Jetson Bike Review - Prices, Specs, Videos, Photos

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Jetson Bike Review

2015 Jetson Bike Lithium Ion Battery 48v

2015 Jetson Bike Display Panel And Switches

2015 Jetson Bike Headlights Turn Signals

2015 Jetson Bike Front Suspension And Disc Brake

2015 Jetson Bike Rear Suspension And Battery Lock

Great looking body with front and rear suspension for comfort plus integrated lights, turn signals and horn for safety
Quieter than a traditional gas powered scooter like a Vespa, has an impressive range and is very affordable to charge, also comes with a solid one year warranty and the company has been around for several years
Single speed for pedaling (not fun or easy, even on flat terrain) may feel uncomfortable and attract unwanted attention when riding on bike paths because it looks like a moped

Make:

Jetson

Model:

Bike

Price:

$1,800

Body Position:

Upright Relaxed

Suggested Use:

Urban, Commuting

Electric Bike Class:

Throttle on Demand (Class 2)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

15 Day Trial, 1 Year Comprehensive Warranty

Availability:

United States, Canada

Model Year:

2015

Total Weight:

125 lbs (56.69 kg)

Frame Types:

Step-Thru

Frame Colors:

Black, White, Silver, Pink, Blue, Red, Green, Lime Green, Neon Yellow, Neon Purple, Hot Pink, Neon Green

Geometry Measurements:

Length: 69 in (175.3 cm), Width: 26 in (66 cm), Height: 41 in (104.1 cm), Wheelbase: 57 in (144.8 cm), Clearance: 5 in (12.7 cm), Seat Height: 28 in (71.1 cm)

Frame Fork Details:

Basic Suspension

Frame Rear Details:

Coil Over Suspension

Gearing Details:

1 Single Speed

Pedals:

Folding Plastic Platform

Handlebar:

Narrow Riser

Brake Details:

Mechanica Disc Brake in Front, Mechanical Band Brake in Rear

Grips:

Rubber, Semi-Ergonomic

Saddle:

Extended, Padded

Tire Brand:

Heavy Duty, 18" x 2.5"

Wheel Sizes:

18 in (45.72cm)

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Bar-End Mirrors, Locking Seat Storage Box, License Plate Bosses, Purse/Bag Clip, Turn Signals, Running Lights, Front and rear Lights with High Beam, Horn, Plastic Front and Rear Fenders, Double Leg Kickstand, Passenger Grip Bar, Optional Locking "Boot" Cargo Storage Compartment Box, Optional Cover, Optional 3 Year Warranty for +$299

Other:

Estimated 800 Full Charge Cycles, Requires 110 Volt Electrical Outlet to Charge, 2 Person Capacity

Motor Type:

Rear-Mounted Gearless Direct Drive Hub

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

500 watts

Battery Voltage:

48 volts (Consisting of Four 12 volt Batteries)

Battery Amp Hours:

17 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

816 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

30 miles (48 km)

Estimated Max Range:

40 miles (64 km)

Display Type:

Backlit Monochrome LCD

Readouts:

Speedometer, Odometer, Battery Level, Timer

Display Accessories:

Light Switch, High Beam Switch, Blinker Switch, Horn

Drive Mode:

Twist Throttle

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph) (May Unlock 25 mph With Dealer, License and Insurance Required)

The Jetson Bike is really a low speed electric scooter, much like a Vespa or Moped in terms of design but legally qualified as a bicycle due to the motor size (below 750 watts) and inclusion of pedals. Technically, this thing can be ridden anywhere a traditional pedal-power bicycle is permitted and Jetson has printed the US Federal law right onto the top of the battery for reference if you get hassled by police or other officials. Very proactive… but they likely included this language because the bike does look untraditional and may garner unwanted attention. The real benefits to the design in my opinion, are the great lights which include turn signals, the electronic horn, full suspension and tougher tires as well as the locking seat-box. This is more like a vehicle than a bike and frankly, it’s not something I’d want to pedal home because there’s only one gear and the cranks are mounted pretty wide. In short, it’s an affordable, efficient and comfortable bike with room for a second passenger if need be. Jetson has been around for several years and is a Canadian company that ships to America and offers a solid 15 day return and one year comprehensive warranty. Not bad.

The motor powering the Jetson Bike is a 500 watt gearless, direct drive hub motor built right into the rear wheel. The motor itself is actually encased in an aluminum alloy cast hub with integrated spokes. It’s super tough and much heavier than a traditional spoked wheel but also much sturdier. You won’t have to true this thing and it’s a good locking point (as well as through the rear suspension gap).

The wheel size is 18″ which is much smaller than traditional 26″ and 28″ bicycle wheels and this has two consequences. The first is that you lose attack angle and the wheels fall into cracks and potholes vs. spanning them. This is mitigated by the suspension mentioned earlier as well as wider 2.5″ tires. The second consequence is that finding replacement tires and tubes can be more difficult… and then actually installing them can be really difficult. You might need some special tools or the help of a local bike or scooter shop. Thankfully, the tires are extra thick and there’s only one speed so tuneups won’t need to happen often if ever as long as you keep the bike clean. One big advantage to the little wheel size is that the motor benefits from increased leverage as it turns the wheel. This means that your 500 watt motor feels more like a 1,000 watt motor. During my test ride, it felt pretty peppy and I could see how porting a second rider around could work (as long as you’re both average sized) but this isn’t going to be a hill climbing champion and varied terrain will eat away at the projected 40 mile range. The motor itself should be durable and long lasting because there are no gears inside, just large magnets that repel when electricity is run to a stater. If the motor becomes too hot it will automatically shut down and then re-activate once things cool off.

Powering the motor, display, lights and horn is an impressive 48 volt 17 amp hour Lithium-ion battery pack! This thing is just about double the size of a traditional electric “bicycle” which makes sense because the Jetson Bike weighs ~125 lbs and that’s significantly more than an average ~50 lb ebike. The battery is stored under the seat and is locked into place when riding. It keeps weight low on the frame and looks nice (because it’s completely concealed). The battery bay is actually very clean and organized with the controller, safety switch and battery each in their respective place. You can pull the battery out completely and it even has a handle to make that process easier. I didn’t get the chance to weigh it but I’d guess ~20 lbs based on the weight of other batteries I’ve tested. Just as the motor is protected from the elements by the hub casing, so too is the battery by the plastic frame and rear suspension arm. Rattling and bumps can damage batteries over time so it really feels like the placement and design of this one is done right. The kickstand is also nicely done with a double leg support and “helper lever” to make it easier to balance (since the bike weighs so much).

The control console on the Jetson ebike is one of the nicer ones I’ve seen on e-scooters and has a digital readout for speed, odometer, precise battery capacity and even a timer. It’s backlit to make night riding a little bit easier and is fairly large to improve readability. Once the key is in the ignition and turned to the on position, the display lights up in blue and then all you have to do is twist the throttle to get going. Some of the other electric scooters I’ve tested have offered pedal assist or multiple modes of drive but this simplistic variable speed throttle works pretty well and is very intuitive. Handle bar real estate is dedicated to the mirrors, lights, turn signals and horn buttons and I’m really glad it has these features because I could imagine using this to commute by bike path, then city bike lane and then neighborhood street where cars might be present. It feel safer having all of these extras and way more streamlined than adding them yourself, they don’t feel like they could be stolen and they won’t run out of batteries because they run off the main pack.

While the Jetson Electric Bike can be overclocked to reach ~25 miles per hour, I’m told that requires a license and registration check by the dealer. It does come with a nice license plate mounting bracket on the rear which I believe lights up. All of the hardware, including the oversized extra-thick disc rotor on the front and drum brake on the rear, feel sturdy and ready for the road. The Jetson website says you could bring a friend along but I didn’t see an obvious place for them to put their feet, just a grab handle at the back. For someone who is interested in neighborhood electric vehicles, this thing offers a lot of flexibility and comes in 12 fun colors. Remember to wear your helmet and watch out for cars, the lights and horn can’t protect you from distracted drivers or user error (in the case of younger riders who may not be trained drivers). Of all of the electric scooters I’ve tried, this one feels the most polished. It’s eco friendly, feature rich and compared to some traditional electric bikes it’s very affordable.

Pros:

US Federal Law is printed directly onto the battery so you can reference it in the event that a police officer questions you. It states “FEDERAL LAW: Electric Bicycle Regulations: Federal law says that an electrically driven bicycle is considered a “bicycle” and the laws of bicycles apply if: Electrically driven bicycle has less than 750 watt motor and functional pedals. Max speed is less than 20mph. The Federal Law shall supersede any State law or requirement with respect to low-speed electric bicycles. (The state must regulate the electric bicycle as a bicycle)”
Great aesthetic, the plastic body completely hides the battery and protects the rider from the elements with front and rear fenders and a wider front than a bicycle would have
Lots of safety features including a burly double-legged kickstand, front and rear lights with a bright mode for the headlight, turn signals and a horn (with switches on both bars for easy access)
Good security thanks to the locking seat storage bay and the keyed ignition, you can also flick an additional security switch near the controller in the locked seat area to avoid tampering
Heavy duty front and rear suspension and oversized scooter tires provide good comfort when riding over bumps and potholes, the padded seat is also comfortable and the ride is decidedly upright vs. forward aggressive
Intuitive variable speed twist-throttle works just like a traditional gas powered scooter, just twist more to go faster
Solid one year warranty from Jetson, they’re located in Canada and have been around for several years, this is one of the higher quality e-scooters I’ve tested, optional 3 year warranty for $299
Optional “boot” cargo box adds even more storage capacity if you want to give up the passenger space at the rear of the seat
Even though the tires are wider than most traditional bicycles, they are still designed to be skinny enough to work in most bike racks
The kickstand has a built in prop bar to help lift the bike up into the stable position and this really helps given the weight of the bike
Battery pack is removable to reduce the overall weight of the bike by ~20 lbs and can be charged on or off the frame, store at neutral temperatures and keep from draining below 20% to extend life
Includes one of the nicer backlit display panels I’ve seen on an electric scooter with speed, odometer and precise battery level along with a timer… which I’m not sure what to do with?

Cons:

The plastic folding pedals don’t feel very sturdy and frankly, pedaling this bike isn’t fun at all given the single speed and 125 lb weight
The seat is long enough for a passenger and there’s a handle at the rear for stability but I didn’t see an obvious place for feet to go so it could get unstable and uncomfortable
This is definitely heavier than a traditional electric bicycle at 125 lbs (56.7 kg) and that means transporting it, repairing it or just getting home if the battery runs out much more difficult
No pedal assist ride modes here (which would incentives pedaling and increase range), just twist throttle

Resources:

Official Site: http://www.jetsonbike.com/
Official Manual: jetson-bike-manual.pdf
More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/LmHciCV98JFUDt8b8

January 21, 2015 (9 years ago)

hubie thompson

8 years ago

I purchased a Jetson and it died after 10 months. Customer service is deceitful and non helpful. Check the NYC Better Business Bureau reviews and Amazon reviews for more customer experiences.

Court Rye

Bummer, I’m sorry to hear you had a bad experience with this bike and their customer service :\

Rachel J

7 years ago

I agree customer service appears to be non existent. I have called and emailed numerous times to get a parts catalog and am unable to reach anyone or get a reply

Bummer… thanks for sharing your experience to help others Rachel, good luck finding the right bike for your needs :)

devon jeffrey

customer service straight up lied to me. im still trying to get a replacement battery to no avail….stay away from them tbh

Ouch, thanks for the feedback Devon… Sorry to hear your experience hasn’t been so good. What happened to your original battery? How did you like the bike otherwise?

Merry Duffy

It was great until it broke down. There is no customer service once they get their money. No way to get parts so it looks like I’m going to have to junk it. So all & all it is a piece of junk. I wish I could sue them.

Ouch, sorry to hear how bad things have been Merry… Thanks for sounding off here to let others now. I usually only see brand new stuff prepared by the manufacturer to show well, I try to pick them apart but these comments from real people like you are the best source of feedback. Again, sorry this has been a challenge for you :(