IZIP Simi Electric Bike Review Part 2: Ride & Range Test [VIDEO]

Zipping around on the IZIP Simi electric cruiser bike is fun and it’s a very easy bike to ride with its simple and straight forward design. 

With its upright and swept back handlebars and relaxed ride feel it’s also a very comfortable eBike to ride.  

The Simi recorded impressive mileage in the range test with the new SR Suntour Performance system.

This eCruiser is well equipped for fun rides, daily commuting, and errand running. 

The IZIP Simi is affordably priced at $1,599 USD with free shipping and IZIP offers monthly payments. 

In this second part of the full review you will get an idea of the ride characteristics, range test results, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this electric bike.

Make sure you check out part 1 of this review with large pictures and specifications to get a detailed look at this e-bike.

What you can expect from the IZIP Simi:

To get acquainted with the IZIP Simi, checkout this video:

Riding the IZIP Simi:

Overall there are some characteristics of the IZIP Simi that really stand out when riding this eBike. To summarize they are:

• Relaxed, easy going, and fun ride feel
• Intuitive pedal assist system
• Easy get on and off step-thru frame

The Look & Feel of the IZIP Simi

The Simi has the casual beach cruiser styling with the frame style of flowing tubes, relaxed seat tube angle, and this particular model has the low step thru area. 

The relaxed seat tube angle make it easy to stay seated on the bike at a stop and it also gives it that easy going ride feel.

At 20″ off the ground, the low step-thru area makes it easy to get on and off the Simi. 

The swept back handlebars and wider saddle also add to the comfortable cruiser look and feel. 

A step-over frame style is also available in the Gray or Black color options and the step-thru also comes in a Salmon color. 

The frame is constructed of aluminum with some hydroformed tubing that is most noticeable on the downtube where the battery is mounted.

Hydroformed tubing allows the tubing to be uniquely shaped for added strength and/or functionality. 

In this case the downtube has been flattened a bit in the middle to create a platform for the SR Suntour lithium battery on the downtube.

It is a cool effect that is functional and adds some styling to the Simi. 

Placing the battery on the downtube is also ideal for weight distribution on the bike. 

Another frame highlight is some internal cable routing for cable protection and a cleaner overall look. 

The upright and comfortable ride feel comes from the swept back handlebar and high stem. 

That upright ride position also makes it easy to see everything around you. 

Following along the lines of the beach cruiser style is the IZIP saddle that has a wider profile for comfortable ride feel. 

Now let’s take a look at the drive system.

The 400 watt (peak power) SR Suntour geared rear hub provides the pedal assist up to 20 mph with up to 60 Nm of torque.

The torque, cadence, and speed sensor combination does a good job of providing a proportional amount of assist based on your pedal power.   

It is an intuitive style of assist that follows your lead and blends in the assist proportionally with your pedal power. 

If you are lightly pedaling the system adds just a little assist. 

If you stand up and really crank on the pedals the system will provide a lot of assist. 

And then there is the wide spectrum in between those extremes where the system follows your lead well.

In the HI assist level it definitely has substantial acceleration! The HI mode also does a good job of zipping up hills. 

The STD and ECO assist levels are good for mellow riding around the neighborhood or for getting more of a workout to and from work. 

The pedal assist transitions are pretty smooth with the addition of power as well as how the power tapers down when reaching the max assist speed of 20 mph. 

The IZIP Simi is a Class 1 electric bike per eBike laws that are applicable in many US states.

The geared rear hub motor does create a whirring noise which dissipates a little at the higher speeds due to wind noise. 

The Simi drivetrain is a Shimano 7 speed cogset with a Shimano Tourney rear derailleur and Shimano Acera shifter.

With assist up to 20 mph the 42t chainring & 12-28t cogset covers the range of speeds well and has a low enough range for climbing steeper hills. 

The shifting system has light action feel that is easy to shift up and down the cogset.

Now let’s look at the frame mounted battery.

The SR Suntour 36V 11.6ah 418Wh lithium battery is mounted on the downtube of the frame for optimal weight distribution. 

This central location is good for overall bike handling and balance when picking the bike up. 

The shaped downtube provides a good platform for the battery and some added style to the Simi.

Fully charging the 36V 11.6ah battery takes about 4 to 5 hours and it can be charged on or off the bike. 

The battery can be removed from the bike by unlocking it with the supplied key and then rotating it to the right side of the bike and off. 

The battery weighs 5.7 pounds and removing it brings the weight of the IZIP Simi down to 48.4 pounds which makes it a little easier to load on a car rack.

Now let’s take a closer look at the controls and display.

The SR Suntour display and control pad has a compact size that provides just enough information and controls on the left side of the handlebar. 

The display and control pad are very easy to use and keeps things simple with just the basics. This matches the easy going style of the Simi well.

Up and down arrows on the left side adjust the 3 levels of pedal assist: HI, STD, & ECO.

On the upper right is the speedometer and battery level indicator. There is also a battery level indicator on the battery.

The power button turns the bike on/off and the light button turns the front & rear LED lights on/off.

On the right side of the display/control pad is a USB port for charging a smartphone, tablet, or other USB chargeable device while out and about. 

The Vee Rubber 26″ x 2.125″ tires have an interesting tread pattern that adds some fun and style to the Simi.

Their slick and rounded profile makes them a good all around city and country road cruising tire with an efficient ride feel. 

Braking is provided by Tektro mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors front and rear. 

They have a solid feel with progressive modulation from just a little bit of braking to full stop when needed.

The Tektro brake lever reach can be adjusted to fit your hand size which is a nice feature to make it easy to quickly grab the brakes. 

Rounding out the Simi is a full selection of accessories. 

The full coverage aluminum fenders add to the style with their matching color and thin profile. 

The rear rack can carry bags/panniers on each side with the option for a bag on top or strapping items to the top. Its total cargo capacity is 55 pounds.

Another nice accessory highlight are the front and rear LED lights that are powered by the eBike battery. It is nice to not worry about separate batteries for the lights. 

The front light has a good beam for seeing as well as being seen out on the road. 

The taillight has a solid beam and the reflector on the rear rack adds to overall visibility.

Completing the accessory package is a bell and kickstand. 

Okay, let’s see how the IZIP Simi did out on the open road!

IZIP Simi Range Test Results:

Here is the real world information on how the IZIP Simi electric bike performed on a riding circuit that includes hills, flats, traffic, wind (when available) etc.

While testing these bikes I like to put them through the toughest conditions to see where their bottom line is in regards to range and speed. I tested the IZIP Simi in the highest pedal assist level (HI) with average pedaling on paved roads.

Range: As you can see from the GPS info that I recorded, the IZIP Simi traveled 29.2 miles and did a total elevation gain of around 2,300 ft. Considering that I weigh 190 lbs and I pedaled at an average pace this is very good range for a 36 Volt 11.6 ah battery pack (418 Watt Hours) with a 400 watt motor assisting up to 20 mph. 

Watt hours are the total energy in a battery pack and it is based on the volts x amp hours of a pack. This is a way to compare the size of the “gas tank” of electric bikes.

Please keep in mind that if you pedal more, weigh less than me, ride slower and/or you use the bike in terrain that is not as hilly you will get more range. These results are from tough testing.

Speed: The IZIP Simi will assist up to 20 mph with pedal assist only (there is no throttle).

Weight: The IZIP Simi tips the scales at 54.1 lbs which is on about average for an electric bike like this. Removing the battery brings it down to around 48.4 pounds which makes it a little easier to load onto a car rack.

The weight distribution of the IZIP Simi is pretty good with the low and centered battery and a rear hub motor. 

Pros:

Fun & Comfortable: The Simi has a fun and easy going ride feel with its relaxed step-thru frame design, swept back and upright handlebars, and comfortable seat. It is also a very easy bike to ride with the straight forward SR Suntour Performance eBike system that has an intuitive pedal assist system and simple display/control pad. 

Impressive Range: Nearly 30 miles of range in the tough range test is impressive for this eCruiser bike with a 418 Wh battery. If you ride on easier terrain and in the lower pedal assist levels you can expect to get even more range. 

Affordable: $1,599 with free shipping is a good price considering the features that are included on the Simi. The SR Suntour Performance torque/cadence/speed sensor offers an intuitive ride feel that is generally found on more expensive eBikes. In addition to the well rounded components from SR Suntour, Shimano, and Tektro, the Simi also comes with a full accessory package. 

Cons:

Motor Noise: The geared rear hub does create a whirring noise that is most noticeable at the lower speeds. At the higher speeds the motor noise dissipates a little as the wind noise becomes more dominant.

Conclusion:

Overall the affordable IZIP Simi is a fun and easy to ride electric cruiser bike that is well equipped for casual riding and the daily commute.

The new SR Suntour Performance system offers an intuitive pedal assist ride feel with the torque/cadence/speed sensor that is commonly found on more expensive eBikes.

With its relaxed step thru frame design, upright handlebars, and comfortable seat the Simi is all about a fun and casual ride. 

The IZIP Simi is affordably priced at $1,599 USD with free shipping and IZIP offers monthly payments. IZIP has an extensive dealer network as well as a 1-800 number for support and Suntour also has a US customer service team to help with questions. 

Please keep in mind that this is a relatively short term test. This testing can’t really give you the long term review of durability and reliability. My thoughts on the quality of this bike are from previous experiences with similar bikes. If you own this bike and have some input on the long term durability, please share your comments with the Electric Bike Report community below.

Do you have any questions about the IZIP Simi?  Do you own a IZIP Simi?  Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Thanks!

-Pete

Review Note: Each company pays a fee for a review on Electric Bike Report because of the considerable amount of time that it takes to provide an in-depth review of each eBike. A lot of time is spent on the full range test with distance & elevation profile, the wide variety of detailed pictures, in-depth video, and the write up with the specifications, ride characteristics, pros, cons, and overall thoughts. The reviews on Electric Bike Report are focused on providing you with a detailed “virtual” look at each eBike to help you determine if it is the eBike for you or not.

P.S. Don’t forget to join the Electric Bike Report community for updates from the electric bike world, plus ebike riding and maintenance tips!