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The IZIP E3 Moda is a commuter-ready urban electric bike that comes complete with wide 60 mm alloy fenders to keep you dry, a sleek rear rack for clip-on panniers, and integrated LED lights to help you see and be seen. It’s feature complete, meaning that you really don’t have to add anything to deal with rain or night riding, and it’s a Class 3 ebike, meaning that it can reach top speeds of ~28mph vs. just 20mph for most other ebikes. Priced at roughly three-thousand dollars, the bike is backed by IZIP’s leading two-year comprehensive warranty and growing network of dealers in North America. This product is strikingly similar to the Raleigh Redux iE, because both brands are owned by the Accell Group. Amazingly, the E3 Moda is priced lower than the 2017 Redux iE that I reviewed… and that product didn’t include the fenders, rear rack, or lights. IZIP is a less well-known brand compared to Raleigh, and their products tend to offer additional value and are sold through independent electric bike dealers as well as online through the official website. This electric bicycle uses the trusted Brose TF motor, a high capacity integrated battery pack, and fancy removable LCD display with integrated USB charging port. I love that the step-over model comes with bottle cage bosses on the seat tube, and understand why they wouldn’t quite fit on the step-thru (which is really more of a mid-step frame in my opinion). It’s wonderful to have multiple frame sizes and styles to choose from, and I love how the tubing is reinforced with angular gussets on both the top tube and down tube for strength and stiffness. This is a stealthy electric bike because the battery is hardly visible from the side and the the dark color scheme blends nicely with the compact black motor casing. Furthermore, the Brose mid-drive is tilted up in such a way that it hides behind the 48 tooth chainring. I love that this chainring has an alloy guide to keep the chain on track, and want to emphasize just how quiet and smooth the motor is. It’s one of my favorites.
Driving the IZIP Moda is a 350 to 530 watt mid-motor from Brose. It offers an impressive torque output of up to 90 newton meters and can support up to 120 pedal strokes per minute. These specs are very competitive, and my own experience riding on this and other ebikes that use it have been very good. I love how quite and smooth it operates, in large part due to an internal Gates belt drive that transfers power between the gearing system. It feels more natural than the nylon gears of other systems. While the motor does not offer shift detection, like Bosch, it does respond quickly when you ease back on pedal force. The motor controller measures rear wheel speed, pedal cadence, and pedal torque. I have found the pedal torque signal to be the most noticeable, meaning that if you only pedal lightly, the motor will only activate a little bit. The Brose TF stands for Trekking Fast and designates the higher speed output potential. At ~7.4 lbs, it’s average in terms of weight, and that weight is positioned well at the low-center point of the frame. Both the front and rear wheels feature quick release, which is one of the big benefits of utilizing a mid-drive vs. a hub motor system. It’s very efficient because it leverages the gears that you shift through as a rider… just ease off a bit when shifting so you don’t mash the sprockets and derailleur as demonstrated in the video review above. The bike comes stock with a mid-level Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain, but the spread is only 11-32 tooth vs. 11-36 or 42 tooth. When combined with the larger 48 tooth chainring, it’s really designed for medium and high speed riding, and you don’t really have the low gears for steep climbs. That shouldn’t be an issue given the higher torque potential of the motor and smooth efficient tires, but I wanted to call it out. There’s also no one-way clutch system to tighten the chain and reduce bouncing, and I didn’t see a slap guard on the right chain stay of the demo bikes. The trigger shifter mechanism worked very well, with two-way action on the high shifter and three-shift action on the low shifter. All in all, the drivetrain is good enough, but probably one of the areas where they compromised a bit to keep the price point low.
Powering the motor and beautiful backlit display, as well as a full sized 5 volt 500 milliamp USB port on the base of the display panel, and both Blueline LED lights is a 36 volt 13.8 amp hour Lithium-ion battery pack. The capacity is quite good, slightly above average for the 2018 season, and the battery casing felt solid and tough. Because the casing is made of aluminum alloy and not plastic, the pack does weigh slightly more than average at 6.4 lbs (compared to ~5.7 lbs for the similar-capacity Bosch Powerpack 500). Thankfully, this weight is sunk into the downtube, which improves handling and keeps it hidden. I love how this opens up the middle triangle of the frame, providing plenty of space for a bottle cage on the seat tube (for the step-over model) and making the bike frame easy to lift and hang on some car racks. I feel that IZIP could have added a second set of bosses on top of this battery pack or maybe below the top tube, but that’s a minor consideration. At least the wires on this bike are mostly hidden and the paint matches throughout. Basically, there’s a dark frame color and all of the little hardware accessories are black, giving it a mean cool look. The battery did vibrate and rattle a bit during my ride test off-road on the Raleigh product called the Tamland iE (which uses the same battery design), but that wasn’t an issue on the Moda. The battery pack was easy to charge on the bike and to remove for off-bike charging, using the key slot at the bottom left side of the downtube. It’s nice that you do not have to leave the key in when inserting the pack, just push it down until you hear a click. I also appreciate the stable kickstand, that doesn’t get in the way of the left crank arm. The included four amp battery charger is faster than average and not especially heavy or large, but I do worry about the magnetic cap at the top of the battery. Just try not to misplace the cap or the electrical connector pins that it covers will be exposed and get messy with dust and water over time. By comparison, Stromer electric bikes use a very similar Rosenberger charging port design but have included a plastic leash to keep their cover from getting lost. I’d love to see that from IZIP and others in the future. The other gripe I have with the battery pack is that it must be physically turned on before the display and ebike will work. The power button is located way down near the base of the seat tube, and could be tricky to reach if you forget before mounting. Once it has been activated, however, the display can be turned on and off with a separate power button for up to two hours, before it automatically enters sleep mode. Also, be careful when unlocking the battery pack because the key cylinder is positioned very close to the left crank arm and could get snagged or bent if a keychain is attached. I do like that the battery pack has these little plastic ledges near the base, for easy removal, but there isn’t really a handle to hold once it’s off, so be careful not to drop it. Avoid extreme temperatures when storing and charging lithium ion batteries like this, and try to keep them above 20% full at all times to reduce stress in the cell chemistry.
Operating this bike is fairly intuitive in terms of button and display arrangement. The display is large, clear, and mounted high in the center of the handlebar, making it easy to read. I have done an in-depth guide and video on the display in the EBR Forums here, but will also go into some detail below. Once the battery is activated, the display automatically powers up as well. It’s a grayscale LCD that has a dim mode and a bright mode that activates automatically whenever you press the navigation buttons. It’s handy, and saves power this way while also reducing distraction at night. There’s a power button at the top right edge of the display that basically puts it to sleep but does not de-activate the battery, you can accomplish that by holding the button for several seconds. On the right edge of the display, there’s a light button that power on the headlight and taillight. If you hold the light button in, it will cycle to automatic mode, which uses a built-in sensor to switch the lights on and off as you ride. Just below the light button is a menu button that cycles through readouts, and this button is duplicated on the remote pad which is mounted within reach of the left grip. On this button pad, the center circle button is what changes menus. Above the circle is an up arrow and below the circle is a down arrow. These arrows let you navigate through three levels of assist (Cruise, Tour, and Sport), or you can go all the way down to Off and then hold the down arrow to activate walk mode. I love that the bike has a functional walk-mode because some big companies have disabled it on their US products. The walk assist only goes up to ~4mph (~6km/h) but is useful for pushing the bike if you get a flat tire or have to climb up a steep section of trail that isn’t rideable. For an electric bike like the E3 Moda, that weighs 52lbs without cargo, it could be especially useful when the bike is also loaded with gear. All in all, this display is elegant, simple to use, and offers more precise battery charge level feedback than a lot of competing devices. You get a 10-bar infographic with each bar representing a 10% step. The Brose Classic Original display is removable, easier to find and replace than some custom proprietary solution, and provides most of the menus I like, but didn’t seem to have a dynamic range estimate like Bosch, Shimano, and some others.
It looks like Raleigh has dropped the price of their Redux iE to the same $2,999 price point as the similar IZIP E3 Moda here, and it also comes in two frame styles with fenders, a rack, and lights. I mention this because you might prefer the solid black or white color schemes that Raleigh is offering or have a more convenient Raleigh dealer verses IZIP. For me, it’s wonderful to be able to go in and test ride an electric bicycle, get fitted, be sure that it was assembled properly (though these products do ship almost ride-ready). I like the fun accents that the Moda brings, appreciate how refined the drive system is, and enjoyed the higher speed output of the motor. The chainring spins 1-to-1 here and does not introduce drag when pedaling unassisted or beyond 28mph as some Bosch systems have. The bike utilizes mostly normal parts that shops will be familiar with and able to replace or tune-up as needed. I weighed the 2017 Raleigh Redux at roughly 48 lbs, so I’m guessing that’s how much the fenders, rack, and lights add (if you chose to remove them). I love the utility that this ebike brings and was very impressed with the quiet operation… it’s just solid. Being able to park at a public rack, take the battery and display off for protection, and then charge in your office during the workday is just perfect. I must say however, that the display clicks in around the middle of the mount vs. the very top, and this caused me some confusion and frustration at first (especially while trying to film and make it go quickly), it just wasn’t as intuitive as I felt it could have been. I welcome questions and comments below, I’ll do my best to help out and clarify! Big thanks to IZIP for inviting me to review this new 2018 model and partnering with me on this review. I’ve got more guides in the EBR forums and a special IZIP electric bike forum where you can post pictures, questions, updates, and connect with other owners ;)
Pros:
- The IZIP E3 Moda is a great platform for sporty urban commuting, it has bottle cage bosses (on the step-over frame), a sleek rear rack, alloy fenders, and integrated LED Lights that run off of the main battery! I especially like how the headlight is aimable and has windows on the sides for increased visual footprint
- As a Class 3 electric bike, you get motor assist up to 28 mph which is perfect for people who enjoy faster rides or have a tight schedule, it uses the battery faster but the Brose motor is very efficient
- Comes with a high capacity 500 watt hour battery pack that fits beautifully into the downtube for protection and excellent weight distribution, the 4-amp charger will top you off quickly on longer commutes
- I was amazed at how quiet it rides, the motor, the battery mount, the chain etc. don’t produce a lot of humming or rattling, even at higher speeds
- Thru-axles keep the wheels stiff and support larger tires, this allows you and the motor to transfer energy more efficiently into the bike, it handles well and feels stable with the larger 2.4″ wide Schwalbe Super Moto-X tires
- Minor detail, but I like the kickstand they chose because it stays out of the way and looks nice, it’s slightly fatter than other stands and holds the bike up well, this is great if you’ve loaded the rear rack with bags and gear
- The battery, display panel and both wheels are easy to remove which is great for transporting the bike, fixing flats on the go or charging / protecting sensitive parts when you’ve locked it up to a public rack
- Some electric bicycles are notorious for dropping the chain while riding on rough terrain (my Uncle owns the Stromer ST1 Limited and it falls off all the time for him) but IZIP has used a chain guide (two plates sandwiching the chainring to keep the chain on track) so this won’t happen… and the guide doubles as a chain protector to keep pants clean
- It’s really cool that IZIP is selling the Moda in three frame sizes and offering a traditional high-step and approachable mid-step to make it approachable and comfortable for many types of riders
- IZIP has a large dealer network in the US so you can probably find and test ride this bike easier than some other brands, their two-year comprehensive warranty provides some peace of mind and the Brose system is high quality and reliable from what shops and owners have told me
- Excellent weight distribution and a sweet appearance thanks to mid-drive motor and downtube-integrated battery, they blend in perfectly with the dark color schemes and make this e-bike “stealthy” so it blends in with non-electric bikes
- Hydraulic disc brakes offer good stopping power and the adjustable reach levers are good for large and small riders with different length fingers (or if you wear gloves), love the larger 180mm front rotor with quad-piston calipers for applying force and dissipating heat faster
- The Brose motor is relatively quiet and smooth thanks to a Gates carbon transfer belt inside, it’s not just plastic and metal gears interfacing with each other
- The battery can be charged on or off the bike, the port is magnetic so the plug will pop out without tipping the frame and won’t damage the interface, it’s located in a spot that isn’t in the way of the crank arms like a lot of other electric bicycles I test and review
- Full sized USB port the base of the display mount would allow you to charge a mobile phone, music player or headlight while riding
- I really appreciate how the battery pack seats in from the top vs. the bottom of the downtube because it’s less likely to drop and generally easier to work with here, I also like side-mounting batteries for this reason
- The display panel is large, easy to read and comfortable to use because of the remote button pad located near the left grip, you can adjust assist without looking down as you get some practice
- Both wheels offer quick release for easier maintenance and transport, though the fenders would still stick out a bit so you can’t lay the bike on its side with the bar turned quite as easily as other products
- Unique design choices with the paint and stickers, I appreciate how IZIP brought the accent colors all the way through the frame, fork, saddle, battery case, and even the fenders (although they were just stickers on parts, which could come off easier than paint)
- IZIP left walk mode enabled, just arrow down to no assist and you’ll see this little arrow on the right side of the speed readout, all you have to do is hold the down arrow and the bike motor will run a few miles per hour to help you push the bike (which is great, since it weighs ~52 lbs)
Cons:
- While the larger Super Moto-X tires and ergonomic grips reduce vibration a little bit, I’d consider getting a comfortable 31.6 mm seat post suspension to improve comfort for longer rides at faster speeds with this ebike
- I appreciate the integrated lights but the dark frame colors, non-reflective tires, and higher speed operation would give me pause about riding at night, just be careful out there and maybe install the wheel/spoke reflectors if they come with… they are not pictured in the stock image
- Keep an eye on the little rubber cap used to cover the magnetic charging interface at the top of the battery, this rubber protector doesn’t have a leash and can easily be set down and lost if you don’t keep an eye on it
- The battery pack weighs more than some competing 500 watt hour packs, 6.8 lbs vs. 5.7 lbs on the Bosch Powerpack 500, this may be due to the metal casing and unique in-frame design
- I did not see a range estimator menu like some of the other ebikes are offering but do appreciate the 10-bar battery infographic, it’s more precise than the 4 or 5-bar menus that are common
- Brose mid-drive motors do not offer shift sensing at the time of this review, so it’s best to reduce pedal pressure when changing gears, this reduces mashing and wear on the chain, sprockets, and derailleur
- I tend to prefer metal pedals with pins for maximum power transfer and grip, the plastic pedals with sandpaper texture were okay, but not what I was expecting for a higher speed Class 3 ebike, I’d probably replace them with some lightweight magnesium Wellgo platform pedals like these
- Powering the bike on can be a multi-step process since there’s a power button on the battery pack, once you’ve activated it, the display can turn on and off within two-hours or so while the battery is still active
- Minor thing here, but I was a little bit bummed not to see the one-way clutch on the Shimano Deore derailleur, this clutch offers users the ability to tighten the derailleur springs to reduce chain slap on rough terrain, which can also be handy when riding fast on a speed pedelec like the IZIP Moda… and I didn’t see a slap guard on the right chain stay, so the chain could chip the paint, consider adding some clear plastic box tape or getting a slap guard chain protector yourself to keep it looking nice
Resources:
R Wolf
6 years agoCourt, The IZIP E3 Moda and Raleigh Rudux use the OLD 2014 Brose motor and display, not the new 2017 Brose TF (touring 45kmh)! Hopefully they will upgrade to the newer version for the 2019 model year.
ReplyCourt
6 years agoInteresting, it’s really difficult to tell which Brose motor is on bikes because their plastic casing does not say (the way that Bosch does). During my ride test of the IZIP E3 Moda for this review, I was able to reach ~28 mph, so I feel like I must have been on the TF, or some other fast version. I asked for input from the team, but sometimes I only have access to marketing reps and the bikes can be pre-production vs. final build. What have you seen with the 2018 Moda?
ReplyBeantown
6 years agoI have the e3 Moda and it definitely has a 28mph motor.
ReplyThomas Yondorf
6 years agoThe article still lists the motor as: Brose Drive TF . Have you been able to check on R Wolf’s comment?
ReplyCourt
6 years agoHi, Thomas! I listed it as TF because I believe that’s what it is and I don’t have a way to confirm it more than I did during the visit and review. I believe that it’s the TF motor based on the time of release and what the IZIP reps told me on site. That doesn’t mean that I’m right… but I have also spoken with the Brose reps for North America who gave me feedback about the different motors and timeframes of when they were available. I tried to record that information in a clear way with this forum post, and I welcome your input and other evidence that I might be mistaken.
ReplyR Wolf
6 years agoThomas,
The Bikes were released only months after the Brose Gen 2 motors were announced. Both the Raleigh & Izip MODELS are using the old Gen1 display and a tech rep from the Accell group admitted when pressed that they had already contracted for the old series motors! The Redux & Moda were in production when the new systems were announced. They should be updated for 2019 hopefully.
R Wolf
ReplyCourt
6 years agoWow, thanks for the details on this, R Wolf! I do my best to get accurate info but am often moving from one detailed project to the next and have to keep on moving. Your extra energy and effort here are really appreciated!
ReplyAllan
6 years agoThis looks like a fantastic commuter bike. I’d like to see narrower tires and would like to see 700c wheels just so there would be more variety of tire choice. Would love to see this fast commuter with say 35 mm or even 32 mm tires. Would also love to see a longer top tube for a more aero stretched out position. But even with the way the bike is I suspect it’s a fast commuter, just not as fast as it could be.
Regarding Court’s comment about the 32T limitation on the cassette. I suppose if you’re touring and climbing steep hills it might be a problem, but generally if you’re just commuting and you have sufficient battery I don’t think I’d be worried about the 32T limitation. You can easily do a cassette swap, and I’m guessing the stock derailleur could handle a 36T gear, not sure about 42T but you could swap out the rear derailleur if you had to.
ReplyCourt
6 years agoGood points Allan, it’s usually possible to upgrade cassettes, derailleurs, and chainring to fit your specific needs… especially with a standard sized chainring like Brose has vs. the proprietary sprocket that Bosch uses.
ReplyEric
6 years agoI had decided that this would be the bike for me when I was ready (based on this awesome review and the helpful forums here), but it’s out of stock on the Izip site for all but the small. I sent an email to Izip to see when they’d be available, and got a friendly note back – “The Moda as you see it on the website will not be ordered again in any size.” So, it seems like it’s being phased out. Their suggestion is to move to the Raleigh Redux IE instead. If I’m reading things right, it looks like Izip will focus on the affordable hub drive or TranzX mid drives, and let Raleigh cover the higher-priced Bosch drives. I guess that makes sense as they were basically the same bike – although that Brose mid-drive seemed very appealing.
ReplyCourt
6 years agoHi Eric! Thanks, glad to hear the site has helped you explore different ebike options. Yes, I’ve noticed that IZIP and Raleigh share similar models but seem to target different markets and use different distribution channels. IZIP is more online and has bright colorful products while Raleigh is more through traditional bike shops and tends to use fancier components and cost more. It’s too bad they sold out, but I’m excited to see what things look like next year. Good luck finding the right bike for your situation :)
ReplyPip
6 years agohow tall are you? their sizing seems to be a bit off. I’m 5’8″ ordered the small and the standover height reminds me of hernia checks in school.
ReplyEric
6 years agoHi PIP – I’m 6’2 , and thanks for that feedback, it will be helpful! I think the bottom line is to pick a bike you can actually try. Because buying it online seems too uncertain. Which limits things, because there aren’t a lot of local dealers that carry lots of different models. For this reason, I’m settling on a Trek, because the reviews here are positive and the place nearby has lots of them. Though they are pricey… Good luck!