2016 IZIP E3 Dash Review

The 2016 IZIP E3 Dash features a high torque mid-drive motor while the previous two iterations used gearless direct drive hub motors. This improves balance and frame stiffness while making quick-release on both wheels possible (and easier). You get thru-axles for improved stiffness (12 mm rear and 15 mm front) and hydraulic Shimano disc brakes with a larger 180 mm rotor up front for quick stops. I found the motor to respond mostly to cadence, to run quietly and to be slightly delayed… both starting and stopping. It’s a more basic motor that does not detect shifting and therefor may strain the chain, sprockets and derailleur more if you try to shift while pedaling hard and using a high level of assist. The 10 speed Shimano Deore drivetrain is solid mid-level and should hold up well if cared for. While this is a speed-pedelec Class 3 with only pedal assist by default, you can spend $50 extra for a boost button to be mounted near one of the ergonomic grips. This plastic ring has three buttons… one to enable boost, one to slowly and smoothly reach ~6 mph and another unlabeled button offering full power up to ~20 mph if you’re using one of the higher gears.

To truly reach ~28 mph on this electric bicycle you do have to pedal along and use one of the higher gears. The speed range of the motor itself is somewhat limited but it’s very powerful which is great for climbing and it’s fairly quiet. I appreciate the included fenders, rear rack and integrated LED lights from Spanninga! This e-bike is ready to go right out of the box and all of the parts match. It comes in three sizes and I was using the medium ~17″ frame which felt slightly small for my 5’9″ build but kept my body upright for improved city riding. Expect the range to be limited around 15 to 30 miles given the higher torque motor and high-speed operation (where wind resistance becomes more of a factor). Extend it by staying under 20 mph and using the lower 1 or 2 levels of assist.

Pros:

• High speed pedal-assist performance (up to 28 miles per hour with active rider input) means you’ll arrive quicker but also drain the battery faster above 20 mph due to air resistance
• The suspension fork, larger diameter wheels and thicker tires provide comfort when traveling over longer distances, bumpy terrain and at higher speeds… the ergonomic grips feel good, the saddle is firm for active pedaling
• This electric bike is feature complete meaning it comes with all of the supporting accessories you might need for commuting (a rear rack), riding at night or early morning (integrated LED lights) and dealing with inclement weather (full length fenders with mud guards)
• Since the E3 Dash is a speed pedelec the wheels and frame will endure more stress and strain so both axles are upgraded to thicker 12 mm rear and 15 mm front for improved stiffness and better alignment of the disc brake rotors with the calipers and pads
• Even though this model only comes in a high-step “diamond” frame design, it has been engineered with a sloping top tube to lower stand over height which makes holding the bike at rest or walking over it easier, I measured ~31 inches on the Medium 17″ frame
• Because the motor is mounted at the center of the frame along with the battery pack, weight is kept lower which improves stability and the rear rack is left completely open for gear
• The center-drive system leverages your chain and 10 speed cassette to operate more efficiently for climbing or reaching higher speeds, it offers better range than a similarly rated hub motor if you manage your gears properly
• Higher-end parts all around including Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with a larger 180 mm rotor in the front for better stopping power (the rear rotor is standard 160 mm), Shimano Deore derailleur for precision shifting and large stiff Wellgo alloy platform pedals for stability and grip
• If you want even more control, a boost button can be added which offers two drive modes: a 6 mph starting speed (almost like walk mode) and a traditional throttle up to 20 mph which has to be held down to operate
• The motor is very capable at climbing and can easily hit the ~28 mph top speed if you’re in the higher couple of gears, it’s also surprisingly quiet… but doesn’t offer the same high RPM as Bosch so your gear matters more

Cons:

• The display panel and associated button pad can be a bit confusing at first, holding the power icon when you’re in assist level 1 will take you down to zero (so you can use the lights and display without the motor), it would be nicer if you could just arrow down to zero
• The display unit is not removable so it could take more damage when the bike is parked outside or in a public location if you commute with it, thankfully the battery is removable for convenient charging
• The fenders, rack and lights are awesome but there do not appear to be bottle cage bosses on the seat tube… that’s a bummer because it means you need a trunk bag or panniers to bring liquids, locks, pumps or other accessories and that will add weight and be less convenient to reach
• The battery pack must be activated before the display unit can be powered on, it’s a two step process that takes extra time and can create confusion when going straight for the display on/off
• You get a lot of power with the high-torque motor but it’s not as responsive or dynamic (feels mostly like a cadence sensor in there) and the range is more limited than some of the other ebikes I’ve tested (estimate 15 to 30 miles per charge depending on the assist level you choose)
• There’s no shift detection built in to the system so I tried to power through climbs rather than shifting down for fear of mashing and prematurely wearing out the chain, sprockets and derailleur