IZIP E3 Edge Review

To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by IZIP Electric Bikes. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of IZIP Electric Bike products.

All new for 2019 is the IZIP E3 Edge, an affordable entry level hardtail mountain mid-drive ebike that is at home on the streets and trails. The Edge comes in both a mid-step and high-step as well as 2 colors: black with lime accents or neon blue with green and black accents. Each frame style also has its own sizes with the mid-step coming in a 17” or 19” frame and the high-step coming in either a 19” or 21” frame. The E3 Edge is somewhat lightweight with an aluminum alloy frame weighing in at 52lbs. Its got a nice SR Suntour XCT30 semi-adjustable suspension fork with the preload being the adjustable option. If you weigh a little more or just want less travel, you can configure those in tandem for better results. No full lockout here or rebound, but you do have these thicker stanchions. The tires are CST Patrol with some nice tread to them. 40-65 PSI capacity, but unfortunately no puncture protection is included in this set. The size itself is great, using a 27.5” x 2.25” setup. This is a compromising size that does great for both on and off road and really works great for a dual-use/cross-country sort of applications. Some options for configuration here like the bottle cage bosses, rear rack bosses, threaded eyelets for adding fenders, tapered head tube if you want to swap out a different fork… there is a ridged seat post, that can also be swapped out for more comfortable options. Being a kind of dual purpose bike, they added a kickstand and it can be removed as well if you don’t want it bouncing around on a trail ride. Some other features include quick release on both wheels, Wellgo aluminum alloy pedals, internally routed wires, and USB port charging.

Driving the bike is a TranzX M16 GTA mid-drive motor. The system has a 300-500 watt output and 60nm of torque. The M16 is capable of measuring both cadence and torque in pedal cycles. Not an advanced motor, but still great. There is no shift detection, so ease off some when changing gears so the derailleur doesn’t take quite as much pressure. Its got a 20mph top speed but cuts out at that 20mph and doesn’t support fast pedal rotations, so be careful when taking it to the max. As it stands, it is a Class 1 ebike, making it legal for most trails. There is a throttle optional wire so you can add a throttle, but then it becomes a Class 2, so keep that in mind. Riding with the motor is great, its zippy and fairly quiet while being somewhat dynamic. On the mechanical side, the bike is driven by a Shimano Altus 8 speed with 11-32 tooth cassette. Not the highest end drivetrain, but still better than the entry level. Shimano Acera rapid fire plus triggers on tight (optical window display, one way high, three-shift low). Tektro 160mm mechanical disc brakes with 4 finger levers. Since they are mechanical brakes and must travel further, you might have to get a hard press going to get that real stopping power, additionally, there are no motor inhibitors so keep that in mind.

The battery is a TranzX BL19 which is a 48v 8.7ahah lithium-ion pack running at 417.6 watt hours. The charger is a 2amp charger that weighs ~1.8lbs. 2amp chargers are common, especially among the value priced bikes. This one takes about 5 and a half hours to charge. It can be charged on or off the bike and is removable via a lock and key setup. The battery has an LED readout that shows 5 separate 20% intervals. To really care for this and other lithium-ion packs, I have heard that storing in a cool dry location vs. extreme heat or cold will extend the life, and try to keep it about 50% full when not using for long periods so you won’t stress the cells. Try not to let it run down to zero, because that’s really hard on the cell chemistry.

The cockpit features the brake levers on each side, display on the left, and Shimano trigger shifter on the right. The display controls have 3 buttons: up, down, and power. To power on the bike, once the battery is secure, press and hold the power button on the battery, then if the bike is asleep (it does have a sleep mode), press the power button over on the display controls. When standing still, the display primarily shows the assist level but will show MPH as you get going. Use the up and down arrows to scroll through the various modes of assist: 0-4 (0 being no electric motor power). To the right of the numeric indicator is a battery readout that shows remaining battery life in 5 separate 20% steps. In highest level of assist, if you press the power button again, it will show you dynamic range estimate, letting you know approximately how many more miles you have left of the charge in real time. Press the up or down arrows to show remaining range (after a brief pause) in other modes as well. Holding the down arrow activates the intergraded rear and headlight. Another nice feature is the USB port on the side of the display which can charge devices up to 500mA.

The E3 Edge is competitively priced at $1,999 which isn’t bad considering you get a lightweight mid-drive hardtail setup, front suspension, decent tires, and an electrical system that will keep things Class 1 for more fun. However, there is a little room for improvement in some areas. For example, the grips are non-locking, there is no slap guard which is a bummer if you’re trying to protect that cool paint color, there are no battery intergraded lights, and the motor is not a premium setup that most people see in mountain ebikes. All in all, those could be considered small potatoes since the E3 Edge has a great price, 2 year warranty, comes 95% assembled, and also includes support and a partnership with beeline mobile bike service. It was fun to take these out and I want to thank IZIP Electric Bikes for giving me the chance to visit and get a closer look at this all new bike.

As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own a previous version of the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the EBR forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)

Pros:

• Affordable and capable with some components like Shimano Altus taking a step up from entry level
• The mid-drive system and weight distribution of the battery help keep things blanced
• Comes in a mid-step and high-step, two different colors (black with yellow accents or blue with lime accents), and 3 different frame sizes (17″ and 19″ for mid-step, 19″ and 21″ for high-step)
• Equipped with an SR Suntour XCT30 semi-adjustable suspension fork with the preload being the adjustable option
• The tires are CST Patrol with some nice tread to them, 40-65 PSI capacity, 27.5” x 2.25”, this is a compromising size that does great for both on and off road and really works great for a dual-use
• Some versatility here with bottle cage bosses, rear rack bosses, threaded eyelets for adding fenders, tapered head tube if you want to swap out a different fork
• The E3 Edge has a kickstand and it can be removed as well if you don’t want it bouncing around on a trail ride
• Being a mid-drive, there is quick release on both wheels which is fantastic for mountain bikers and commuters alike
• The display is on the more basic side, however I love that it includes a range estimator for each the varying levels of power, features like that really let you get the most out of your ride, knowing when you should head back

Cons:

• The paint colors are really cool which is why it is a bummer there is no slap guard if you’re trying to protect that nice paint color, you can always get some box-tape or get a neoprene slap guard on Amazon or something similar
• Its got a nice 48v battery but unfortunately no intergraded lights in the front or in the rear
• The Tranzx mid-drive is not the most advanced motor available, but it does offer both torque and cadence sensing
• No full lockout available on the suspension, no rebound, but it does have preload adjustments
• Motor cuts out at 20mph and the motor doesn’t support faster pedal rotations, no shift detection, also no motor inhibitors, so be careful when taking it to the max as it could start feeling unnatural
• No reflective sidewall on the tires, no puncture protection either, would be nice to see on a cross-country kind of bike like this
• Mechanical disc brakes are decent, but hydraulic is becoming a preferred setup for some ebikes since mechanical requires a harder hand pull and are not as immediate, the mechanical brakes are easier to service and adjust however
• The system is capable of a throttle, but it is not included here, probably to keep it a Class 1 ebike

Resources:

• Official Site: https://www.izipelectric.com/