by High performance electric bicycle manufacturer Juiced has released the Rip Racera powerful fat tire bike designed for smaller riders.
Tagged as a “fun size” e-bike with a smaller and lighter frame than Juiced’s other performance bikes, the RipRacer is said to be aimed at “a younger generation” as well as generally shorter riders; in this context, anyone over 5′ tall, up to a maximum height of 6’3”. Includes a motorcycle-style twist throttle to kick start the 750W motor and make riding a breeze at high speeds.
The bike comes in class 2 and class 3 options, with a 52-volt battery that powers speeds of up to 20 mph and 35 miles on a single charge (for the class 2 model) and 28 mph and an impressive 55 miles on a single charge (for class 3 model).
Designed for off-road use, its 4” thick knobby tires seem to hold up to anything you throw at them. The Class 3 even comes with its own LCD screen.
Currently only available in the US The RipRacer is reasonably priced, likely due to its slimmer and smaller frame, at $1,599 for the class 3 model and $1,399 for the class 2 model. The lights already they are built into the frame, so you don’t need to incur any extra expense there.
Analysis: Too much for a small bike?
Small frame sizes are nothing new, as many other e-bikes provide options that cater to smaller riders. However, this is a purpose-built, high-performance off-road bike at a very reasonable price, and it will certainly find a following among smaller, lighter off-road riders looking for a long-lasting, fatigue-free, exhilarating ride.
It’s also marketed to the younger generation, and this is where it gets tricky: Some US states have legislation in place to prevent children from riding Class 3 or Class 2 electric bikes, as they are sometimes classified as motorized vehicles. . May check what the laws are in your particular state here.
The addition of the twist throttle could also make things difficult: in the UK, any vehicle with this type of throttle is classed as a motorcycle. While US law doesn’t have that particular restriction, if it were to change to match UK law, it would be another barrier to riding this pocket rocket in public. Also, some parents may not be comfortable with their child riding a miniature motorcycle around town, regardless of the laws in their area.
The end result is a bit of a Goldilocks problem: too powerful for many kids and teens to ride anywhere other than private land, but too small for most adults, who may prefer a full-size option. Time will tell if Juiced’s fun-sized offering can rank up there with the best cheap e-bikes we have tried
