Name: IZIP E3 Vibe+ Review
Item: IZIP E3 Vibe+
Author: Court Rye

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IZIP E3 Vibe+ Review

Izip E3 Vibe Plus 48 Volt Removable Rack Battery

Izip E3 Vibe Plus Velo Dual Density Basic Grips

Izip E3 Vibe Plus Seven Speed Shimano Altus

An approachable electric bike with deep low-step frame, adjustable stem, swept back handle bars and a large comfortable saddle
Simple linear pull brakes work well and are easy to adjust, quick release skewers on both wheels for hassle-free maintenance, removable battery pack for on or off-bike charging
Powerful mid-drive with four levels of assist and optional boost button pad (for throttle on demand operation), the lower levels of assist are smooth and quiet
No shift sensing built in to the drive unit so ease off, the motor responds mostly to cadence vs. torque so it’s easy to pedal, solid two year comprehensive warranty

Make:

IZIP

Model:

E3 Vibe+

Price:

$1,799

Body Position:

Upright

Suggested Use:

Neighborhood, Urban, Commuting

Electric Bike Class:

Pedal Assist (Class 1), Throttle on Demand (Class 2)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

2 Year Comprehensive, Lifetime Frame

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

2016

Total Weight:

54 lbs (24.49 kg)

Battery Weight:

7.3 lbs (3.31 kg)

Motor Weight:

8.5 lbs (3.85 kg)

Frame Material:

6061 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

13 in (33.02 cm)15 in (38.1 cm)17 in (43.18 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

16.5" Stand Over Height

Frame Types:

Step-Thru

Frame Colors:

Metallic Red with Black Accents

Frame Fork Details:

Rigid Aluminum Alloy

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Bosses, Front Fender Bosses, Bottle Cage Bosses

Gearing Details:

7 Speed 1x7 Shimano Altus, CS-HG20-7, 22-30T

Shifter Details:

microSHIFT Triggers on Right

Cranks:

Lasco EB05 Chainring with Alloy Guide

Pedals:

Resin Platform with Non-Slip Tread

Headset:

VP Semi-Integrated Ahead, 4 Risers

Stem:

Promax Aluminum Alloy

Handlebar:

Promax 25.4 mm Diameter, Steel, 630 mm x 55 mm Rise

Brake Details:

Tektro Linear Pull with Generic Levers

Grips:

Velo Dual Density, Semi-Ergonomic Rubber

Saddle:

Velo Commuter with Integrated Handle

Seat Post:

Promax Aluminum Alloy with Quick Release Collar

Seat Post Length:

324 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

29.8 mm

Rims:

DM18 Alexrims Doublewall, Aluminum Alloy

Spokes:

Stainless Steel 13 Gauge, Black

Tire Brand:

Kenda Hybrid, 26" x 1.95"

Wheel Sizes:

26 in (66.04cm)

Tire Details:

Slime Inside (Self-Sealing Flat Tire Prevention System)

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Pre-Wired for 6 Volt LED Lights (Front and Rear), Single Side Adjustable Length Kickstand, Welded-On Battery Support Rack with Standard-Gauge Surround Bars (For Panniers or Trunk Bag), Aluminum Alloy Chain Guard

Other:

Locking Removable Battery Pack, 2 Amp 1.8 Pound Charger

Motor Brand:

Currie Electro-Drive® (TranzX), Model M16GTA

Motor Type:

Mid-Mounted Geared Motor

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

350 watts

Motor Peak Output:

500 watts

Motor Torque:

68 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Samsung or LG

Battery Voltage:

48 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

8.8 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

422.4 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

20 miles (32 km)

Estimated Max Range:

40 miles (64 km)

Display Type:

Fixed Monochrome Backlit LCD with Adjustable Angle

Readouts:

Speed, Odometer, Battery Capacity (5 Bars), Assist Level (0-4), Range Estimation

Display Accessories:

Independent Button Pad on Left

Drive Mode:

Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist (Optional Button Throttle)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)

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Make or Model

Model Year

Body Position

Suggested Use

Frame Type

Drive Mode

Availability

Price Range

$0 (0 €)$18,000 (16,920 €)

Total Weight

0 lbs (0 kg)227 lbs (103 kg)

Top Speed

0 mph (0.0 km/hr)50 mph (80.5 km/hr)

Battery Watt Hrs

0 watt3,456 watt

Frame Size

0 in (0.00 cm)432 in (1,097.28 cm)

Motor Power

0 Newton meters250 Nm

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The original IZIP E3 Vibe has been completely remodeled for 2016 and is now called the Vibe Plus. The suspension fork is gone but the bike weighs nearly 10 pounds less and has a more streamlined battery pack. You get a more powerful and more efficient mid drive motor and a larger battery capacity but the price has risen a bit to compensate. With three frame sizes to choose from, the Vibe+ can be the most compact and easiest to mount electric bicycle in the IZIP family. For this review I was on the extra small frame… and it worked quite well once I raised the seat post a bit :)

This thing is easy to mount, relatively stable and at ~54 pounds it’s not super heavy considering the sturdy rear rack, oversized handle bars and comfort accessories. I spent a bunch of time riding in pedal assist level one because it’s the smoothest and slowest mode (topping out around 11 mph). This is an electric bike that would do well in neighborhoods or around town, perhaps running short errands and loading food or school supplies. While it only comes in one color scheme (metallic red with black accents) I noticed that the spokes, chain guard, saddle and grips all tied in. The electronic wires are also black but seamlessly pass through the downtube so you don’t notice them as much. It’s a good looking ebike but one that also feels sturdy, I love that the tire tubes come with Slime installed to help resist flats and appreciate the front and rear quick release skewers that come in handy if you do have to perform maintenance or transport the bike.

This ebike uses more basic components but not quite bottom of the line… You get Tektro linear pull brakes, a seven speed Shimano Altus derailleur, a decent kickstand and a nice chain guard to keep your pants or dress clean. The rear-mounted battery doubles as a cargo rack and fender but positions the weight of the battery high and towards the rear compromising frame stiffness and handling to a limited extent. Frankly, it works fine for basic city riding. My favorite parts about this model are the powerful motor, easy to read display panel and optional boost button (which costs $50 extra) that turns this into a Class 2 electric bike offering throttle on demand.

Once you’ve charged the battery (on or off the frame!) and mounted it, you press the power button towards the left side of the pack then press another power button near the display console to get the systems all booted up. It’s more involved than I’d like but once it’s online the button pad makes changing modes or screen readouts very easy. You can arrow up or down between four levels of assist with increasing speed and power as you get up to four (topping out at 20 mph). The motor responds mostly to pedal cadence verses torque and I prefer this for more relaxed riding because my knees get sensitive if I push too hard. There’s no shift-sensing feature on this drive system so keep that in mind but given the gentler pedaling for around-town use that shouldn’t be a huge issue here :)

Pros:

One of the smallest and easiest to mount electric bikes I’ve tested, the single-tube low-step frame offers a 16.5″ stand over height and the seat can go down to ~28″ off ground level
The rear rack is setup with a “cage” that protects the battery but can also work with a trunk bag or side mounted panniers, it uses standard gauge tubing that should be compatible with the widest range of accessories including clip-on panniers
I love that you can purchase the “boost button” and turn this into a Class 2 electric bike for $50 and that it’s pre-wired with 6 volt leads for adding lights
The rear rack functions as a fender to keep your back dry and there are mounting points on the front fork for adding a 26″ fender
The tire tubes come with Slime inside designed to plug holes and stop leaks, you could bring along a mini-pump in a bag or mount one like this to the bottle cage bosses along the downtube
Available in three frame sizes including the extra small 13″ which would be perfect for petite riders, it’s nice that it also goes large for taller people who just want to save money and prefer step-thru
The drive unit relies mostly on cadence sensing so you don’t have to push especially hard in order to make the motor go, this is good for people with sensitive knees or when riding with a heavier load but may drain the battery a bit faster than torque sensing
Extra attention to detail with the plastic sticker slap guard on the right chain stay, the aluminum chain guide to keep the chain on track and black painted spokes that match the tires and black highlights of the frame, I also like that most of the wires and cables are internally routed through the frame so it looks nicer
The electronic systems all “talk to each other” using CAN bus (Controller Area Network) which makes diagnosing issues and updating firmware much easier for shops, that’s a unique feature for a more affordable ebike like the Vibe Plus

Cons:

The battery pack has to be switched on before the display panel can be activated, it’s an extra step that takes time and can be easy to forget… also, the button pad on/off has to be held for three or four seconds and once the display begins booting up there’s an eight second countdown to wait through
There is a “zero” assist level that completely shuts off the motor but leaves the display active like a cycle computer (or to power integrated lights) but it’s kind of hidden, once the display is on and you’re in assist level 1 just hold the power button on the button pad for a couple of seconds and it will go to zero, another tip is to hold the plus button for a few seconds to activate the lights and display backlighting and to hold the box icon to switch from mph to km/h
The display backlighting only has two options (on or auto) so you can’t switch it off completely if you want to ride without light which could be annoying for some people
Because the Vibe+ uses a single-tube frame and the battery is mounted on a rear rack, there is some frame flex (especially if you stand up and pedal hard)
Without a suspension fork the bike can feel a little stiff and jarring at higher speed, the tires are medium in size which adds some bounce and comfort and the saddle is oversized but you might consider getting a suspension seat post to reduce bumps while riding (you’ll need a 27.2 mm to 29.8 mm seat post shim like this in order to make it work)

Resources:

Official Site: https://izipelectric.com/electric-bikes/leisure#desc-bottom
More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/3gmcrHhZrEzSszfE8

January 29, 2024 (11 months ago)

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Jordan

8 years ago

Big fan of your videos,man! I’m in my mid 30’s and getting back into cycling after an 8 year hiatus. I live in Southern California on a hill above the ocean. I’t about a 1.5 mile commute down to the beach, of which 1/2 a mile is very steep… I would say about 30%. The downhill’s a blast (sometimes a bit scary) but it’s the uphill ride back home that send a novice to the E.R. I need power, and lot’s of it. After some research, I’ve narrowed down my search to the Vanmoof Electrified S and the Stromer ST2… mostly based on technology, aesthetics, and the larger batteries and power trains. Which one will better tackle the “hill of doom”? Any other suggestions welcome. Thanks, J

Court Rye

Hi Jordan! I’d go with any of the Stromer models (ST1 or ST2) because they ride more comfortably than the Vanmoof. It has a neat aesthetic but the large stiff aluminum tubes don’t flex and just feel really hard and stiff compared to other frame designs. I haven’t tested the Electrified S so I can’t say for sure but I currently have an ST1 Limited Edition and it’s awesome… has regen to help you brake down the hill, the motor is super powerful and quiet and it just feels good thanks to a Carbon fiber fork. Again, this is a bit of a one sided opinion but my experience with the Vanmoof frames has just been uncomfortable.

Ron

The IZIP E3 Vibe+ seems almost identical to the Raleigh Sprite iE. Does it also have 6 volt wires at the front and rear to add lights?

Also, do you have any preference between these two bikes?

Thanks

Hi Ron! You’re correct, Raleigh Electric and IZIP are owned by the same parent company called Accell North America. They put out several of the same models that are just colored and accessorized differently in order to reach different dealers. I believe that yes, they both have wires for lights. I’d go for the one you can get at a dealer so they can fit you and service the product (unless one color appeals to you more than another).