Do you think Juiced bikes stick out like a sore thumb?

[LoneCommuter]

I really like the Juiced CityScrambler but wondering if it sticks out like a sore thumb to law enforcement?

Technically it seems it is shipped with a max 20mph throttle + PAS which means I could ride it on local MUPs which is really appealing.

But I am wondering if it is better not to play with fire and get something that actually looks a lot more like a bike?

 

[Asher]

try finding someone who got in trouble

alarmism until proven otherwise

 

[rich c]

I’d be pissed if I met one on our Greenway. I’d assume someone was ridding a mini bike if the rider passed me at 20mph without pedaling. Pass me on a city street and it would be different. Just read today that a guy riding his Sondors got a warning ticket. He had a car pull in front of him, hit the car, and officer cited an ordinance about mopeds. Somewhere in Massachusetts.

 

[LoneCommuter]

I’d be pissed if I met one on our Greenway. I’d assume someone was ridding a mini bike if the rider passed me at 20mph without pedaling. Pass me on a city street and it would be different.

How come though? They ship as Class 2 which is only 20mph throttle + PAS and is allowed on MUPs.

 

[TomD]

Depends on which bike, but who cares if it sticks out like a sore thumb to Inspector Clouseau? You're riding legally.

 

[LoneCommuter]

try finding someone who got in trouble

alarmism until proven otherwise

I am somewhat new to the scene so just trying to get an idea, I have no idea either way - my apologies if I gave that impression.

 

[Deleted member 4210]

You have a very good point and worthy concern. A number of folks are finding that they just are not comfortable pedaling on these 'Super 73' style mini-bike. So they are relying on their throttle the bulk of the time, which also makes you stand out more as people see there is no pedaling. That hasn't slowed sales any, with a number of brands besides Juiced offering their take on that style of bike, but now (before you buy) is definitely the right time to evaluate whether your particular area might be prone to people being targeted by various potential enforcement agencies. Or maybe you decide you just dont care what others might think.

That all said, a regular ebike in a lot of cases are much less discernable as ebikes than they were even just a couple years ago, and to the untrained eye look a lot like regular bikes. Why bring attention to your ride if you don't have to ? Peace of mind can be worth quite a bit. And you might find its a plus having ebike that is not a bear to pedal home, if you run short of battery due to unforseen events.

 

[TomD]

If you read his other thread it sounds like he's more interested in relying on throttle. I would suggest the OP ask the same question in a juiced forum. Nothing against the folks here but It's mostly class 1 crowd with a fair share of haters when it comes to higher powered bikes with throttle.

 

[rich c]

How come though? They ship as Class 2 which is only 20mph throttle + PAS and is allowed on MUPs.

Because of the way it looks. How would I know it's a bicycle coming? People aren't going to pedal that much, the geometry is all wrong for pedaling since it doesn't have an adjustable seat. One of my rides is a Ruffian. People either give me a thumbs up, or stare. But it's a class 1, so I'm always pedaling and don't get any fist shaking. It's design is a low rider bicycle, not something everyone associates as a mini bike.

 

[ElevenAD]

I like Scrambler or Taco style E Bikes,they are the bikes that got me interested in EBikes but the fact that they are not ideal for pedaling and more suited for throttle coupled with the motor cycle look is why I don't own one

 

[Ken M]

In my opinion the Scramblers/mini bikes/taco style ebikes prove that there is a viable two wheeled urban mobility market in the US. What is sad is how few really good urban mobility ebikes there are. An ebike designed for transportation really should be rethought from the ground up .... spandexters designing ebikes for the spandexter market is a problem with the industry.

 

[Nova Haibike]

In my opinion the Scramblers/mini bikes/taco style ebikes prove that there is a viable two wheeled urban mobility market in the US.

If that were true, wouldn't loads of people would already be using gas powered scooters like the $2500 Honda Metropolitan?

 

[Ken M]

If that were true, wouldn't loads of people would already be using gas powered scooters like the $2500 Honda Metropolitan?

No ... because most of the gas powered mopeds / scooters require registration and insurance and you can't ride them on bike paths and sidewalks. Once those costs are factored in the idea of a car supplement kind of gets tossed out. A transportation solution that can doesn't require registration and insurance and can be ridden as a bike then quickly pays for itself in savings vs fossil fuels.

I see DMVs and insurance companies as a major roadblock to the adoption of ebikes as viable transporation because for many people a low powered ebike with peak assist speed of 32kph/20mph is just too slow (time is really money when you are commuting so being able to average a commute speed of around 50kph/30mph can be a significant improvement in an assessment of the transportation value.