Just another JUICY tidbit.... Unlike most US ebike companies that either design their ebike here in the states for the Chinese to manufacture or simply sell a modified version of a Chinese designed ebike here, Juiced has their very own Juiced Bikes factory in China. Tora Harris, the owner of Juiced spends a huge amount of his time in China as he speaks fluent Chinese (Mandrin I believe?) and can communicate with his workers and supliers directly. He also happens to be a Mechanical Engineer and an award-winning field athlete who also LOVES biking, so honestly, you couldn't ask for a better person to be designing and building something he truly loves to do. While this doesn't guarantee anything, I feel it's important to know these bikes are designed from love.
Agreed... But their customer service is not reliable. Was at the top of my list. Then crossed off due to customer svcs. Also some problems continue to be reported. No resolutions mean no addressing it = don't care. No thanks.
@@davidg426 In every company, everything is dictated from the top down. IMO, Engineers tend not to be great company owners or deligate things properly when they themselves think of it as a burden. With Juiced, I know first hand what you're talking about. I had a LOT of problems at first, but then CS got a lot better. At least it did for me. One reason I think CS sucked so bad was because Tora was spending so much time in China, and the company was growing huge very quickly. Due to that, certain things can "be fixed later", if ya know what I mean? I know this sounds like an excuse for them. It is not. I totally understand anybody who doesn't buy from them because of their poor customer service. Many people have had decent, not great, customer service though. It just doesn't seem to be super high on their priority yet, and luckily for me, I can fix most things on my bike myself I don't really need them for that much. Others do you need them now. The last thing I'll say is that, there is a really weird attitude in the bike selling community like with Luna bikes for instance. That is one screwed up group of individuals in my opinion. If you try to buy something from them, they may not sell it to you just cause they don't like you. All I'm saying is there's many of these companies with a weird attitude towards customers.
This is one of the best thorough reviews of a product I’ve ever watch without feeling like ‘part of the sales pitch’. It’s only lost short list now of bikes I want to purchase.
Owned this ebike for two years. No issues at all. Only modification I did was change straight handle bar for a JONES bar. Lots of fun for pacific northwest.
To make it more of a beach cruiser? Was that an easy swap out or complicated with the gears and electriconics on it? I’d also want to change that seat to something fat and comfy
Great review of a great bike. I have 878 miles on my RCS now. I can go 65 miles in ECO mode and still have about 40% battery left. I have only been up to 36 MPH on some downhills but I wouldn't be afraid to go faster since it has such a solid construction. Does great on trails, beach sand and streets. I can't go anywhere without people checking it out. I can't count the number of times I have heard "That's a great bike". They're right.
I commute 20 miles/day (round trip) to work and back on a 2019 RCS, plus some open desert riding in the early morning and weekends, and it is awesome!!!! Plenty of power, excellent range, and very stable both at speed on roads or tight & technical trails. I am a grown ass man and this bike makes me feel like I'm a kid again. I've only done basic maintenance, replaced two tubes, and one tire but that's only because I beat the crap out of this bike.
@@adrianthomas4660 When riding on private property, I've got it up to 32mph in 9th gear with race mode, pedaling at full sprint. When I'm commuting though I usually keep on assist level 1 and cruise at apprx 23mph in 6 or 7th gear at a comfortable cadence, using throttle assist boost to get off the line at stoplights. Eco mode will eek out a sustained 20mph in 4th/5th without struggling.
What a perfect review! Finally somebody that understand it is really important to show max speed, how fast you pedal and how it is to maintane that speed. Perfect, also the rest of the review! Seen 3 reviews from the other reviewers where they got a 750 and a 1000 watt e-bike and they would ride with 1 hand in the dirt or snow doing 11 miles in third Gear.... really? Thanks for this
So nice to see a reviewer that understands the importance of a reasonable cadence and spinning. Motor run on is almost certainly caused by a sticky freewheel. The lube dries out and any penetrating oil will loosening it up tonight away. Most shops haven't dealt with freewheel since the 80's, so they may not be aware of this trick.
@@TysonRoehrkasse hey Tyson. Curious if you still think the RCS is best overall option for tall riders like us (6’5). They’re currently having a sale and I’m close to pulling the ‘trigger!’ Appreciated, Abraham 🚲
@@AbrahamNeuwelt I say go for it! My dad actually just got one two weeks ago, he is 6'2 and loves it. Juiced made some good upgrades such as bigger fenders with a lot better coverage. In the two years since this review I still haven't found another ebike that fit my size as well as the RCS.
Ive owned the Current S2 for about 2 years (400 miles) So far, it's been great. I had the rear loose spoke issue, and the replacement was quick and easy. I've had the motor quit on me twice riding fairly steep mountains in warmer weather. I have noticed a couple things that would be nice to haves. 1. being an inline rear light. No reason why it shouldn't have one. In fact, adding an inline brake light would be pretty easy. 2. being the rear wheel alignment. It seems to aim to the non-derailleur side of the frame. (I'm working on fixing this one) The overheating was really the only thing you need to a bit ready to deal with. Otherwise, I love this thing.
You get to 600 miles and brakes collapse while you crash. This review is a lie. The truth is the controller doesnt work with R mode and youll have to buy a new one. This reviewer wants to keep the crooked Juice owner 'Tora Harris's ad advertising Juice Junk $$$. Just plain deathtraps
Fantastic review! I keep waffling on whether or not I should buy one. I’m 6-5 and the RCS is one of my few choices. I’ve read about some quality issues, so that the only thing holding me back. But your review shows that it’s a pretty well built bike. Nice thorough road and trail test ride!
@@DYNABIKE1 - what's better in class 3 for street/trails @ $2,499? I'm thinking seriously about getting a couple of these, so if you know of better for the money... please share!
@@daviddelmar8400 David - - What is the One most important thing You want out of Your eBike ? I've watched several reviews on this Juiced and I can tell You for what You are getting You can save $$$$ on each if You're going for two. I will say more if You haven't already bought.
@@daviddelmar8400 How about a bike with way more accessories , some style , multi changeable LCD settings , USB port to charge You phone while riding , derailleur guard , 2 YEAR warranty , and can still do over 30 MPH if that is the big deal for $1,000 Less then that tank You'er thinking about ??
Extra-Large Frame !!!???!!!! Yeah baby I'm liking that! I test rode a good friends RadRover and it is simply too small. I believe the Bolton Black Bird has a bit larger frame, but it's not available for a test fit/ride and one has to wait on availability. The RipCurrent S, XL while not available for a test fit/ride is offered for all use fellas who take up extra space and this time of year they had models in stock. I appreciate the reviewer being 6'3"/190 lbs. giving the bike a go. At 6'7"/250 lbs my bike options are limited so I ordered the Juiced RipCurrent S XL. Looking forward to it's arrival!
Update: Love the larger sized frame and the high rise handlebars. Those handlebars enable significant reach adjustability. Power and range? Well, I haven't really gone on a sustained ride at high assist levels yet. Seems like it has a lot for an eBike. Note I did raise all the program setting limits for fast riding when I want to do that. I only have 50 miles on my RCS and did find the gearing to be way too tall for significant human input on steeper hills. And yes, it's an eBike, but I also wanted this bike for short duration intense workouts. I resolved the gearing by adding a 39-tooth front chain ring in place of the front inside guard as well as replacing the rear cassette with one having a 36-tooth 1st gear. That solved the gearing problem and now I can climb most hilly neighborhood roads with zero assist. While riding at zero assist seems counter intuitive, I believe the RCS has quite a broad envelop of usability with it's powerful motor and large battery. I'll be retiring in a couple months so will have greater opportunity to use the bike. And I'm looking forward to that!
Hello@@bernievassallo3336, I still like it a lot! I have 1500 miles on it after 2 years of ownership. I find myself using assist only about 20% of the time as I use it as exercise and, well honestly, riding on level ground even with this 80 lb. bike isn't that difficult. I did use the bike to it's fullest about a month ago where I rode along a ridgeline on a gravel road that had lots of loose gravel on it. Add a lot of up hill and this was a major workout for the Ripcurrent. And it did the job wonderfully! So, I think it's a great bike although maybe I'm not the typical rider always putting in my own effort. I got the S version with the larger battery. Rarely have I used even half the charge capacity. A 1000W motor? Maybe if you live in the Rockies or where nearly every road is a hill, but otherwise I think it's overkill as I've never felt my 750 Watt motor was inadequate. Maybe it's marketing competition? Or maybe for some kind of heavy work application? Anyway, I highly recommend the bike so good luck Bernie!
@@JmieUA-cam When set to R (Race mode), the highest assist setting, it appears that the top speed is not limited at all. I was able to get into the low 30s with some strong pedaling. Mine shipped with Race mode already unlocked. Sometimes the bikes ship with Race mode disabled, but you can enable it in the settings with this guide: drive.google.com/file/d/1U-NncS8duoB7n3vnOlJ76Px3GFWirLQ3/view
I live in a somewhat hilly area and the 52 tooth sprocket was a little large. I tried a 46 tooth and then ended up with a 42 tooth. It was much better climbing and I can still pedal up to the 28mph cuttoff.
Great review. Extremely thorough and well thought out. Thanks for putting it together. I was looking for my first ebike and decided on the closeout RCS which was on sale for $1999 based on this review. Should be here on Tuesday, going to be a long few days of waiting.
The close out sale is the original version, not the updated one. Could you reply here to let me know if it’s still awesome or not? I was heavily debating on buying the close out or not, too.
If you're thinking about getting this Bike pull the trigger and get it I bought mine in April of 2021 I've put 1700 miles on it made a few mods just because of preference the bike is a beast I've gotten 30mph it gets well over 40+ plus miles and that's flying and I'm a bigger guy 260 pounds plus,its a no brainer and a legit bike
I changed the crank from 52 tooth to a 42 tooth to get lower gearing as i live in San Francisco with massive hills. Sort of disappointed though as I don't feel a big difference on the Hills. Also installed the Tannus Armour tire liners.
Hi Jason are you still liking your ripcurrent and how is it up hills? I’m 5’8 and 265 Lbs. I’m looking at the new version with the 1000 watt motor.., thanks for any info
I own a 2018 RCS, have 1800 miles and absolutely love this bike. There is nothing faster and stronger as a class 3 bike in the market. The value is phenomenal compared to anything you might find out there and it’s an American company based out of California. Only modification was a Brooks saddle but looking into a suspension post, and a Jones H bar that gave me a 2 1/2 rise so I still have an aggressive stance but sit more comfortably.
Interesting, I wonder if they repurposed that type of connector for durability? I noticed that Bosch has a proprietary connector, and some older ebikes were using the Rosenburger Energy Bus connector for a long time. Most of the cheaper chargers use a simple round plug design that seems a bit more vulnerable (especially to the battery interface), like if it the cord got pulled out from the side or something.
Per Grin's Connector Guide "The XLR plug has been used in audio equipment for decades and is available in various pin configurations. In the ebike scene it's been used on battery chargers since as long as we've been doing this (2003). Back then we were mostly dealing with NiMH and NiCad batteries which require a temperature sensor for charging, and so a 3-pin XLR plug was used, with Pin 1 = V+, Pin 2 = Gnd, and Pin 3 = Thermistor. This same 3-pin configuration is also used with lithium and lead acid batteries that don't require a temperature sensor, and in that case the 3rd pin is either not connected or used as an interlock pin. Generic quality XLR plugs don't have very good current handling for their size, and will often melt and distort when used above 4 amps or so. Higher quality XLR plugs like the Neutrik XX brand that we use on the Satiator are rated for 16 amps, which makes it an excellent choice for high current charging."
When is the best time to charge an E Bike like this? Say you ride in a day and still have 70 or 80% battery left is it good to recharge it for the night to have 100%? Or should you let it drain to a lower percent for the battery life? Thanks!
Honestly bro I’d never charge it past 80% if you don’t need it.. also don’t let it go below 20% either if you want to MAXIMIZE the long life of the battery. You can if you want but just know every battery has a certain amount of charge cycles and the battery is most stressed charging 80-100% So basically don’t do it unless you will be needing all that 100% charge. Hope this helps. You can look up efficiency if battery charging if you don’t take my word for it. Even the new iPhones automatically stop charging phones at 80%
@@iTs-JP-916 Thanks for the reply. I don't have an E Bike but I do have an electric scooter 🛴. I will take note with not fully charging them up all the way. That sounds good. I have topped them off here and there but from now on I will try to just charge them to 80 percent. Thanks. Jeff - Sunny Central Florida
Regarding the overheating, has that happened to you on any other bike? Have you taken that route or climbed that mountain on any other bike? Seriously considering that bike and I didn’t like hearing that about the bike. Also, how does it sit? Are you upright on it or do you lean forward? Is that adjustable with the seat and bar set up? Thanks for your info. Great review!
I haven't taken that route with any other ebikes. It's a very long route with a ton of elevation gain, and until the RCS I haven't had my hands on a bike that could handle the trip. I wouldn't worry about the overheating, it didn't start until about 25 miles into the ride, it was an extended steep climb, and it was a super hot day. What sort of rides will you be doing? Handlebar and saddle height are quite adjustable and you can adjust from sitting upright to more forward depending on how you prefer, I had my saddle raised up all the way and the handlebars back a bit, seating position was forward but not aggressive. Sometimes when riding in town I would lower the saddle down a bit and sit more upright :)
Tyson Roehrkasse thanks for sharing. Good to hear since I just ordered mine today. Pretty damn excited. Thanks for all you do with these reviews! Oh, and I bought bikes for me and my wife to spend some rec time together outside the house. Beach, mountains, wherever I can get her to ride.
The Juiced 52V battery for a 2018 Ripcurrent was 21Ah with LG 18650 cells, so Juiced has downgraded the Ah a tad and I think they're now using Samsung cells. This may be actually better. Here's some good advice... GET THE BIGGEST BATTERY YOU CAN AFFORD... DON'T CHEAP OUT!!!! The worst thing about all electric vehicles is "range anxiety" which is wondering if you're going to make it home and being scared to travel too far. This hampers your otherwise wonderful ride. A big-ass battery is what you want, more so than a cool ebike. If you ask anyone whose bought an undersized battery for their bike, they'll tell you they wish they bought the bigger one. Juiced leads the way with monster 52v batteries. This is why I bought a RCS.They give you the best bang for the buck these days. However, battery tech will be changing soon, but for now.... The Juiced Bikes Ripcurrent S is worth considering if you want a killer bike that runs circles around a Rad
First..GREAT review! Thanks for going in such depth in detail. Very helpful! Quick question, you said you were 6'3", what size frame were you riding? Thanks and I think now I have now the right ebike that fits my wants and needs in the Juiced Ripcurrent S.
Almost NO wind noise when you did 28mph... what mic (and camera) were you using? Excellent review, I just purchased my RipCurrent S this morning. Waiting to hear when I'll get it. A buddy bought his about a week ago and was riding it today. We're photographers, so I look forward to many photo rides in the future.
@@seanob9245 I bought quite a while ago now, so I don’t remember exactly how long it took to arrive once ordered, but it wasn’t long. They’re backordered now so… ya know, it may take a while. It’s worth the wait!
Question: How comfortable would it be for a short 5’5 , 61 year old lower back issues. I like to ride an converting to ebike. Taking it camping . So all terrain makes sense. Plus don’t want to much stress encountering hills. All answers welcomed.
I think it would be quite comfortable although you may need some rear suspension, a suspension seat post would probably do the trick. You'd definitely want to go with the medium frame size (smallest one they offer). It's one of the more comfortable non-cruiser ebikes I have ridden in terms of seating and posture!
I just received the RipCurrent not the S and will be reviewing the bike as soon as the weather hits at least 40. I really like the bike and the power, what a blast.. Great review..
The handlebars are also different - mid-rise on the RCS for an almost upright position, vs a flat handlebar and forward position on the CCX. Most of the components are the same but I would say they feel very different, CCX feels so much lighter and more nimble, efficient... the RCS just feels like a tank in the best possible way!
Thanks for doing this video. I have been on the fence looking for an ebike that can handle some light/moderate trails. I'm just looking to get into light mountain biking. Do you think this bike can handle going on some smooth bike trails? The trails near me aren't too rigorous and I think spending over 2000 for a mountain version would be a waste for me. Have you tried using this bike on any bike trails? If you have any recommendation on other ebikes that can do some moderate to easy bike trails let me know. I saw that Ride1up Lmtd and didn't know if that bike would do trails better.
Just got outta the hospital. Been there for two weeks with a back injury. Musta told at least 50 "blown away" people and showed pics of my RCS. HEY JUICED.... EXPECT SOME NEW CUSTOMERS FROM RHODE ISLAND!
Being at 5 ft 11, with a 32in inseam, I put in a order for a large black Juiced Ripcurrent S. Looks perfect for quick getaways out of urban areas. Plan on mounting some type of front rack or basket. Juiced pannier bags do not appear to be waterproof. Looking for good waterproof pannier bags that would fit great on a Juiced bike rack. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
@@knife_gun_axe272 A large is a big bike, but still a little small for my legs, from seat post to handlebars. I've already put close to 4,000 miles on mine
How difficult would it be to change out the cassette with something that would be better suited for hill climbing rather than all out speed, and what would you recommend? I have lots of long, steep grades to climb.
If you purchase one of these bikes and there are equipment problems, are you expected to fix/replace parts yourself or will Juiced reimburse the repair costs incurred at a local bike shop?
Funny how the first 10 minutes has lots of sirens in background. I live a half mile from where you setup for this review. Fort Collins is typically quiet but you're filming right by College Avenue, a main street through town. We have great trails though. I ride a Rad City. Nice work!
The vented area on the top of the down tube is most likely where the "Controller" is for the motor. Which is cool cause it keeps it out of the elements.
It seems like only having a single sprocket on the crank is really a bad handicap for this bike. If the battery goes dead, this bike almost seems like it’s going to be really tough to ride. I was totally on board with this bike until you said the motor was overheating on a steep incline. That’s kind of deal breaker for me.
Jeeeze what a racket going on with like 60 first responders and police driving past. Now upgraded to 1000 watt motor. Bigger rear fender. Locking grips .👍 Basically same price with upgrades 2 years later
The spec sheet is contradictory. It lists 1295 peak wattage, yet the voltage 52 times the controller spec you list(20 amp) is only 1050 peak watts. I went to Juiced website, and the same erroneous specs are given.
Nice review, nice bike, I might have purchased this bike had I known about it before I bought my rad rover 6+, say was that single track W of downtown but before shields?
All mail order ebikes should have an adjustable stem for assured comfort. This does not. The fenders are totally inadequate, why bother? Is the chain repeatedly dropping like the CCX?
Looks like the rear fender is installed incorrectly. Maybe it should mount further back to where the end is just past the rack? Otherwise, very detailed and informative review!
An older generation of the RCS had a true full fender, the one I got didn't come with a second piece and the website photos didn't show it with one. I think they updated it soon after and may have added the second part?
Cant decide between RipCurrent S or the Sondors XS.. I there are a few differences but cant decide. I have the Fold XS and XS on order. Whats your opinions?
I like the RipCurrent S because it comes with fenders and a rack, and lights... if I recall correctly the Sondors XS doesn't have any of those accessories. You could probably add them yourself from the cost difference though!
I have an RCS that has 3000+ miles and now only charges to 5 of 9 bars. It was taking a full charge and changed to half a charge. Where do i begin to check - charger, controller, battery???
Torque feels about the same on both of them, I believe they have the same Bafang motor. In terms of comfort, it depends on how much you like to pedal. Pedaling on the RCS feels WAY better due to the geometry and full leg extensions, pedaling on the Scrambler is just "meh" at best and downright uncomfortable at worst. If you're planning to just use more throttle, the seating position on the Scrambler is quite comfy thanks to the upright position and the banana seat. For speed the RCS wins, no contest. The larger diameter wheels mean the motor can more easily assist to higher speeds, and the wider range cassette means you can still comfortably pedal even above 30mph. The Scrambler has enough power to reach those high speeds but the gearing range on the freewheel is limited, by 28mph you'll be cycling the pedals very fast and any more speed is pretty difficult.
@@TysonRoehrkasse Thanks for the detailed reply, definitely leaning towards the RCS now. As far as torque the reason I asked is even though they have the same motor it has been mentioned in other reviews here that the 20 inch wheels act like a lower gear vs the 26 inch giving a possible torque off the line advantage, while the larger wheel should be better at higher speed.
@@justinharrell9256 That is true! 20 inch wheels mean a mechanical advantage for the motor... but the RCS also has the bigger and more powerful battery pack. I didn't get a chance to ride them at the same time and compare, they were a few weeks apart and felt about the same to me
@@TysonRoehrkasse Yes I forgot the scrambler you tested only had the 13ah battery, I was looking at 19ah on both. I ended up order the RCS for various reasons mainly that its has a normal bike seat that can be adjusted and changed. Thanks for the great reviews!
Great review. Never owned an E bike but this looks perfect. Just curious about after market parts to add. Better fenders etc. And could s regular bike shop handle the maintenance on this. Brakes etc. Thanks. Just subscribed.
Hi John! These days there are lots of great aftermarket racks and accessories, but if the brand includes some, they are usually mounted well and optimized to look good and be sturdy. Indeed, most shops can service the wheels, brakes, and drivetrain on ebikes but might come up short when it comes to the motor, battery, and display since those parts can be less standard. If you are able to get them from the company however, some shops will help install or make fixes. Juiced Bikes has been around a long time, but this review is pretty dated! I’d suggest checking out their official site for the latest builds! Thanks for subscribing!
I had an RCS for a while. I'm six foot and rode a medium which although the website says a six foot tall person can ride a medium, large would be much better. Everything was great about the bike. Great range, great headlight, great torque sensing. Only thing was that sometimes the pedals would hit small rocks or tree veins and bottom out. Maybe the L or XL have higher pedals? If your tall enough and looking to off-road, don't go with the Medium. Overall, great bike and definitely worth the money. At 6ft and 200lbs, 28 was about the fastest it would go. Maybe I could have pushed it, but I have a electric motorcycle for that. One other thing is the air suspension.. I was never able to get it to be right in the sweet spot. I didn't put a ton of time into adjusting it, but I was used to non air suspension bikes that felt better tuned right from the start. My girlfriend rode it a couple times too and she is only 5 foot 2 and she liked it, but ultimately prefers the smaller rad mini bike which we also take turns with.
@@TysonRoehrkasse I picked up a 2020 DS 7.2. I love it! It can do light off roading really well, rides nice on the street and has pretty upright geometry which I like. It charges pretty fast on wall power and most importantly is a blast to ride. If I had the budget and was doing it again, I'd go 14.4 battery, but the 7.2 is probably a little more fun as it is almost 100 pounds lighter. Good luck! Oh yeah and I almost forgot the 10% tax credit!
@@MichaelMoore-bx6st The tax credit is definitely a perk! That looks like a super fun bike. I'm planning to try a few of theirs... I also really want to test ride the Harley Livewire. Out of my place range but that thing looks like crazy fun.
Hope there is a fender upgrade available. If not.. You could use a trash can and cut out your own fender extension mod. Some rear shock action would be nice
@@kilogmatt I bought the bike last black Friday and I had never seen the fins on any other rip current ( I watched literally every review on the internet of it ) so It must've started with the batch mine came from. It makes sense that they needed more cooling because they advertise their controllers as 25 amp, but they are actually 20 amp controllers that are "overclocked". If you look at the sticker on the replacement controllers on their site it clearly states 20 amps max. This also explains why the reviewer said it was a 20 amp controller when I know for a fact the rip current can hit 25 amps max in race mode.
I bought a heat sink for my 2018 RCS. I haven't placed it yet, but I wanna put it on the controller itself. If there's no room, I can stick on the outside of the downtube, but I don't think it'll do that much.
@@dbfcrell8300 placing it on the controller won't help that much, without airflow it will just make it increase thermal mass so it will take another minute to hit max temp. Honestly your best bet would be to use some thermal tape or something similar to shed the heat from the controller into the frame.
I like the bike a lot the price is on the high side for me. I guess my question is what is the advantage of say this bike vs a 750w mid drive. Do mid drives get hot too ?
Mid-drives can also overheat, but they have the advantage of being able to use the gears. If you shift all the way down to first gear the mid-drive gets a huge mechanical advantage, vs. a hub motor that has to do the same amount of work regardless of what gear you are in for pedaling. That does come with the trade-off that mid-drives are a lot harder on your drivetrain, chains will wear out more quickly, that kind of thing.
24:32 Im pretty sure it's a 20 amp controller but they "overclock" it to 25 amps ( the controllers are stamped with 20 amps max but somehow they advertise and deliver 25 amps ). I have the regular rip current and I definitely hit 25 amps in race mode. Eco is 8 amps max, 1 is 10amps, 2 is 12, 3 is 15 amps, speed is 20 amps, race is 25 amps
I’ve multiplied the numbers in your specs to find peak wattage. You give the controller as 20 amp times the voltage of 52 volts = 1,040 peak watts. Your spec sheet says 1,295 peak watts for the drivetrain. Something is amiss.
Enjoyed the video, I should be getting mine soon. I l;ike the high rise handlebars, but sure doesn't look like much room much other than a phone and drink mount, No mirroe I guess. No mention of the throttle which seems to be of interest. Twist , or right or left hand thumb. IMO, all E bike should come with a twist just like motorcycle have had for nearly a century. If not I hope it can be retrofitted.
The RCS has a cool feature that's not talked about much. TAB (Throttle Assist Boost). Regardless of what assist level or gear you're in, if you're at a stand still, let's say at an intersection waiting for the light to turn green, if you peg the throttle when you start to pedal, you get all 1036watts of peak power from the motor to propel you out before cars even have a chance to move. This makes being in the right gear while sitting there crutial as you don't want to be bang shifting your way thru the intersection in TAB mode.
Control system overview: 20:25
Battery removal & overview: 26:48
Ride test begins: 35:16, Motor closeups: 38:05
Just another JUICY tidbit.... Unlike most US ebike companies that either design their ebike here in the states for the Chinese to manufacture or simply sell a modified version of a Chinese designed ebike here, Juiced has their very own Juiced Bikes factory in China. Tora Harris, the owner of Juiced spends a huge amount of his time in China as he speaks fluent Chinese (Mandrin I believe?) and can communicate with his workers and supliers directly. He also happens to be a Mechanical Engineer and an award-winning field athlete who also LOVES biking, so honestly, you couldn't ask for a better person to be designing and building something he truly loves to do. While this doesn't guarantee anything, I feel it's important to know these bikes are designed from love.
Couldn't agree more! I also love how Tora covers a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff for the Juiced YT channel and blog.
Agreed... But their customer service is not reliable. Was at the top of my list. Then crossed off due to customer svcs. Also some problems continue to be reported. No resolutions mean no addressing it = don't care. No thanks.
@@davidg426 In every company, everything is dictated from the top down. IMO, Engineers tend not to be great company owners or deligate things properly when they themselves think of it as a burden. With Juiced, I know first hand what you're talking about. I had a LOT of problems at first, but then CS got a lot better. At least it did for me. One reason I think CS sucked so bad was because Tora was spending so much time in China, and the company was growing huge very quickly. Due to that, certain things can "be fixed later", if ya know what I mean? I know this sounds like an excuse for them. It is not. I totally understand anybody who doesn't buy from them because of their poor customer service. Many people have had decent, not great, customer service though. It just doesn't seem to be super high on their priority yet, and luckily for me, I can fix most things on my bike myself I don't really need them for that much. Others do you need them now. The last thing I'll say is that, there is a really weird attitude in the bike selling community like with Luna bikes for instance. That is one screwed up group of individuals in my opinion. If you try to buy something from them, they may not sell it to you just cause they don't like you. All I'm saying is there's many of these companies with a weird attitude towards customers.
Hi Tora!
This is one of the best thorough reviews of a product I’ve ever watch without feeling like ‘part of the sales pitch’. It’s only lost short list now of bikes I want to purchase.
He need to shut up and got like a badass
Owned this ebike for two years. No issues at all. Only modification I did was change straight handle bar for a JONES bar. Lots of fun for pacific northwest.
To make it more of a beach cruiser? Was that an easy swap out or complicated with the gears and electriconics on it? I’d also want to change that seat to something fat and comfy
No problem at all. JONES provides instructions with handlebar.
Great review of a great bike. I have 878 miles on my RCS now. I can go 65 miles in ECO mode and still have about 40% battery left. I have only been up to 36 MPH on some downhills but I wouldn't be afraid to go faster since it has such a solid construction. Does great on trails, beach sand and streets. I can't go anywhere without people checking it out. I can't count the number of times I have heard "That's a great bike". They're right.
Awesome! Sounds like it's working well, thanks for the feedback :D
How do you guys like theRCS?…thanks!!
D.., how are you enjoying your ride 1up bike and how is it
Hello DC how do you like your ripcurrent?.,, thanks!
I commute 20 miles/day (round trip) to work and back on a 2019 RCS, plus some open desert riding in the early morning and weekends, and it is awesome!!!! Plenty of power, excellent range, and very stable both at speed on roads or tight & technical trails. I am a grown ass man and this bike makes me feel like I'm a kid again. I've only done basic maintenance, replaced two tubes, and one tire but that's only because I beat the crap out of this bike.
Eddie Frank how fast is she he was a bit vague on top speed ?
@@adrianthomas4660 When riding on private property, I've got it up to 32mph in 9th gear with race mode, pedaling at full sprint. When I'm commuting though I usually keep on assist level 1 and cruise at apprx 23mph in 6 or 7th gear at a comfortable cadence, using throttle assist boost to get off the line at stoplights. Eco mode will eek out a sustained 20mph in 4th/5th without struggling.
Hi Eddie the website states a 1000 watt motor with 1800 max output is now on the ripcurrent S…true ??
Hi Eddie are you still loving your ripcurrent and how is it up hills with throttle?.., thanks!
Happy to see a video of the RCS. Been enjoying my CCX I got back in December. Keep up the vids
Great review, especially the real trail riding vs street only or the "show us the features" review. Please do more of these!
What a perfect review!
Finally somebody that understand it is really important to show max speed, how fast you pedal and how it is to maintane that speed.
Perfect, also the rest of the review!
Seen 3 reviews from the other reviewers where they got a 750 and a 1000 watt e-bike and they would ride with 1 hand in the dirt or snow doing 11 miles in third Gear.... really?
Thanks for this
Excellent, thorough review! Thank you! VERY helpful. Getting ready to buy my first ebikes and love your site / reviews.
Do yourself good and buy from a bike company thats not selling Deathtraps. The brakes are Juice Junk and warranty is nonexistent.
So nice to see a reviewer that understands the importance of a reasonable cadence and spinning.
Motor run on is almost certainly caused by a sticky freewheel. The lube dries out and any penetrating oil will loosening it up tonight away. Most shops haven't dealt with freewheel since the 80's, so they may not be aware of this trick.
Thanks for showing the rider stats. This gives me a better idea as to how the bike would look/fit at my height.
Sure thing! A few people had requested it recently, I'm glad to hear it is helpful :D
@@TysonRoehrkasse hey Tyson. Curious if you still think the RCS is best overall option for tall riders like us (6’5). They’re currently having a sale and I’m close to pulling the ‘trigger!’ Appreciated, Abraham 🚲
@@AbrahamNeuwelt I say go for it! My dad actually just got one two weeks ago, he is 6'2 and loves it. Juiced made some good upgrades such as bigger fenders with a lot better coverage.
In the two years since this review I still haven't found another ebike that fit my size as well as the RCS.
Finally, a reviewer who pronounced Bafang correctly
Very thorough review. Answered a lot of questions I had about this bike. Thank you.!
Good job on video and write-up Tyson, looks like a good all around country and town ebike.
I'm 5'11.5" Would the XL be my size or the Mdeium? I have an XL Giant Yukon and it is perfect. Thanks for the reply. 👍 Good review video.
Ive owned the Current S2 for about 2 years (400 miles) So far, it's been great. I had the rear loose spoke issue, and the replacement was quick and easy. I've had the motor quit on me twice riding fairly steep mountains in warmer weather. I have noticed a couple things that would be nice to haves. 1. being an inline rear light. No reason why it shouldn't have one. In fact, adding an inline brake light would be pretty easy. 2. being the rear wheel alignment. It seems to aim to the non-derailleur side of the frame. (I'm working on fixing this one) The overheating was really the only thing you need to a bit ready to deal with. Otherwise, I love this thing.
You get to 600 miles and brakes collapse while you crash. This review is a lie. The truth is the controller doesnt work with R mode and youll have to buy a new one. This reviewer wants to keep the crooked Juice owner 'Tora Harris's ad advertising Juice Junk $$$. Just plain deathtraps
Fantastic review! I keep waffling on whether or not I should buy one. I’m 6-5 and the RCS is one of my few choices. I’ve read about some quality issues, so that the only thing holding me back. But your review shows that it’s a pretty well built bike. Nice thorough road and trail test ride!
FINALLY!!!! Thanks to EBR for doing a proper review on this amazing bike
Amazing Bike ??? 🤷♂️
@@DYNABIKE1 - what's better in class 3 for street/trails @ $2,499? I'm thinking seriously about getting a couple of these, so if you know of better for the money... please share!
@@daviddelmar8400 David - - What is the One most important thing You want out of Your eBike ? I've watched several reviews on this Juiced and I can tell You for what You are getting You can save $$$$ on each if You're going for two. I will say more if You haven't already bought.
@@daviddelmar8400 How about a bike with way more accessories , some style , multi changeable LCD settings , USB port to charge You phone while riding , derailleur guard , 2 YEAR warranty , and can still do over 30 MPH if that is the big deal for $1,000 Less then that tank You'er thinking about ??
Hi do you have the ripcurrent if so how is it doing for you?.., thanks!
Extra-Large Frame !!!???!!!! Yeah baby I'm liking that! I test rode a good friends RadRover and it is simply too small. I believe the Bolton Black Bird has a bit larger frame, but it's not available for a test fit/ride and one has to wait on availability. The RipCurrent S, XL while not available for a test fit/ride is offered for all use fellas who take up extra space and this time of year they had models in stock. I appreciate the reviewer being 6'3"/190 lbs. giving the bike a go. At 6'7"/250 lbs my bike options are limited so I ordered the Juiced RipCurrent S XL. Looking forward to it's arrival!
Update:
Love the larger sized frame and the high rise handlebars. Those handlebars enable significant reach adjustability. Power and range? Well, I haven't really gone on a sustained ride at high assist levels yet. Seems like it has a lot for an eBike. Note I did raise all the program setting limits for fast riding when I want to do that.
I only have 50 miles on my RCS and did find the gearing to be way too tall for significant human input on steeper hills. And yes, it's an eBike, but I also wanted this bike for short duration intense workouts. I resolved the gearing by adding a 39-tooth front chain ring in place of the front inside guard as well as replacing the rear cassette with one having a 36-tooth 1st gear. That solved the gearing problem and now I can climb most hilly neighborhood roads with zero assist.
While riding at zero assist seems counter intuitive, I believe the RCS has quite a broad envelop of usability with it's powerful motor and large battery. I'll be retiring in a couple months so will have greater opportunity to use the bike. And I'm looking forward to that!
Hello Snarge how do you like your ripcurrent? I’m looking at the new model with the 1000 watt motor. Please let me know… thanks!!
Hello@@bernievassallo3336, I still like it a lot! I have 1500 miles on it after 2 years of ownership. I find myself using assist only about 20% of the time as I use it as exercise and, well honestly, riding on level ground even with this 80 lb. bike isn't that difficult.
I did use the bike to it's fullest about a month ago where I rode along a ridgeline on a gravel road that had lots of loose gravel on it. Add a lot of up hill and this was a major workout for the Ripcurrent. And it did the job wonderfully! So, I think it's a great bike although maybe I'm not the typical rider always putting in my own effort. I got the S version with the larger battery. Rarely have I used even half the charge capacity. A 1000W motor? Maybe if you live in the Rockies or where nearly every road is a hill, but otherwise I think it's overkill as I've never felt my 750 Watt motor was inadequate. Maybe it's marketing competition? Or maybe for some kind of heavy work application?
Anyway, I highly recommend the bike so good luck Bernie!
Well rounded review 👏 everything was well covered... Makes me want to invest in this ebike!!! Thanks for your informative review!!!
You are very welcome! Happy to help :)
Tyson Roehrkasse Hey Tyson 👋🏻 is there anyway to making this bike any faster? Is there a unlocking feature? Looking forward to your next review!
@@JmieUA-cam When set to R (Race mode), the highest assist setting, it appears that the top speed is not limited at all. I was able to get into the low 30s with some strong pedaling.
Mine shipped with Race mode already unlocked. Sometimes the bikes ship with Race mode disabled, but you can enable it in the settings with this guide: drive.google.com/file/d/1U-NncS8duoB7n3vnOlJ76Px3GFWirLQ3/view
Tyson Roehrkasse thanks! happy biking! 🚴♀️
I live in a somewhat hilly area and the 52 tooth sprocket was a little large. I tried a 46 tooth and then ended up with a 42 tooth. It was much better climbing and I can still pedal up to the 28mph cuttoff.
Did you have to change out the chain for a different size when you changed sprockets?
How do you like the core 5 ?..,thanks
I meant how do you like the ripcurrent?…thanks!
Great review. Extremely thorough and well thought out. Thanks for putting it together. I was looking for my first ebike and decided on the closeout RCS which was on sale for $1999 based on this review. Should be here on Tuesday, going to be a long few days of waiting.
The close out sale is the original version, not the updated one. Could you reply here to let me know if it’s still awesome or not? I was heavily debating on buying the close out or not, too.
@noah this video is a review of the original/closeout rip current s
Hi Jake how do you like your ripcurrent and is it good up hills?… thanks!
Tremendous reviewer! Easy to listen to. Very informative and accurate. Thank you
Hi BZ.,.did you get the core 5
Bought Rip Current S in 03/2022 and it came with a full rear fender. Bought another in 05/2022. It also came with a full rear fender.
If you're thinking about getting this Bike pull the trigger and get it I bought mine in April of 2021 I've put 1700 miles on it made a few mods just because of preference the bike is a beast I've gotten 30mph it gets well over 40+ plus miles and that's flying and I'm a bigger guy 260 pounds plus,its a no brainer and a legit bike
I changed the crank from 52 tooth to a 42 tooth to get lower gearing as i live in San Francisco with massive hills. Sort of disappointed though as I don't feel a big difference on the Hills.
Also installed the Tannus Armour tire liners.
Just bought one on closeout
Hi Jason are you still liking your ripcurrent and how is it up hills? I’m 5’8 and 265 Lbs. I’m looking at the new version with the 1000 watt motor.., thanks for any info
@Bernie Vassallo hey bud I have it still it's great 3,400 miles no problems with anything on bike,I'm 265+ it's got plenty of power and torque
top speed "28mph" , yeah right . These Juiced bikes BLAZE 🔥
@Michael James throttle stops at 20mph, you have to at least ghost pedal for it to enter speed pedelec (class 3) and hit 28 mph.
@Michael James Is this legal in Florida?
Hi Skeeter do you have a ripcurrent… if so how is it
Tyson, Hope all is well.. Juiced have always had sturdy, long range ebikes. Their reputation is very good. Take care, Robb
Have almost 200 miles on my RCS love it
Exceptionally executed and thorough review... Grateful
Love this bike! Hope they stick with these handlebars!
Super, super helpful as I just pre-ordered this RCS yesterday! Thank you! Rob
Hi Rob how happy are you with the ripcurrent?… thanks!
I own a 2018 RCS, have 1800 miles and absolutely love this bike. There is nothing faster and stronger as a class 3 bike in the market. The value is phenomenal compared to anything you might find out there and it’s an American company based out of California. Only modification was a Brooks saddle but looking into a suspension post, and a Jones H bar that gave me a 2 1/2 rise so I still have an aggressive stance but sit more comfortably.
Carlos Bido How tall are you? Do you think the medium will fit me very well? I am 5:11?
@@davoncci 5’8”. Should work just fine.
Hi Carlos are you still happy with your ripcurrent and how is it throttle only?.., thanks!
Great review/ info, thanks! Glad you didn't crash and burn!
Great review. I have a 2018 RCS. Absolutely love it. Thank you
A really beautiful frame design. Looks not that generic as a lot of others.
Hi did you get the Core5?
The charging units connector looks a lot like an “XLR” connection. We use them a lot in the sound recording industry. They’re a great connection.
Interesting, I wonder if they repurposed that type of connector for durability? I noticed that Bosch has a proprietary connector, and some older ebikes were using the Rosenburger Energy Bus connector for a long time. Most of the cheaper chargers use a simple round plug design that seems a bit more vulnerable (especially to the battery interface), like if it the cord got pulled out from the side or something.
It is an xlr connection. It works good and doesn't spark when you connect or disconnect it like some other styles.
@@ElectricBikeReview Would a little electric grease help, cant recall right name. Thanks.
@@MichaelMoore-bx6st how waterproof are those type of connector? Is it possible or even needed to add head shrink plastic over the connection? Thanks
Per Grin's Connector Guide "The XLR plug has been used in audio equipment for decades and is available in various pin configurations. In the ebike scene it's been used on battery chargers since as long as we've been doing this (2003). Back then we were mostly dealing with NiMH and NiCad batteries which require a temperature sensor for charging, and so a 3-pin XLR plug was used, with Pin 1 = V+, Pin 2 = Gnd, and Pin 3 = Thermistor. This same 3-pin configuration is also used with lithium and lead acid batteries that don't require a temperature sensor, and in that case the 3rd pin is either not connected or used as an interlock pin.
Generic quality XLR plugs don't have very good current handling for their size, and will often melt and distort when used above 4 amps or so. Higher quality XLR plugs like the Neutrik XX brand that we use on the Satiator are rated for 16 amps, which makes it an excellent choice for high current charging."
When is the best time to charge an E Bike like this? Say you ride in a day and still have 70 or 80% battery left is it good to recharge it for the night to have 100%? Or should you let it drain to a lower percent for the battery life? Thanks!
Good ? I would like to know also
Honestly bro I’d never charge it past 80% if you don’t need it.. also don’t let it go below 20% either if you want to MAXIMIZE the long life of the battery. You can if you want but just know every battery has a certain amount of charge cycles and the battery is most stressed charging 80-100%
So basically don’t do it unless you will be needing all that 100% charge.
Hope this helps. You can look up efficiency if battery charging if you don’t take my word for it.
Even the new iPhones automatically stop charging phones at 80%
@@iTs-JP-916 Thanks for the reply. I don't have an E Bike but I do have an electric scooter 🛴. I will take note with not fully charging them up all the way. That sounds good. I have topped them off here and there but from now on I will try to just charge them to 80 percent. Thanks.
Jeff - Sunny Central Florida
Thanks for the excellent and thorough review. Great job!
Thanks Richard, glad you enjoyed it!
Regarding the overheating, has that happened to you on any other bike? Have you taken that route or climbed that mountain on any other bike? Seriously considering that bike and I didn’t like hearing that about the bike. Also, how does it sit? Are you upright on it or do you lean forward? Is that adjustable with the seat and bar set up? Thanks for your info. Great review!
I haven't taken that route with any other ebikes. It's a very long route with a ton of elevation gain, and until the RCS I haven't had my hands on a bike that could handle the trip. I wouldn't worry about the overheating, it didn't start until about 25 miles into the ride, it was an extended steep climb, and it was a super hot day. What sort of rides will you be doing?
Handlebar and saddle height are quite adjustable and you can adjust from sitting upright to more forward depending on how you prefer, I had my saddle raised up all the way and the handlebars back a bit, seating position was forward but not aggressive. Sometimes when riding in town I would lower the saddle down a bit and sit more upright :)
Tyson Roehrkasse thanks for sharing. Good to hear since I just ordered mine today. Pretty damn excited. Thanks for all you do with these reviews! Oh, and I bought bikes for me and my wife to spend some rec time together outside the house. Beach, mountains, wherever I can get her to ride.
Hi Nick how happy are with your ripcurrent?… thanks!
Fantastic reviewer. Helped me make the choice to buy a RCS. Thank you!
The Juiced 52V battery for a 2018 Ripcurrent was 21Ah with LG 18650 cells, so Juiced has downgraded the Ah a tad and I think they're now using Samsung cells. This may be actually better.
Here's some good advice... GET THE BIGGEST BATTERY YOU CAN AFFORD... DON'T CHEAP OUT!!!! The worst thing about all electric vehicles is "range anxiety" which is wondering if you're going to make it home and being scared to travel too far. This hampers your otherwise wonderful ride. A big-ass battery is what you want, more so than a cool ebike. If you ask anyone whose bought an undersized battery for their bike, they'll tell you they wish they bought the bigger one. Juiced leads the way with monster 52v batteries. This is why I bought a RCS.They give you the best bang for the buck these days. However, battery tech will be changing soon, but for now.... The Juiced Bikes Ripcurrent S is worth considering if you want a killer bike that runs circles around a Rad
First..GREAT review! Thanks for going in such depth in detail. Very helpful! Quick question, you said you were 6'3", what size frame were you riding? Thanks and I think now I have now the right ebike that fits my wants and needs in the Juiced Ripcurrent S.
This was the XL frame. First bike I've ridden that truly fit!
Hi did you get the ripcurrent if so how is it?… thanks!
Almost NO wind noise when you did 28mph... what mic (and camera) were you using? Excellent review, I just purchased my RipCurrent S this morning. Waiting to hear when I'll get it. A buddy bought his about a week ago and was riding it today. We're photographers, so I look forward to many photo rides in the future.
How long did you wait until it shipped? Ordered mine a week ago, still says it's processing
@@seanob9245 I bought quite a while ago now, so I don’t remember exactly how long it took to arrive once ordered, but it wasn’t long. They’re backordered now so… ya know, it may take a while. It’s worth the wait!
@@KaiTiura yea when I ordered it was in stock so, I'll let patience take the wheel now, thanks!
Question: How comfortable would it be for a short 5’5 , 61 year old lower back issues. I like to ride an converting to ebike. Taking it camping . So all terrain makes sense. Plus don’t want to much stress encountering hills. All answers welcomed.
I think it would be quite comfortable although you may need some rear suspension, a suspension seat post would probably do the trick. You'd definitely want to go with the medium frame size (smallest one they offer). It's one of the more comfortable non-cruiser ebikes I have ridden in terms of seating and posture!
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I just received the RipCurrent not the S and will be reviewing the bike as soon as the weather hits at least 40. I really like the bike and the power, what a blast.. Great review..
Waiting for my mid-August pre-order CCX. Basically the same bike except for the wheels and frame to accommodate them, right?
The handlebars are also different - mid-rise on the RCS for an almost upright position, vs a flat handlebar and forward position on the CCX. Most of the components are the same but I would say they feel very different, CCX feels so much lighter and more nimble, efficient... the RCS just feels like a tank in the best possible way!
Thanks for doing this video. I have been on the fence looking for an ebike that can handle some light/moderate trails. I'm just looking to get into light mountain biking. Do you think this bike can handle going on some smooth bike trails? The trails near me aren't too rigorous and I think spending over 2000 for a mountain version would be a waste for me. Have you tried using this bike on any bike trails? If you have any recommendation on other ebikes that can do some moderate to easy bike trails let me know. I saw that Ride1up Lmtd and didn't know if that bike would do trails better.
Just got outta the hospital. Been there for two weeks with a back injury. Musta told at least 50 "blown away" people and showed pics of my RCS. HEY JUICED.... EXPECT SOME NEW CUSTOMERS FROM RHODE ISLAND!
Being at 5 ft 11, with a 32in inseam, I put in a order for a large black Juiced Ripcurrent S.
Looks perfect for quick getaways out of urban areas. Plan on mounting some type of front rack or basket.
Juiced pannier bags do not appear to be waterproof. Looking for good waterproof pannier bags that would fit great on a Juiced bike rack. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
How was the fit? I heard they run large
@@knife_gun_axe272 A large is a big bike, but still a little small for my legs, from seat post to handlebars. I've already put close to 4,000 miles on mine
Hi, and thansk for the review. Do you think someone being 6'7" tall would still be comfortable riding this bike? Thanks :)
How difficult would it be to change out the cassette with something that would be better suited for hill climbing rather than all out speed, and what would you recommend? I have lots of long, steep grades to climb.
Best most through review I’ve ever watched. Shame it’s not available in Australia!
What a great review !! thanks for all the information !!
You’re welcome, glad you enjoyed it :)
If you purchase one of these bikes and there are equipment problems, are you expected to fix/replace parts yourself or will Juiced reimburse the repair costs incurred at a local bike shop?
Check the full specs of each juiced bike here:ua-cam.com/video/08QGoF6DlX0/v-deo.html
That dangling shoelace... be careful.
Bike looks and sounds really fun!
I noticed that when editing the video! It's shorter now :)
Funny how the first 10 minutes has lots of sirens in background. I live a half mile from where you setup for this review. Fort Collins is typically quiet but you're filming right by College Avenue, a main street through town. We have great trails though. I ride a Rad City. Nice work!
The vented area on the top of the down tube is most likely where the "Controller" is for the motor. Which is cool cause it keeps it out of the elements.
It seems like only having a single sprocket on the crank is really a bad handicap for this bike. If the battery goes dead, this bike almost seems like it’s going to be really tough to ride.
I was totally on board with this bike until you said the motor was overheating on a steep incline. That’s kind of deal breaker for me.
Jeeeze what a racket going on with like 60 first responders and police driving past. Now upgraded to 1000 watt motor. Bigger rear fender. Locking grips .👍 Basically same price with upgrades 2 years later
The spec sheet is contradictory. It lists 1295 peak wattage, yet the voltage 52 times the controller spec you list(20 amp) is only 1050 peak watts. I went to Juiced website, and the same erroneous specs are given.
Nice review, nice bike, I might have purchased this bike had I known about it before I bought my rad rover 6+, say was that single track W of downtown but before shields?
All mail order ebikes should have an adjustable stem for assured comfort. This does not. The fenders are totally inadequate, why bother? Is the chain repeatedly dropping like the CCX?
I assume the handlebars can be rotated forward/backward, at least, which adjusts both reach and height to some degree.
Ride1up- limited or juiced- rip current s ????
Looks like the rear fender is installed incorrectly. Maybe it should mount further back to where the end is just past the rack? Otherwise, very detailed and informative review!
Actually, after checking out the Juiced site, it looks like the rear fender comes in two pieces and the back piece is missing...
An older generation of the RCS had a true full fender, the one I got didn't come with a second piece and the website photos didn't show it with one. I think they updated it soon after and may have added the second part?
Cant decide between RipCurrent S or the Sondors XS.. I there are a few differences but cant decide. I have the Fold XS and XS on order. Whats your opinions?
I like the RipCurrent S because it comes with fenders and a rack, and lights... if I recall correctly the Sondors XS doesn't have any of those accessories. You could probably add them yourself from the cost difference though!
Really learned a lot about this ebike thank you. Good review!!!
I have an RCS that has 3000+ miles and now only charges to 5 of 9 bars. It was taking a full charge and changed to half a charge. Where do i begin to check - charger, controller, battery???
Would really be interested in how this compares the the City Scrambler you just reviewed, trying to decide between them. Comfort, speed, torque?
Torque feels about the same on both of them, I believe they have the same Bafang motor. In terms of comfort, it depends on how much you like to pedal. Pedaling on the RCS feels WAY better due to the geometry and full leg extensions, pedaling on the Scrambler is just "meh" at best and downright uncomfortable at worst. If you're planning to just use more throttle, the seating position on the Scrambler is quite comfy thanks to the upright position and the banana seat.
For speed the RCS wins, no contest. The larger diameter wheels mean the motor can more easily assist to higher speeds, and the wider range cassette means you can still comfortably pedal even above 30mph. The Scrambler has enough power to reach those high speeds but the gearing range on the freewheel is limited, by 28mph you'll be cycling the pedals very fast and any more speed is pretty difficult.
@@TysonRoehrkasse Thanks for the detailed reply, definitely leaning towards the RCS now. As far as torque the reason I asked is even though they have the same motor it has been mentioned in other reviews here that the 20 inch wheels act like a lower gear vs the 26 inch giving a possible torque off the line advantage, while the larger wheel should be better at higher speed.
@@justinharrell9256 That is true! 20 inch wheels mean a mechanical advantage for the motor... but the RCS also has the bigger and more powerful battery pack. I didn't get a chance to ride them at the same time and compare, they were a few weeks apart and felt about the same to me
@@TysonRoehrkasse Yes I forgot the scrambler you tested only had the 13ah battery, I was looking at 19ah on both. I ended up order the RCS for various reasons mainly that its has a normal bike seat that can be adjusted and changed. Thanks for the great reviews!
@@justinharrell9256 You're welcome! I hope you enjoy your RCS 😎
Great review. Never owned an E bike but this looks perfect. Just curious about after market parts to add. Better fenders etc. And could s regular bike shop handle the maintenance on this. Brakes etc. Thanks. Just subscribed.
Hi John! These days there are lots of great aftermarket racks and accessories, but if the brand includes some, they are usually mounted well and optimized to look good and be sturdy. Indeed, most shops can service the wheels, brakes, and drivetrain on ebikes but might come up short when it comes to the motor, battery, and display since those parts can be less standard. If you are able to get them from the company however, some shops will help install or make fixes. Juiced Bikes has been around a long time, but this review is pretty dated! I’d suggest checking out their official site for the latest builds! Thanks for subscribing!
How many levels of pedal assist, and can each level be customized in terms of how much power it delivers?
I had an RCS for a while. I'm six foot and rode a medium which although the website says a six foot tall person can ride a medium, large would be much better. Everything was great about the bike. Great range, great headlight, great torque sensing. Only thing was that sometimes the pedals would hit small rocks or tree veins and bottom out. Maybe the L or XL have higher pedals? If your tall enough and looking to off-road, don't go with the Medium. Overall, great bike and definitely worth the money. At 6ft and 200lbs, 28 was about the fastest it would go. Maybe I could have pushed it, but I have a electric motorcycle for that. One other thing is the air suspension.. I was never able to get it to be right in the sweet spot. I didn't put a ton of time into adjusting it, but I was used to non air suspension bikes that felt better tuned right from the start. My girlfriend rode it a couple times too and she is only 5 foot 2 and she liked it, but ultimately prefers the smaller rad mini bike which we also take turns with.
Thanks for the comment! What electric motorcycle do you have? There's a Zero dealer near me and I'm planning to go check them out soon!
@@TysonRoehrkasse I picked up a 2020 DS 7.2. I love it! It can do light off roading really well, rides nice on the street and has pretty upright geometry which I like. It charges pretty fast on wall power and most importantly is a blast to ride. If I had the budget and was doing it again, I'd go 14.4 battery, but the 7.2 is probably a little more fun as it is almost 100 pounds lighter. Good luck! Oh yeah and I almost forgot the 10% tax credit!
@@MichaelMoore-bx6st The tax credit is definitely a perk! That looks like a super fun bike. I'm planning to try a few of theirs... I also really want to test ride the Harley Livewire. Out of my place range but that thing looks like crazy fun.
Hope there is a fender upgrade available. If not.. You could use a trash can and cut out your own fender extension mod. Some rear shock action would be nice
5:42 It's not a vent but I'm pretty sure that's a heat sink for the controller.
I can confirm this to be true.
@@Brandon_Neil Nice thanks, good to know for sure. My 2018 CCS didn't have one but the CCX I bought in June does.
@@kilogmatt I bought the bike last black Friday and I had never seen the fins on any other rip current ( I watched literally every review on the internet of it ) so It must've started with the batch mine came from. It makes sense that they needed more cooling because they advertise their controllers as 25 amp, but they are actually 20 amp controllers that are "overclocked". If you look at the sticker on the replacement controllers on their site it clearly states 20 amps max. This also explains why the reviewer said it was a 20 amp controller when I know for a fact the rip current can hit 25 amps max in race mode.
I bought a heat sink for my 2018 RCS. I haven't placed it yet, but I wanna put it on the controller itself. If there's no room, I can stick on the outside of the downtube, but I don't think it'll do that much.
@@dbfcrell8300 placing it on the controller won't help that much, without airflow it will just make it increase thermal mass so it will take another minute to hit max temp. Honestly your best bet would be to use some thermal tape or something similar to shed the heat from the controller into the frame.
Who knew there would be a 3 ALARM FIRE the minute you started your video?? Good job carrying on as if ?? 👍🏻😄🚴🏾♂️
Dude, I had to film my intro several times because it was even worse before that!
Man I was waiting for that shoelace to get hung in the sprocket. Tie your shoes son! Lol
Can you suggest a left side mirror for this sled?
Really like those handle bars
Why only half a rear fender?
costs .01 less to make :(
BTW, Fort Collins speed limit on the Poudre trail is 15 for ebikes. If you're from here you probably know that! Be careful.
I like the bike a lot the price is on the high side for me. I guess my question is what is the advantage of say this bike vs a 750w mid drive. Do mid drives get hot too ?
Mid-drives can also overheat, but they have the advantage of being able to use the gears. If you shift all the way down to first gear the mid-drive gets a huge mechanical advantage, vs. a hub motor that has to do the same amount of work regardless of what gear you are in for pedaling. That does come with the trade-off that mid-drives are a lot harder on your drivetrain, chains will wear out more quickly, that kind of thing.
Mid drives must have shift sensor else it's hard on parts.
How about the brakes do you replacing or what?
Based on their website both Rip Current and Rip Current S has the same motor 750w and same peak power 1300W
Is there an aftermarket long fender available?
Is the Rip current S Matte Black or Glossy black? Honestly can't tell from the video.
It's more like a semi gloss, it's in between
Yay, it's Tyson 🤗🤗🤗 I missed you !!!
Need to do an updated review for the 2022 RipCurrent S
Good thorough review.
24:32 Im pretty sure it's a 20 amp controller but they "overclock" it to 25 amps ( the controllers are stamped with 20 amps max but somehow they advertise and deliver 25 amps ). I have the regular rip current and I definitely hit 25 amps in race mode. Eco is 8 amps max, 1 is 10amps, 2 is 12, 3 is 15 amps, speed is 20 amps, race is 25 amps
top speed ?
@@NWforager full battery pedaling as hard as I can, I can hit 32 mph on a flat. Maybe a bit more if I ate my Wheaties that morning
Juiced bikes needs a Rip Curent step thru!!
I’ve multiplied the numbers in your specs to find peak wattage. You give the controller as 20 amp times the voltage of 52 volts = 1,040 peak watts. Your spec sheet says 1,295 peak watts for the drivetrain. Something is amiss.
Enjoyed the video, I should be getting mine soon. I l;ike the high rise handlebars, but sure doesn't look like much room much other than a phone and drink mount, No mirroe I guess. No mention of the throttle which seems to be of interest. Twist , or right or left hand thumb. IMO, all E bike should come with a twist just like motorcycle have had for nearly a century. If not I hope it can be retrofitted.
The RCS has a cool feature that's not talked about much. TAB (Throttle Assist Boost). Regardless of what assist level or gear you're in, if you're at a stand still, let's say at an intersection waiting for the light to turn green, if you peg the throttle when you start to pedal, you get all 1036watts of peak power from the motor to propel you out before cars even have a chance to move. This makes being in the right gear while sitting there crutial as you don't want to be bang shifting your way thru the intersection in TAB mode.
If your in race mode you can get that up to about 1300 watts with a full battery.
That's right! I remember reading about that some time ago, I completely forgot about it by the time I filmed the review /facepalm
What do you think the weight capacity is with this fat tire CL version?
The SIRRRREEEEENNNNNS! Lordy! Good review
There was way more than that too, I had to stop and wait for them to go by! Not sure what was going on there
You do a good thorough review. Thanks
Can the throttle be unlocked to go 28mph?
Nice review on the bike....now what type of camera are you using ? very nice video quality.
Thank you! This was the GoPro Hero8 Black :)
Do you guys think I should get the Rip current S or rip current ??? Im torn between the 2
Hi Joku did you get the ripcurrent if so how is it?… thanks!