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Juiced Bikes began as an ebike conversion battery company way back in 2009 but quickly branched into unique long-range cargo bikes and eventually went mainstream with a cruiser, a fat bike and line of active city bikes called CrossCurrent. The CrossCurrent S is their premium model with all the bells and whistles you need to transport cargo, stay dry, and be seen. For this review, I was able to meet with the founder of Juiced, Tora Harris, and pick his brain about the different hardware choices and performance of the product. He explained that the CrossCurrent Air is the most affordable but basic, the standard CrossCurrent is a good value but also brings comfort and improved performance, and they were getting feedback from customers who were trying to add their own lights, fenders, and racks… so they decided to find the best accessories they could, and boost motor power from 500 watts to 650 watts nominal, and call it the S. Perhaps that stands for Speed or Sport, the display system also has an S in it and that’s the highest power mode. What stood out to me about this particular electric bike is that it can be had in four frame sizes, two styles (high-step or an easier to approach mid-step that maybe isn’t quite as stiff and doesn’t have bottle cage bosses), and three colors. I got to test ride and film the Small high-step in brushed Aluminum… but the classic Red and Black are good options too. I love how the fenders, rack, rims, spokes, motor casing, chainring guard, and battery pack are all black and thoughtfully sized and attached. The rear fender, for example, connects with a pair of struts and an anchor beneath the rack. The rack has a flat plate on top so trunk bags won’t sag or slide to one side or another, and it has standard-gauge pannier clip rods, blockers, and bungee loops at the base. There’s a sense that details have been scrutinized with this product, there are hardware parts that I have never seen on other bikes, and they make sense. A good example of this is the combined torque + cadence sensor which provides a smooth, fluid feel vs. an on/off feel. Tora told me that they use a “high resolution” 104 sensor design to measure cadence vs. the 10 or 12 magnet bottom bracket designs I usually see on cheap e-bikes. Juiced put the sensor near the rear wheel and allows you to completely disable torque sensing by using the display panel (enter settings by holding + and – simultaneously) which would allow you to pedal without force to activate the motor… a neat feature for people with sensitive knees. Of course, you can override pedal assist with the trigger throttle at all times and be propelled up to 20 mph. If you pedal, the bike can reach ~28 mph in S mode. For those who do not wish to go so fast, either to conserve power or feel safer, you can set a maximum top speed. In this review, I was able to dig deep into the product because I had the founder of the company, and the designer of the bike (who is a mechanical and aerospace engineer who graduated from Princeton) on hand. In some ways, that’s not fair to other reviews that I do on my own. There are a lot of great products out there and I found many cons or “considerations” with this bike such as no slap guard or chain keeper, a heavier footprint at ~57 lbs for the small, and slightly messier looking externally routed cables. But even that choice, Tora said was made to facilitate easier maintenance. This is an electric bike that you can find at some independent dealers, but Juiced also sells direct. I performed this review at the Electric Bicycle Center in Fullerton during an open house event and the owner, Sam Townsend, has stocked Juiced products for many years and provided his feedback about quality. In 2017, Juiced Bikes did have some issues with their newer CrossCurrent Air and OceanCurrent but the comprehensive one-year warranty and incremental updates to hardware design seem to have resolved that. Tora speaks multiple languages including Mandarin, and spends a lot of time at their factory in China making sure the details are correct. In short, this is one of my top pics for a value priced, do-everything, sort of bike… as long as you don’t mind the physical weight and possibly a time wait too because the product was backordered at the time of this review.
Powering the Cross Current S is a planetary geared hub motor spoked into the rear wheel with thicker 12 gauge spokes. The front wheel uses 13 Gauge spokes, which is still thicker than average, and Tora explained that this was a design choice made to support the higher speed and power of the bikes. The hub motor is apparently custom specced by Juiced and built by 8Fun (the in-house brand from Bafang). It offers 650 watts of nominal power vs. 500 watts on the other CrossCurrent models, and can peak around 960 watts. Visually, it is surprisingly compact and almost hidden behind the 9-speed cassette on the starboard side and 180 mm disc brake rotor on the port side of the bike (right and left sides respectively). You can definitely hear some electronic whirring noises as speed and power are increased. It’s on-par with other geared hub motors I have tested and 8Fun is a brand I know and trust… at least as a mid-level supplier. The benefits of a geared hub are lighter weight, smaller size, and independence from the pedaling systems. You won’t have to worry as much about chain, sprocket, and derailleur wear as shifting gears is independent of the motor. You can even sit back, not pedal, and use the throttle alone to get going or stay moving. Tora explained that in pedal assist mode, you can reach a desired speed and hold the minus key on the control pad to activate cruise control, and the bike will go all on its own. At least until you pull one of the brake levers. Both of them have motor inhibitors which instantly cut power to the drive system. It’s a nice feature to see here considering that a lot of torque or multi-sensing electric bikes are now foregoing this feature. It adds a bit of clutter to the wires at the front of the bike, but I’m glad it’s there. And the brakes are hydraulic, which tend to be easier to actuate and have adjustable levers for smaller or gloved hands. One sensitivity I have about the drive system is that the power cable running to the motor protrudes a bit on the right side near the dropout. This is not at all uncommon, but it could get bent or snagged here vs. being tucked in. I have seen metal derailleur guards used on some electric bikes to shield the derailleur, shifter cable, and motor cables like this, but Juiced does not include that. They do however, offer special tools to help you remove the rear wheel if you need to fix a flat. And this is another area where some improvements could be made. The stock tires seemed average because they do not have reflective sidewall stripes or puncture protection. Juiced does sell upgrades and you can find your own pretty affordably online, I’ve had good experiences with the Schwalbe Marathon Plus, but you’ll still have to install them yourself. At least with the brushed Aluminum paint job, you have a more visible bike even without upgraded tires.
Powering the bike and an ugly but capable 1,000 lumen headlight is one of three battery options! They’re all 48 volts but offer 12.8 amp hours, 17.4 ah or 21.0 ah depending on how much you want to spend. Weight jumps up quite a bit from the stock 7.4 lb pack to something like 11.3 lbs for the larger ones. I like how these packs seat into the downtube, keeping weight low and centered across the frame. And I appreciate the little LED readout for charge level, the sleek handle rod thing on the left side (useful for carrying the battery after it’s off), and I would appreciate the USB charging port on the right side of the pack… if it weren’t disabled. This is one of the finicky sides of the “custom everything” Juiced approach. Tora said he wasn’t happy with the USB ports because he believed that they sometimes allowed the battery to drain slowly when not in use (which can damage the cells) and that some owners of older Juiced products felt that their phones might have been damaged. Whatever the reasons, this port is disabled, which is a bummer considering how much juice is in some of the packs! My other gripe has to do with the charging port location. It’s low and on the left side of the frame which is very close to the left crank arm. This could lead to a snag, tipped bike, and bent charging cord plug. Again, this charging port location, and even the sometimes-difficult rubber cover, is commonly found on electric bikes and in many ways it’s a minor issue. The stock charger puts out a very average 2 Amps which can fill the stock pack in ~6 hours, and the settings menu actually allows you to set a cutoff voltage value for the pack so it won’t undercharge and stress the cells. Apparently the default is 40 volts. This is neat, it’s the kind of thing that also exists with other e-bike systems but that you don’t get access to. Juiced is working with Grin technologies and sells their fancier 8 Amp charger as an upgrade, for those who want extra speed and control when filling the larger batteries.
Operating the CrossCurrent S is intuitive once you find the power button. Juiced Bikes is using an LCD display panel that I have never seen before this review and the on/off rubber button is behind the screen vs. in front where you could see it when looking down. Here, you have a + and – key to raise and lower assist levels from Eco, 1, 2, 3, and S. In any of those levels, and at all times when the bike has been powered on, the throttle is active. And as mentioned before, it gives you full power! So please, be careful not to bump that throttle, pay close attention when you stop the bike to actually turn it off before dismounting or moving it. Keep one hand on the brake to activate that motor inhibitor as another safety precaution. With great power comes great responsibility and I wouldn’t have this throttle design any other way because I love blasting off from stop signs and traffic signals by using the throttle… but I have also had more than one occasion where the bike lurched forward accidentally when I forgot that it was turned on and bumped the throttle. Some other useful tips for this display and control layout are that you can hold the + button to turn on the headlight, hold the – button to activate a slow walk-mode which helps to move a heavily loaded bike, a bike with a flat tire, or just get you up a hill without having to push. If you hold the + and power button, a special “advanced” screen turns on and shows you more technical readouts. I was pretty happy with the default screen which has a 9-bar battery infographic which is much more precise than the usual 4-bar or 5-bar readouts. Assist level, speed, and trip stats are show well but the display is a bit compact and could be difficult for some riders to see. It does not swivel forward and back to reduce glare like many larger center-mounted displays, and it is not removable. This means that it will take more weather wear and scratches at racks over time. But, Juiced has opted for threaded connectors with rubber washers to make screen and brake inhibitor replacement easy… and to keep out water and just hold up better over time.
In conclusion, I love what Juiced has done with this product. I hope it doesn’t have the little issues that some CrossCurrent Air and OceanCurrent models die. It’s great to hear that they updated their packaging to offer more protection, and that you only have to mount the front wheel (which uses quick release) if you order this and receive it direct from the company vs. a shop. For me, it was a delighter to see two bottle cage bosses on the high-step frame, but it sounds like this is not present on the step-thru. I would love to have an integrated rear light (like the headlight which runs off the battery pack) but at least they give you a clip-on saddle mounted light. I mentioned earlier that to me, the headlight is a bit ugly, but it’s also mounted to the suspension post arch, the part of the suspension that goes up and down vs. the head tube or handlebars which are steadied, and this could lead to bouncier lighting and possibly loosening of the light over time. It could be a non-issue, especially on smooth terrain, but it’s something I think about given the speed of the bike and my own tendency to ride across grass and packed dirt trails on occasion. Not only has Juiced Bikes made a lot of great choices on the hardware for this product, they invented new solutions to fit the utility and pricing goals set out. This is still what I would consider to be an affordably priced electric bike at under $2k given all of the accessories. You could certainly buy the CrossCurrent Air and suffer without suspension, but adding your own fenders, rack, lights etc. probably won’t look as good or work as well as this… and not everyone wants to get their hands dirty or spend their free time setting stuff up verses enjoying it. With the addition of a decent seat post suspension like the Suntour NCX, I could see myself enjoying this product and getting to work more quickly and more enjoyably than by car. The long-range batteries make it possible and the reasonable price makes me more willing to deal with scratches and wear than a super-fancy $3k+ electric bike (of which there are many). Big thanks to Tora for partnering with me on this review, meeting me at the special ebike event, and being willing to take some direct questions about quality and design. He’s a smart, honest guy from what I can tell and his company seems to be growing a lot since the early days in 2013 when I first saw his products.
Pros:
- I feel that this bike offers incredible value, whether you get the stock battery or upgrade, you always have a rack, fenders, lights, and a solid year-long warranty from a company that has been around since 2009
- Juiced Bikes tends to refine their products over time, even throughout the season, and I noticed with the CrossCurrent S that electrical connectors were threaded with rubber seals for better durability and water protection, the seat tube is one inch lower to accommodate seat post suspension units (which add ~3 inches of height”
- So many electric bikes have mid-mounted kickstands that get in the way of the left crank arm (and there is a mounting plate on this bike if you want that, or maybe add a double-leg kickstand like this, aftermarket), but I like how the CrossCurrent S has a more rear mounted stand by default, it is positioned far enough back to stay clear but not so far that it sticks out the back or gets in the way of the disc brake caliper mount, the stand itself is adjustable length and seemed higher quality
- Unique and functional rear rack with pannier rods and blockers, a bungee loop at the base, and a flat plate on top for supporting a trunk bag like this
- I almost couldn’t believe that the high-step Cross Current S has two sets of bottle cage bosses?! More and more ebikes are adding these, but so many bikes only have room for one set and I think they are very useful for putting a mini-pump, folding lock, or easily accessible liquids without having to buy and load up a bag, note that their mid-step frame does not have room for these bosses
- Available in four frame sizes, high-step and accessible mid-step frame styles, as well as three sporty colors! I like the brushed Aluminum silver look but red is fun and the black will mesh with the wires and battery a bit nicer
- The combination of battery size options and high-speed Class 3 ~28 mph pedal assist performace as well as throttle override makes this bike versatile, functional for commuters, and just plain fun… go for a larger pack if you plan on riding fast frequently because air really resistance cuts into range above 20 mph
- You get a 1,000 lumen integrated LED headlight stock! that’s nice for utility and safety, a lot more convenient than an aftermarket light that you have to remember to turn on/off or risk getting stolen because it’s not bolted down
- The 8Fun hub motor used here was custom specced by Juiced Bikes and offers a whopping 650 to 960 watts of power, even though the casing is so small and compact, I was really impressed with how fluid and powerful it felt (though I only weigh ~135 lbs), it did feel like an upgrade over the standard CrossCurrent which uses a 500 watt motor
- The plastic fenders used on this bike are wide, have flexible rubber flaps at the ends, and didn’t rattle as much as I had expected because they have additional struts and attachment points (specifically, on the rear rack for the rear fender)
- I didn’t get to see the rear light, but apparently it comes with and clips into the Selle Royal saddle, this is nice to have but be careful that your long shirt or coat doesn’t drape down over it, or that you forget to turn it off because it’s an independent light vs. the headlight which is wired in, it’s nice that you get two lights here but consider adding a light to the back of your backpack, helmet, or trunk bag like this that clips on
- The bike rode comfortably because of the slightly fatter tires, suspension fork (with compression slider and lockout), ergonomic locking grips from Velo, and the name-brand gel saddle from Selle Royale, consider swapping out the seat post with a 27.2 mm suspension post from Suntour or BodyFloat for added comfort on your back and neck, and maybe a ShockStop stem for your wrists and arms if you ride fast and travel on a lot of bumpy terrain or are just sensitive like me
- In recent years, it seems like more brands are foregoing motor inhibitors on their brake levers… because fancier sensor systems, the Juiced CrossCurrent S does have a torque + cadence sensor and yet they also still include motor inhibitors for an added level of control over the bike, the levers also provide adjustable reach which is nice if you have smaller hands or wear gloves sometimes
- The bike felt really solid, notice the reinforcement eyelets on the rims so they don’t crack, and the slightly thicker 12 and 13 gauge spokes, the larger BMX style alloy platform pedals which feel stiff and won’t let you slip off as easily, I appreciate the black rims, spokes, and motor casing that all match and just look more refined and polished
- The drivetrain is pretty good for a value priced electric bike, nine speeds with a lower-end Shimano Altus derailleur (but not the lowest) and you a stronger chain, trigger shifters with a double-click downshifter, and a sturdy alloy chain guard to protect the massive 52 tooth chainring and keep your pants clear and clean
- I love that Juiced Bikes offers an optional 8 Amp battery charger because the larger packs would otherwise take 7+ hours with the standard 2 Amp charger
- There are nine ticks on the battery infographic which is more than the standard 4 or 5 I usually see, and this provides more insight into how full the battery actually is, the finer increments give you like ~11% jumps vs. 25% or 20%
- If you have to walk the bike (like if you’ve got the rack loaded with groceries, the terrain gets bumpy, or maybe you get a flat tire) the walk mode becomes very useful, this is a ~57 lb e-bike after all! Just hold the minus button on the control pad to activate it
- It’s neat that you can adjust so much in the settings menu of this electric bicycle, just hold the + and – buttons to enter settings and then choose the top speed (you could lower it from 28 to 20 mph for efficiency or safety), power limit, even have the ability de-activate the torque sensor so you only have to turn the cranks and not push in order to activate assist, and you can also set the low voltage cutoff to save the battery from completely discharging (the default is 40 volts according to Tora
- Apparently, the cadence sensor is built into the rear torque plate and has 104 measure points vs. just 12 on most ebikes, the cadence and torque sensors on this bike make it very responsive and fluid feeling
Cons:
- The shifter cables, electrical wires, and hydraulic brake lines are all tacked onto the bottom of the downtube vs. internally routed, this means the bike isn’t as clean looking and there’s a bit more potential for snags but Tora explained that it makes their products much easier to service
- I have heard from some customers in 2017 that the Juiced CrossCurrent Air and OceanCurrent arrived with some issues… but I asked Tora about this on camera and I though this response was very honest and aware, he said they have improved their packaging and are are working to resolve and eliminate this sort of thing in the future (issues had to do with shifter cables, disc brake mount consistency, and maybe a crank/bottom bracket thing)
- As nice as the light is, the design is a bit less stylish than the rounded Aluminum-cased Supernova and Spanninga lights I have seen, it is also mounted to the suspension post arch which travels up and down… the light is not suspended on the bike and therefore may bounce as you travel over rough terrain
- Apparently the 5 Volt USB A port near the top right side of the battery pack has been disabled, I asked Tora about this and he said there had been concerns about phantom power draw and they wanted to protect the cells… as a consumer, this would have been nice to have if it could be made to work, USB ports are handy for charging phones, lights, and music players while on the go, or used for backup power when parked at home if the lights go out or something
- The tires seemed kind of basic to me… no puncture protective lining or reflective sidewall stripes, consider upgrading to something like the Schwalbe Marathon Plus eventually if you’re into that, changing a flat on an ebike is no fun and only the front wheel offers quick release
- The CrossCurrent S is heavy, at 57.4 lbs for the smaller 16.5″ frame (which I tested and weighed) you can really tell that the larger battery, coil fork, and overbuilt rack add weight… but at least the battery and front wheel are removable
- Minor consideration, there’s inner chain guide plate or chain catcher so it sounds like over time if the derailleur goes out of tune, you could have the chain drop off occasionally, Tora said there wasn’t room for a chain guide because of the shorter “RC” or chainstay lengths which make the bike handle quicker and feel more nimble vs. a long stretched out bike
- Take extra care when charging the battery while it’s mounted to the bike frame because the charging port is located very close to the left crank arm and could be snagged or bent if the pedals got turned, also, the rubber cap that covers the charging port on this type of pack can sometimes be difficult to seat (though it was not for this particular model during my review)
- Minor complaint, there’s no slap guard on the right chainstay! Tora said they might add it in the future when I pointed this out during the video, note that you can use clear masking tape or buy a sticker slap guard inexpensively online like this, if you have the red or black frame, nicks from the chain might appear silver because of the Aluminum underneath as the paint chips over time in this spot
- As with most planetary geared hub motors, there was some electronic whirring noise produced when the motor was really working, I wouldn’t call it especially loud but it does deliver higher speeds and more power than average so the sound can become noticeable (as shown in the video review ride test above)
Resources:
Dewey
7 years agoThank you Court for describing the features and improvements over the earlier models. I think it would be helpful to mention the user can change power settings in the LCD display between Class 2, 3 and an “off-road mode” that on pavement can propel the Cross Current S to over 30mph as illustrated in their promotional video. Without a VIN number an ebike usually cannot be registered or titled at the DMV and would not be insurable, so even if it were legal to ride on the street >30mph a rider may still be in violation of state motor vehicle code/traffic/driving regulations that were written to require mopeds and motorcycles meet federal motor vehicle safety standards, be titled, registered, and insured, in order to be legally operable on street.
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoInteresting, we only talked about the 28 mph to 20 mph (or lower) adjustability. Thanks for the clarification that this bike can go even faster in some cases and that they have some great video resources. It was neat to speak directly with Tora and I am wishing them the best with these new models and shipping process.
ReplyJohn G.
7 years agoI’m probably going to go for this model once I have saved the necessary funds, as it seems like the perfect commuter/weekend joyrider ebike, and I love the colors and shape. However, you would think an eight-year-old company that has been in the ebike game for quite some time now would have the means of meeting customer demand in a much more timely fashion, and not have people willing to fork over nearly $2000 of their hard-earned money waiting for two to three months for their bike. Essentially, Juiced should have had many more times the available stock of CC-S models than were ordered prior to their August 2017 delivery. As it stands now, an order placed today is slated (liberally) for delivery in November. Other ebike manufacturers are offering very similar products available on-demand. I work for a small company, but we must have millions of dollars of credit available to us so that we can purchase against our future invoiced services. It boggles my mind that Juiced isn’t ordering at least twice as many bikes as have been ordered. I suspect that they will HAVE to do this in the future. I met a stranger a few weeks ago who’d been on an ebike research campaign very similar to my own, and we independently arrived at the CC-S as the ideal bike, and but for the multiple-month period (Fall being PRIME biking weather in the mid-Atlantic), it very much is. C’mon Juiced, get your shipping/stocking issues together!
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoI hear you John… and it must be frustrating to see that demand (from Juiced Bike’s perspective) but not meet it. Maybe they are being cautious due to some of the issues on the CrossCurrent Air and OceanCurrent models? Maybe Tora doesn’t want to take on debt or investors? Difficult to say, but I have found myself choosing other products based on availability before, even if the bike isn’t as good, at least I can enjoy it while the weather is good etc. I’m wishing them the best of luck and feel that their designs and product choices are great as you and your friend thought as well.
ReplyDennis Lee
7 years agoSo if one purchases a Concurrent S at $1700 for November delivery does it get charged to ones credit card prior to delivery; also is it drop shipped from the asian chinese factory to the customer directly or is it first delivered to Juiced Bikes for quality control and inspection to make sure that the electric bike meets Juiced Bikes quality assurance standards and if not what is to prevent the asian chinese factory from shipping and/or swapping electric bicycles when Tora Harris is not at the asian chinese factory; these are all really important kinds and types of questions that need to be answered before plunking down $1700 for basically a custom asian Chinese manufactured bicycle made for Juiced Bikes?
Dennis Lee
7 years agoSo if one currently purchases a potential Concurrent S at $1,700 with the default 12.8ah 13 serial banks with its accompanying associated 4 parallel banked 18650(3,200mah core cells) fifty-two combined 18650 cells battery option that one cannot also even currently purchase the substantially larger and better quality 17.0ah 13 serial banks with its accompanying assoicated 6 parallel banked 18650(2,833mah core cells) seventy-eight combined 18650 cells battery option currently for an additional $300; and also that one cannot also even currently purchase the even the still substantially larger 21.0ah 13 serial banks with its accompanying associated 6 parallel banked 18650(3,500mah core cells) seventy-eight combined 18650 cells battery option currently for an additional $700;
now hopefully it does not also take four months potentially for the asian chinese factories to build and manufacture enough batteries for potential Juiced Bikes customers considering buying into the Concurrent S electric bike option; one has to realistic generally figure that a potential Juiced Bikes electric bike customer would want one electric bike battery pack to make it to their destination and another potential electric bike battery pack to make it back for the return leg electric bike trip; especially on those longer mileage weekend electric biking touring excursion trips one is undoubtedly potentially planning on making.
Tora Harris
7 years agoYes we did order 2x as many and we could have ordered more. We demand that the bike uses several specialized components that are hard to get. We also use specialized processes that take a long time.
It takes almost 4 months to get the bike to the customer from the time we order all the parts. So there is a massive lag time. We can choose the domestically available parts to dramatically speed up the lead times, but the bike would not be the same.
As far as the quality. First of all, the design needs to be fundamentally sound, It then needs to be serviceable and then balance that with being attractive. Then we can start talking about quality. On top of this we think a lot about backwards and forwards compatibility as well as cross compatibility between models.
Just about every bike is made in China or Taiwan. Some bikes are assembled in other places, but the parts are still coming from the same suppliers at the moment. Assembly can only be as good as the parts arriving. So we often have to drill backwards in the supply and find out where bottlenecks are happening. We have to find out if we increase the demand, how is everyone keeping up?
All of this means that there will be some delay initially when we transition from the CC to the CCS. The delay will get shorter and shorter until finally you can just swipe your card and walk away with one.
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoGreat feedback and insights Tora, thanks for chiming in, keep up the great work and innovation :)
Fred
6 years agoTora, I purchased a CCS bike (with 19Ah battery) in March. At the time your website stated that shipping is due mid-March. After a couple months of delayed promises, I got a replacement with the 12Ah battery, with the understanding that I will get to swap it for the 19Ah which I paid for. The sales website continues to announce shipping dates that are in the near future. It changed from March to May 2018, that one passed, and now it’s mi-June 2018. Meanwhile, I’m still waiting for the 19Ah replacement, although I paid three months ago. Tora, how will you be able to honor the promise to ship these bikes in a couple of weeks when you did not even cover the backlog for those who already paid but are still waiting for the new (19Ah) battery?
John
7 years agoOrdered/bought mine 12/24/17, received it 1/4/18 by UPS. Love it and already have over 200 miles on it, just do it.
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoAwesome! Thanks for sharing this testimonial John, so glad that you got it relatively quickly and are enjoying it :D
John G.
7 years agoJohn – Thanks for the advice. It so happens that I bought mine in November, and I received it in very early January. I rode it briefly the day after, but this weekend saw the first pleasant weather we’ve had in a few weeks, and I got in about 35 miles over Saturday and Sunday afternoons. It rides like a dream. I’ve been proselytizing about it everywhere I go, and especially when I see another ebike-user (in a road-legal context), I’m sure to overtake them and outrun them. Quite fun! My understanding is that Juiced is now offering a very fast response to orders for the CCS, and I hope to see more of them out there. I work as support staff in a well-known Government scientific research facility populated by thousands of engineers, physicists, geologists, etc. , and I am hoping to be an informal ambassador for Juiced and ebikes in general for these folks.
Bill L
7 years agoOver the summer we researched the Ebikes and watched so many of your reviews which gave us a sense of what’s available and what questions to ask. Locally, test drove many of the big name Ebikes. We were disappointed in the power and uneven delivery power. SO, In the end, we decided to buy the CrossCurrent S sight unseen. We watched all of Tora’s videos which gave us a good idea what to expect.
The most important point you made in the review is the combination of the “Torque sensor and high resolution cadence sensor” providing a smooth bike like ride which is so true. Also, the bike is really quiet. I believe your camera microphone was picking up more sound than what you’re really hearing in person. The bike is actually fairly quiet. My wife and I ordered two bikes in mid July. They had plenty bikes sizes and colors to choose from. Tora is making a feature rich bike that people want at an affordable price. I think there sales have recently mushroomed.
Our CrossCurrent S arrived today. It took me about 30+ minutes (each) to assemble them. It was a fairly straight forward process. This evening my wife and I chased each other up some steep grades in our Colorado neighborhood. It was a real blast. Our first impression is an “A” for awesome. I appreciate your advice here at EBR. You were a big help.
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoHi Bill! Thanks for expanding on how fluid and quiet the drive system is. I agree that the torque and cadence combination really produces a sweet ride. I visit Colorado frequently, there are indeed some steep grades if you’re in the foothills or mountains. So glad my work here has helped out out, thank you so much for chiming in to share… and you are invited to continue sharing as the products are used long-term and more insights pop up :)
ReplyNick
7 years agoYour reviews are incredibly helpful and I am highly impressed by the quality and price of the CrossCurrent S! One feature I would like to learn more about is the available option” of GPS Integration for the Super and Hyper Extended Battery Packs, allowing the owner to track the bikes location and recover it if stolen. This sounds amazing! Could you comment more on this and let folks know if this feature is included automatically with the extended batteries, needing only activation, or is it a feature that must be requested at the time of purchase, and how does that process work?
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoHi Nick, I just heard back from Tora about the GPS thing and he said: “The GPS system is the same one that we use on some of our delivery e-bikes. Because we make our own battery packs we made room to fit the GPS module inside the battery. Sorry we just have not had enough time to promote it, but all the big battery packs have the hardware connection to do it already. The GPS has a SIM card and sends data over the cell network. It send live updates of the location every min when the bike is moving. You can see this information on a map in real time. It also has an app. You can set geo fence notifications, speed limit notification, motion trigger notification. You can find the bike if it gets stolen since it pinpoints like down to 10 feet. The Cost is not set yet, but in the $200 something dollar upgrade. You get one year free monitoring, with unlimited notifications. After the first year its 5 bucks a month.” Hope that helps! Great question Nick :)
ReplyKen H
7 years agoCourt, In your video and review you listed the weight of the 16.5″ step over, with the standard 12.8Ah battery, as 57.4 lbs. The Juiced specifications list the total weight as 52.5 lbs. Can you explain the discrepency?
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoHi Ken! I’m not sure how Juiced measures their own bikes but I use a hand scale (the same scale for all reviews) and measure twice to make sure. I always measure with the battery pack on the bike, perhaps they measure with it off? Maybe someone else who owns the bike can chime in, or perhaps they made some changes to the model since I covered it?
ReplyKen H
7 years agoThanks Court. I think they just have their specs wrong. They stated they would double check and update them, so I suspect the 57.4 lbs you measured is probably close if not correct.
Pierre
7 years agoI have to chime in that largely, I am drawn to ebikes as a means of reducing the number of cars on the road. A bicycle – I feel – is a great fix to some ills of humanity and the enduring form factor of the bicycle confirms that it serves a human need to move faster, efficiently and enjoyably. I call attention to this as I don’t know a great deal about the underlying technology and its evolution. But the device-human interface of the Crosscurrent S is superb. Tora’s firm has made a low-price-point, highly reliable product that allows the user to experience the simple joy of biking, traveling from point A to B safely and without much fuss or maintenance. Turn it on, get on, go to your destination, get off and live a robust life (oh and lock it up carefully!). I am a fan of mine and really enthusiastically recommend it to my friends who I am quite sure are tired of my soap box bicycle discussions. Keep up the good work.
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoSo glad you’re loving the bike Pierre! I agree, bicycles are more fun and keep us connected in a way that lifts the spirit. Why not keep the air clean and the atmosphere peaceful too? I do have an automobile, but I ride my bicycle whenever I can, and yeah, the folks at Juiced have done a great job offering a compelling product :D
ReplyJohn G.
7 years agoI concur. The CCS has turned me into a born-again bicyclist, and I am definitely proselytizing about the good news of ebikes, and the CCS in particular. I’m a total convert now. Just two days ago, during a walk around my neighborhood, I saw a man – a total stranger – grinding up one of the steepest hills in my area, and told him that my new ebike could get me going up that hill (with great effort!) at 15 mph. He seemed to resent it, and said, “well, I’m not at that point yet!”
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoHmm, I’ve heard people express themselves like that before as well… It’s ironic that they will drive a car or fly on a plan rather than run across the country or ride in a covered wagon. The ego can be a delicate thing depending on how it is approached, but the approach also matters. Try to be friendly and supportive so as not to evoke a defensive mindset. Perhaps your enthusiasm is misinterpreted as criticism or teasing?
Jeff Smith
7 years agoAfter test riding a Faraday Courtland (which is out of my price rage, unfortunately), I’m convinced I need a Step-Thru model, but am afraid the Juiced Medium will be too small for me. I’m 74 years old, 225 lbs with a 30″ pants inseam. Any suggestions? I have also read and heard reports from bike shops (a grain of salt?) that customer service has been less than adequate. Comments?
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoHi Jeff! I’ve heard similar things about the Juiced customer service and bike availability (at least in 2017) but they’re a smaller company that is growing fast, so I think this has to do with growing pains. I know Tora and have seen his team grow with a new employee named Rich who is very proactive. I agree that a mid-step or step-thru could be a good option for you. There are so many ebikes to explore, I tend to lean towards visiting a shop for test rides. Many times, shops can order bikes for you and have them assembled. I realize this depends on where you live, but it’s worth exploring. I do really like Juiced and think that their models are cool, well built, and priced competitively. I hope this helps! You could ask for other peoples’ opinions in the Juiced Bikes Forums if you want. I’d love to hear what you end up with, and how it works :)
ReplyDave S.
7 years agoI just ordered a CCS February 20, 2018 and hope delivery is not going to take months. Where I live it is winter and we just had a big storm with lots of snow so having to wait isn’t to bad. I don’t want to wait a month for delivery. Will keep you posted
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoThanks Dave! I’d love to hear how everything works out :)
ReplyJared Shipp
7 years agoI got 1 of the first run of juiced CCS bikes delivered on 8-28-17 with the ‘updated’ design’s. I’m happy to asnwer questions and have roughly 400 miles on mine. The medium frame is still pretty large, but with a 28″ seam, it’s still doable with the seat too low, though I wish the frame as a medium was maybe at 80 – 90% scale of what it is. At a 30″ seam, I’d imagine it would fit fine. Depends on flexibility, you’ll be toe stretching when stopped and still seated with the seat too low. With the seat set right, you have to dismount at stops to foot down. If you’re riding your bike the way you should, you’ll dismount anyway, but if you’re older like me, you probably aren’t =) My health has improved significantly since starting to ride to work, so I’ll get that flexibility when I actually work to change that habit.
My opinion on the bike overall, was that the fenders were trash – too thin and delicate to depend on and quivered in the wind. The screw to remove the rear fender was a pain to unscrew. The light is great, bright but not blinding to traffic. My throttle broke about a month in because I squashed it in the trunk, but I didn’t use it anyway. When I tried it, the throttle response was too tight, but serviceable, meaning you had to have a dexterous touch to vary speed consistently. The motor noise is inconsistent, sometimes kinda loud, sometimes pretty quiet, this is not dependent on speed or torchion, just random, but it’s a beast and thus forgiven. Everything else including price get’s a vigorous thumbs up. I particularly like the way the torque sensor matches the motor to my effort, though I do always use it in sport which is a little more punchy. I also have a bad knee, so being able to limp to more powerful pedaling has been a benefit.
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoGreat feedback Jared! I appreciate your directness around the fenders, throttle, and motor performance. It was interesting to hear your height and imagine the balancing act to mount, stand on your tip toes, and still not quite get the full leg extension when pedaling. I’m glad that overall, the bike has worked well for you :)
ReplyAbe
7 years agoHi Court, I have been looking for a good ebike and have been really enjoying your reviews. Your website is also equally amazing. Anyway, I really like the feature set on the Juiced CrossCurent S, and the few items you called out such as chain guides, chain guards, and slap guards, are items I think I can have solved pretty easily and relatively inexpensively here at our local bike pro shop.
One feature I really need to have is rear integrated lights. I watched your fantastic video regarding lighting with the bike shop owner in England, however it didn’t specifically address the Juiced bike situation. Have you heard of a solution to add integrated lights to the Crosscurent S and have it power from the same button as with the front integrated lights? Thanks so much and looking forward to your next review!
Best Regards – Abe Alexander
Replycourt
7 years agoHi Abe! Thanks for the positive feedback, I’m doing my best here and always appreciate the support. I wish I had good news about integrating lights, it may be possible to have something custom setup, but the short answer is no. Most of the direct-online ebikes use independent rear lights because the cheaper wired-in ones can get damaged and fail more easily with shipping and unprofessional assembly (I have nearly cut the cable on new ebikes when unpacking them myself). Your best bet is to get a simple, rechargeable, lightweight, independent rear light like this and clip it onto your backpack or helmet.
I welcome your feedback and would love to hear what you end up doing and how it works. You may also get some good feedback in the EBR forums accessories section here. The CrossCurrent S is a cool product, very well priced, I got to test ride and film the new fat model RipCurrent S today and will have it live shortly :D
Replypreda
7 years agoCourt, thanks for keeping this website, it helps to orient customers in a market that is just emerging. I was also enthusiastic to get this (CrossCurrent S) bike, but the purchase process is so far incredibly disappointing. I ordered directly from JuicedBikes.com and at the time, according to their website the 19.2Ah battery was going to be available “mid-March”. The bike was supposed to be shipped within a week after purchase.
The order was delayed and in mid-April they posted a new deadline: mid-May. I called, and a few phone calls later I was offered a replacement, equipped with the original 12.8Ah battery until the 19.2Ah arrives. Things happen, and I would have been fine with that. But even the replacement bike, with the battery supposed to be in stock, cannot be delivered until the end of April. So far, a month after having placed the order and paid in full, I have no bike. The customer service was also poor, I was given vague terms and had repeated delays. I spent a lot of time on the phone and emails. I do understand delays and I’m fine with a temporary replacement, but when even that does not work… I would have not ordered from them if I knew this was ahead of me.
Replycourt
7 years agoHi Preda, I’m very sorry to hear that your experience thus far has been frustrating… but I so appreciate that you took the time to post an even-handed comment about it, to help guide others’ expectations and also let the company know that this has been trying. I wish there was more that I could do as a reviewer, but your comments and first hand experience here will certainly help. I hope the bike comes soon and you can get out and enjoy the Spring. Sorry for my delayed response, I have been traveling back from Canada and driving a lot recently. Just starting to catch up on comments, emails, and new reviews. I’d love to hear how the bike actually performs, once it arrives, if you care to comment again :)
ReplyIsaac
7 years agoI am so torn between this bike and the currently on super sale Haibike SDURO Urban Plus. I like some of the features and higher end components of the Haibike, and am very tempted by the deal aspect, but I’m a little wary of the stiff forks and some of the mystery surrounding the model. If I could get a CCS now, I probably would. But I’ve emailed the company to find out how long the back log really is, and haven’t heard back. Can anyone who has ordered recently update on how long it took to get your bike, or if you are still waiting? I don’t want to miss the bikeable months!
I also test road the RadCity, which I found comfortable and I quite liked the performance of the motor. But I hated how much it dragged after 20mph, felt very awkward and frustrating. I also didn’t love the mechanical brakes. And I test road a 2017 East Motion EVO City +, which was a very comfortable bike. I loved the frame and feel overall, and the adjustable stem. But I didn’t like how the motor felt. It was very noticeable, with a delay to kick in that did not feel smooth.
Replycourt
7 years agoHi Isaac, I agree with all of your comments here about the benefits and trade-offs for each different model listed. Easy Motion uses the TMM4 torque sensor, which can feel a bit funky, the Urban Plus is priced well but possibly not setup how you’d like (for comfort), and I just approved another comment from a visitor named preda who has been disappointed with the customer service from Juiced and had the order delayed. Rad Power Bikes does a pretty good job, but their selection is limited and the gearless motor does produce some cogging drag. I have 40+ reviews in the works, getting ready to publish in the coming weeks. There are so many other brands to consider… have you been to a shop to test ride a Trek, Specialized, IZIP, Raleigh, Pedego, or other brand? It might be worth making a day trip to do so. My own first ebike experience was done online and I felt disappointed with what I got… decided to sell that bike at a loss and then paid more for a better fit.
ReplyAnthony Le
7 years agoHi Isaac, I actually recently purchased the Haibike Urban Plus and also was considering this bike here. I posted my thoughts on the Haibike Urban Plus here.
In my case, I am wondering what would have happened if I bought the Juiced bike instead. The reason: Even though this is a class 3 bike, it is decidedly extremely hard to actually reach 28 mph. If reaching that speed is not important, then it is still a very well-engineered bike. In my case, I wanted to get to work faster than 40 minutes (for 12.5 miles), so I am now left with slight buyer’s remorse. There many positive things about this bike though to mention. You should read all the comments on that review.
ReplyDan
6 years agoHaving ridden several ebikes lately, I find that even with torque sensors, rear hub bikes generally have a jerky on/off or power surge quality to them. In addition, several of the ones I’ve tested have their engines continue for a bit of time after pedaling has stopped, creating the need to hit the brakes to control the speed. By contrast, mid-engines have none of these problems – they seem much smoother and the engine cuts out immediately once pedaling stops. So, the question I have is whether the CCS has managed to eliminate the lack of smoothness and predictability found in other rear hub bikes through the combined use of cadence and torque sensors? Any help from those who have ridden both types of bikes would be greatly appreciated!
ReplyCourt
6 years agoHi Dan, thanks for sharing your experience and feedback from multiple drive systems and sensors. I agree that many motors tend to delay cutoff (even some mid-motors). It’s nice when they have motor inhibitors to completely cut power, but I think some keep the motor going so you don’t end up with this surging response where the motor ramps up and down and up and down based on each pedal stroke (since leg power often varies as you turn the cranks). If you look at some of the Yamaha mid-drive motors, you can see how the chainring keeps going vs. immediately stopping. I want to call out that Bosch cuts out almost instantly with their Performance Line and I think Brose does pretty well too. It has been a while since the review of the CCS so I’ll let others chime in about how quickly it stops, but my experience in the demo review video above video should help. If you get the chance to test ride one yourself, I welcome feedback :)
ReplyDan
6 years agoThanks for your response. I did try the Brose (Specialized) and Bosch (Raleigh) mid-drives and both seemed quite predictable in their response to pedaling. I only lament that neither system accommodates a throttle which seems like a nice addition. Among mid-drives, I’ve found that only the Bafang Ultra seems to accommodate a throttle, although FLX tried to include one on its Trail model/Bafang Max… but only after going at least 6 mph. Joe at Volton insisted to me that the MAX wasn’t set up for a throttle. Seems like it’s Ultra or bust!
ReplyCourt
6 years agoHi Dan, I’ve seen throttles in use with the Bafang BBS01, BBS02, Max Drive, Ultra, and some of the Dapu mid-drives like Pedego and Velec use.
ReplyDan
6 years agoI agree that some of the older Bafang mid-drives had throttles; I guess I wasn’t willing to go to the older generation of motors. The two Dapu brands are limited in their selection of bikes – Velec has a very limited selection and Pedego has a lot of old-fashioned bikes with the battery on the rear rack. There is certainly a market opening for a 350-500 watt mid-drive with a hybrid or mountain style and a battery on the downtube…
ReplyCourt
6 years agoI think you can still buy and install the BBS02 and Luna Cycles has good prices on that (along with battery packs). I have also reviewed this unique mid-drive from Electric Bike Outfitters which might interest you. In any case, there may be other ideas in the forums, and I agree that there is room for more mid-drive options with throttles :)
ReplyJohn P.Hefter
6 years agoA new expensive battery and a new (covered-by-warranty) controller did not solve the problem with my 2017 Cross Current. The bike performs well for the first five minutes. Then, there is a loss of power, strange whirring from the motor, and an unresponsive display. The Juiced staff was helpful both on-line and phone chat Could there be a design flaw?
ReplyCourt
6 years agoThanks for the feedback John, I’m not sure if there is a design flaw, but your comment here might attract interest and feedback from others who own the bike. Perhaps it could lead to a design correction if there has been an issue.
ReplyBT
5 years agoHI COURT, when will you be testing the x?
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi BT! That’s a great question, I’d love tow do some work with Juiced but haven’t been in touch with them for a while. I’ll ping them again today based on your comment ;)
ReplyNeil Habermehl
5 years agoHi Court, yes, I am interested in the X too. Almost all the key specs are perfect for serious commuting (not just a few pleasure cruises, I mean really driving to and from work in real traffic on real roads every day). Max legal power and speed is a must. The 180mm hydraulic brakes are great. The big Wh battery in the triangle is great. Max legal power is an absolute must (350W is hopelessly inadequate, 500W for 28mph is not real beyond a tiring sprint), the front suspension, the bright headlight, the 52-11 gearing all right on.
But, I would like to see:
Put those items in and the X will be the absolute perfect ultimate serious commuter bike still at less money than the grossly underpowered, under range, way overpriced and disappointing city bikes from Trek, Bulls, Giant, and Pedego.
Hisao Yatsuhashi
5 years agoHi Court, nice review as always. I was wondering whether you’ll be testing the CrossCurrent S2 that came out this summer? I’m very interested in the newer model, but have been confused in that Juiced Bikes lists it as both coming with and without the rack and fenders depending on which part of their website you look at. Would be nice if they would stick with the original intention that Tora mentions in the video of offer these as standard.
ReplyJerry
5 years agoHisao, I had some similar questions about the S2 that were answered last week when we visited Juiced Bikes while on vacation in San Diego.
We talked with Rich and got to see the S2, X, Rip and Scrambler. For the S2 the fenders and rack that you were wondering about were available for a limited time, (which was the first container of them to come over, that had them included for free and to my understanding were already sold by now).
The S2 is pretty much the Crossurrent X stripped down making it a less costly and more affordable option. The battery, tires, rack and fenders I believe are the main differences between the two.
Like the previous 2 posts I was looking for a review or more information on the CrossCurrentX and I’m hoping Court will be reviewing one soon.
ReplyHisao Yatsuhashi
5 years agoLots of great information Jerry. Thanks for the reply. Its a shame they aren’t committing to the previous Crosscurrent S configuration with fenders and rack.
Broderick
4 years agoConsidering the CCS, 2 years used by a responsible EBike owner. 2 years old. Any thoughts about major concerns?
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Broderick! Sounds like a great deal… but I’ve heard that lithium-ion batteries naturally decrease by 2% to 5% each year, so you’re getting a battery that is up to 10% lower than when it was new. I personally love to buy things used, because it saves money and is more sustainable (reduce, reuse, recycle… in that order). Maybe double check that Magnum is still selling that battery pack so you could replace it in another couple or five years if needed? Worst case scenario, there’s a company called FTH Power in Southern California that can repack generic batteries, like the ones Magnum uses. If it looks good to you, I’d give it a thumbs up :)
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