To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by Biktrix. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of Biktrix products.
Biktrix has gone full speed ahead for 2019 and with that full speed comes full suspension. What I am talking about today is the Juggernaut Ultra FS. It features full suspension, power battery, mid-drive motor from Bafang with a 1000watt nominally rated setup. Yep, that’s 1000 nominal, so it is capable of getting up to a massive 1350watts in power. Before we get into that, lets go over some of the features here. As stated before, it is full suspension and that is one of the areas of comfort. The front fork is a RockShox Bluto fat-tire specific fork while the rear suspension features 100mm of travel and some preload adjust. There are some other adjustments that can be made here, but it must be noted it is kind of tucked away into the suspension as shown in the video, so do be aware of that. The headtube is tapered, so you could even swap out for another fork in the front if you wanted. Another point of comfort here are these Kenda Juggernaut fat tires. These are 26” x 4” and have some great nobby tread that actually can help as little dampeners adding a bit of absorption, so overall, very comfortable for riding. The rims here are pushed out to save weight which is nice and they sport some super sturdy 13 gage spokes in the both the front and rear. Assisting even further in comfort is this slopped top tube for easy approachability as well as this Velo plush saddle. It’s so great that Biktrix is putting so much comfort on a ride that is also very capable and fast… really just a lot of reassurance from something so powerful. I am told that the final production version comes with battery integrated lights which is nice, but the one I tested today had no front light and just a AAA battery operated flashing attachable light in the rear. Other features include locking flat grips, aluminum alloy Wellgo pedals, and wide 120mm hub spacing with 12mm through axles.
Driving the Juggernaut Ultra FS to its top speed of 28mph is the Bafang Ultra geared mid-drive motor. This motor offers 1,000 watts of nominal power with up to 1,350 watts of peak power! But even more impressive is it’s 160 newton meters of torque. Yes… 160 Nm. It’s the torquiest motor I’ve personally tested and seems to fit the bike quite well. Compared to most Class 1 ebikes which offer 50 to 90 Nm, the 160 here can feel exciting but might also put increased strain on the drivetrain and frame. Powering up moderate hills was a breeze (literally) and for all but the most extreme hills, I was able to rely solely on the throttle without pedaling at all. When tackling real hill climbs – ones where I actually had to get out of the saddle – I found the torque made the difference between me having to get off and walk up. One of the coolest things about this particular motor is that it’s Bafang newest version, which replaces some of the lower power designs that used nylon gears inside, this one uses all steel components. This upgrade in internal parts should help the motor handle the extreme torque being produced and improve its overall longevity. Now, I mentioned the top pedal-assist speed is around 28mph, because technically the motor will continue providing pedal assist up to 36mph. I think it’s great that in addition to the guard plate, there is a guide accessory at the top to keep the chain from bouncing around and coming off at high speed as well as a narrow wide tooth pattern that locks onto the chain more securely. The torque sensor did a nice job of smoothly administering power equal to my output. So when I pushed lightly on the pedals, I got a little bit of assist; when I hammered down on them the motor unleashed all its power. The motor cutoff was also pretty quick, and cut power almost immediately after I stopped applying pressure on the pedals. I appreciate this aspect, especially with the high torque of the motor, as I’ve found that on some cadence sensor designs found on cheaper ebikes, the motor cutoff lags quite a bit, making navigating trails at slow speeds difficult and even a bit unstable and unpredictable. Mechanically, you get a nice SRAM NX 11-42tooth (which is a great range for climbing) cassette, and a 42 tooth chain ring up front. Stopping the Juggernaut is a set of great 180mm hydraulic disc brakes in both the front and rear.
Powering the bike is a 48v 14ah lithium ion battery pack. I would definitely consider this a high capacity battery pack and really necessary for that super powerful motor. But in case you wanted more juice, Biktrix offers battery upgrades on the bike to both a 17ah and a whopping 21ah, very cool! Anyway, the battery is mounted via lock and key, however, you don’t need the key to start the bike, it is just for battery security. The battery has a power button and I love the LED display read out on it so you can check to see round about how much juice is left. To really care for this and other lithium-ion packs, I have heard that storing in a cool dry location vs. extreme heat or cold will extend the life and try to keep it about 50% full when not using for long periods so you won’t stress the cells. Try not to let it run down to zero, because that’s really hard on the cell chemistry.
Another area worth mentioning here is the control center. I’m kind of a control center geek and I always love to see comprehensive stats while riding. The Bafang control center on the Juggernaut does just that. It displays pretty much everything, including current speed, top speed, average speed, range, battery level, pedal assist mode, wattage output and more. More importantly, I could read it in direct sunlight! The only downside to this display was that it’s not removable, so I might worry about it getting dinged up when the bike is being parked or transported and just taking more sun and rain damage over time. On the plus side though, it does have the ability to enable a passcode, adding another layer of security to the bike which is a bigger deal if you have kids around or are just concerned about safety. It does however angle, and I love that the controls can be pressed easily by your left hand since they are positioned well as to keep your eyes on the road.
When it is all said and done, I found the Juggernaut to be a ton of fun. The suspension and fat tires really give it a rugged quality that can handle anything, and the powerful motor is… really something that can leave you speechless! However, there are some tradeoffs here so I did want to call those out. The bike was really comfortable, but I did feel the icing on the cake would be to add a suspension seat post. It doesn’t come with one, but that can be fixed by stopping by your bike shop and having one installed. This setup didn’t come with rack, headlight, or fenders, but I am told the final version should have an integrated headlight, so that should help. And finally, the pricing can be a bit confusing. During the filming of this review, I found it hard to nail down an MSRP on the bike. However, I soon understood the reasoning behind this… Biktrix is a direct to consumer brand, and you can literally build your bike on their website! So while this may seem like a con, it is actually a bit more of a pro since you have flexibility in options and choices. This one I tested came in around $4058.99, but I am told they can range anywhere from $3,399-$6,198 respectively. The bike is really a blast and well put together, I would like to thank Biktrix for inviting me up to come check it out.
As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own a previous version of the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the Biktrix Ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)
Pros:
- Incredibly powerful and torquey Bafang Ultra motor with 1000 watt nominal output and 160 newton meters of torque makes climbing even the steepest hills possible, it also drives the bike to speeds of almost 40mph
- Sram trigger shifters and derailleur are specifically designed for e-bikes and should be able to handle the power and torque coming out of the motor, they also shift incredibly smoothly and have built in shift sensors to cut power to the motor when shifting, preventing the components from enduring unnecessary strain
- Massive 180mm hydraulic disc brakes provide ample stopping power, which is extremely important for an electric bike like this that can reach speeds close to 40 mph
- Locking grips should ensure the grips stay in place even when tackling the most extreme trails,
a nice little feature that in my opinion falls under the category of safety - Motor inhibitors cut power to the motor whenever the brakes are the levers are depressed, ensuring the rider isn’t fighting agains the motor when trying to stop, another great safety feature
- Control center is easily visible even in direct sunlight and offers a plethora of information including current speed, max speed, average speed, battery level, range, pedal assist mode, wattage output and more
- Rock Shox Bluto front suspension does a great job of soaking up hard hits and making for an overall pretty smooth ride, the rear suspension with 100mm of travel is great too
- I love that the electric controls are reachable from your left hand without having to take your hand off the handlebars, it really keeps your eyes on the road
- Wellgo aluminum alloy platform pedals are extra wide and grippy and help keep my feet in place even when hitting extra bumpy terrain
- Torque sensor starts and stops power very quickly and accurately, matching the power output against my own, this is great for trying to ride slowly over tricky terrain
- Battery has above average capacity of 14ah, and Biktrix also offer a 21ah battery, battery is locking and removable and even has a LED charge level readout
- Gearing is good for high speed thanks to the 11-42 teeth cassette in the rear and 42 teeth chainring up front
Cons:
- The one I tested had no headlight, but I am told they will ship with one, so it might be something you want to double check when purchasing
- Suspension adjustment is difficult in the rear, one of the areas you can configure is mounted under the spring in a very difficult to get to place
- I did like the full suspension, but I did wish that it had a suspension seat post, it would really round off the comfort well
- No fender bosses in the front so the only way to mount a fender is to find one that compression fits inside the stem
- Control center can’t be removed, leaving it vulnerable to theft and scratching when the bike is left at a public bike rack
- Only one frame size may limit the range of rider heights the bike can accommodate
- At $3,399 for the standard version and all the way up to $6,198 for the top configuration, the Juggernaut is definitely an expensive electric bike and might not offer the utility of around town commuting because of it’s unclassified power and performance
Resources:
T Pierron
5 years agoGreat reveiw wondering what you thought of the Bulls E Bikes the fat tire monsters 18/19 for hunting with bosch mid drive and there weight carrying as well as reliability thank you Tom Pierron
ReplyCourt
5 years agoI like the BULLS products in terms of availability from dealers and value for decent components and top-end drive systems. There’s another brand called Rambo Bikes that has hunting specific fat bikes (with camo and neat racks). Do a quick google search for them, we’re working on reviews to publish soon here but they aren’t live yet :)
ReplyLou Buontempo
5 years agoShould you run out battery power, can you still paddle the bike like a normal bike using leg power?
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Lou! Great questions. It’s best to keep lithium-ion Battery packs in cool dry environments and avoid extreme heat. You can help them last longer (holding up for more full charge cycles) but keeping the charge level between 20% and 80% so I would not recommend running them all the way down to zero… and yes, you can definitely pedal as you would with a normal non-electric bike. It will be heavier, but you could take the battery completely off if you wanted to. You should not experience any additional drag or slowdown just because it’s an ebike unless it uses a gearless direct drive motor, which introduces just a bit of magnetic drag, but is still very rideable ;)
ReplyLou Buontempo
5 years agothank you keep up the great work !!!
Clancy
5 years agoCourt, you have bulleted some specs that are different than in the video above. You said that MOTOR NOMINAL OUTPUT: 750 watts and MOTOR PEAK OUTPUT: 1000 watts and the video commented that MOTOR NOMINAL OUTPUT: 1000 watts and MOTOR PEAK OUTPUT: 1500 watts. I just wanted to clarify which is true? Per information coming from Biktrix, it clearly states the later specifications. Juggernaut Ultra FS 1000W rated, 1500W (peak) power.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoThanks for catching this, Clancy. Mikey covered this ebike, I was not involved and have not seen the Juggernaut Ultra FS up close. I’m reluctant to say which is true… and to be honest, it’s difficult for us to really test. Perhaps there was a mistake when he recorded the specs or perhaps Biktrix has updated their spec? Maybe they told us 750 watt nominal so as to fit into the light electric bike category vs. a moped/motorcycle. I’m not willing to make a stand here and say, because I’d be guessing. I will however, share this post with Mikey so he can provide some feedback and leave a comment of his own. If we got the wrong specs, I’ll make sure that they get updated in the review as well ;)
ReplyRobert Goldberg
4 years agoBy far the best bike I’ve ever had. It is also by far the most expensive one I’ve owned, but I do think it’s worth every penny.
I was interested in a fat e-bike with a lot of power, new technology, and quality materials and components that would take me anywhere, from beach cruising to black diamond trails. What I didn’t want was a motorcycle. I looked through dozens of fat e-bikes on EBR and narrowed it down to just a few. Although EBR reviews are usually highly detailed and helpful, for some reason the one on the Juggernaut was somewhat lacking. After weighing all the options I opted for Biktrix because it combined the highest quality components for a relatively affordable price when compared to other brands. And I don’t regret my choice at all.
For a bike, this is major purchase and so I wanted to give the most detailed review I could to help some folks out there in their decision making, especially because there is not that much info about this bike online.
Bicycle and experience overall – 4.5/5 This is an incredibly fast, powerful, sturdy bicycle with all very high quality components and it really does fit its name. Despite its incredible power, large size, and heavy weight – all attributes of a motorcycle – it is somehow still able to maintain a feel of a very mobile and versatile bicycle. The customer service was not bad, but has room for improvement.
Now let’s dive into the details:
Versatility 5/5: This is a fat mountain bike so its application is quite limited, right? WRONG. You can do literally anything on it, this is all of the bike types put in one. Road biking? Sure. Pump the tires up to 28psi, find the assistance mode on the motor where it takes off the weight of the bike and tire drag on the road, tighten the suspensions, and you’ve got yourself a sweet road bike. Want to go off the road? Loosen the suspension, take the tires down to 12-15psi, play with the assistance level, and you’ve got yourself one of the best off-road bikes there is with an uber soft ride thanks to the combination of full suspension and fat tires. Want to take on ridiculous hills that are impossible with regular bikes or even a lot of other e-bikes? Turn on the “sport” mode, and you have a ROCKET. All of these applications have another advantage: for the same effort your speed is higher and you cover way more distance, so the fun reaches new dimensions. Thus, your exercise triples because you just keep wanting to go out and ride. The air, the speed, and the power are just too addicting.
Power 5/5: Before the Juggernaut I got a $1,500 rear hub 750W motor fat ebike on Amazon. It was very powerful, but I was told by my local bike shop right away that the bike was just a beach cruiser and it would not hold up off-road. Only mid-drive motors are really built for trails. I didn’t listen, took it a few times to a fire road up a mountain and boy did I struggle with anything that was remotely a steep hill, where it would just give out and I’d have to pedal the entire weight of the bike on my own up the hill. I could barely do 1,000-1,500 feet of elevation before almost vomiting and fainting. Eventually it completely broke in the middle of a trail 3 miles into the woods and I had to drag it back on foot. For that reason I was skeptical about what a fat bike could handle in terms of hills, even with a powerful motor. When I got the Juggernaut I took it to the same fire road. HOLY COW, it really is an unstoppable beast. No exaggerating, with its 1,500W mid-drive motor it can climb pretty much anything but a vertical wall. Switch it to the ECO mode, and that climbing power is spread out over very long distances. It took me to the top of Mount Wilson 5,700 feet high on my very first try. There are some brands, like Luna Cycle, who use different controllers and take the motor up to 2,000W and higher, but to me that is just an overkill. The power that the Juggernaut packs is incredible and more than enough for any application you can think of. You can take it over 30-35mph in a blink of an eye. Anything over that I don’t feel is a bicycle territory anyway, that’s a motorcycle.
Motor 5/5:
Sturdiness 5/5:
Frame 4/5:
Kickstand 5/5: The kickstand is huge and very strong and is bolted to the frame very firmly. One of the Biktrix videos with someone riding the Juggernaut showed it dangling and loose and I was worried about that, but I’m happy to say that it’s not at all the case. It is a perfect kick stand that can easily hold the entire weight of the bike and is completely rigid when riding the bike or when deployed.
Breaks 5/5:
Drivetrain 5/5:
Battery 3/5:
Weight and balance 4/5: Don’t expect it to be light. It is heavy and drags you down if you have to balance on foot in tight and steep corners. Hence 4/5. But why 4 and not lower? Despite packing so much power and battery and the fact that it’s fat, when compared to other e-bikes it is not that much heavier. Furthermore, the placement of the motor low and in the middle of the bike makes it very maneuverable and you don’t feel its weight at all when riding and climbing trails. Until you have to drag it across a rockslide that is. But even then, the walk mode makes it infinitely easier to pull it over rocks or unridable terrain. Just hold the “-“ button down and in 2 seconds the motor starts to slowly turn but with enough kick for you to climb a lot of steep rocks.
Computer 4/5:
Electrical system 5/5: No issues whatsoever after 500 miles so far. All cables feel heavy duty and take a lot of beating. They are also all organized extremely well and nothing sticks out or dangles anywhere, yet they have just the right length for the optimal range of motion in all parts of the bike.
Suspension 5/5:
Wheels 5/5: Believe it or not, when I took the wheels out of the box my first thought was: “What the hell, are these plastic?!” They are that light. I could not believe how such massive fat rims could weigh so little. And yet the strength is unparalleled.
Tires 5/5:
Seat 1/5: The seat is a wood board. But that is the same in all bike brands. They all ship their bikes out with the most basic seats. For an ebike that can cover a lot of miles over many hours, that seat is not really acceptable. I ended up using my own Serfas RX-921L seat for mountain biking, and also bought an extra wide and soft seat for long beach cruising.
Seat post 5/5: The seat post is 31.6mm and is very heavy duty, which is why I am able to put a rack on it with a spare battery. Not the lightest, but compared to the weight of the rest of the bike does not make any difference.
The looks 4.5/5:
Customer service 4/5:
- Although Biktrix is a good company to deal with, my whole experience gets only 4/5, with a stretch.
- Fist of all, when I got the bike, it was packed well, but not as well as I’ve seen others’ Juggernauts packed from their reviews online. It came with no manuals whatsoever on how to assemble the bike or set up the fork or the rear suspension, or how to bedd in the breaks, or set up the computer. Nothing. Their website also mentioned an integrated light, but I received a regular standalone light and again, there were no instructions on installation. It took quite a few emails from me for them to finally address that issue and send me the correct light with instructions, as well as a special bracket for it. They also eventually sent me the manuals, but that was after I was forced to look everything up online and figure things out myself.
- Speaking of emails, their response rate is quite random. Sometimes I get a response from Roshan himself within minutes of my email to the general support address (mostly when I wanted to purchase another battery), other times it took days to weeks for them to answer my emails. They did try their best to address my issues, provide helpful online resources, and stand by their warranty, which so far had to cover the battery testing and the faulty frame bearing. The latter they sent me over mail and wrote an extensive manual online with images detailing the replacement process.
- Many times I felt like a nuisance emailing them and asking for things that should have been done from the very beginning, and I really should not feel that way as a customer. I even had a conflict with Roshan at some point because of this very issue, but I have to say he handled it well and overall I was satisfied with the outcome, although the whole thing left me with a little bit of an unpleasant aftertaste.
- I sometimes wonder if their main support person, Alex, was on vacation, because when he finally started answering my emails, all issues and questions were resolved almost instantly thanks to his detailed responses.
- The online chat person does not alway answer the questions right. For instance, before buying the bike I asked what the rear suspension was, because I saw a spring as well as an air chamber with dials attached to it. The response I got was: “As you can see on the picture, it is a spring suspension.” Uh, yeah, thanks, not very helpful, and incorrect.
- Finally, I do wish there was more information on the bike on their website, with more detailed descriptions of the components, such as batteries, breaks, shocks, chain, rims, tires, seat post size, frame size, etc.
- To conclude, I feel this is a very trustworthy company that you can definitely feel safe buying from and confident in their 100% support after the purchase. However, in my experience they came through as somewhat reckless. Definitely not a deal breaker and their stellar product at a competitive price compensates for such shortfalls, but there’s definitely room for improvement.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Robert! Wow, that’s the best comment we’ve ever received here. I’m impressed, thank you for going into more detail. I agree that some of the reviews done here by new contributors have lacked the depth (and accuracy) that I strive for. My goal has been to grow the number of different bikes and do our best, but I realize there’s a bit of compromise in doing that vs. doing every review myself. In any case, I sincerely just want to say thanks, I learned a lot from your comment and did some editing to make it look great for other people who come to the page. Enjoy the bike! Reach out anytime :D
ReplyRobert Goldberg
4 years agoHi Court. My pleasure! Your website is awesome and was hugely helpful to me when choosing the bike. Your reviews are always fantastic and so detailed. Thank you for doing what you’re doing and for being there. Being able to contribute a little is the least I could do. Cheers!