Juiced RipCurrent S Review – 2024

Intro

The more the e-bike industry matures, the better the e-bikes become. The Juiced RipCurrent S is a terrific example of how a consumer’s dollar can stretch like a bungy cord. This is an e-bike that comes equipped with a very powerful 1000W Bafang hub motor, a 998Wh battery, a torque sensor, a 9-speed Shimano drivetrain, an air-spring suspension fork, hydraulic disc brakes and comes in three different sizes.

In our review of the Juiced RipCurrent S we will look at how these features come together to make for an unusually capable fat-tire e-bike. Those big, knobby tires can bring down an e- bike’s range, as well as making the e-bike accelerate a bit more slowly, and even hurt climbing performance on longer or steeper hills.

Juiced advertises an estimated 70+ mi. range for the RipCurrent S. Riders looking to explore unpaved roads in the backcountry will find this e-bike to be very capable for long adventures. No e-bike gets as much range off-road as on-road, but 40 mi. spent on dirt would wear anyone out. The RipCurrent S could be counted on to get a rider through a weekend camping trip with no need to recharge while away.

The Juiced RipCurrent S ships as a Class 2 e-bike with a maximum speed of 20 mph, but it can be unlocked to offer riders a top pedal-assist speed of 28 mph. Anyone considering an e-bike that can do a commute to work as well as go exploring on the weekends should take a hard look at the RipCurrent S. Equipped with lights, fenders and a rear rack, it’s commute-ready.

Let’s take a look under the hood.

E-Bike Category: Fat tire

Who the Juiced RipCurrent S Electric Bike Is for:

The RipCurrent S is a versatile fat-tire e-bike that is great for exploring backroads as well as for commuting to work by e-bike.

Juiced RipCurrent S E-Bike Specs

• Battery: 52V, 998Wh
• Expected Range: 70+ mi., estimated
• Charger: 2A
• Motor: 100W brushless, geared Bafang hub motor
• Pedal Assist: 5 PAS levels
• Throttle: Included
• Display: black and white LCD
• Headlight: 1050 lumen
• Taillight: Included
• Frame: 6061 hydroformed aluminum
• Fork: 80mm-travel Mozo with air spring
• Fenders: Included
• Kickstand: Included
• Handlebars: Aluminum, 4-in. rise
• Grips: Ergonomic, lockon
• Drivetrain: Shimano Altus 9-speed, 11-32 cassette
• Brakes: Star Union hydraulic disc, 180mm rotors, electronic cutoff
• Pedals: Wellgo, aluminum
• Saddle: Selle Royal, gel
• Tires: Kenda Krusade 26 x 4-in.

In-Depth Juiced RipCurrent S Review

Juiced RipCurrent S Review: Comfort, Handling, and Ride Qualities

Fat-tire e-bikes represent the shortest possible distance between a first-time e-bike buyer and comfortable riding. The combination of 4-in.-wide tires, a gel saddle and an air-spring suspension fork come together to offer riders as comfortable a ride as someone will find in a hardtail e-bike. The one caveat here is to make sure not to pump the tires to more than 20 psi—5-15 psi is the range, depending on whether the e-bike is being ridden on pavement or dirt.

The Juiced RipCurrent S comes in three sizes (M, L, XL) and while the fat tires will do more to sell folks on this e-bike’s comfort than multiple sizes will, the taller and smaller riders will find that ordering an appropriate size will make a big difference in their comfort.

Fat-tire e-bikes are meant to have relaxed handling, more SUV than sports car. They stay relaxed at speed, but do a great job of going exactly where they are pointed. Few e-bikes feel as confident on a downhill as those with fat tires.

For the rider who wants to take in dirt roads or even some trails, the Juiced RipCurrent S is a terrific option. It’s capable on everything from potholed roads to gravel paths.

Juiced RipCurrent S Review: Motor, Battery, and Drivetrain Performance

With a brand name like Juiced, if the RipCurrent were underpowered or had a tiny range, shoppers might get the sense that the name didn’t belong. However, the Juiced RipCurrent S is aptly named. It’s powered by a 52V, 998Wh battery that runs a 1000W brushless, geared Bafang hub motor that produces 80Nm of torque.

For anyone worried about power and range and is unwilling to sacrifice either of those, the RipCurrent S is an impressive option. Worth noting is that Juiced specs a UL-certified battery, which should give shoppers a high degree of confidence for the RipCurrent S.

As we dug into the Juiced RipCurrent S’s specs, we worried that with such a powerful motor and big battery the drivetrain or other components might be downgraded in order to keep it affordable. Not so. The RipCurrent S features a 9-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain with an easy-to-use trigger shifter and an 11-32 cassette, which offers a nearly 50 percent increase in gearing range over the 14-28 cassettes we usually see.

The RipCurrent S has one surprising feature for an e-bike in this price range: a torque sensor. What this means is that the power application from the motor is immediate. Start pedaling and the assistance begin the same instant. And it ties the motor’s application of power to the rider’s effort. Go harder, the motor delivers more power. It makes for a more seamless experience. There’s nothing quite like getting extra power just by making a bit more effort.

Juiced RipCurrent S Review: Braking, Safety & Warranty

We try to stress that there is more to a good set of brakes on an e-bike than absolute stopping power. In fact, if brakes are too powerful, they can make scrubbing speed in a turn difficult to manage for a rider.

We don’t often see brakes from Star Union, but these hydraulic disc brakes are paired with 180mm rotors, which gives them the power necessary to offer good stopping power while also allowing riders good brake modulation. They include an electronic cutoff switch so that the motor can’t keep going when it’s time to slow down.

The only potential issue we see with this e-bike is that with such big tires and the fenders mounted as close to the wheels as they are, in muddy conditions these could pack up to the point of preventing the wheels from turning. This isn’t a safety issue, but it’s certainly an enjoyment issue. The answer is simple: Anyone planning to go out for a ride in mud should simply remove the fenders.

The warranty is pretty standard for a direct-to-consumer e-bike—one year.

Juiced RipCurrent S Review: Recommendation/Final Verdict

For the person looking to purchase their first e-bike, we advise favoring versatility. Most people who aren’t already avid riders have one specific use in mind, but often have other uses they are curious to explore.

Whether someone wants to commute but explore paths near home or they want to ride in the backcountry on weekends, but run the odd errand by e-bike rather than getting in the car, most shoppers have at least one alternative use in mind.

The Juiced RipCurrent S is an e-bike that offers buyers broad versatility, not to mention value beyond what we often see.

When we look at fat-tire e-bikes in the $1500-$2000 price range, there are a number of features that tend to be common. We tend to see lots of 750W motors, 720Wh batteries, coil-spring suspension forks, 7-speed drivetrains and cadence sensors. The Juiced RipCurrent S improves on all of those details.

The combination of a 1000W motor, 998Wh battery, 80mm-travel air-spring suspension fork, 9-speed drivetrain and torque sensor make the RipCurrent S a definite cut above. We can’t say whether the current price reduction will last, but at its suggested retail price this is a value-laden e-bike. On sale … it’s nearly a steal.

The Juiced RipCurrent S shoehorns so much value into an entry-level e-bike that our question is less, who is right for this e-bike than it is, who isn’t right for this e-bike? This is precisely the sort of e-bike we would recommend to family and friends if they asked us our opinion.

Thank you for reading through our review of the Juiced RipCurrent S. Still have further questions? Wondering how it compares to a similar e-bike we’ve reviewed? Let us know in the comments below!