimano freewheel with a 11 tooth to 32 tooth range. 

Wide Wellgo aluminum pedals offer a large platform and solid grip. 

The Selle Royal Lookin saddle has a gel base for a comfortable ride. It has a mid width profile for more of a performance riding style. 

You can carry some cargo with the rear aluminum rack. There is a large top platform that can carry items with some added bungee cords. For larger items you can add some baskets and/or bags to the top and sides of the rack. 

Here is a closer look at the large platform of the rear rack. 

The Juiced Bikes RipCurrent S comes stock with front and rear plastic fenders so that it is ready for commuting in any weather. 

This is the 1,050 lumen LED headlight that is powered by the eBike battery so you don’t have to worry about charging separate batteries for the headlight. 

A Star Union rear LED taillight is attached to the back of the rear rack. It is powered by its own batteries that come with the bike. It has flashing and solid light mode options. 

The alloy kickstand has a solid attachment point on the frame and the height is adjustable so that you can set the angle you want. 

Juiced Bikes RipCurrent S Electric Bike Specifications

Frame: Hydroformed aluminum tubing with internal cable routing

Fork: Mozo air suspension fork with 80mm of travel with lockout lever

Motor: 750W Brushless Bafang Geared Hub Motor with 80Nm of Torque  

Battery: 3 different lithium battery sizes (18650 LG cells) offered with the following prices for each complete bike:

48V 13ah 624 Wh: $1,699 USD

48V 19ah 920 Wh: $1,999 USD 

52V 21ah 1,092 Wh w/ GPS tracking: $2,999 USD

Assist Options: 5 pedal assist levels (torque & cadence sensor) and thumb throttle. Also throttle assist boost, cruise control, and walk mode.

Speed: Pedal assist and/or throttle up to 20 mph (Class 2 eBike) with the option for pedal assist up to 28 mph (Class 3 eBike)

Display: LCD display that provides information on the battery level, trip distance, current speed, pedal assist level (5 levels), watts, amps, watt hours, amp-hours, controller temperature.

Drivetrain: Shimano Altus rear derailleur & shifter with Shimano 9 speed freewheel with 11 tooth to 32 tooth range.

Brakeset: Star Union hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors and motor cut-off sensors in the brake levers.

Tires: 26’’ x 4’’ Kenda Krusade Sport Fat Bike Tires

Seat: Selle Royal Lookin gel saddle

Sizes: There are 3 different frame sizes that are offered:

Medium 16.5″: fits 5′ 5″ to 5′ 9″ 

Large 18″: fits 5′ 8″ to 6′ 1″

X Large 20″: Fits 6′ 0″ to 6′ 4″

Colors: Red or Black or Brushed Aluminum 

Weight: Bike without the battery = 64.5 pounds. Battery = 9.6 pounds for the 48V 19ah battery. Total bike = 74.1 pounds.

Price:

48V 13ah 624 Wh lithium battery: $1,699 USD

48V 19ah 920 Wh lithium battery: $1,999 USD

52V 21ah 1.092 Wh lithium battery w/ GPS tracking: $2,999 USD

Now checkout part 2 of the Juiced Bikes RipCurrent S review with info on the ride characteristics, the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts!

-Pete

Review Note: Each company pays a fee for a review on Electric Bike Report because of the considerable amount of time that it takes to provide an in-depth review of each eBike. A lot of time is spent on the full range test with distance & elevation profile, the wide variety of detailed pictures, in-depth video, and the write up with the specifications, ride characteristics, pros, cons, and overall thoughts. The reviews on Electric Bike Report are focused on providing you with a detailed “virtual” look at each eBike to help you determine if it is the eBike for you or not.

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