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 Bikes products.
Electric vehicles of all varieties tend to usher in a feeling of being part of the future. As time goes on, more designers look for ways to wow while prices come down in technology itself. The IZIP E3 Loma is a perfect example of the two, sporting both a unique design and a low price point at $1,699. The bike comes in two different colors, satin black with neon blue and yellow accents or a mint blue with gray reflective accents. Also featured are two size options that not only change the frame size, but the wheel size as well with the smaller being a 26″ wheel and the larger being a 28″ wheel. This really lets you get the bike dialed-in to fit you specifically and enhances the over all efficiency. Along with the reflective accents, you get these nice brushed metal reflective wheels and reflective tires to help you stand out. I just love safety features like this so another win for me is the battery intergraded front and rear lights, very ideal for urban conditions. The unique looks have a equally unique rear rack, but I think it can hinder versatility a bit. There is no standard gauge tubing for normal panniers so you have to use like a throw-over cloth type pannier, but if you do manage to get it set up, you may unfortunately get some bumping on the spokes while you are turning since there is no pannier blockers. This same area houses the battery, so getting the battery in and out takes a little finesse as well. Since the E3 Loma is a value priced ebike, it sacrifices some comfort. There is no suspension fork, the tire volume is not large, the seat post is rigid, and the saddle is more on the active side. A lot of this can be changed though through the 31.6mm post. I would also maybe lower the tire pressure to improve riding on varied terrain. The comfort that is there comes from the riser bars that sweep back to meet you, the ergonomic (non-locking) grips, and the low step through that is easy to get on and off of. Overall, the bike is lightweight, weighing at ~55lbs, yet they still manage to get you some strong gussets for reducing frame flex. Couple of little areas for improvement as we look around the bike… No sticker or slap guard means that aluminum alloy frame can start chipping from the chain, something you may want to look into protecting. The kickstand is included, but is in the way of the crank so it can produce pedal lock. Also, no bottle cage bosses. There are a couple of little benefits to make up for these tradeoffs though. For example, we have some internally routed cables, the motor cable is nice and tucked in, and the bike has not only pedal assist, but a throttle as well. Other nice features include an intergraded bell, rubber treaded pedals, plastic fenders, plastic chain guide, and a plastic chain cover.
The hub-drive on this bike is new to me, it is the TranzX R15. The R15 is a ~4.5lb 250watt nominally rated rear hub-drive, although they do make a mid-drive version as well. It features 45nm of torque, 12 magnet cadence sensor, 4 levels of pedal assist, and a throttle. The throttle itself will only engage once you hit 6mph or above, which is a nice safety feature, but may hinder you if you are dead stopped at the bottom of the hill you want to climb. The cadence picks up nicely, thanks to the 12 magnet sensors, allowing the motor to initiate smoothly. The 4 levels of assist are nice too since sometimes other entry level setups will only offer 2 or 3. Once you are going over 6mph, the throttle eases in nicely, gradually increasing speed to that 20mph mark. Given the motors capabilities, it is also quite smooth and quiet compared to some other offerings. The mechanical side of the bike starts off with a 7 speed Shimano Tourney derailleur with at 14-28 tooth cassette. Not a huge range, but definitely better than a single speed. The shifting is operated on a Shimano Tourney thumb shifter, which you see a lot of on throttle bikes. The reason for this is the positioning of the thumb shifter stays out of the way of most throttle setups, unlike shifting levers. The mechanical brakes are Tektro linear pull rim brakes. These may get a little bit more dirtier than disc brakes, but they do have an advantage in the positioning. If you are parking at a crowded bike rack and need to chain up on the wheel along others, the brakes stay out of the way keeping them from getting possibly damaged.
The battery is a TranzX BL520 which is a 36v 11ah lithium-ion pack running at 396 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 thumb 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.
Entry priced ebikes can have a number of tradeoffs. Right away, its easy to notice the lack of comfort in some areas, the entry level components, and some missed opportunities. Living everyday with this bike means less versatility in certain areas such as the rear rack setup or lack of bottle cage bosses. Additionally, the rigidity and lack or power from the motor can seem to fall short for some users. But E3 Loma does have a lot going for it. It stands out in a crowd because of its unique design which also offers (my personal favorite) a lot of safety due to high visibility in the reflective tires, wheels, and some accents. Kicking up the safety and technology a notch means you get battery intergraded lights in the front and rear as well. I can’t forget to mention the bike comes 95% assembled, has a great dealer service network, toll free US support number, and includes a partnership with Beeline Bikes for mobile needs. When you see that you get all that, plus fenders, a throttle, and a great low step through frame, its easy to start seeing this bike come into focus for the right rider, especially considering its only $1,699. I want to thank the Accell Group for inviting me out and letting me try their new offerings. 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:
- The all new model and frame for 2019 is striking and comes in two frame sizes, both really look great in the two colors and reflective accents available
- Keeping the cost down usually means sacrifices, its nice that the E3 Loma still has front and rear battery intergraded lights as well as a throttle, not something you always see in value priced ebikes
- The two different sizes each get their own wheel size (26″ or 28″) which really means you get a more dialed-in feel when you find the best fit for you, it can have varying benefits from affecting the attack angle to overall efficiency
- The bike comes 95% assembled, has a great dealer service network, toll free US support number, and includes a partnership with Beeline Bikes for mobile needs
- The TranzX R15 hub drive does a great job for a smaller motor, it is efficient and quiet, the 12 magnet cadence sensor is great too, it smoothly and gently eases in for a great feeling
- The frame design is not only unique, but has some nice touches, such as the gussets for strength and frame flex reduction
- 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
- Some of the wiring is intergraded into the frame and the motor cable is nice and tucked in
- At $1,699 the price is competitive and if you’re looking for something affordable, unique, visible, and easy to step through, this should fall into your list of considerations nicely
Cons:
- The rear design aesthetic surrounding the battery looks great, but you are limited in your bag and pannier options since there is no standard gauge tubing for regular panniers, you could use a kind of cloth-over hanging pannier, but there are no blockers on the sides of the wheel so if you’re turning, the bags could bump the spokes
- The fenders are plastic and not connected to the rack, so they could rattle a bit
- Comfort is limited since there is no forms of suspension, additionally, the tire is not a high volume tire, if it was me, I might lower the tire pressure just to get a little bit more cushioning
- Since I do recommend storing and charging the battery indoors, make sure to take a little extra time getting comfortable removing the battery pack as it is an interesting setup
- The throttle doesn’t kick in until you are going above 6mph, which can be a great safety feature, but it means you might not be climbing any hills from a dead stop
- The E3 Loma does have a kickstand which is great, however, it is kinda placed a bit in the way, which could produce pedal lock, making some tasks like backing up with the stand down difficult
- A small gripe here, but there are no bottle cage bosses, so if you are looking for that kind of accessory, you are limited to handlebar mounted options
- Entry-level component parts are featured here and there throughout the bike, but most of that can be chalked up to keeping the cost down, where as the E3 Loma is only $1,699
- The liner pull rim brakes do get a little dirtier than disc brakes, but the positioning is great for parking at crowded bike racks since its out of the way
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