2015 IZIP E3 Peak Review

This review is for the 2015 IZIP E3 Peak, click here for the most recent review which features a drivetrain upgrade, lower price point and a new color scheme (black with blue accents). The twist throttle has been dropped but IZIP now offers an optional $50 boost button instead.

The 2015 IZIP E3 Peak is a mid-level off-road electric bike that’s comfortable on trails or pavement thanks to an upgraded RockShox suspension fork with lockout. What really sets it apart is the 28 mph speed pedelec capability which allows the motor to stay active at higher speeds in pedal assist mode. The E3 Peak also has a twist throttle that’s capable of reaching ~6 mph without pedaling or 20 mph with and this is useful for overcoming short climbs while pedaling with lower levels of assist (simply twist the throttle vs. changing assist levels). Compared to the 2014 E3 Peak, the new model has changed colors (from black and green to black and orange), has an improved display panel mount that’s sturdier and also swivels for reduced glare, an upgraded button pad that blends in more and is easier to reach, a redesigned frame with pierced head tube allowing cables to stay more organized and out of the way while running through the frame, wider rims for improved handling along with an upgraded anatomic saddle and finally a 10 speed cassette vs. the older 9 speed. It’s a solid ebike available through a wide network of IZIP dealers nation wide in the US and it comes with a decent warranty all for a reasonable price. While the motor isn’t responsive as something like Bosch or Impulse, it’s certainly powerful and very capable.

The centerdrive motor on the IZIP E3 Peak is a 350 watt geared design from TranzX. It has taken me some time to warm up to this motor between 2013 when I first test rode a prototype Peak and now (late 2014) and I feel like it has become more responsive and refined in that time. It’s not super loud but definitely not your quietest motor either (mid-drives tend to produce more noise when operating at high RPMs in lower gears). I like how small the motor casing is and that it keeps weight low and center on the frame. The chain ring that it pulls has a built in aluminum alloy bash guard guide designed to protect the sprocket teeth and probably the motor to some extent. This front ring is a standard sized 38 tooth design and looks relatively normal from the side. With a 10 speed SRAM X7 cassette in the rear, I found that there were enough gears to climb and reach the higher 28 mph top speeds without adding too much complexity or weight to the system with a second derailleur and more front rings. It’s not surprising that some of the higher end centerdrive bikes like the Haibike XDURO RX 29″ also only offer 10 speeds. The big difference between that system and the E3 Peak is that it can sense when you shift gears and the Peak cannot. This can lead to more grinding and mashing (especially if you try to shift when climbing) but the motor cutoff brake levers help to control motor activation (if you lightly squeeze them the motor will stop but you can still pedal and shift) and during my tests, there actually wasn’t too much mashing going on, even without braking.

The battery pack on the E3 Peak offers a strong 48 volts of power (which is also more efficient than 36 volts) and a decent 8.7 amp hours of capacity. It’s a locking pack that secures to the frame for security but is also removable for reducing weight during transport, charging more conveniently inside your home or office and also opening up the center area of the frame for easier mounting to car racks, bus or train racks or gondolas if you’re up in the mountains. Honestly, I think of the E3 Peak as more of a trail bike but given the RockShox suspension it’s probably capable of some heavier mountain use than something like the Easy Motion Neo 650b that just has a SR Suntour fork with 80 mm travel vs. 100 mm with the Peak. The battery cells used here are Lithium-ion which is valued for being relatively light weight, durable and long lasting. Built into the pack is a small LED charge level indicator so you can tell how full it is without connecting to the bike and powering up.

One of the big areas of improvement on 2015 IZIP electric bikes, including the E3 Peak, is the display panel and associated button pad. The display is backlit, easy to see (mounted front and center) and now connected at two points for improved strength which could come in handy on the trails. I love that it can swivel forward and back to reduce any glare you might be experiencing on an after-work ride and I love the range estimator readout that approximates how far the bike can go at each level of assist given the remaining battery charge. The button that operates the display is pretty simple to use and very easy to reach. It is now also completely rubberized to keep out dust and water. Basically, you can navigate through four levels of assist with up and down buttons which offer increasingly greater power output from the motor and ultimately allow you to reach 28 mph assisted (with active pedaling). Most electric bikes cut motor power at 20 mph and that is still the case for the throttle mode on this one but note that the throttle will really only reach ~6 mph without pedaling. As long as your cranks are moving, it can reach 20 mph and it’s designed as a sort of “override” for lower levels of assist, helping you for a short burst to overcome hills. One complaint on the display is that it’s not removable which could be nice if this ebike was doubling as a weekday commuter or grocery getter.

For ~$3K the E3 Peak offers a lot of value and versatility for riding on or off road. Consider adding a rear carry rack and turn thing into a sporty commuter that can also satisfy your weekend warrior trail riding. The higher top speed means you can get around faster and the mid-drive motor system means you’ll get there efficiently but still able to overcome large hills. You will have to shift more frequently than a hub motor driven bike to truly benefit from the mid-drive but I think the lower center of gravity and easier access to wheels with quick release front and rear can be worth it. It’s great that the E3 Peak comes in two sizes and for 2015 there’s also a full suspension Peak available for smoother off-road riding. I do wish the bike was able to hit 20 mph in throttle only mode, without pedaling, but that’s just not the case and at least it has a throttle (though this could compromise the right grip a bit in rough terrain if it twisted). The E3 Peak does a lot right and the latest TranzX motor pairs nicely with the refined frame and stopping power of the hydraulic disc brakes.

Pros:

• Excellent weight distribution with the mid-frame battery pack and centerdrive motor, this improves balance and handling, especially off-road
• Mid-drive motor leverages the 10 speed cassette for improved efficiency and range, great for climbing with lower gears
• Throttle adds power dynamically (up to 20 mph) when pedaling, great for overcoming small hills when using a lower level of assist
• Lockout feature on the RockShox suspension fork improves pedaling efficiency on smooth surfaces, this combined with the rear rack braze-ons could turn the E3 Peak into a solid “around town” ebike or commuter
• New 2015 display panel can swivel to reduce glare and is attached at two points for improved strength, also backlit for use in dark environments
• Front and rear wheels offer quick release for easy trail maintenance – changing tires, fixing spokes etc. and makes the bike less threatening to traditional bicycle shops who may have never serviced an ebike
• Available in two sizes for improved fit, both are high-step which provides stiffness and come in the black/orange color scheme
• Removable battery reduces overall weight of the bike when transporting on cars etc. and also frees up the triangle section of the bike for easier mounting from hang-style racks
• Solid warranty from Currie Technologies, available to see and test ride at many shops across the United States and get serviced ongoing
• The 650b (27.5″) wheel size strikes a balance between nimble handling and efficient rolling momentum and obstacle handling, tires and tubes may be more expensive to replace since it’s a newer standard
• Nice component upgrades including the SRAM X7 10 speed cassette, locking grips, aluminum alloy pedals and RockShox suspension fork – frame, saddle and fork all match nicely
• Hydraulic disc brakes operate without requiring much effort, they are smooth and provide quick stopping power while also cutting power to the motor, matching 180 mm rotors are large for added strength
• Remote button pad on left bar is well sealed against water, blends in with the bar and is easy to reach while riding – intuitive menus make operating the bike while riding easy

Cons:

• The throttle can only reach ~6 mph if you’re not pedaling along, it cuts out abruptly and leaves me wishing it could hit 20 mph on its own without pedaling along
• No water bottle cage mounting points, you’ll have to use a Camelbak or get a seat post adapter to add a a cage separately, could also use a rear rack
• Display panel is not removable, when using the bike to commute to work or park in town this exposes it to more wear through weather and possible tampering
• Value drive system with larger front ring and simpler control sensors than higher end systems like Bosch or Impulse, the motor doesn’t kick in or stop as quickly and it also can’t sense when you’re shifting gears
• The battery pack has to be turned on independently and then you can turn the bike on with the button pad, this confused me in the video review and just takes extra time each time you want to ride the bike