In 2020, I reviewed my first Juiced Bikes ebike, the Hyper Scorpion. It was a fun and effective mix of an ebike and a low-powered electric motorcycle. With a step-through frame and scooter size wheels, it was in an usual but entertaining departure from the typical E bikes on the market. It was also very powerful for an E bike, had a long range on battery power, and had controls more similar to a minibike from years gone by. Juice bikes was kind enough to let us use it over the summer last year during the pandemic and we put a lot of miles on it while out camping away from the city but also running errands and enjoying its more motorcycle-like attributes in town.
Juiced is back this year with the new Hyper Scrambler 2, an even more motorcycle-ish ebike in the “moto” style made more popular by outfits like Super 73 and others. The Hyper Scrambler 2 uses the same 1000-watt Bafang motor as the Hyper Scorpion, but adds in a second 52-Volt 19.2Ah battery for even more range and usability. They’ve also addressed some small details that sand off some of the rough edges of the Scorpion, and once again, I had use of the Scrambler 2 over the summer and fall.
Tech Bits
One thing Juiced Bikes cannot be accused of is bowing to the long-standing bike-maker mantra of less weight, less weight, less weight. The Hyper Scrambler 2 is built burly and tips the scales at 119 pounds with both removable batteries aboard, but that’s not a negative for this ebike, since I’ll take the robust build quality and heavy batteries in exchange for the massive range and chassis stability they give. The Hyper Scrambler 2goes to a more conventional triangular tube steel frame from the Scorpion’s step-through design, as it needs the rigidity for the V-mounted batteries. Plus, it looks pretty damn cool as well, especially in red against the black wheels, forks and rear shocks, and the wink-wink black number plates on the back.
Nice features abound on the Hyper Scrambler 2, including a large seat that can (usually) fit two people, a USB port on the left bar for charging your phone (or even powering a GPS), and a new 8-Speed Shimano shifter that is quicker and more accurate than the older unit on the Scorpion I reviewed. There are also many motorcycle-like bits: Hydraulic Tektro disc brakes front and rear, twin adjustable rear shocks and and a preload adjustable front fork, LED turn signals, a regular twist throttle, a very loud 118db horn, switchable super-bright LED headlight with a nice LED halo light, and a highly visible LED tail light with brake light that works all the time. Thank you!! It even has a built-in wireless alarm system and a key fob, although a thief could still roll the bike away if it wasn’t locked to something. Some sort of fork interlock would be a welcome addition. My review bike also included two motorcycle-style mirrors, but they are a bit too vertical and really only gave a view of my shoulders. I actually replaced them with some old mirrors I had from another bike that bent at about a 60-degree angle and they worked much better.
Riding Experience
Many ebike companies out there are now producing models that have pedals attached that border on useless, with the primary focus being on the battery-powered drivetrain, and I understand the reasons. However, even though this is a heavy ebike, it’s also very easy to pedal, thanks to the slick-shifting Shimano rear derailleur and the very large front sprocket. I wouldn’t want to climb a steep hill on pedal power alone, but it can be done, and I typically used the Scrambler in pedal-assist mode more than just freewheeling it.
The bike features six ride modes, including Eco, Levels 1,2 and 3, and Sport and Race, or seven if you count a “zero” assist mode that keeps the electrical system powered on so you can have lights and such under pedal power. Up to Level 3, the Scrambler will assist pedaling up to a Class II 20mph. In Sport and Race mode, the assist rises to a Class III 28mph, and since it’s geared for it, some enthusiastic pedaling plus the assist can push the Scrambler to 30mph or better.
I used the Hyper Scrambler 2 through the summer and fall nearly every day as weather permitted. It didn't come with a front fender (that’s just not moto-stylish!) so if I were to buy one I would add that on since I value comfort riding in the rain over aesthetic concerns (and really, the fender is black and nearly invisible). It’s a great bike for commuting since I could zip down the Portland bike lanes past the crawling cars and even hop onto the sidewalk as needed to cross streets and such - just like a bicycle.
But I also found that I was leaving my car and motorcycles home to run errands on the Hyper Scrambler 2, just using a messenger bag or backpack to run to the local supermarket that was three miles away or even longer trips to go fly my drone or go one fun longer rides, and that’s where the Hyper Scrambler 2 really shines. With two batteries aboard, much longer trips are more easily and confidently accomplished. I rode to my parent’s home, some 20 miles distant, on several occasions, cruising through Portland on bike lanes, bike byways and busy downtown city streets, and the HS 2 was a pleasure to ride with its full suspension, copious power and comfortable ergos.
Indeed, one strategy I developed was to fully charge the batteries and then just use one until it was low, and then switch to the other. Juiced Bikes has created a flexible power system within the bike allowing use of either one or both batteries at once. Using one after the other meant I always had that second one in reserve, and I could usually make the round trip to my parent’s home on one battery, but if not, no problem, the second one was full and ready to go! This is a tremendous advantage and in truth I had TWO dual-battery ebikes in at the same time for review. Dual batteries are a huge confidence booster for riders and I think we’ll see more of them in the future.
The dual-battery advantage was also great when we took the HS 2 to Diamond Lake in central Oregon, which is encircled by a 16-mile bike path cutting through forests and along the lake’s rim. The bike was used all day every day while we were there and competition among the kids with us to ride it was fierce; it was clearly the favorite ebike among the several we brought along.
Conclusions
In the end, there’s a lot to like about the $3,499 Juiced Bikes Hyper Scrambler 2. It’s fast, fun, looks great but most of all, it’s truly real-world useful. If you’ve got a commute you can do on a bike instead of a car, even a long one, this ebike is a great solution. I found that I could get to most places in Portland faster on the HS 2 than in a car, or even on my motorcycle. I could even see doing light delivery work with it. Ebikes continue to prove themselves as a superior way to get around a city, and the Hyper Scrambler 2 (and the Hyper Scorpion I tested last year) are two of the more fun and capable ebikes I have tested. There's not much I would change on either except for better mirrors, some sort of parking lock, a front fender as stock and maybe a bit more damping in the springy rear shocks. Fun, fast and affordable for all that it offers, this is the “bicycle” I used to dream about as a kid that the adult me loves to ride. Part bicycle, part motorbike, it’s an effective alternative to driving a car in many situations, and it brought a smile and a thrill to everyone who rode it. Highly recommended.
