That savings is possible in part to the engineering simplicity and compact size built into the JackRabbit. Because its not meant to function as a conventional bike, it doesnt have pedals. The JackRabbit eBike: 20mph of pure electric power, yet light enough to carry up stairs and small enough to pop in the trunk or tuck away in a closet. But if youre a college student who needs to get around campus, a city commuter who frequently brings a bike on buses or light rail, or me, who just needs to pop over quickly to the store and is tired of falling off a wet skateboard, the Jackrabbit is pretty much perfect. I dont think I could recommend the Jackrabbit if you were a bigger person or if you needed to travel more than a mile or two to your destination. For folding bikes, there is the added hassle of folding and unfolding each time for storage. With the JackRabbit, I dont have to deal with parking or ride sharing. Watch this video to see how to fold the JackRabbit into its smallest size for storage or transporting as well as how to fold the JackRabbit into Walk Mode to conveniently walk the JackRabbit indoors and slide it into convenient spaces like behind a door, in a closet, or behind the front seats of a car. It catches everyones eye too so it makes a great ice breaker to meeting new people when you travel. This bike is so narrow (7) when the bars are folded in & the foot pegs flipped up, that it fits right behind the front seats of my truck, with plenty of room left for other gear, groceries, etc.. No one else has a bike like this. After an initial production run and a ton of new innovations, founder Tom Piszkin and team are back with version 2.0 of the newly rebranded JackRabbit e-bike. At 23 lbs., its easy to put in or take out of the truck. There are road bikes and even carbon-fiber ebikes that weigh this little, but not many, and definitely not at this price. Youre supposed to sit upright with your body in a straight vertical line. As ebikes have gotten bigger and ever more motorcycle-like, several companies have turned in the exact opposite direction, making bikes that are easy to throw in the trunk of your car or stow in the corner of a dorm room. Incredibly light and portable. However, when I asked friends 5'10" and taller to ride it, they complained that they felt cramped and that they missed the more obtuse angles of a BMX-style seat post and handlebar stem. The most popular eBikes seen by RVers are priced from $1200 to $2500. This helps support our journalism. The JackRabbit supports riders of up to 240 pounds, so at 210 pounds, I put the little guy to the test. There is a bike cage at my office that has questionable security. RVers are planning getaways a little more carefully. An eBike that is folded in half ends up being a heavy, unwieldy cube of cable and chain that is difficult to store, move, and unfold.. Live intentionally, make conscious decisions, love more, act responsibly, play. Now, why is it so small? Recently named by WIRED as the Best Micro Bike of 2021, its designed to easily fit inside your RV or trailer, and is the perfect companion for any adventure from cruising to the beach or just around the campsite. It has a range of 9 to 18 miles per charge, which varies depending on terrain, rider weight, weather, and use of the thumb-actuated paddle throttle. If I wanted to pedal I would have bought a bicycle, not an eBike. We do a lot of boondocking, & I also carry it in case of emergency, where I might need to get from a remote spot to find help. Highly recommend! As it comes from the factory, it clearly isnt built for riders much more than 200 pounds, though I found it comfortable enough for a few miles around town. Not only is it way more convenient, but youre also way more likely to ride if you experience constant validation every time you go out. Bottle cap in the picture for scale. One drawback, I seem to have to charge it every other time I use it. Its got good speed & the disk brake is very effective. Share it with your friends so they can enjoy it too! The JackRabbit eBike weighs in at just 24 pounds, made possible with no sacrifice in strength by using a 6061-T6 alloy. An eBike can be heavy. You can easily carry an extra 2lb battery & swap it in seconds. Tiny bikes are more affordable, easier to transport, and easier to store. No chain or gearing to squeak or fix. Weighing in at 24 pounds puts it in a category of its own. The lack of pedal power puts the Jackrabbit in a gray area when it comes to legislation. That 7-inch thickness is the real surprise, and achieved quickly and completely with no loss of frame integrity. Heck, its so small, any adult can bring it up a flight of stairs without much trouble, all while easily stowing away whether at home or in the office. Opinions and comments published on this site may not be sanctioned by and do not necessarily represent the views of CleanTechnica, its owners, sponsors, affiliates, or subsidiaries. The JackRabbit pedal-free micro eBike overcomes many of the standard objections RVers have against buying an eBike. So much fun, I purchased a 2nd one less than days later! way back it says averages 12 miles on a single charge. The bike weighs an astonishingly little 24 pounds and is simple to assemble out of the box, and it can fold down to save even more space., Its the kind of tech gadget that brings joy into the world., Small enough when folded up to fit behind the front seat of a car, and light enough, at 24 pounds, to carry up a flight of stairs., It just didnt matter how funny I thought I looked. Hopping on the JackRabbit, a quick push off gets the strider moving and enables the throttle. Youre supposed to do tricks on them, so the seat and headpost have slightly different angles for better maneuverability. I don't think you should consistently expect to reach this speed; it's a tiny bike and it has no pedals to supplement the motor. Here is the first thing you need to know about the Jackrabbit micro bike: You will attract attention. 12 miles on an average charge.. Image credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica. Must-visit destinations across the country, and what to do while youre there. We're also 100% electric powered, with no pedals, for all the times you want a sweat-free ride: going to work, the store or a nice seafood dinner. Its taking me some time and effort to get used to not pedaling, but I already have other bikes of various types including bike/scooters, so I can get that kind of engagement elsewhere. Just clip in the handlebars and start cruising! Your email address will not be published. Wired may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. To offer as much flexibility and utility to owners, Tom has a range of accessories planned for the JackRabbit. A shoulder carry strap makes it easier for riders to move the JackRabbit around and a rear rack platform that bolts right onto the seat post let owners further customize their ride. Your email address will not be published. Attending An RV Rally Can Be A Great Learning Experience I have a lot of ebikes; I ride a cargo ebike to the grocery store and to take my kids to and from school. It does have its flaws, but unless youre transporting a kid, a lightweight and relatively affordable micro ebike like this one might be the best solution for you. According to the outfit, its an e-bike youre intended to bring indoors, so its sized in a way that it should fit comfortably in trains and elevators. Also, round ones, agnostic to my foots angle Wider front tire and handlebars to better control the kinda squirrelly handling tendencies Longer wheelbase or more cockpit room in general (see above) Integrated head and tailights, even optional and at the cost of a higher-capacity battery Reflective/puncture proof tires More display information (PAS level, battery percentage or range, etc. All around RV industry enthusiast who has been RVing for 8 years and enjoys trips with his wife and dogs in their big diesel pusher. Non submersible, 33 (84 cm) - capable of 180 degree turns in narrow hallways, 12% grade - or steeper with human-powered kick-stride assist with throttle, Mechanical rear disc caliper with 180 mm rotor. (At this time, we arent able to ship outside of the USA, or to Hawaii or Alaska). Please also consider subscribing to WIRED. I'm definitely considering investing in a second one for when I have friends over just because they are so much fun!!! The JackRabbit E-Bike is a small electric bicycle that measures 48 x 39 x 21 inches (length x height x width), so its a lot smaller than the typical dimensions of adult-sized bikes. There is no risky or unsightly folding mechanism to contend with. The rock-solid frame is properly canted to provide easy ingress and egress for all riders up to 240lbs. The Jackrabbit takes them in stride without jarring my butt or hands too much. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Take A Look At The 2022 Grand Design Reflection Fifth Wheel. Detailed walkthroughs on various DIY and How-To projects of all sizes. I love mine. It looks like a bike sized for a 10-year-old, with its short frame, small wheels, and low ride height. The folding design is genius, especially if small space storage is important to you. MASSIVE Electric Bike Buyers Guide All the Biggest Brands & Models, NIO ES8 The Chinese Electric SUV Outselling The Tesla Model X, Nukes, Renewables, and the Union of Concerned Scientists, Reality Check Correcting the Cleantech Record, Solar Panel Installers Top Solar Panel Installers & How To Evaluate Them, Switching to an Electric Fleet Learn About Charging, Payments, & More, I was one of the first people to ride on their version 1.0 prototype, JackRabbit mini ebike Kickstarter campaign site, CleanTechnica member, supporter, or ambassador, CleanTechnica Member, Supporter, Technician, or Ambassador. Why does it not state the average distance you can go with it? 20 mph is fast, but the large wheels make it feel perfectly stable! Its perfect for rvers, who want a bike for occasional use, not for serious offroad riding or long range rides. Our expert team reviews towable RVs of all classes, shapes, and sizes. I like mine, and I am 260lbs and 62, it rolls in behind the front seats of my car, it weighs so little I can lift it with one finger (and often do when I put it in the garage to charge, pinched between the other bikes). If you look at the design of most eBikes, they dont appear to possess the strength you are accustomed to seeing. Im 76 years old & get a lot of looks & comments on it when zipping around. It fits neatly both in my crowded garage and in the trunk of my car next to my kids scooters and everyones helmets on the way to the park, which makes outings with my family a little bit easier. Our expert team reviews motorhomes of all classes, shapes, and sizes, Check Out the JackRabbit Lightweight Pedal-Free Mini eBike, Introducing the New TireMinder RV AIR Compressor, Champion 4500-Watt RV-Ready Open-Frame Inverter Generator, Jay Leno Takes Us on a Tour of an EarthRoamer Expedition RV, Camp Like the Rich and Famous in an Anderson Mobile Estates RV. Plan Your Next RV Trip by Reading Up on Sites Worth Seeing & Activities. I plan to do others, but in the meantime, I do have a wishlist for the next iteration (Id definitely buy one): Wider foot pegs so that my heels dont contact the lower stays so frequently. Info on towing tactics, techniques, capacities and more. Send us an email:tips@cleantechnica.com. The JackRabbit is beyond practical and extremely fun! I love it. Its light weight and compact form factor likely make it a practical solution for many living in high rises, college dorms, boats, RVs, and more where a full-sized bicycle simply wont fit. Despite the downsides, in my time with the Jackrabbit I found myself reaching for it a lot. The JackRabbit E-Bike is available now, priced at $999. The JackRabbit micro eBike sells for $999.99. We often choose eBikes over mopeds or scooters because they are more familiar, and cheaper, but we really have no desire to pedal.. Share it here. A post shared by JackRabbit.bike (@jackrabbit.bike). Oh, and weshipthe JackRabbit fully assembled. The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking, new connections, and new industries. Subscriptions starting at only $14.97 per year. I did not have any issues with stopping, but I would like the reassurance of front brakes if I weighed a bit more or was coming down a big hill. It didin the 2nd paragraph. Instead, they threw in a pair of foot pads to rest your feet on during the ride. Its small size makes the JackRabbit a good fit for short commutes on college campuses, corporate campuses, and last mile commutes. Tom left the prototype of the JackRabbit with me for a few weeks ahead of the official launch on Kickstarter. Image credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica. Can Virtual Power Plants Provide Revenue for Householders? Explore current and past editions of RV Magazine. The JackRabbit is yet another example of the endless opportunity for innovators to leverage the ever increasing supply of lithium-ion batteries and electric motors to dream up new mobility solutions for the masses. The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our livesfrom culture to business, science to design. But keeping it simple, a pedal bike would suffice me, cheap, reliable, little maintenance, source of exercise. Mr. Piszkin is a ceaseless innovator and has developed a range of accessories for the JackRabbit. When you see a person riding around a tiny bike, the first thing that most people think of is a BMX bike. Thats what many folding eBikes are essentially doing, introducing a break and fold at arguably one of the most critical places on the bicyclethe frame. Tons of accessories. Fun to ride, if youre short. But when it comes to quick errands like meeting a friend for lunch, picking up lemons at the store, or even chasing my kids around the park on their scooters, its so much easier to grab a bike that doesnt require a 3-point turn to lurch out of the garage. link to Take A Look At The 2022 Grand Design Reflection Fifth Wheel, link to Why You Should Attend An RV Rally. Some of the mods that I have made at home include a suspension seatpost and seatpost rack for a trunk bag. Members save by only paying $9.97 per year! There is no bike this light or practical! A spare battery weighing only 2-pounds can be tossed in your backpack to double that range. The Jackrabbit is tiny right down to the box. 2022 Cond Nast. :) Park further away and stick it in your trunk! Ideas, Innovation, Inspiration, DIY Decor & Transformations, Family & Pet Friendly Travel & Activities. The compact size and maneuverability make the JackRabbit perfect for places like San Diego and San Francisco. As an activist investor, Kyle owns long term holdings in Tesla, Lightning eMotors, Arcimoto, and SolarEdge. I'd rather just have a bike at that rate. l. Youre wrong on several points. It has a stated 12-mile range. The part where he goes "oh, and it's fast" and then slowly pulls away from the other cyclist fuckin' killed me, Press J to jump to the feed. Not sure if I got a battery that isnt in its prime or if I am riding it too hard but I was hoping to reach more of that 10-12 mile range when purchasing as advertised.