The $2,199 Juiced Scorpion X has all the old-school charm of a vintage moped, but it adds back in a powerful electric drivetrain. It also has awesome-looking cast wheels that remove the issue of spoke maintenance, plus add to the cool stance. Ride1Up’s first adventure-style electric bike was a smashing success, helping the San Diego-based electric bike maker enter an entirely new category with a bang. Plus that long rear bench has tons of room for boxes, bags, or kiddos. I’ve had three riders on the bike plenty of times, and it can definitely do more.
Despite the 750W label, the e-bike can be unlocked to make use of nearly 1,500W of peak power. I was able to reach a top speed of 37 mph (59.5 km/h) during my testing (not on public streets!). The Ride1Up CF Racer1 brings carbon fiber road e-bikes to the common man, offering both a traditional road bike and a gravel bike edition.
This e-bike is easily worth another $500 more than the price tag, if not more. In fact, you’ll find many of these same components on e-bikes with $3,000-$4,000 price tags all over the place. So if you’re looking for a higher quality e-bike that doesn’t cost as much as a fancy hyper mountain bike bike shop e-bike, this is the one to consider. The $1,999 Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4 is one of my favorite options thanks to the awesome build and wide range of compatible Rad accessories. The RadRunner is truly one of those do-anything e-bikes because it has so many uses.
I picked one up with my index finger and was shocked at how easily it left the ground. I also recently reviewed the Shimano 5-speed version of this e-bike, which you can find here. If you’re spending this much, you’ll want to ensure you’re buying from a reputable company with top-notch products and service. The RadRunner from Rad Power Bikes has been an industry favorite ever since it was first announced back in 2019. The company is actually on the RadRunner 2 now, but the update only made minor changes since the original was already so well designed.
When outfitted with the Passenger Package, it has a seat and footpegs that let you carry kids or adults on the back, turning this into a multi-passenger e-bike. The cruiser bars, suspension fork, comfortable seat and pedal-forward geometry make it a pleasure to ride. The high performance 750W hub motor and 28 mph (45 km/h) top speed make it a blast for quick errand running and fun commutes. From electric cargo bikes to cruisers and even electric mopeds, there’s something for everyone in this price range. Obviously, the oversized 35-mm clamp diameter adds significant stiffness more efficiently than it adds strength, but it’s also designed internally to be super strong, which adds further stiffness.
The real stars of the show were the grips, which were super comfortable, amazingly durable, had integrated bar ends, and were designed to be rotated with wear, which is unusual for lock-on grips. As for the dropper, I fiddled with it a few times at the start but otherwise just got it out of the way so I could ride. The dropper is designed for super quick and easy bleeding, which refreshingly takes significantly less time to do in reality than it takes to watch the 18-second video on their website about it. I’ve always been a fan of Dresden-based Acto5 and their absurd CNC-machined frames.
I received the Sagma Lite version of their saddle without suspension, which was pretty comfortable. It was more padded than anything I’ve ridden for a long time and quite a bit shorter, as I’ve been riding mostly road-derived saddles forever, and I expect the Sagma Lite to be a little more enduro-focused. Large upright handle bars that put the riders in an upright comfortable ridding position. Great for casual rides around town, this classic cruiser is equipped with a simple pedal backwards coaster brake and full wrap fenders. The large padded spring saddle and multi-surface balloon tires provide a smooth and comfortable riding experience.
I started out fairly excited about improving my skills in riding mountain bikes by making an effort to drive to places where there are actually decent trails. It was fun, and I did learn and improve, but the best part was taking time to go riding with friends who I don’t see often enough and almost never ride with. This e-bike sports a high-end German-manufactured hyper mountain bike Brose mid-drive motor and can hit speeds of up to 28 mph (45 km/h), yet is price similarly to much cheaper hub motor-based electric bikes. Bike Yoke is a brand with which I was not previously familiar, as they are best known for their droppers, mountain bike specific saddles with integrated suspension, and alternative yokes for rear shocks.
If you’re getting a Tern GSD, you’re getting a fully qualified car replacement. There are many people that use these instead of buying a second car. When you look at it like that, the price suddenly seems pretty reasonable.
Check out my full first ride on the various Serial 1 e-bike models here. The bike is truly a high-end offering by itself, but the embedded tech makes it a rarity in any category. There’s also an app that allows you to take full advantage of the built-in eSIM card, giving you connectivity to the bike and letting you check all your vital stats, find its location, and more – right from your phone. Check out my full in-depth review of the epic Ariel Rider Grizzly e-bike here. Whether you’re ferrying around kids or buying a week’s worth of groceries, the HSD is a solid option. Check out my full review of the Electric Bike Company Model Y here.