I’ve tested roughly three dozen e-bikes for this column the past six years. And I’ve owned several. The one I ride the most: the Juiced CrossCurrent X. I’ve owned it for nearly two years now and put 1,100 miles on it. The only reason the mileage is that low is because I’ve been testing all of the other bikes. But I like the Juiced so much that I replaced my car with it — sold the sedan back in February. And now, I’ve replaced the bike with something I think may be even better: a brand-new version of the exact same model.
The Juiced CrossCurrent X Step-Through ($1,999) is what the company — and I — call a commuter’s dream. I really like its step-through frame, even though my previous version was not. And aside from a couple of minor frame tweaks, the bike is identical to my previous model. It steadily gets more than 65 miles per charge, it has amazing torque to get up very steep hills here in Southern California and with some speed, and it can get up to 28 miles per hour with ease on flat surfaces (although mine is governed to 20 miles per hour, which I find safer). The ride is super smooth, acceleration and braking are graceful and outstanding, and it handles really well. The bike looks great, to boot. People are always asking me about it, when I’m riding about town.
Trust me, to give up my car required the ability to rely on the bike. And the experience has been nothing short of ideal. I ride the bike pretty much anywhere within 10 miles for errands. It’s super convenient for getting places fast. And I can always park it right at the front door of wherever I’m going. Out of all the bikes I’ve tested — and there have been a lot of dogs in that group — only four stand out to me that I would use full-time. This was my favorite of the bunch, because it checked every box with respect to safety, handling, maintenance and operation. Ask my wife: I’m a complainer. And I’ve had zero issues with the Juiced in all the time I’ve owned it.
In my estimation, using the CrossCurrent X has saved me about $2,000. Our gas right now costs $4 per gallon. So I’ve saved north of $200 there. Getting rid of my car also means I unloaded the $1,100 in annual insurance for it. I knocked out the $200 annual registration, as well, plus the maintenance costs — oil changes, new tires, windshield wiper replacements, fresh brakes. The list goes on and on. And I can fully charge my bike in a few hours. I truly have not even noticed a bump in my electric bill.
But best of all, it’s given me peace of mind. I feel like I’m doing something good for the environment. I don’t stress over random engine noises anymore. I don’t worry about parking in a dicey spot. And I’m getting good healthy exercise, to boot. Have even shed a few pounds since February. I realize I’m lucky that I live in a place with amazing year-round weather. That said, I never use the bike in wet conditions. On those rare days, I can always share my wife’s car with her.
Overall, it’s been a sheer pleasure. And I’m looking forward to riding the new CrossCurrent X Step-Through well beyond 1,100 miles. I’ve already put more than 100 miles on it, in the first 10 days. It’s been a seamless transition for me personally. And I think anyone who tries this model will immediately start dreaming about how they can replace their own car with it.
