Skip to main content

Juiced Scrambler: Testing the best bang-for-your-buck moto-style e-bike

Juiced Bikes is one of the most recognizable names in the history of electric bikes in North America. Long before e-bike classes and speed limits became commonplace, the company built a loyal following with powerful bikes that blurred the line between bicycles and mopeds. But after the brand collapsed in 2024, many assumed Juiced was destined to become little more than a nostalgic footnote.

Now it’s back under new ownership, and after spending several days riding the new Juiced Scrambler alongside Juiced’s fearless new leader Austin Gomes, I came away thinking the company is now going beyond trying to recapture the past. Instead, it’s trying to redefine what a legal, street-ready moped-style e-bike can be.

The Scrambler is also the first real look at what the new Juiced intends to be. And if this bike is any indication, the brand’s new chapter is off to a strong start.

Unlike many moped-style e-bikes that feel like they’re assembled from an off-the-shelf parts catalog, the Scrambler was designed from the ground up. Nearly everything about the bike is custom, from the frame and battery covers to the seat, handlebars, and even the suspension tuning.

Advertisement - scroll for more content

That attention to detail was one of the first things Austin pointed out when we rode together. Check out my video below to see our ride and conversations about the e-bike reboot the entire industry has been waiting for.

He explained that when Lectric acquired Juiced, the goal wasn’t simply to recreate the old bikes.

“We wanted to keep the vein of Juiced – a high-performance bike,” Austin told me. “But now we’ve got more legislation around e-bikes, so we wanted to develop something that stays within Class 1, 2, and 3 while still being exciting to ride.”

That’s an important distinction, since the original Juiced became famous during an era when e-bike regulations were far less defined. Today, many brands continue pushing beyond legal limits, often selling products that are technically electric motorcycles while marketing them as bicycles.

Juiced is taking the opposite approach.

The new Scrambler is designed to reach the legal performance limits without crossing them. A 750W-rated rear hub motor delivers well over that in peak power – not to mention huge torque, which remains unregulated – providing strong acceleration while remaining compliant as a Class 2 or Class 3 e-bike depending on configuration. During my rides, the bike never felt lacking in power. It launches hard from a stop, climbs confidently, and has enough torque to make city riding genuinely entertaining.

Just as importantly, it doesn’t feel like a heavy bike trying to imitate a motorcycle. It still feels like something you can comfortably pedal.

And that didn’t happen by accident.

Gomes’ background as both a competitive cyclist and an experienced dirt bike rider influenced nearly every aspect of the bike’s ergonomics. He described how everything from the bottom bracket height to the seat profile and handlebar position was chosen to create a riding position that feels natural whether you’re cruising pavement or standing on the pedals over rough terrain.

That attention to geometry shows up immediately once you’re riding.

Electrek’s Micah Toll (left) and Juiced’s Austin Gomes (right) cruise on Juiced Scrambler e-bikes

The Scrambler comes in both hardtail and full-suspension versions, and while I spent time on both, I found myself gravitating toward the full-suspension model. The rear suspension transforms the bike, making it noticeably more composed over broken pavement, gravel paths, and rough trails while still feeling planted on the street. Though I still hopped plenty of curbs on the hardtail thanks to those wide tires.

According to Gomes, Juiced actually designed the full-suspension platform first, focusing heavily on suspension kinematics and handling before adapting that geometry into the hardtail model. That’s the opposite of how many manufacturers approach budget bikes, and it helps explain why both versions feel unusually balanced.

The long bench seat allows riders to shift their weight naturally, much like on a dirt bike, and there’s enough room for two riders if needed. Combined with a genuinely pedalable bottom bracket position, the bike avoids one of the biggest complaints I have with many moto-style e-bikes: awkward pedaling ergonomics.

Sure, it doesn’t feel as good to pedal as my 35 lb commuter e-bikes, but it does feel surprisingly close to something I could pedal for a period of time without feeling awkwardly cramped.

Stopping power also deserves mention.

Juiced equipped the Scrambler with Tektro Talon P4 quad-piston hydraulic disc brakes, which provide excellent braking performance for a heavy bike in this class. Combined with the custom-tuned suspension, the overall ride quality feels considerably more refined than many similarly priced competitors.

Safety was another major focus during development.

Beyond UL-certified electrical systems and rigorous frame testing, Juiced has also implemented parental controls features via something known as Speed Lock. Gomes explained that these allow new riders – or more likely the parents buying bikes for younger family members – to gradually introduce higher performance instead of immediately unlocking the bike’s full capability. Speed can be locked behind a PIN code so that the bike is restrained down to as low as 10 mph (16 km/h) and then gradually opened up to higher speeds as parents feel the younger rider is ready.

It’s a thoughtful feature that aligns with Juiced’s broader philosophy of building bikes that maximize legal performance without sacrificing responsibility.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the pricing.

The hardtail Scrambler starts at $1,699, while the full-suspension version costs $1,899. Considering the amount of custom engineering, component selection, and ride quality, those prices feel surprisingly competitive in today’s market, especially compared to many bikes that rely heavily on generic frames and catalog parts. They basically meet or beat all of the major competitors despite having much better componentry.

That custom development is also something Gomes is especially proud of.

“There’s a lot of e-bikes in the market these days that you look at and think, ‘That came straight from a catalog,’” he said. “These bikes were completely designed from the ground up.”

After spending a few days riding the Scrambler, it’s hard to disagree.

Final thoughts

Reviving a failed e-bike brand is arguably harder than launching a new one. Juiced not only has to convince new customers that the fresh management is up to the task, but also win back riders who were burned by the company in its final years.

Fortunately, the team behind the revival seems uniquely qualified for the job. Lectric has demonstrated that it knows how to build a successful e-bike business, while Austin Gomes brings the kind of genuine cycling and powersports experience that’s evident throughout the Scrambler’s design.

The result is one of the most thoughtfully engineered moped-style e-bikes I’ve ridden in this price range. It looks distinctive, rides exceptionally well, delivers impressive street-legal performance, and avoids many of the ergonomic compromises common in this category.

If the Scrambler is any indication of where the new Juiced is headed, then this isn’t merely the beginning of a comeback story. I’d argue that it may be the beginning of one of the most interesting second acts we’ve seen in the e-bike industry.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Stay up to date with the latest content by subscribing to Electrek on Google News. You’re reading Electrek— experts who break news about Tesla, electric vehicles, and green energy, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow Electrek on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our YouTube channel for the latest reviews.

Comments

Author

Avatar for Micah Toll Micah Toll

Micah Toll is a personal electric vehicle enthusiast, battery nerd, and author of the Amazon #1 bestselling books DIY Lithium Batteries, DIY Solar Power, The Ultimate DIY Ebike Guide and The Electric Bike Manifesto.

The e-bikes that make up Micah’s current daily drivers are the $999 Lectric XP 2.0, the $1,095 Ride1Up Roadster V2, the $1,199 Rad Power Bikes RadMission, and the $3,299 Priority Current. But it’s a pretty evolving list these days.

You can send Micah tips at Micah@electrek.co, or find him on Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.