New on the market, Juice produce two bikes, very distinctive looking, the one shown here , the Joule at £1299, (actually it’s the Joule S with a few additional features; see below) and its smaller 20″ Micro Joule version is £999. The bikes are well powered (I have noticed a tendency for newer bikes to ‘boast’ more powerful batteries but see below) and clearly deigned to stand out from the crowd. It will be interesting to see reviews.
Marketing is all in everything. I witness all the time people wasting hundreds on a camera, for instance, because it has an ultra high resolution. Sometimes they are wasting their money because the technical specs far exceed their needs and usage; other times the camera may be very mediocre: a high resolution sensor is useless if the lens is rubbish. The cynic in me thinks that there is an analogy with any consumer marketing. I’ve absolutely no reason to think Juice bikes are anything other than excellent (although as a pensioner they aren’t for me – even in my flares!), and everything about them looks good. But I think back to the previous post and the old lead battery pack horse waiting to be loaded with its 20 or so Kg of shopping for the gentle ride three miles home! Horses for courses.
I do recommend the Juice website for a detailed look at the bikes, and you may find the technical stuff on the gears interesting. Generally, they have clearly focused on quality, service and very much on style:
The market for electric bicycles is growing quickly in the UK, but the variety and style of electric bicycles is not meeting the demand for new and exciting products, which deliver both style and quality at a competitive price. It is this demand that inspired the conception of Juice and its flagship electric bicycle models, Joule and its smaller sibling, Micro Joule.
Design even down to the name: a joule is a unit of Energy and it sounds like Jewel.
I wish I were young enough to research these bikes further. Anyway, here are The specs for the Joule:
Overview
Running on 26″ wheels, the Joule with contemporary MTB styling will be equally as happy on forest fire tracks and bridleways as it will be doing your daily commute. The NuVinci N360 system offers a simple-to-use but infinitely wide range of gears, and lightweight alloy components help keep the weight down. Joule is for those that want an eBike that can really do it all, both on and off-road.
Driving 250W of brushless power means that there literally won’t be a hill too steep to climb anymore. The 36v 12Ah battery only weighs 3kgs, yet returns a massive range of between 30 and 60 miles dependent on the mode you are in. Lithium technology means you can quickly recharge the battery at any point. The stunning looks coupled with the quiet operation of the 250w motor means that if it wasn’t for the amazing performance, nobody would even know you were riding an electric bike! This is a premium quality electric bike using the latest developments in technology.
Features
Auto lights
Rear brake light
Full suspension seat post
Throttle (independent of pedals)
Intelligent pedal assist system
Integrated lithium battery. Can be charged while mounted on bike or removed for charging when space is of a premium.
Revolutionary new gear system in the NuVinci N360
Digital LCD display showing/controlling:
– Speed (mph/kmh)
– Distance travelled
– Average speed
– Battery remaining
– Power assistance level
– Manual lights operation
Specifications (standard)
Battery: Lithium 36v 12Ah
Brake lever: Tektro EL520
Frame: 6061 Aluminium alloy
Front and rear brake disc: Tektro Novela
Gear System: NuVinci N360
Handle bar: Zoom MTB-AL-153C
Suspension fork: Suntour XCM V3
Motor: 250W Brushless
Rims: 26″ Aluminium alloy double wall
Stem: Zoom MTB-C299N-5
Tyres: Mountain
Weight: 27.4 Kg
Upgrades for Joule S model:
Hydraulic disc brake (FULL SETS): Tektro Auriga E-Comp
Suspension fork with remote lock-out: Suntour XCR V3
UK Electric Bikes 