Beyond the Bicycle: Meet the Jackrabbit MG Doble, a Bold Leap in Personal Mobility
Forget everything you think you know about bikes. The Jackrabbit MG Doble isn’t here to mimic the familiar whir of pedals or the graceful glide of a traditional e-bike. Instead, it carves its own path, presenting a powerful, portably petite micro-vehicle that injects a dose of fun into everyday chores. At first glance, its diminutive stature, reminiscent of a classic Stingray but with a decidedly beefier attitude, might lead you to believe it’s a novelty. But don’t let its playful appearance fool you – this machine is a surprisingly capable urban workhorse.
A Design That Turns Heads (and Gets the Job Done)
The MG Doble immediately captures attention with its retro-futuristic aesthetic. The review model sported a vibrant candy-apple red aluminum frame, complemented by a plush black banana seat and iconic chopper-style handlebars. Integrated head and taillights add a practical touch, while the 3-inch-wide tires promise a stable ride. It’s a design that exudes a sense of sturdy power, so much so that within minutes of its arrival, the reviewer’s partner was playfully zipping around the backyard, a wide grin plastered across his face, channeling his inner motocross star. It’s a vibe – a promise of fun and capability wrapped in a compact package.
Redefining ‘Bike’: The Jackrabbit Philosophy
What exactly is the Jackrabbit MG Doble? This is a question many ask, and for good reason. Weighing in at a respectable 52 pounds, it boasts an impressive hauling capacity of up to 325 pounds – enough for one or two people, plus groceries, surfboards, or whatever else your daily errands demand. Compared to JackRabbit’s original, feather-light OG2 model, the MG Doble represents a significant step up in size and utility. However, its defining characteristic, shared with all JackRabbit models, is the complete absence of a chain, derailleur, or pedals. This is where the traditional bicycle paradigm breaks down, and a new category of personal transport emerges.
Jason Kenagy, CEO of JackRabbit, acknowledges this unique positioning. "They’re about transportation," he states, emphasizing that JackRabbits are designed to compete with cars, not bikes. He points to their adoption by employees at Google’s sprawling Mountain View campus as a testament to their effectiveness in bridging distances and streamlining movement within large corporate environments.
Power and Portability: Engineered for the Urban Jungle
Beneath its playful exterior lies a purpose-built urban explorer. The MG Doble is equipped with a robust 749-watt motor, designed to tackle inclines and carry substantial loads. Powering this machine are two easily accessible batteries, totaling 720-Wh, which can be charged on or off the bike. These batteries are UL-tested and compliant, offering peace of mind. JackRabbit claims an impressive range of approximately 48 miles on a single charge, making it suitable for a full day of use.
Three distinct riding modes – Eco, Mid, and High – allow riders to tailor their experience. The High mode propels the Doble up to a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour. For those with access to private land, an additional ‘off-road’ mode can be unlocked, intended for riders 18 years and older. This mode offers enhanced performance, though its use is restricted to private property.
A Smarter Ride: The ‘Mullet’ Design and Handling
The MG Doble employs a clever ‘mixed-wheel mullet’ design, featuring a 20-inch tire in the rear and a larger 24-inch tire up front. This configuration is engineered to enhance its ability to roll over obstacles like potholes and curbs with greater ease, contributing to a smoother ride on less-than-perfect urban surfaces.
While JackRabbit models are known for their spirited acceleration, Kenagy hints that the MG Doble possesses even more torque than its predecessors, specifically to aid in hill climbing when fully loaded. This emphasis on power for hauling is a key differentiator.
Footing the Bill (Literally): Foldable Platforms and Ergonomics
In lieu of traditional pedals, the MG Doble features two foldable platforms. These are generously sized enough for riders to find secure footing, but not so large as to impede the bike’s compact storage. For a passenger, forged aluminum foot pegs extend from the rear, providing a secure spot. A standout feature is the bike’s ability to fold its footrests and handlebars flat against the frame. This ingenious design allows for remarkably easy storage in tight spaces, such as leaning against a wall in a small apartment, tucking into the back of a car, or even navigating through crowded pedestrian areas.
Accessorize to Maximize: Tailoring Your MG Doble
One of JackRabbit’s core strengths lies in its emphasis on modularity and accessories. The MG Doble is a testament to this, boasting over 10 connection points (braze-ons). This opens up a world of customization, from adding a rear basket for groceries to mounting frames compatible with Ortlieb panniers for more substantial cargo. The integrated trailer hitch is particularly noteworthy, working seamlessly with trailers like those from Burley, further expanding the Doble’s hauling capabilities.
Beyond practical additions, JackRabbit offers a range of intriguing accessories. A lightweight, FAA-compliant travel battery can extend the range by an additional ten miles. For taller riders (6’3" and above), a ‘Lift Kit’ can extend the bench seat by three inches. And for those who appreciate a touch of flair, a stylish chrome sissy bar can be added to the back of the seat, injecting a dash of retro cool.
The Real-World Test: Navigating the Urban Landscape
The true test of any vehicle is how it performs in the real world. For the reviewer, this meant a trip to the city waste management site, a journey that involved navigating parkways, bustling city streets, and even a freeway overpass. With a Burley trailer attached, carrying approximately 25 pounds of compost, the ride was described as “impressively smooth and seamless,” even over rough, patched-up side roads.
Because the MG Doble is not classified as an electric bike (due to the lack of pedals), its legality on designated bike paths can vary by municipality. Consequently, the reviewer opted to ride on city streets, treating it akin to a car. This highlighted the Doble’s compact size in relation to larger vehicles like garbage trucks, and the necessity of using the highest power setting (20 mph) to keep pace with traffic.
A critical observation during this urban navigation was the sensitivity of the twist-grip throttle. Upon starting from a stop sign in High power mode, the throttle’s responsiveness led to an unexpectedly abrupt surge forward. This touchy throttle requires a period of adjustment to master smooth acceleration.
Tackling the Hills (and the Unexpected Wheelies)
To gauge its climbing prowess, the reviewer sought out the steepest street in the vicinity, boasting a challenging 16 percent grade. Even at full throttle, the MG Doble topped out at around 12.5 miles per hour. While this was sufficient to conquer the hill, it was surprisingly slow given the bike’s otherwise spirited performance on flatter terrain.
The MG Doble’s dual-human capacity was tested during an after-work joy ride with a passenger. The initial few blocks involved a learning curve in balancing a second rider. However, once accustomed, a surge of acceleration into High mode at a busy intersection led to an unintended consequence: an accidental wheelie. As the front wheel lifted, the passenger slid off the back, while the bike continued forward until the throttle was released. Although humorous in hindsight and thankfully without injury, this incident underscored the bike’s potent acceleration and the potential for unexpected maneuvers, especially with a rider and passenger.
The Verdict: Practicality Meets Playfulness, With Caveats
The Jackrabbit MG Doble presents a compelling case for a new breed of urban transportation. Its practical applications are numerous: hauling surfboards to the beach, transporting picked apples from an orchard, cruising across a quiet campus, or serving as a convenient campground vehicle for RV owners. The ability to transport items and people with relative ease, combined with its fun factor, makes it an attractive proposition.
However, potential buyers should consider a few key points. The cost of the MG Doble itself is $2,500. While this is a significant investment, the accessories that truly unlock its full potential can add up quickly, increasing the overall expenditure. Furthermore, the complete absence of pedals means that the MG Doble offers no inherent exercise benefit. Riders seeking a fitness component will need to look elsewhere.
The legal gray area surrounding its classification – not quite an e-bike, not quite a traditional bicycle – means riders in many cities will face uncertainty regarding where it can be legally ridden. This leaves users to navigate the inherent risks of sharing city streets with much larger vehicles, a factor that weighs on the overall practicality for some.
Final Thoughts
The Jackrabbit MG Doble is a unique and innovative micro-vehicle. It excels at making mundane tasks enjoyable and offers a distinctive mode of transport for urban environments where flexibility and a touch of style are valued. Its well-crafted design, surprising power, and extensive accessory options make it a versatile tool for hauling and leisure. However, the sensitive throttle, the need for careful handling due to its powerful acceleration, and the cost of accessories, coupled with potential regulatory ambiguities, are factors that warrant careful consideration before making the leap into this pedal-less future of micro-mobility.
Rating: 7/10