The IZIP Express Special Edition is a purpose built electric bike that was originally designed for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Bicycle Patrol Unit. The goal was to create an ebike that could withstand the varied terrain of an urban environment, transport equipment and gear easily and last an entire day without running out of batteries. The bike achieves that and more with a top speed of ~28 mph and well balanced custom battery/motor combination that puts out 92 Newton Meters of torque (higher than any other ebike I’ve tested to date). I believe the LAPD still has some of these bikes but their use is limited due to the overall weight of the system at ~62 lbs which can make transport and carrying up/down stairs difficult. The Express was designed from 2008 to 2012 when it was delivered to the LAPD and has since become available to the public through Currie Technologies at a sale price of ~$2,800. With great components and a solid warranty this electric bike could be a good fit for commuters but the big downsides include the louder noise it produces when riding (as shown in the video review above), a bit of “surging” vs. a smooth power output due to a super-sensitive servo actuated speed sensor and the overall weight due to the large battery capacity.
The motor driving the Express is a 750 watt high speed canister configuration that sits just behind the seat tube and is encased in a translucent plastic container extending from the battery and controller case in the main triangle. As mentioned earlier, this ebike is capable of putting out enormous torque which is perfect for accelerating or climbing, even with gear. The motor pulls a Gates Carbon belt drive that connects with a planetary differential hub in the rear. Basically, your pedal power and the motor power both go into this differential and can propel the bike forward. The system is a bit more complex than a modern bottom bracket mid-drive such as that used on the Bosch systems because you’ve got two drive trains to manage (belt and chain) but this reduces strain on the chain and sprockets and the rear wheel still features a quick release which makes it easier to work with than many hub drive systems today. The motor is fast, strong and loud but quite durable and very responsive.
Powering this bike is an enormous 36 volt 20 amp hour Lithium-ion pack positioned in the main triangle space of the frame. This pack is capable of 50 miles per charge in the lowest assist level and is even removable with a quick release lever just below the top portion of the downtube. It has a keyed lock for security and a built-in handle for easier carrying. I like that you can take the pack off relatively easily because that significantly reduces the overall weight of the bike (the battery pack casing weighs ~20 pounds with the controller also contained inside). If you keep the pack stored in neutral temperatures and top it off after each use your batteries will last for more cycles and if you’re carrying the frame on a hanging-style car rack removing the battery will make it easier to mount.
Operating this bike is relatively simple as the handle bars don’t feature any electric-specific dashboards or switches to mess with or be distracted by… just the standard brake levers and trigger shifters. The control panel is instead positioned under the top tube, helping to reduce impact and wear in the event of a crash or tip. Basically, once the battery is charged, you press the circular rubber pad shown in the picture above and then use the up and down arrows to select from five levels of assist. That’s it, only three buttons to mess with. Since this is a pedal assist only electric bike (no throttle mode) you will need to actively pedal to get the bike going and for that you’ve got 27 speeds to choose from. Higher end SRAM and Shimano derailleurs were used and trigger shifters are present on the left and right bars. Whether you’re climbing a steep hill or really pushing that top speed of ~28 mph your cadence can stay relatively fixed thanks to all of the sprocket combinations. This does however add some maintenance liability however as two derailleurs means more complexity. Ultimately, the motor and pedal systems work very well together and the unique servo sensor (that physically turns when you pedal vs. using magnets) is very responsive. The one downside I noticed is that the heightened sensitivity can produce a surge feeling where downward pedal strokes boost the bike and in between strokes feel slower. With a bit of practice and more consistent pedaling (as well as the use of clip-ins) this feeling may be eliminated and the pedals that come with the bike are clip-in ready using Shimano Clipless PD-M545 hardware.
The IZIP Express has always interested me, it’s not an electric bike you see around very often because of its original intended use for police. It’s rugged, fast and powerful but the weight could be an issue if you live up stairs or don’t feel comfortable handling something larger. The frame only comes in high-step configurations but the two sizes help deliver good fit. The front hydraulic disc brake pairs well with the rear V-brake (which was used to make it sturdier for sliding the bike out). The front 20 mm thru-axle is also very solid and the air fork softens the ride without adding weight but doesn’t include a lockout setting. The rear rack could be very useful but lacks pannier blockers so consider rigid panniers to avoid having them rub or snag on the rear wheel and spokes. At ~$2,800 this electric bike offers a lot of value in components and battery power, to me it seems best suited to distance commuters who desire speed and are looking for a good deal.
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Vince Caruso
9 years agoPaid about $1,500 for a new Escape late 2015 from a bike store mail order and find it is a great bike for urban use. Kinda heavy but for the advantages of a large battery, higher speed and low cost I find it worth it, much less weight than a scooter. If you take off the easy to remove 20AH battery it is like a regular bike, for example to lift onto a car bike rack.
Goes fast if needed and high torque for hills. Has some noise as is shown in the video but not distracting and helps pedestrians know you are coming. Cars running on electric will soon be required to produce noise for this reason. Faster riding allows you to keep up with traffic in urban areas which seems to be safer and easier.
Can go without charging for many days of riding which is nice, if you are doing 2-5mi rides. Adding bike bags overflowing with groceries is not an issue as you really don’t notice the extra weight riding.
The Evo Drive does seem to ‘slip a little’ when pedaling hard on startup on rare occasions but not an issues for me. Needed to add lights but it has an available plug for that and the lights are available online from the IZIP Store and others. In recent years some Express’s have come with lights and fenders.
This is a great option to get out of the car. Getting out of the car and on a bike for common local trips is like living in a Net Zero Home. Thanks again for the great reviews. Very useful.
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoHi Vince! I really enjoyed reading your comments about the Express and Escape models. The bikes are really unique and I like the higher speed and larger battery options. Sounds like you’ve got yours dialed in with integrated light, good call for safety. Thanks for your positive feedback on the review, glad you enjoyed it :)
ReplyRobert Mulgrew
6 years agoBought a leftover/ old stock Izip Express in 2017. Great bike. Excellent top speed. Have hit over 40 MPH downhill. Wasn’t getting the longest life out of battery any longer. Just sent to Nether’s Battery/Wholesale in Newark OH for a rebuild. Hoping to improve mileage – will give an update after receiving rebuild. I do have 2 spare frames and some other parts if you need. Just contact me at rmulgrew86@gmail.com
RJM
ReplyCourt
6 years agoThat’s wonderful, RJM, thanks for sharing your contact info and the bit about battery replacement. I recently visited a place called FTH Power in Southern California, near LA, that also does battery repacking. I’d love to hear how your experience goes and how much it costs to get your Express back online.
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