We just lately coated the launch of the JackRabbit OG2 Professional and XG Professional electrical bikes, which added extra vary and energy to the present micro e-bike lineup from JackRabbit. Having spent a number of weeks testing the XG Professional myself, I can attest to simply what which means from the attitude of somebody with saddle time doing stuff you wouldn’t have thought attainable on a micro e-bike.
To get a way of what I imply, take a look at my video assessment of the JackRabbit XG Professional under.
Or maintain studying for my full written ideas on this enjoyable, high-performance experience stuffed into the physique of a a lot smaller-than-expected micromobility gadget.
JackRabbit XG Professional video assessment
JackRabbit XG Professional tech specs
- Motor: 749 geared rear hub motor
- Prime pace: 20 mph (32 km/h) – or quicker 24 mph (39 km/h) in off-road mode
- Vary: 48 miles (77 km)
- Battery: 720 Wh battery (2x 360Wh RangeBuster batteries)
- Max load: 275 lb (125 kg)
- Bike weight: 37 lb (16.7 kg)
- Brakes: Entrance and rear mechanical disc brakes on 180 mm rotors
- Wheels: 2.8×20″ off-road tires
- Value: $2,249
- Extras: Thumb throttle, 90-degree fold-flat rotatable handlebars (in high-rise format), foldout Mega Steel footpegs, bell, LCD show, kickstand, LED lights that run off the principle batteries, plus loads of non-obligatory equipment
What’s new and completely different?
Don’t neglect to take a look at my article on the launch to see what makes this mannequin so completely different from the unique JackRabbit XG. However to summarize, the XG Professional will get a extra highly effective motor, bigger brakes, high-rise handlebars, wider tires, quicker prime pace, larger batteries, and simply typically looks like a significant improve in merely each approach.
A whole lot of these upgrades go a great distance in the direction of turning this right into a extremely aggressive bike on extra than simply comfort. Now, the XG Professional competes on efficiency as properly.
Beforehand, JackRabbit’s large declare to fame was that its bikes had been extra handy. They had been smaller and lighter whereas nonetheless providing 20 mph speeds, and that was the large benefit. Nonetheless, you paid for it with restricted vary and decrease energy. Now, nonetheless, the JackRabbit XG has massively upgraded the vary to over 48 miles (77 km) with the inclusion of not only one however two of JackRabbit’s RangeBuster big-boy batteries. These have almost 2.5x the capability of the usual airline-friendly batteries supplied by JackRabbit and the ensuing vary is greater than you’d discover in lots of heavier e-bikes with comparable battery capacities.
JackRabbit XG Professional: Severely highly effective and torquey
I don’t have quite a lot of hills to check once I do my using in Florida, however I can say that the 749W motor will simply wheelie me if I’m not cautious (little doubt aided by the brief wheelbase), and so the torque is considerable.
I can even let you know that I towed almost 100 kilos (45 kg) of kayak and tenting gear for round 10 miles, together with up sandy berms which may not have been loopy steep however had been a critical check of the bike’s capacity to climb an off-road grade at slower speeds (i.e. with out the good thing about momentum).
So let’s simply say that the ability and torque are there, and also you’re not going to battle to climb a medium-sized hill.
On the similar time, the small footprint and light-weight (for an e-bike) 37-lb design meant that I might strap it to my kayak and take it tenting on an uninhabited island that’s inaccessible by motorboat. That’s a complete different story, although. Possibly I ought to write a separate article on that journey?
The 20 mph (32 km/h) prime pace of the earlier JackRabbit fashions additionally obtained a lift on the XG Professional as much as 24 mph (39 km/h), although solely within the new Off-Highway Mode. To entry this, you may’t merely pop into the show menu and select the “Extra pace, please” choice. You need to first attain out to JackRabbit and signal a waiver that additionally consists of confirming that you’re over 18 and pledge to solely use the mode on true closed course, off-road eventualities. From there, you get entry to the unlock, which is so convoluted that nobody will ever uncover it on accident. In case you are explicitly advised how to take action (which I’m unsure the way it gained’t ultimately leak on-line), you wouldn’t be capable to determine it out from mere button-mashing.
In unlocked mode, the JackRabbit XG Professional’s 24 mph prime pace offers higher-performance riders extra of what they’re on the lookout for, really unleashing these 749 watts for peak efficiency.
How properly does it experience?
There’s no suspension on the bike (until you go for the add-on suspension seat submit), however you do get 2.8 inch tires that put extra air quantity between you and the street. That leads to a greater experience that isn’t as jarring as you’d anticipate on a small, non-suspension bike.
In case you’re doing precise off-roading, which I extremely suggest due to how enjoyable it’s on the JackRabbit XG Professional, then you definately’ll be rising out of the saddle anyway a lot of the time. In the identical approach that you simply drop the seat on the mountain bike since you gained’t be utilizing it a lot of the time anyway, you stand on the pegs and let your bent legs function suspension if you method larger obstacles.
With the knobbier off-road tires, you additionally get higher grip, although the little bike desires to show so laborious that I’m nonetheless nervous about dropping it in a number of corners on unfastened gravel and sand. In my very own testing, I coated loads of various kinds of terrain, discovering grassy fields to be my favourite place to experience the XG Professional. It did nice on gravel and sand too, however the looser terrain additionally had me feeling a bit squirrely, and the brief wheelbase doubtless contributed to that. However again on grassy pasture to carry the unfastened soil collectively, I might fly round at almost prime pace and really feel strong.
Who’s the JackRabbit XG Professional for?
With its off-road credentials spoken for, I nonetheless suppose the XG Professional has loads of room left for on-road using. As a commuter, I can see the XG Professional being a quick, long-range choice for an excellent handy micromobility gadget. The included LED lights make it extremely seen to different street customers at evening, and the small measurement means it will probably fold up and stow away in an workplace or condo.
In reality, I actually love the sideways-turning handlebars that spin 90-degrees for much more compact storage. With the bars turned and footpegs folded, all the bike is a mere 7 inches (18 cm) broad, one thing you can by no means declare with an e-bike.
So in my view, the XG Professional is nice for anybody who desires to benefit from the trails on the identical bike they use to get to work or class, and doesn’t have the house of their life for something larger. You’ve obtained to get pleasure from trying completely different although, because it’s all the time going to be a singular and considerably weird-looking experience in comparison with what most of us think about a ‘regular’ bike or scooter.
Is it an e-bike?
That brings me to a typical query concerning all the JackRabbits. Are they even really e-bikes? By definition, most likely not. JackRabbits don’t have pedals, as an alternative choosing lighter and extra compact foot pegs. That implies that the JackRabbit is technically within the class of seated electrical scooters.
Nonetheless, the corporate refers to it as a micro e-bike, and I’m inclined to agree largely on the idea that it rides and looks like a motorbike, particularly contemplating that almost all Individuals use their throttles on their e-bikes nearly on a regular basis anyway. The pedals on most e-bikes lately are simply glorified footrests which have the flexibility to spin, so JackRabbit mainly stated, “Sufficient with the charade,” and took away that not often used capacity.
The fastened footrests on the Jackrabbit take away the bicycle definition, however I can attest to the JackRabbit nonetheless feeling like a motorbike, even should you can’t pedal it. It leans into turns like a motorbike and looks like a motorbike when using over obstacles as a result of it makes use of a motorbike’s handlebars and wheels as an alternative of the smaller scooter handlebars and wheels frequent amongst scooters.
A lot just like the Romeo and Juliet cliche, that is mainly the rose by every other identify scenario. It nonetheless smells as candy, and it nonetheless rides nearly as good.
Is the JackRabbit XG Professional price it?
I’ve stated this earlier than, and I’ll say it once more: In case you’re on the lookout for the most effective dollar-per-watt discount, then transfer on. JackRabbit won’t ever be the reply for you. These bikes price a premium. The XG Professional is the brand new flagship mannequin and is priced at an eye-watering US $2,249. The OG2’s $1,249 seems downright fiscally accountable by comparability.
However then once more, JackRabbit isn’t making an attempt to compete on value. Regardless of now matching different widespread e-bikes on energy, pace, and vary, it’s going to all the time be a dearer different as a result of firm’s distinctive design that requires them to spend money on constructing their very own main parts. They don’t profit from off-the-shelf frames and batteries. As a substitute, they’ve invested the laborious work in engineering new designs, to not point out paying for the tooling to make that occur. You may’t ask for innovation on the value of mediocrity.
For anybody on a funds, there are cheaper methods to get the identical pace, energy, and vary. However there aren’t lighter methods to do it, or extra handy methods, or (in my view) cooler-looking methods. And that’s the entire level of JackRabbit. These bikes had been initially designed as the right resolution for school college students getting round campus. And after a few years and lots of new fashions, the corporate has grown right into a enjoyable resolution for therefore many various kinds of individuals who share the identical primary wants: a small but potent e-bike-like car for getting round with out taking over an excessive amount of house. Now, everybody from college students to professionals experience them, and so they’ve turn into a favourite amongst RVers, boat house owners, personal aircraft pilots, and anybody who wants a super-compact experience.
So in my view, the query of whether or not or not the JackRabbit XG Professional is price it comes down as to if you need these capabilities on this type issue. You’ll find it for cheaper, nevertheless it’s not going to be as small or light-weight or slick. That’s the magic sauce at JackRabbit, and if you experience it, you rattling properly really feel that magic.
