The OG model had a few rough edges, but was a fun alternative to scooters or small e-bikes. I won’t lie though, “high” is the most fun and that’s where I find myself keeping it now that it sports the extra range. Having the three power modes is a welcome way of moderating battery usage without having to be as judicious with the accelerator. In “high” mode, you don’t need to push off to start moving, so if that’s what you prefer you can keep it in that setting. ![]() It’s a minor change, but one that does stop the bike pulling away from you if you accidentally activate the throttle. The OG model would pull away when you pressed the accelerator, but the new model requires you to push off first, much like on a scooter. It’s in the riding that the XG comes to life. But here that mode is achieved not by holding down a button to engage the throttle slightly, instead you loosen the handlebars, rotate them 90 degrees (so that the bike is “thin”) and Jackrabbit’s “walk mode” is “activated.” That said, the same process does easily allow for tidy storage of the bike. For one there’s a “walk mode” - which typically has the bike roll itself along slowly as you stroll. That said, there are a couple of other listed features that are perhaps more creative on the marketing side than practical for the user. There’s also a front brake now to augment the rear one so you won’t have to pull a rad slide in certain strong braking situations. For example, the bike now comes with powered front and back lights which connect to a new power port on the side. Some smaller details show how the JackRabbit is maturing. Thankfully, the batteries no longer require a key to unlock them for swapping out, with new permanent clips on the underside of the XG instead, which is much easier and saves having to carry another, easily losable, key. By keeping with the same battery as the OG, upgraders might even have some spares ready, but also the double battery bay means you can ride on just one cell if needed, or if you just fancy a lighter ride with less range. You can still easily lift the bike with one hand though, and a dash up the subway stairs with it is still perfectly manageable. The OG model weighed in at 24 pounds, while the XG adds another eight to that. ![]() ![]() Naturally, that extra battery and longer frame add a bit of heft. And thanks to the three power modes, you have more control over the maximum speed (and thus range and ride feel) of the bike. Thankfully, the XG feels a lot more stable and doesn’t seem to feature any of the twitchy physics at higher speeds. One of the first things you noticed when you rode the original was the higher center of gravity which gave the JackRabbit a “lively” riding experience. (There are no pedals here, so that range is motor-only.) Thankfully, with double the amount of cells, the XG now reaches up to, and maybe even beyond 20 miles of normal usage putting it well on par with what you’d expect from a scooter. ![]() I stated in my review that the battery life was perhaps on the shorter side and if you ever ran out of juice, like I once did, it wasn’t a very fun time getting back home on, effectively, an adult balance bike. The addition of the extra battery, combined with that new motor are what really makes the JackRabbit XG feel like an improvement on the original. Additionally, there are new all-metal footpegs, which is great as the original used rubber “shoes” on its pegs and they easily fell off - I lost both within two short rides. Before, the only feedback you had for anything were three LEDs to indicate remaining power. The JackRabbit XG comes with an actual bike computer so you can see real time speed, trip length and a more refined battery life gauge. The quality-of-life enhancements also extend beyond extra power and range.
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