JackRabbit, the main identify in micro e-bikes, has simply unveiled two new fashions that put the micro in micromobility. The brand new JackRabbit OG2 Professional and JackRabbit XG Professional construct upon the success of the corporate’s current fashions, however add extra of what the driving neighborhood has longed for.
JackRabbit has constructed fairly a reputation for itself centered round its quirky, lovable design. The model leans closely into its small, light-weight type issue. There are tens of 1000’s of self-styled “Jackos” within the ever-growing rider neighborhood whose fan rabidness appears second solely to heavyweight Super73. It’s no marvel they proudly slap on the model’s stickers touting phrases like “Micro and proud” or “Butts love me”.
These Jackos have lengthy touted the acute portability of micro e-bikes—which technically aren’t electrical bicycles since they lack pedals however in any other case look and deal with like a motorbike. Beginning at simply 25 lb but with full-size 20″ bicycle wheels and 20 mph (32 km/h) speeds, the mixture of comfort and efficiency is difficult to match—so long as you don’t thoughts wanting completely different. For a lot of, although, that uniqueness is the most important plus.
But when there are three issues that I recurrently hear as the primary requests to JackRabbit from the market, it’s a eager for extra vary, extra energy, and decrease costs. Now, the corporate has responded with a convincing “We are able to do two of these issues.”
Meet the brand new JackRabbit OG2 Professional and XG Professional.
Each are constructed on the identical small-format frames of the already widespread OG2 and XG, however have main upgrades to their efficiency and journey really feel.
These will come as a welcome change to those that are already acquainted with JackRabbit’s lineup, or as a serious shock to anybody on the point of throw their leg over the diminutive but highly effective rides for the primary time.
JackRabbit OG2 Professional
Initially, the OG2 Professional has seen the OG’s 300W motor swapped out for a extra highly effective and torquier 500W motor—the identical motor discovered within the XG.
It additionally comes commonplace with JackRabbit’s larger RangeBuster battery, which upgrades the vary from 10 miles (16 km) to 24 miles (39 km).
Mid-rise handlebars and bar grips give the OG2 Professional a taller stance with out including extra bulk. The handlebars retain the identical pivoting design that permits the bike to shrink down to simply 7 inches (18 cm) broad, simply slipping into the trunk of a automobile or beneath a dorm room mattress. These handlebars additionally get the XG’s nicer LCD handlebar show.
The upgrades might add one other 5 lb (2.2 kg) to the bike, but it surely nonetheless weighs a mere 30 lb (13.6 kg), which is a featherweight within the e-bike world.
The OG2 Professional is priced at $1,649, and it is available in a brand new enjoyable orange shade choice in addition to a much less enjoyable black shade choice.
JackRabbit XG Professional
Equally to the over-the-top upgrades on the OG2 Professional, the XG Professional additionally will get some severe ‘flip it as much as 11’ power.
The 500W motor on the XG has now been boosted to 749W on the XG Professional. It’s additionally a lot torquier for higher hill climbing. As well as, riders can unlock the 20 mph (32 km/h) prime velocity to a quicker 24 mph (38.6 km/h) within the new off-road mode. Importantly, although, that off-road mode is barely out there to 18+ riders who signal a waiver and comply with phrases, together with solely utilizing the off-road mode on closed course driving, and many others.
Importantly, for a small bike with a quicker prime velocity, bigger 180mm brake rotors make sure the JackRabbit XG Professional has simply as a lot stopping energy because it has going energy.
Actually, off-roading is a serious a part of the XG Professional’s meant use case. The brand new 20×2.8″ tires are extra aggressive for higher path efficiency and look extra at house on a mountain bike than a micro e-bike. With a virtually 3-inch profile, these tires additionally add quasi-suspension within the type of a extra cushioned journey with extra air quantity between riders and the highway.
Non-obligatory equipment for the model’s different fashions now come commonplace on the XG Professional, together with JackRabbit’s “Mega Metallic Footpegs” that present a bigger foot platform, the high-rise handlebars that give an much more comfy and upright seating place, and the LED gentle bundle that runs off the JackRabbit batteries.
Talking of these batteries, similar to the XG mannequin, there are two battery slots on the XG Professional. Nonetheless, the XG Professional comes commonplace with a pair of RangeBuster batteries that present a mixed 48 miles (77 km) of vary.
Now out there to order, the JackRabbit XG Professional is priced at $2,249 and is available in a never-before-seen Military Inexperienced and an unfortunately-seen-before black shade.
Electrek’s Take
To take a look at this one other means, the brand new OG2 Professional is principally the center of an XG packaged into the extra compact body of an OG2, giving riders extra efficiency with much less bulk (and for $100 lower than an XG).
The XG Professional, alternatively, is principally an XG inside a fever-dream, with nearly all the pieces boosted means up. Extra energy, extra velocity, extra vary, extra craziness.
Now, let’s get to my opinion. Initially, I like the upgrades. Extra energy, extra velocity, extra vary? Sure, sure, and sure! Then with the brand new and extra comfy handlebars included commonplace, the bikes are higher than ever. As an alternative of sacrificing efficiency and journey consolation for a smaller measurement, now riders can get each. The XG Professional is particularly attention-grabbing with its bigger tires and all of these included equipment just like the from-the-battery LED lights, the double big-boy batteries, the high-rise bars, and many others.
I actually just like the OG2 Professional’s new orange colorway, and the Military Inexperienced is an attention-grabbing and certain welcome selection for the XG Professional. I made a few jokes in regards to the black colorways within the article above merely as a consequence of my choice for the brighter shade choices that I’ve lengthy loved from JackRabbit, however I perceive that not everybody needs to face out. I don’t perceive why, however I at the least settle for that these individuals exist. In my view although, should you’re going to get a singular journey like this, you need it to pop. If somebody buys a Lamborghini, they get it in a enjoyable shade like yellow, pink, shiny blue, and many others. You ever see a black Lambo? They exist, however they only don’t look nearly as good. They’re muted and uninteresting. Enjoyable autos deserve enjoyable colours, and that’s why I all the time most popular the unique yellow from JackRabbit, although that orange is giving me some lip-biting motion as properly.
The killer right here, although, which is prone to rain on quite a lot of parades, is the worth. At $1,649 and $2,249, these are costly. Not even slightly bit, they’re downright dear. And I believe that’s going to chop into gross sales. Now I do know we’re staring down the barrel of recent (and doubtlessly ever-increasing) tariffs, and it is usually completely truthful to say that JackRabbit has an edge with their distinctive design and one of many few choices for such cool micro-rides like these. However JackRabbit additionally has to spend extra money constructing lots of their very own elements. They don’t profit from utilizing the identical cookie-cutter e-bike body chosen from web page 325 of a large Chinese language e-bike manufacturing unit’s catalog. They don’t get to get pleasure from deciding on no matter low-cost battery they will buy off-the-shelf that’s already produced by the thousands and thousands. They need to spend money on their very own tooling and construct their very own elements to suit their distinctive design. And that prices cash.
The issue is, that merely won’t matter to many people. In my view, too many riders appear to solely have a look at watts and {dollars}, ignoring dozens of different specs and touchpoints. I’m not making an attempt to look into anybody’s pockets, and which e-bike you may afford is a deeply private resolution. However for the undiscerning people who merely search for the price-per-watt comparability, JackRabbit won’t ever win. The corporate merely can’t and received’t compete in that class. However for individuals who are ready to pay a premium for a motorbike that’s smaller, lighter, extra handy, and admittedly extra enjoyable in lots of points, JackRabbit has a leg up. Now the query is whether or not people are ready to pay for it.
Let’s hear your ideas on the brand new bikes within the feedback under, and keep tuned for my assessment of the XG Professional coming within the subsequent day or two! Spoiler alert: it’s a wheelie-inducing, tire-spinning, freakin’ unbelievable journey!
