The latest upright riding moped-style Juiced Bikes Scorpion X2 e-bike once again sets the bar for versatile, easy-riding personal transportation.
In a roundup of the best electric bikes earlier this year, I lauded the Juiced Bikes Scorpion X2 as the best moped-style e-bike. The upgraded Scorpion X2 carries forward the rider comfort and capable versatility I praised with the original 2020 Juiced Bikes Scorpion. The latest Scorpion iteration has more power and durability than the initial model at an even lower price.What’s new with the Scorpion X2?
This new version of the Scorpion comes with an upgraded battery, electric motor, rear rack, and even tires.
Like the original Scorpion, the X2 has Kendra 20-inch diameter by 4-inch wide moped fat tires, but those were street tires destined for pavement and maybe grass at most. The new tires have a moderately knobby tread that makes them suitable for dirt roads, hard beach sand, and maybe even a little bit of mud. It’s still no mountain bike, though, so you’ll want to avoid extreme terrain, severe muddy ruts, and deep sandy beaches.
The original Scorpion had a 750-watt continuous, 1,300-watt peak electric motor, a 52-volt 13Ah battery, and a 25-amp controller. The X2 has a 1,000-watt continuous power motor with the same 1,300-watt peak power, a more powerful 15.6Ah battery, and UL certification for a little extra piece of mind. Juiced Bikes rates the Scorpion X2 for up to 55 miles range with a fully charged battery. As with all e-bikes, battery range varies widely depending on rider weight, speed, travel surface and incline, the weather, and more.
The rear rack on the Scorpion X2 carries up to 50 pounds of cargo and has a slightly different design than the original, which Juiced says makes it easier to mount accessories.Rider comfort and safety
Like most of the classic gas-powered mopeds that inspired its design, the Scorpion X2 has a step-through frame. The lack of a high step or crossbar makes for more comfortable mounting and dismounting for all Scorpion riders, especially if you have cargo tied or mounted on the back rack.
The Scorpion X2 has adjustable front forks, rear motorcycle-style shocks, and a cushy extended seat carryover from the original model. As with the original Scorpion, I deflated the knobby fat tires a bit below the maximum for the extra sidewall flex. With the front suspension adjusted to the softest setting and the tires slightly deflated from the maximum, the Scorpion X2 is a joy to ride.
We recently moved to a neighborhood with loads of speed bumps. I ride most e-bikes on the far right side of speed bumps, where they taper off to minimize the impact.
