The first time I got to ride an eZip Trailz electric bike was back in 2011 but Currie has been producing them since 2005. It’s a bike that makes financial sense but sacrifices quality of ride in some ways and doesn’t offer a lot of power or speed. It’s great to see a design update with the new “Commuter” edition that extends the feature set and refines the offering. The biggest improvement over the Trailz base model is the use of Lithium Iron Phosphate battery cells verses Lead acid which weigh much more. For the extra ~$350 you also get fenders, a chain guide and ergonomic grips with the Commuter.
The 450 watt motor driving this ebike is very unique because it isn’t mounted as the hub of the front or rear wheel nor is it a mid-drive design. It sits just behind the rear hub on the port side (left side) of the frame and is mounted to a giant torque plate for stability. The motor drives a short chain that is directly connected to the rear hub. It’s a brushed design that’s not as smooth or long lasting as gearless might be and it has a more limited range of drive speeds (which I imagine is partially why the bike can only reach 15 mph). Given that the motor requires a second chain of its own, in addition to the regular chain connected to the front ring that the rider activates when pedaling, the rear wheel can be tricky to remove if you get a flat.
The battery pack driving this bike offers 25.6 volts of power with 9.6 amp hours of capacity. That’s not a whole lot compared to others available in the US that tend to offer 36 volts of power and 10+ amp hours capacity but it’s kind of the norm in Europe. It’s contained in a plastic box that slides onto the left or right side of the rear rack. The pack only weighs 5 pounds (vs. 15 pounds for the pack on the standard Trailz) and has a handle at the top making it easy to remove for charging or just to make the bike lighter for transport. The rear rack uses standard gauge tubing that works well with bags and panniers but can get loose more easily over time and tends to rattle. Still, it’s a clever system that makes mounting a second battery very easy and actually keeps weight lower than other rear-mounted battery designs like the Prodeco Stride but not quite as low or centered as the e-JOE Anggun.
The control interface on the eZip Trailz Commuter (and regular eZip Trailz) is very simple. Once you’ve selected a battery using the switch on the rear rack you use a toggle switch on the right handle bar to select from twist and go (TAG) or pedal assist mode (PAS). Contained in the switch box are three LED lights that show battery capacity by illuminating green yellow and red. It’s not as precise as some other bikes but it’s simple, durable and inexpensive. The twist throttle on the right balances out the twist shifter on the left bar and is satisfying and responsive to use. Also note, if you twist the throttle while pedaling in pedal assist mode, it actually increases the power from 50% assist to 100% assist which helps when climbing hills. It’s a neat feature that works well but isn’t obvious at first.
All things considered I’m a fan of the Commuter edition eZip Trailz. The steel frame is heavier than most aluminum ebikes but reduces some of the rattling vibrations of bumpier environments. The fenders, ergo grips and rear rack offer good utility but it would have been nice to have lights built in as well. I like the second battery option, especially since the batteries are relatively small, and I like that they used the more advanced LiFePO4 chemistry that is light weight and long lasting. If you’re looking for an inexpensive ebike this might be a good fit, it comes in one size of high step and low step frame (which I would call medium) so keep that in mind if you’re a tall person. The warranty is okay at six months and the ability to get replacement batteries for ~$350 online is pretty easy which means you could keep this bike going for many years if you take care of the frame.
Affordable entry level ebike that's one step up from the eZip Trailz, available in low-step and high-step frame designs. Lithium-ion battery provides good range, durability and is mounted mid-frame for improved balance...
Affordable, entry level electric trike is well designed and gets the job done. Lead-acid battery pack is very heavy and won't get as many cycles as a Lithium…...
Steel frame is heavy but absorbs some vibration along with the entry level suspension fork. External side-mounted chain driven 450 Watt brushed motor offers good torque but is loud and…...
Steve
11 years ago4 stars??? How much is Currie paying you for these reviews??? These bikes get slaughtered on Amazon! This bike gets 4 stars and the Prodeco bikes only get 3 or 3.5? Are you sure? I know these are cheap, but I’m losing faith in your reviews!
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoThe scoring I post is based on what’s available in the category at the time of review, company reputation (improving in this case) and price point. None of the reviews posted on this site are paid. I provide my own time, gas and skills to film, edit and post reviews. That said, Currie, Pedego and Easy Motion are sponsors. I’m friends with the guys at ProdecoTech and many of their newer bikes are getting higher scores. The big differences are frame balance, battery position, ability to move cargo with the rack and the addition of pedal assist. I strive to make these reviews objective but I also have opinions and that’s why I provide a big list of pros and cons and the full written piece (and have open comments like this so people can chime in). Once reviews are posted I tend to leave them unchanged and over time as new stuff comes out it may seem like I rated older bikes much higher than they deserve but the score is meant to reflect the environment in which I reviewed the ebike.
ReplyTodd Isler
10 years agoSaying Currie is a sponsor is all the information I need. I have an Ezip Trailz and it’s a piece of garbage. The SLA batteries are useless, I’ve run through about 4. Haven’t read any reviews of the newer lithium ions that are any better. And 25.6 volt being only type available is ridiculous, when other batteries are 36 and 48 volt. Would never get another Currie bike to save my life.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoThanks for the feedback Todd, I completed this review before Currie was a sponsor and I stand by it. There aren’t many ebikes available in the sub $1K range and while you do get what you pay for to an extent here, you also get a larger network of dealers who know the company, better support than if you imported on Alibaba and the option to replace or upgrade batteries. I’ve seen these at garage sales with over two years of heavy use (and yes, replaced batteries) still functioning. Ezip is the lowest level of bike for Currie, I suggest checking out IZIP or exploring a brand like Easy Motion. Yep… they are also a sponsor but it’s worth noting that I invite each one of these guys based on the quality of their products (after I’ve completed several reviews). My goal is not to mislead people or hurt the ebike movement and it’s worth clarifying that the standard Trailz (with Lead Acid batteries) has one of the worst review ratings on the site at 3 stars. This one is higher based on the battery upgrade and other accessories combined with super low price.
ReplyDrkAngel
10 years agoThe eZip Trailz Commuter seems to be the, finally, perfected version of the eZip Trailz. Every flaw I’ve complained about seems to have been addressed.
#1 10Ah SLA replaced by 9.6Ah Li-ion = 200% range & 500% usable cycles – nearly worth the extra cost, in itself!
#2 Fenders – helps keep the brown streak off the middle of your back.
#3 Chaingaurd – helps keep your pant leg clean.
#4 Suspension seat post – much more comfortable ride!
#5 Wrap around handlebars – makes upright seating possible.
#6 Alloy hubs
#7 Stainless steel spokes
2 remaining mods recommended
#1 Replace 9T motor sprocket with 11T for 20mph capable = $18 – http://www.gngebike.com/parts
#2 All weather tires (OEM are good for clean dry roads but better tread recommended for dirty or wet streets)
Sadly, now that the eZip has become “the excellent budget eBike” … it has been discontinued! The entire eZip line has been retired.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoGreat suggestions about how to improve the bike further! I really enjoyed your post and also recently became aware that the eZip line has been discontinued. Thankfully there are some other cost conscious bikes coming out (all with Lithium cells and some with accessories). One such ebike is the EG Athens and another that is more stripped down is the GenZe Recreational.
Replyraymond antcliff
7 years agoHello, do you do spares for the old ones like a sensor? Thanks, Ray
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoHi Ray, what is the part you need exactly? Just the cadence sensor, the display panel, something to do with the battery pack? This is a pretty old ebike and I’m not exactly sure where replacement parts can be found, but here is the support website for eZip and IZIP products, they may be able to help you out!
ReplyLorenzo saucedo
4 years agoCuanto cuesta un kit para bicicleta electrica ezip trailz commuter?
ReplyCourt
4 years agoNo estoy seguro de que sigan vendiendo este modelo, pero tenía un precio de $ 999 USD. Puede consultar esta otra categoría en el sitio web para obtener bicicletas eléctricas más asequibles.
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