If you are even slightly curious about purchasing an electric bike, all you need to do is whisper the word ‘ebike’ in the same room as a smartphone, and you will forever be inundated with ads every time you look at your screen. More electric bike companies are popping up every day. COVID might as well have been the Big Bang for alternative transportation. There are many different bikes made to fit a wide range of needs. Almost too many. After thorough research, there was one ebike in particular that caught my attention: the Juiced HyperScorpion. So, I picked one up and put it to the test. Here’s my honest review of Hyperscorpion ebike.

What I Need

Before digging into the review, let me first tell you what I wanted out of an ebike. As I said, there are many different ebikes out there – some are better suited for different needs than others.

A commuter

I needed a bike that would get me to work. My home is about 15 miles from the office and I drive an SUV, and the gas prices are killing me, so a bike that replaces my ride to work would save me money in the long run. I needed a bike with a decent battery.

Some muscle

I’m not small. Hovering at around 6 feet tall (my brother will be quick to tell you I’m really 5’11) and weighing in at 230 lbs, I needed a bike that could handle my size. I didn’t want the bike to die halfway to work, and I didn’t want it to be awkward to ride with my knees coming up over the handlebars as I pedaled.

Speed

It might not have been essential, but then again, what’s the point of getting a cool new ebike if it didn’t have some pick-me-up? I wanted a bike with some zip. Not just for fun, though – the drive to work is 30 minutes. I didn’t want to have to wake up an hour earlier to just get to work on time.

Stylish

Like speed, this wasn’t at the top of my list as far as essentials go, but I did want an ebike that had a nice look. It wasn’t so much that I needed it to look super cool – I just didn’t want it to look lame. Some ebikes look awkward or silly.

HyperScorpion On Paper

I Googled, and I asked around. I clicked on the ads that showed up on my Facebook feed and Snapchat stories, and I searched Reddit and compared ebikes side by side. Finally, I landed on the HyperScorpion from Juiced.

Checking all the boxes

According to all the research, the Hyperscorpion had everything I needed. Juiced claims a 70+ mile range for the ebike. Compare that to the 45+ mile range of the base model, Scorpion, and 50+ mile range of the Ariel Rider D-Class. The maximum weight capacity for the HyperScorpion is 275 pounds. I’m well within the weight range but won’t be riding with any passengers. The top speed is over 30 mph! That’s wild, but more on that in a moment. The HyperScorpion is also a pretty badass-looking bike. Its step-thru style with a wide frame, fat tires, and massive headlight make it a forced to be reckoned with. Now, back to the speed.

eBike classes

The difference between a bicycle and a motorcycle is pretty obvious. A bicycle is manually operated, and the average speed is around 12mph. It doesn’t have an engine, you don’t need a license, and you can’t ride it on the highway. On the other hand, a motorcycle has an engine, and some can go north of 100mph. That’s very dangerous, of course, and you need a license, insurance, and registration to ride one. With ebikes, however, the differences start to get less obvious.

Electric bikes fit into three different classifications. Class 1 is for pedal assist-only bikes and tops out at 20mph. Class 2 also tops out at 20mph but comes with a throttle, so you don’t have to pedal. Finally, Class 3 goes up to 28mph, but you’ll need to pedal to get that fast. Anything faster, and you will need to register your ebike as a motor vehicle and have insurance much like you would a moped or motorcycle

But you said the HyperScorpion goes over 30mph!

The HyperScorpion has different settings you can change on the LCD display on the handlebars. You can go from a pedal-assist only, all the way up to a class 3. Then there’s ‘racer’ mode. By going into the settings on display, you can unlock racer mode and go beyond 28mph with the throttle only. Juiced warns that this is only to be used on private roads, off public streets. If you use racer mode on a public street, you could be subject to a fine. So, don’t do that…

Put to the Test

The specs look just fine online, but how does the HyperScorpion measure up in the real world? Over 30 mph is impressive if it’s true. What about that battery? I also had concerns about customer support. Different forums online said that their support was lacking. Reports of the bike coming in the mail damaged were easy to find, and some people complained that getting ahold of someone at Juiced who would send them a replacement part was difficult. Only one way to find out.

Out of the box

When I ordered my HyperScorpion, I got a confirmation email that said it would arrive in 7 to 10 business days after it was processed. I ordered it on a Thursday evening, and the bike was traveling across the country to get to me, so I tried not to hold my breath. But it came exactly a week after I ordered it.

The bike came with some assembly required. I had to install the front tire, handlebars, and headlight. Despite the fact that the box had no visible damage from the outside, and the parts seemed secure inside, my headlight was damaged. It looked like it was crushed a little bit. It was just as I feared. The light still worked, but it was disappointing that it looked like I had been in a small accident before I even got on the bike.

I emailed customer support with my order number and a few pictures of the damaged headlight and crossed my fingers.

Since the headlight still worked, I installed it anyway with the plan to replace it if I ever got the new headlight in the mail. Setup took less than an hour, which is great – off to ride! Right? Wrong. The battery needs to do a full charge (9 hours) before its maiden voyage. That was a buzzkill.

She’s a beuty

My HyperScorpion came in a sexy, sleek dark blue. The step-thru design was something I was not initially looking for. I thought they looked a little too feminine for my tastes. But the wide, bulky frame dispels that notion. The bike looks more like a rugged moped with pedals. The big tires look like you could ride it into a warzone. The headlight (even though it was damaged) belongs on a motorcycle. There is no mistaking the HyperScorpion for an ordinary bike.

The ride

I finally got to take my brand new HyperScorpion for a ride the next day. If you haven’t been on an ebike before, the experience is surreal at first. One rotation of the pedals and the motor kicks in. Suddenly, it feels like you have a gust of wind at your back as you propel forward with minimal effort. If you are not comfortable on a bike, to begin with, proceed with caution, 20mph comes up pretty fast.

Even with my heavier frame, the bike went up hills with no issue. The screen on your handlebars tells you how much juice you have with your battery, and cruising around my neighborhood for an hour hardly made a dent.

So quiet

I was surprised with how quiet the HyperScorpion rides. Sure, it has an electric motor, but the bike has some serious power, and it’s virtually silent. While this is pretty cool, it did raise some concerns about road presence. Motorcycles have the benefit of the loud engine to alert other cars. If you’re not careful, you could easily sneak up on a car on the road.

Fortunately, the HyperScorpion comes with a horn you can reach with your thumb. It’s loud enough to alert cars as you come around corners or pedestrians that wander onto the bike lane. Plus, two big mirrors and the massive headlight offer some decent visibility. Still there, is no substitute for common sense.

Warning: Pedal bite

One thing I was fortunate enough to learn about online before I rode the bike was a pedal bite. If you take a hard turn while your inside pedal is down toward the ground, you can catch the ground with the pedal and hurt yourself. I found that I naturally rode with my inside pedal up when I took turns, but this is worth noting.

Faster? Longer?

After my first commute, I learned that the specs weren’t entirely accurate but not far off either. I made it to work and back in a single charge, switching between throttle only and pedal assist. After traveling roughly 30 miles, my battery was much closer to 20% than I would have liked. It would have been nice to get two days of use before charging it for 9 hours. Still, the battery is impressive, and I’m confident that the listed distance on all ebikes is a little skewed with heavier riders.

The top speed was not that far off. When I rode the bike on a <wink, wink> private ride, which I definitely did, by the way, I got up to 30mph on the dot for a brief moment. This was on flat terrain, and I really had to push it. If you are thinking you will be speeding at 30mph for long drags, you will be disappointed.

Final Thoughts

Good news: the new headlight came in within a week of my report. I can only express complete satisfaction with Juiced’s customer service. They were prompt and attentive. It was a bummer that the bike came damaged, but hey – things happen. They fixed the problem as quickly as I could have expected.

After riding the HyperScorpion for a week, I say it was well worth the investment. It delivers on the distance and speed that I needed while also adding a sense of safety. The powerful headlight and mirrors add security while riding around – even at night. The fat tires transition from concrete to grass effortlessly.

Juiced delivers an amazing product that checks all the boxes for a rider that needs versatility. It’s not the cheapest bike on the market. It’s not even the cheapest bike by Juiced. But if you are going to spend the money on a bike that you want to rely on, it will keep you safe; then cheap should not be in your criteria. Take the time to research, plan to use this for a long time, and invest in what gives you what you need. For me, it’s the Juiced HyperScorpion.