Review: JackRabbit MG Cargo Review

I am not an obvious target customer for a cargo ebike, as I neither have kids to tote nor a large space for bike parking. But the new JackRabbit MG Cargo is so tiny, it doesn't conjure the dully utilitarian, heedlessly bulky nature that's common to other cargo ebike models. In fact, when I tested the wee, plucky ebike, I found its fat tires and tiny wheelbase make it feel more like a speedy urban dirt bike than anything else.

But despite being a relative lightweight (55 pounds) and petite enough to fit in the back seat of my old Montero, the MG sports a 750-watt motor that can haul nine times the bike's weight uphill. I even threw a grill onto a bike trailer to test this claim, which held up.

Note that like all JackRabbits WIRED testers have reviewed, the MG is less an ebike than a scooter that looks and acts like an ebike: Instead of pedals, you get pedal-like footrests, plus a throttle. This means when the battery runs out, the bike stops moving. Also, the listed 48-mile range drops considerably when you ride at top speed or haul a large load. Nonetheless, the MG may have converted me to the pannier class.

After testing this MG for a couple of months, I no longer use my car when I need groceries, even when I'm taking a longer trek to the Grocery Outlet for discount steaks or salmon. The same is true when I want to haul a slushie machine across Portland’s steep mid-city ridge to a friend's house for cheeky weekday margaritas. By not acting like a cargo bike, the MG has convinced me to haul cargo on a bike.

Zippy Little Devil

Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

“How exactly is this a cargo bike?” my editor asked when I showed her a photo of the MG Cargo after it arrived. She wasn't asking out of wonderment. As mentioned, the MG flat-out looks less like a bike you'd use to haul stuff and more like a dirt bike.

JackRabbit is known for making lightweight, zippy, fun little scooter hybrids that physically resemble BMX trick bikes. I loved the easy mobility and high-speed capability of JackRabbit's equally powerful XG Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) when I tested that model last year. I'd worried that the MG Cargo—18 pounds heavier and nearly a foot longer than the XG—would compromise too much on these virtues. I needn't have worried. As I quickly learned, the pleasantly peppy MG rides like an off-road bike when you're not hauling a big load.

Its three throttle speeds max out at about 20 mph, 15 mph, and 7 mph, respectively. The lowest speed is manageable for a sidewalk, while the fastest hits top speed within about 50 feet on flat ground, unless you've got some weight behind (or on) you. The MG advertises a range of 48 miles, though I'll assume this requires being a lighter rider who is gentle on the throttle. As a man north of 200 pounds with an admittedly heavy throttle thumb, I only made it to about 25 miles, even with minimal cargo. Because the bike's battery indicator shows up as at least half-full for the vast majority of this range, you'll need to test and learn your personal range when doing so is not mission-critical.

Note that because JackRabbits don't have working pedals, the bikes exist in an interesting technical gray area in some states in terms of their classification. Specifically, one could debate whether they're really a Class 2 ebike that can ride on bike lanes and trails. Given the MG's maximum speed of 20 mph—aside from an honor-system 24-mph jailbreak speed you can unlock for off-road riding—it mostly looks and quacks like a Class 2 ebike. In my experience, it's also treated as such.

The MG also offers nice customization options for accessorizing. It's easy to add a couple of rear pannier bags to the rear mounting rack or side racks ($75) on each side, offering enough capacity for most small grocery trips or beach excursions without adding much bulk. You could also opt for a rear basket.

Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

While I can't quite stow the MG as easily as other JackRabbit models, it's still small enough that I can slide it into my back seat—as long as I uncork the front handlebars and turn its front wheel backward. (Some sources refer to the MG as “foldable,” but this isn't strictly true: it just has a quick-release wheel and an easily removed handlebar.)

Which is to say, even without the cargo component, I could like the MG just as a fun little commuter, especially with the welcome addition of a cushy Kinekt active-suspension seat post that provides some added give for longer rides.

The Little Cargo Ebike That Could

Despite its petite size, the MG performs well as a true cargo hauler that you could use to move trailers full of groceries or the more precious cargo of your own children. I didn't borrow any kids to test rear child trailers or JackRabbit's mini-me rear seat and handlebar set ($175). But I did use the MG's preinstalled Burley trailer hitch to haul a box containing a 150-pound grill up a hill with a 7 percent grade. While the MG didn't get to full speed on the ascent, it pulled the grill and my 200-plus-pound self surprisingly well.

The MG's stability and cornering capabilities also fared better than I expected, given its short base. Cargo bikes tend to lengthen their frame to add stability and make room for riders to pedal comfortably while carrying loads on the front or the back. The MG Cargo's stability mostly comes from its cushy fat tires, largely thanks to the clever design of the larger front tire, which both adds stability up front on rugged terrain and lowers the center of gravity where cargo hangs. The lack of pedaling also naturally removes some wobble.

You will make compromises, though: Cornering can be jumpy, leading to the occasional overcorrection. The range also drops considerably with heavy carries, given that you can't add your own pedal power. Braking is fast but does require a good grip, especially with larger loads downhill.

For the Occasional Hauler

The MG Cargo lives in an interesting middle ground between commuter and cargo ebike. If I were primarily using it to transport children or work gear, I'd probably opt for a bulkier hauler or the Specialized Global Haul ST, WIRED's top-pick electric cargo bike that offers a more reliable long range.

The best use cases for the MG Cargo are as a fun recreational ebike that stows easily into your back seat or as a multipurpose commuter with built-in storage that saves its rider from needing to wear a backpack. In either case, the cargo capabilities function as bonus features as opposed to being the main draw.

It's less a workhorse than a hobby pony: I've slipped books and a blanket into a pannier so I can read at the park, and I've spontaneously brought home six-packs from the brewery a couple of miles down the road. When I grocery shop using the MG Cargo, I'm spared the bother of tightly packed parking lots that make me angry before I reach the aisles. I zip in, I unlock the panniers, pop in my groceries, and zip right back out. In this way, the MG Cargo also doubles as the cheapest therapist I know.

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