On the Peak during climbs if I shifted under power it kept pulling but made a big gang with each shift. Trying high gear at low speeds causes no go and risky motor lugging. For anyone who has driven manual shift cars and bikes you know being in the wrong gear just won’t work. I just got to the point during all my riding to realize that it isn’t my bike so all that noise and wear wasn’t my problem, yet feeling in the long (and maybe not so long) run, it could cause issues.Īs much as I try not to make comparisons to motorcycles and cars when it comes to bicycles, to explain this combo’s feel it is hard not to do. This bike is said to have a stretch-free chain (and that left questions in my mind also). You can stop pedaling to shift (so the motor powers down), but then again with a derailleur set-up you need to pedal to allow the chain to move to the next gear. The display and its working are much to my delight, it is the way the system is programmed that drew my criticisms. Most every shift I made was a disturbing one and on this E-bike you shift a lot. It does have a hand throttle, but it is only for low-speed (up to about 8 mph). The control system on this bike is sensed off of pedal pressure (torque) and pedal cadence (speed). Plus shifting with heavy foot pressure on the pedals causes noise and wear in the gears and chain.Īnyway, if the motor is applying power during a shift (which it does if you are pedaling) on this Peak (and most other mid-drive E-bikes) you get the same effect, banging noise and a disturbing feel. Being in the wrong gear at the wrong time can really affect your ride. Knowing when to shift and timing it correctly during your pedaling stroke and pedal pressure can elude even seasoned bicycle riders. There are some people who just don’t take to shifting a bike as well as others. The other issue I have against hub motors doesn’t apply to this bike as strongly because this is no beginner’s E-bike. The many speed drivetrain worked great, but got put to the test from the motor’s power during shifting. On most hub motor electric bikes shifting needs take a back seat (not as important) to the bikes overall performance and rideability. The bad part of this is that precise and correctly timed shifts become mandatory. In the upper gears it can be more efficient and up your top speed (good points). It will increase the available torque in the lower gears for climbing and acceleration. Using the bike’s gears for the motor does allow it to flex its muscles better than a hub motor (generally the most common set-up on E-bikes). This feature has its good and bad points. It also means the motor power is sent to the rear wheel through the same drivetrain that your foot power goes through. Having the weight of the motor there helps the balance and handling, a good thing and something I felt in spades during each ride. Mid-drive, what does that mean? It means the motor is in the center of the chassis at a very low point. FYI, the red item is a reflective leg band. Much has been talked about mid-drive and many desire this latest technology, but I found some points lacking, some that others might not.ģ50 watts of quiet mid-drive power. This kind of comes down to the mid-drive motor and the way it all works together for this IZIP E-bike. The extra speed and rush it brings was fun to be sure, yet still no solid feel of oneness came about between the bike and myself. The narrow saddle and the extra wide bars might be great for some, just not me.Īll that I can live with for the testing, but it was the combo of the controls and the motor style that kept my smile from brimming. A semi-lay down sport bike I can handle, but this bike is a little beyond that. Even with the optimum groove in this department I just never got comfortable. I almost always take the time to get the saddle height and angle set, and the bars and controls too, something I did with this E3 Peak. The bent-over stance and cockpit layout of a mountain bike doesn’t get my blood flowing. I prefer more of an upright bike and all that goes with that. I’ve been on some pretty nice bikes that handled it well, yet the whole dirt and constant wild ride thing and I are not as one. Through the years I’ve ridden many trails, slid in the gravel and looked for air for thrills. Part of this has to do with the fact that I’m not a mountain biker. Although speced with some nice pieces, the Peak and I still didn’t bond
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