Retrospec Joe Rev 2 Review (2026): Putting the ‘Joy’ in Joyride

The entry-level Joe Rev was created successful this aforesaid spirit—a full-sized, BMX-inspired framework with amusive colour options (electric blue, matte gray), 3-inch tan partition balloon tires, and those unmistakable handlebars. There are nary apps oregon fancy readouts, nary lights, and nary shocks. Just 5 levels of pedal assistance and a throttle attached to a single-speed drivetrain and 750-watt rear-hub motor.

“No cream, nary sugar” is adjacent printed connected the concatenation stays, lest 1 hide the minimalist doctrine. On the positive side, this deficiency of bones allows the Joe Rev 2 to measurement successful connected the lighter broadside astatine 56 pounds.

This is the 2nd iteration of the archetypal Joe Rev, which is inactive disposable (for now) astatine the merchantability terms of $1,200. The Rev 2 sports a bigger 500 Wh artillery with a listed 60-mile scope (up from 48 miles) and an updated display. Namely, a 2-by-2.5-inch LCD surface connected the near handlebar displaying powerfulness level, artillery life, and speed, arsenic opposed to the original’s bare-basic hub with buttons.

The artillery tin beryllium rapidly locked and unlocked from the bottommost of the framework with a cardinal and charges from reddish to afloat greenish successful respective hours; it weighs astir 7 pounds, truthful it’s casual capable to transportation successful a backpack, though astatine 18 inches long, it could beryllium a choky acceptable if your container is already packed.

Teen Spirit

At 1 constituent during the investigating period, my almost-14-year-old son, who is 5’ 10” and 145 pounds, took the Joe Rev 2 retired connected a afloat artillery to spot however agelong helium could thrust successful our municipality of hills. We were each amazed to find helium deed the reddish “recharge” airy successful astir 20 miles. It shouldn't person been excessively overmuch of a shock, fixed that the hills were steep, and helium was utilizing the throttle primarily. But it is simply a bully reminder that, similar each ebikes, the Joe Rev 2’s scope volition alteration dramatically depending connected rider weight, speed, and conditions.

Interestingly, there’s an ominous informing sticker connected the Joe Rev’s framework that states nary 1 nether 16 is to thrust this bike. It does person pedals and a maximum velocity of 20 mph, making it a Class 2 ebike—legal successful many, if not, astir states for kids nether 16.