Juiced Bikes CityScrambler Review

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Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Electric Bike Review
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Bafang 750w Rear Hub Motor
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Locking Removable Downtube Mounted Battery Pack
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Cockpit View High Rise Handlebars Slight Sweep Back
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Matrix Lcd Display Shimano Revoshift Twist Shifter
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Twist Throttle Shimano Hydraulic Brake Lever
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Coil Suspension Fork 100mm Travel 32mm Steel Stanchions
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Kenda Kraze Slick Fat Tires Cast Alloy Mag Wheels
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Tektro Hydraulic Disc Brakes 180mm Front Rotor
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler 56 Tooth Steel Chainring Prowheel Alloy Guide And Cranks Wellgo Platform Pedals
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Shimano Tourney Derailleur 14 28t Freewheel
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler 1050 Lumen Integrated Headlight
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Star Union Independent Taillight Three Leds
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Foam Banana Seat
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Rear Mounted Adjustable Length Kickstand
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler 1.4lb 2amp Charger
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Stock High Step Black
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Stock High Step Brushed Aluminum
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Stock High Step Red
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Electric Bike Review
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Bafang 750w Rear Hub Motor
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Locking Removable Downtube Mounted Battery Pack
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Cockpit View High Rise Handlebars Slight Sweep Back
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Matrix Lcd Display Shimano Revoshift Twist Shifter
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Twist Throttle Shimano Hydraulic Brake Lever
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Coil Suspension Fork 100mm Travel 32mm Steel Stanchions
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Kenda Kraze Slick Fat Tires Cast Alloy Mag Wheels
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Tektro Hydraulic Disc Brakes 180mm Front Rotor
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler 56 Tooth Steel Chainring Prowheel Alloy Guide And Cranks Wellgo Platform Pedals
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Shimano Tourney Derailleur 14 28t Freewheel
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler 1050 Lumen Integrated Headlight
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Star Union Independent Taillight Three Leds
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Foam Banana Seat
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Rear Mounted Adjustable Length Kickstand
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler 1.4lb 2amp Charger
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Stock High Step Black
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Stock High Step Brushed Aluminum
Juiced Bikes Cityscrambler Stock High Step Red

Summary

  • The CityScrambler is a powerful electric minibike designed for urban environments, cast-alloy wheels and slick tires provide great stability and rolling efficiency, compact design is eye-catching and comfortable but yields a subpar pedaling experience
  • Custom-designed 52-volt battery platform provides high capacity and long battery life, rear hub motor from Bafang provides great torque and satisfying performance, easily capable of Class 3 speeds but this will eat the battery fairly quickly
  • Shimano Revoshift paired with the Tourney derailleur is a basic setup with limited gearing range but it gets the job done, both front/rear lights are powerful but the taillight is independent and requires AAA batteries, great side visibility with reflective sidewall striping and wheel arms
  • Excellent stopping power from Tektro's hydraulic disc brakes, large banana seat is comfortable and pairs well with the high-rise swept-back handlebars, only available in one size but at a great price point of $1799 with free shipping in the contiguous United States

Video Review

Introduction

Make:

Juiced Bikes

Model:

City Scrambler

Price:

$1,799 (Free Shipping)

Body Position:

Upright

Suggested Use:

Cruising, Neighborhood, Urban

Electric Bike Class:

Pedal Assist (Class 1), Throttle on Demand (Class 2), Speed Pedelec (Class 3)
Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

1 Year Comprehensive

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

2020

Bicycle Details

Total Weight:

79.6 lbs (36.1 kg)

Battery Weight:

10.1 lbs (4.58 kg) (Optional 16aH Battery is 10.4lbs)

Motor Weight:

10.7 lbs (4.85 kg)

Frame Material:

6061 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

21 in (53.34 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

21" Virtual Seat Tube Length, 12" to 30" Virtual Reach, 30.5" Stand Over Height, 34" Minimum Saddle Height, 29" Width, 66" Length

Frame Types:

High-Step, Compact

Frame Colors:

Brushed Aluminum, Black, Red

Frame Fork Details:

Coil Suspension, 100mm Travel, Hydraulic Lockout, Preload Adjust, 32mm Steel Stanchions, 135mm Hub Spacing, 10mm Threaded Axle with 15mm Nuts

Frame Rear Details:

175mm Hub Spacing, 12mm Threaded Keyed Axle, 18mm Nuts

Attachment Points:

Fender Bosses, Rear Rack Bosses

Gearing Details:

7 Speed 1x7 Shimano Tourney Derailleur, Shimano MF-TZ500-7 11-28 Tooth Freewheel

Shifter Details:

Shimano Half-Grip Twist Shifter on Left

Cranks:

Prowheel ATIA, Forged Aluminum Alloy, 170mm Length, 52 Tooth Steel Chainring with Prowheel Ounce Aluminum Alloy Guide

Pedals:

Wellgo Aluminum Alloy Platform with Reflectors, Black

Headset:

Semi-Integrated, Neco Threadless, 1-1/8" Straight

Stem:

Aluminum Alloy, 44mm Length, 31.8mm Clamp, One Tapered 6mm Base Spacer, Four 10mm Spacers

Handlebar:

High Rise, Aluminum Alloy, 165mm Rise, 740mm Length

Brake Details:

Tektro HD-E350 Hydraulic Disc with 180mm Rotors, Three-Finger Tektro Levers with Motor Inhibitors and Adjustable Reach

Grips:

Rubberized, Black

Saddle:

Padded Banana Seat, 25" Length, 22" Seating Area Length, 3.25" Thick, 6" Width

Rims:

Aluminum Alloy, Double Wall, 90mm Outer Width

Spokes:

Cast Alloy, Six Dual Arms, Reflective

Tire Brand:

Kenda Kraze, 20" x 4.25" (406)

Wheel Sizes:

20 in (50.8cm)

Tire Details:

5 to 35 PSI, 0.4 to 2.4 BAR, 30 TPI, Reflective Sidewall Stripe, K-Shield Puncture Protection

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Rear-Mount Adjustable Kickstand, Integrated LED Headlight 1050 Lumen, Independent Star Union LED Backlight (3 LED), Assembly Toolkit, Optional Bicycle Horn ($49), Optional Fender Kit ($149), Optional Off-Road Throttle Upgrade Kit ($279), Optional 19.2 Amp-Hour Battery Upgrade ($500)

Other:

Locking Removable Downtube-Mounted Battery Pack, 1.4lb 2 Amp Charger, 25 Amp Controller, 275lb Maximum Weight Rating

Electronic Details

Motor Brand:

Bafang G060.750.D

Motor Type:

Rear-Mounted Geared Hub
Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

750 watts

Motor Torque:

80 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

3,400mAh LG 18650 Cells

Battery Voltage:

52 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

13 ah (Optional 19.2aH)

Battery Watt Hours:

676 wh (Optional 921.6wH)

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

5.5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

20 miles (32 km)

Estimated Max Range:

70 miles (113 km)

Display Type:

Liandian, Fixed, Monochrome, Matrix LCD, Buttons: Power, +, -, (Hold + for Lights, Hold - for Walk Mode, Hold + and - for Settings, Press Power and + for Advanced Menu)

Readouts:

Voltage, Battery Capacity (9 Bars), Current Speed, Assist Level (Eco, 1, 2, 3, Sport, Race), Watts, Odometer, (Advanced Menu: Amps, Watt Hours, Amp Hours, Temperature)

Drive Mode:

Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist, Twist Throttle (12-Magnet Sealed Cadence Sensor)

Top Speed:

28 mph (45 kph)(Adjustable Top Speed Starting from 6MPH)

Written Review

My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Juiced Bikes products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below and the Juiced Bikes electric bike forums.

Observations:

  • The Scrambler comes in two variants, the CampScrambler and the CityScrambler. The only difference between these two is that the Camp comes with knobby tires and spokes and is thus a much better choice for offroad adventuring, whereas the City version comes with cast-alloy mag wheels and slick tires for efficient riding on pavement
  • Juiced Bikes sells an optional throttle upgrade kit for $279, this kit includes a new controller and will allow you to exceed 20mph while using the throttle. This is only intended (and legal) for offroad use on private roads. There is also an optional extended battery pack with a wopping 19.2 amp-hours for a significant range increase, but that will cost you an extra $500 at checkout
  • When it comes to online support and documentation I think that Juiced Bikes sets a high bar, assembling the Scrambler was easy thanks to the online manual and tutorial videos for each step of the setup process, Juiced also has an excellent blog maintained by the founder/CEO Tora Harris, you can find entries dating as far back as 2009! They also have numerous articles and videos explaining everything from the specifics of their battery platform to the differences between torque and cadence sensors, I’ve spent hours reading and learning on their website and recommend checking it out

Pros:

  • Available online with shipping to the contiguous United States (sorry, Alaska and Hawaii!) covered by a one-year comprehensive warranty, only one size but you do get a choice of three colors (brushed aluminum, red, and black)
  • Juiced Bikes has an impressive 52-volt platform for all of their electric bikes, the battery here is a 52-volt 13 amp-hour pack. I’m not sure as to exactly which cells are being used here as Juiced will source from Panasonic, LG, and/or Samsung depending on availability… but all three of these companies make some of the best cells in the industry
  • Supremely fun to ride, it feels surprisingly nimble considering the weight and is a head-turner for sure, every time I’ve gone out for a ride I have several people ask me where I got it… or ask me if it is a motorcycle! Pedaling on such a compact platform takes some getting used to, but you can still get a great workout riding in Eco mode, while occasionally using the throttle or bumping up to Race mode to accelerate past traffic
  • Tektro hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power with 180mm rotors in the front and rear, I prefer hydraulic brakes as they require less force to actuate and less frequent maintenance than mechanical brakes. They’re especially appreciated here with the CityScrambler tipping the scales at 79.6 pounds, these brakes do have motor inhibitors which cuts power to the motor as soon as you squeeze the levers
  • The drivetrain here is a basic 7-speed setup but it gets the job done, I appreciate the durable double-sided alloy guide which helps protect the chainring and keep the chain from bouncing off when going over bumps, I have definitely put that to the test with some offroad adventuring and haven’t lost the chain a single time. The shifter is a half-grip twist shifter which makes it easy and intuitive to quickly shift up and down multiple gears
  • I absolutely love the tires on the CityScrambler, they are Kenda Kraze slick tires with excellent efficiency on paved roads/trails, reflective sidewall striping for safety, and KS Guard puncture protection! The City version also has cast-alloy wheels – what Juiced Bikes calls “Mag Wheels” – which provide strength and stability as well as looking cool in my opinion. I’ve found the CityScrambler fairly easy to pedal thanks to the minimal rolling resistance of these tires, and I’ve gotten up to 40mph while coasting downhill
  • The banana-style seat is large and soft, much more comfortable than a standard saddle, and the length makes it easy to find a good upright seating position. You could fit two passengers on this seat, but it would be pretty crowded and uncomfortable without foot pegs, so I would recommend not carrying a passenger and just finding a good seating position for yourself
  • The high-rise handlebars can be adjusted forward/back to help you find the best riding position, they have a slight back-sweep as well which puts the grips at a nice angle and provides a very BMX feel
  • The headlight is powerful and integrated for easy operation, any light is good to have for safety but this one is bright enough to comfortably ride at night. The taillight is independent but still quite bright with three LEDs and two modes of operation (solid or flashing)
  • Bafang’s motor produces a solid 80 newton-meters of torque while drawing 750 watts, it feels powerful and zippy especially on these 20″ wheels which provide a good mechanical advantage for the motor due to the placement in the rear wheel hub. The throttle will cut out at 20mph (32 km/h) but pedal-assist will carry you up to 28mph (40 km/h), and it’s surprisingly easy to reach that speed, making the Scrambler a great way to get across town in a hurry
  • I had to assemble the Scrambler upon receiving it which amounted to mounting the front wheel, handlebar, and pedals. The bike was well-packed and easy to put together thanks to Juiced Bikes’ excellent instructional videos, they have separate videos for each stage of the assembly process, and the bike also comes with an excellent toolkit that is much easier to work with than the typical small multi-tool provided by other companies. Both front and rear brakes were lined up perfectly right out of the gate, this was a nice surprise as all other ebikes I have set up required some tuning of the brakes after assembly
  • Good weight distribution with the battery pack low and front, this combined with the mag wheels and rear hub motor gives the CityScrambler a solid grounded ride feel, I’ve tackled everything from jumping curbs to high-speed downhills to some offroad/trail riding and felt stable and in control the entire time
  • Fat tires provide good comfort thanks to the volume of air, you can lower the pressure down to get more comfort but this will hurt your efficiency and seems to miss the point of having these slick city tires in the first place. I’ve been riding with mine at 30 PSI (just under the 35 PSI limit) and they feel great in terms of comfort, although I do stand up whenever going over any serious bumps or jumping curbs. The front suspension fork makes a significant difference in ride quality with about 100mm of travel, especially if you like to mount your phone or other accessories on the handlebars as I do, the fork has adjustment clickers for preload and lockout to help you dial in performance
  • Great kickstand placement near the rear, this keeps it free of the cranks and allows you to cycle them backward and take care of chain maintenance with the bike parked normally, and it also makes it easier to maneuver in the garage or at the bike rack
  • Plenty of mounting points for adding fenders or a rear rack, Juiced Bikes provides a great fender kit for $149 or you could add some third-party ones, definitely recommended if you plan to use the Scrambler for any regular commuting
  • The display is a small greyscale unit on the left grip, I like it because it’s small and unobtrusive, the speed and assist levels are easy to read and there is an advanced view that shows detailed information about the Scrambler’s current power and performance
  • Full throttle power is available from any assist level, even in level 0. I love this setup as it allows me to ride in Eco mode and still get some exercise while being able to quickly accelerate with the throttle, useful for getting back up to speed after a stoplight or tackling an incline

Cons:

  • As on any minibike, the pedaling experience leaves a lot to be desired, as you won’t be able to get full leg extensions unless you’re right near the bottom of the “5ft 4in and up” recommended height. This takes some getting used to if you have experience riding larger-frame bikes, but after a couple of weeks with it, I found that my legs had gotten used to it and my knees didn’t hurt anymore while riding. Even so, pedaling simply isn’t as comfortable or effective as on other bicycle platforms, which means that you’ll rely on the electrical system more here
  • The Shimano Tourney derailleur paired with the MF-TZ500-7 freewheel is a very basic setup and the gear range is limited to 14-28 teeth, I think it gets the job done for the CityScrambler but you wouldn’t want to wind up far away from home without any battery remaining. The 14 cog is just barely enough to get you up to 28mph, I was able to do so easily enough but my pedal cadence was higher than I would prefer
  • As mentioned previously, the CityScrambler is quite hefty at 79.6 pounds, which makes it difficult to maneuver in the garage, transport in a vehicle, or to ride without electrical assistance. Cast-alloy wheels are much heavier than traditional spoke wheels… although they’re much more sturdy, and you’ll never have to worry about breaking or adjusting spokes! The coil suspension fork also adds weight compared to air suspension, and of course, the motor and high-capacity battery add significant weight. Despite all this heft the CityScrambler feels surprisingly nimble, the slick tires provide plenty of efficiency so it’s easy to maintain speed, and the feeling of strength/stability is excellent
  • The rear light is independent which means you must turn it on/off manually, as well as changing the batteries (two AAAs) periodically, but the three LEDs are quite bright and it’s definitely better than having no taillight at all
  • The headlight is mounted on the lower portion of the suspension fork, which means it will bounce up and down with the wheel and can cause a strobe light effect on bumpy roads
  • Riding in rain or mud will absolutely cover the bike frame, bottom bracket, controller housing, and battery with dirt and debris, especially if riding at higher speeds. I definitely recommend adding fenders if you expect to do any bad-weather riding
  • No USB charging ports so you won’t be able to charge your phone or power additional lights while riding
  • The Scrambler is only available online so you won’t be able to test ride it before purchasing, you’ll need to complete assembly after receiving it, and repairs under warranty may be time-consuming and/or require you to ship your bike back to Juiced if it has any serious problems. I recommend keeping your shipping box and packing materials for the duration of your warranty coverage. If you aren’t mechanically inclined it may be worth checking with your local bike shop to see if they are willing and able to provide service, that can be a nice alternative especially for regular maintenance
  • Smaller wheel diameter means a higher attack angle so you’ll feel bumps a lot more than you might on a larger wheel, fortunately, the large volume of air and the suspension fork help make up for this. On the plus side, the smaller diameter gives a nice mechanical advantage to both the rear hub motor and to the disc brakes

Useful Resources:

Review Updated On

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Comments (7) YouTube Comments

Nino
4 years ago

Compared to S73 how would you rate it?

  Reply
Court
4 years ago

Hi Nino! I don’t know a lot about the Super 73 products. I’ve only reviewed one for free, and the company wasn’t interested in us covering more when I reached out a while back (was in California doing other reviews). Perhaps we will cover them someday in the future, but for now, I am focusing on companies that are okay with exposure and objective reviews. It seems like they do great marketing, but probably want to control their own message and not have any criticisms. They seem to work with many other YouTube people who perform “reviews” but don’t talk about any of the trade-offs. I wish I could say more to help you… Based on my own experiences working with these companies, I’d probably lean towards Juiced Bikes, RIZE, and Rad Power Bikes.

  Reply
Nino
4 years ago

Thanks for the reply and your honest assessment
Cheers 🍻

Chris
4 years ago

Sounds like an electric moped with the non-adjustable seat and that 28 mph throttle-only add-on, “only for off-road” they say, with a wink and a nod. It sounds like the pedals are incidental/vestigial, okay maybe slightly more than incidental but certainly not the priority.

I’m still mourning the discontinuation of the ODK-U500. That was a car replacement. This seems like recreation. I realize Juiced needs to move on to higher-volume models. And if this kind of thing get some folks out of/off of their fossil fuel vehicles I’m begrudgingly all for it. But it just doesn’t really feel like a bike any more. Maybe that’s the point.

  Reply
Tyson Roehrkasse
4 years ago

I hear you, the Scrambler definitely feels much more like a moped. I always used the pedals while riding it, but it would have been just as easy to simply zoom around on the throttle… especially with that upgrade kit! I think the Scrambler is built for fun rather than utility, and it definitely is well built in that regard. I haven’t gotten to see the ODK-U500 or any of the original Juiced Riders bikes in person, but I have done some reading on them and they look super useful!

  Reply
John lunch
4 years ago

How do you keep battery cool in heat of the sun on a hot day when you can’t take it inside your house ???

  Reply
Court
4 years ago

Great question, John! Since the battery is removable, that’s the first best bet. If you cannot bring it inside for some reason, try parking in a shady spot? Maybe you could put a bike cover over the bike to shade it a bit too?

  Reply

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