JackRabbit made its name building tiny, weird, fun little rides that weigh less than a case of beer and fold up small enough to toss in a trunk. The OG and XG models are basically electric skateboards with handlebars, maxing out around 40 pounds and perfect for zipping a mile or two. They’re quirky, they’re portable, and they’ve built a loyal following of people who just want something simple and fun.
The MG Doble is JackRabbit’s first real swing at something bigger. It’s still light at 52 pounds, still folds flat, still has that playful JackRabbit energy, but now it’s stretched out to fit two people. Think of it as a micro moped that you can actually lift. No pedals, just a twist throttle and a 749-watt motor that’ll hit 20 mph all day or unlock to 24 mph if you’re feeling spicy. The mixed wheel setup with a 24-inch front and 20-inch rear keeps it stable up front and balanced in back when you’ve got a passenger.
At $2,500, the Doble comes ready for tandem duty with a long bench seat, passenger pegs, and wheel guards already installed. JackRabbit also loaded it with 10 mounting points across the frame and fork, so you can strap on bags, locks, bottle cages, or whatever else you need. The external battery packs wrap around the top tube and actually look good doing it, plus they’re stupid easy to swap when you need more range.
We spent a week riding solo and with a passenger, testing range, climbing hills, and seeing if a 52-pound two-seater could actually handle real life. Here’s how it went.
My Experience Riding The JackRabbit MG Doble E-Bike
At first glance, the MG Doble doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. This thing isn’t trying to blend in with the typical bike lane crowd. Getting comfortable in the saddle and twisting the throttle for the first time reminded me of my old chopper bar Harley I had back in 2008 (in a very mild sense, not literal, relax MC guys). Those tall BMX style bars combined with the mullet wheelset placing the rear lower than the front gives it this chopper vibe, but in a respectful way that won’t get your ass kicked if you pull up to a local downtown bar. It’s clear you’re not trying to be a one percenter, you’re just having fun and not trying to look like a typical cyclist. It’s the kind of ride people glance at and go, “Huh, that’s pretty cool.”
JackRabbit advertises the fit range as 4’9″ to 6’8″ and while that’s a crazy wide range, once you look at the specs and mission, it all starts to make sense. There are no pedals to spin so you’re not looking for some pro cycling leg extension. There are no gears to switch between on the handlebar and the saddle is that long old school moto style seat that lets you scoot up as close as you want or slide back and stretch out if you’re lanky. It actually works quite well for a wide range once you consider it’s not trying to be a pedal bike. Like motorcycles, they don’t come in sizes because nearly anyone can fit them and that’s how the MG Doble feels.
When you start cruising around town, the bike feels pretty smooth and dialed in. The twist throttle is the go button and the brake levers are the stop buttons, and that’s it. The simplicity feels in line with the JackRabbit family, but the size and fit feels much more grown up, in an oversized kid (adult) kind of way. All that cool guy moto feel stays with you around town with the only moment really bringing me back to earth being when the throttle tops out at the set limit of 20 mph. Braking is handled by the hybrid hydraulic disc brakes and if that term is new to you, don’t worry, it’s new to most of us.
For those that want some more speed, you can easily unlock it to 24 mph in the display after contacting JackRabbit and giving your scouts honor so you won’t terrorize your local area and abide by all the rules. Seems fair. And honestly, 24 mph feels pretty fast for anything bike related. You’re not gonna be getting on the highway with this sucker.
It’s meant to get you around town with a smile on your face and I must admit, it certainly delivered that. It’s just hard not to smirk when riding. It’s smooth, it’s peppy and it doesn’t have the weight, price or rules around it a true gasser moto would have.
Overall, the JackRabbit MG Doble balances its ability to be a ride that can get you around town, to work, and even have some fun on the weekend. All, this for a fraction of the cost when compared to something more capable, and that’s a nice sweet spot to be in. And let’s not forget, JackRabbit isn’t following the trends and churning out the same e-bike styles regurgitated by so many others, they are doing something genuinely different, on their own terms, and I dig that.
Range
Estimated Range (from JackRabbit): 48 Miles
Real World Range Test Results:
- PAS 1: 51 miles
- PAS 3: 36 miles
JackRabbit advertises the MG Doble as having a range of 48+ miles. That plus sign is doing some work there since we don’t know how much beyond 48 miles the Doble can actually cover, but it does tell us the brand feels pretty confident we’ll at least hit that number.
To test it out, I set up two range runs. The first on the lowest power setting until the battery died, then let it recharge overnight and head back out the next day on the highest power setting until it tapped out again. This gives a good look at the best and worst case scenarios for range. Now here’s the important part to remember, this is a throttle only ride. There’s no pedaling happening to help stretch that battery, no coasting along with a little motor assist. Every mile covered is 100 percent on the motor’s shoulders, which makes the results pretty impressive.
My local bike path spans a pretty lengthy distance and for the most part has very little stopping with the occasional slow down for a walker, jogger or street crossing. The route is generally flat with some rolling hills, so it’s not a perfect closed track testing environment, it’s definitely more real world than that. Worth getting that out of the way first.
On the first run using the lowest power level, we covered 51 miles with about 900 feet of elevation gain over roughly 7 hours of total ride time. For a throttle only test, that’s pretty impressive. After a full recharge and a night of rest for us and the MG Doble, the next day we set out again but this time on full power and still managed to get 35 miles before the battery waved the white flag. Again, all throttle, no pedaling to help out.
So it lives up to its advertisements, which while it should be standard, it’s not always the case for some brands. I walked away from range testing content. For most folks, 7 hours of riding around town or even 2 to 3 hours going as fast as you can will be more than enough and most people don’t travel more than 10 miles a day, leaving the MG Doble with enough juice for several days of rides before ever needing to recharge. Also, most folks don’t stick to only the lowest and highest power settings. They sit somewhere around the middle most of the time leading me to believe your average owner might see some consistent range numbers in that 40 to 45 mile mark.
Power (Motor & Battery)
The MG Doble runs on a 749-watt rear hub motor that peaks at 1,080 watts and puts out 70 Nm of torque. That’s a solid amount of push for a ride this size and it shows when you twist the throttle. There’s no pedal assist system here because, well, there are no pedals. Just fixed foot pegs. What JackRabbit calls power levels are really just throttle limiters. Level 1 caps you at around 7 mph, level 2 gets you to 15 mph, and level 3 maxes out at 20 mph. Think of it like cruise control settings rather than traditional pedal assist modes. You twist the throttle and the motor responds up to whatever limit you’ve set.
The battery setup is one of the more interesting design choices on the Doble. Instead of hiding the battery inside the frame or mounting it to the downtube like most bikes, JackRabbit went with dual external packs that wrap around the top tube. It’s 720 watt hours total, split between two 36-volt, 20 amp hour batteries that are UL 2271 certified. They look sharp and purposeful, kind of like a utility belt instead of a fanny pack situation.
The batteries sit on the top tube and are secured with a latch knob system. Here’s the thing though, they don’t lock. If you want actual locks, you’ll need to buy them as optional accessories. At this price point for the bike, I’d prefer to see that tossed into the deal.
JackRabbit says customers asked for the quick release latch system to make battery swaps easier, and sure, that makes sense if you’re buying extra batteries and hot swapping them throughout the day. But for most people, a lock would bring more peace of mind when you park this thing outside a coffee shop or at work.
Components
Don’t get comfy reading this components section, there just isn’t much to talk about, and that’s by design. The MG Doble has no chain, no pedals, no crankset and no drivetrain. It’s a throttle only ride where all power is pushed through the rear hub motor. So we’ll cover what we do have.
Braking is handled by the hybrid hydraulic disc brakes and if that term is new to you, don’t worry, it’s new to most of us. In the past it was either cable actuated brakes or hydraulic fluid with a reservoir of fluid at the lever assembly that pushed force down to the caliper.
On these hybrids, the levers use a typical cable actuation that runs to the caliper, but now we have a hydraulic fluid reservoir at the caliper for the stopping power pushing the piston against the pad and ultimately against the brake rotor on your wheel to bring you to a nice strong stop.
Now, I was a bit skeptical when I saw these, but I’m happy to report they actually brake really nicely. Sure, it’s not some high end setup, but for confident and consistent braking power, these brakes do get the job done well. Also, as an added safety bonus, these brakes have sensors in the brake levers that when actuated (you start braking), the signal kills the signal to the motor so you don’t have to fight your motor in the event you have an unexpected quick stop to make.
The wheels and tires come in a mullet setup with a 24 inch front wheel and a 20 inch rear wheel, each wrapped in a 3 inch wide tire with a street tread pattern. The roll is silent and smooth, plus they have the ability to compensate for no suspension, as you can air down a bit and create some tire suspension that goes further than you might be expecting when it comes to ride comfort. And both are wrapped in composite fenders in matte black that get the job done.
Up in the cockpit, we have a fixed position stem that has a significant rise in it. The handlebars are alloy BMX style bars with a slight sweep back to the rider for a bit more comfortable ride. And while technically you can’t adjust the stem, you can loosen the bolt holding the BMX bars and then push them more forward or bring them back closer to help get your reach and personal comfort level dialed in. The grips are ergonomic black rubber grips and a twist throttle on the right hand side along with the brake levers on both ends.
All wiring and cables coming from the cockpit are neatly wrapped in some cable wrap to keep things tidy and then all are ported internally to the frame so it keeps the outside of the ride looking clean.
Screen / User Interface / App
The MG Doble keeps things simple with a color LCD display mounted on the handlebars. It’s on the smaller side but shows everything you actually need while riding. Speed, distance, battery level, what power mode you’re in, and controls for the front and rear lights. That’s it. No fancy graphics, just the basics done well.
The display has an auto shutoff feature to save battery when you’re not riding, which is a nice touch. Everything is easy to read in daylight and the buttons are straightforward to use. You’ve got your power button, mode selector, and light controls all within thumb reach. It’s not trying to be a smartphone on your handlebars and honestly that feels right for what this bike is. You twist the throttle, glance down to check your speed or battery, and keep riding.
There’s no app for the MG Doble and I’m actually fine with that. I don’t need another app on my phone, especially just to ride a bike. You charge it, you ride it, you’re done. If you want to unlock the 24 mph off road mode, you do need to contact JackRabbit directly and they’ll walk you through it on the display. It’s a one time thing though, not something you’re messing with every time you want to go faster.
JackRabbit MG Doble Model Options
The MG Doble comes in one frame size that’s advertised to fit a pretty wide range of riders from 4’9″ to 6’8″.
When it comes to colors, I was sent the silver option which to me looks like raw aluminum and I think it’s pretty cool. But if you need a bit more color in your ride, they also have a matte black, a red and a white. Also, this is a small detail that most don’t care about, but I appreciate it. The branding is very minimal, just a small JackRabbit decal under the saddle along the top tube. It’s there but it’s not in your face screaming at you like so many brands feel the need to do.
The Doble ships to your door with a few accessories that get you up and rolling right out of the box. Included with purchase are front to back lighting, a kickstand, a battery charger, and a full fender set.
Should you want more than the basics, JackRabbit has a small ecosystem of optional accessories for the MG Doble to let you fully kit your new ride. Additional batteries can be purchased as well as the RangeBuster battery, a UL 2271 certified battery with another 360 watt hours of juice promising another 24+ miles to what you currently get.
JackRabbit also offers a slew of practical accessories like pannier bag bars, sissy bars, travel chargers with 12 volt car adapters, mid rise handlebars, larger foot pegs, CST all terrain tires, frame storage bags, underglow LED lighting kits and a compatible trailer adapter to tow your little ones, pets or gear behind the bike if needed. And of course some bike basics like an electronic air pump, a LED light equipped helmet for better visibility and of course those battery locks and keys if you want that peace of mind for your bike’s batteries.
Finally, there’s the warranty, which on the JackRabbit MG Doble is a standard 2 year warranty that applies to the original owner.
Is The JackRabbit MG Doble Worth Buying?
The JackRabbit MG Doble is a fun, quirky ride that manages to pull off something most brands don’t even attempt. It’s light enough to actually be portable, strong enough to carry two people, and simple enough that you just hop on and go without thinking about gears or pedaling. The 51 miles of range we got on low power and 35 miles on high is genuinely impressive for a throttle only setup, and that 749-watt motor had no trouble getting up hills or cruising around town with a passenger on back.
Sure, I’d like to see battery locks included at this price and it’s worth noting that if you run out of juice, you’re not pedaling home since there are no pedals. But those are relatively minor gripes in the grand scheme. The Doble delivers on what it promises, a lightweight two-person hauler that folds flat and brings a smile to your face every time you ride it.
This bike makes the most sense for couples who want to cruise together, college students looking for something fun and portable, or anyone who needs a solution that can actually fit in their life without taking over the garage. It’s not trying to replace your car or be a serious commuter rig. It’s just a really good time on two wheels that happens to be practical enough to use every day.
Pros
- At just 52 pounds, the MG Doble is light enough that most people can easily lift it into a trunk, up stairs, or onto a bike rack without struggling.
- The Doble comes ready for two riders right out of the box with included passenger pegs, a long cushioned bench seat, and wheel guards so you don’t need to buy extras.
- The 749-watt motor that peaks at 1,080 watts delivers strong performance for hills and carrying passengers without feeling sluggish or underpowered.
- The quick release front wheel and rotating handlebars let it fold flat to just under 9 inches wide, making transport and storage way easier than expected.
- With 10 mounting points across the frame and fork, you can add bags, baskets, locks, and accessories to build out a utility hauler or keep it simple.
- The mixed wheel setup with a 24-inch front and 20-inch rear keeps handling stable up front while balancing weight better in back when riding with a passenger.
- Brake levers have motor cutoff sensors that kill power the moment you squeeze them, adding safety during unexpected quick stops.
Cons
- Batteries are secured with a latch knob and don’t include locks at this price point, forcing you to buy them separately if you want security when parking.
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