IZIP E3 Moda Electric Bike Review Part 2: Ride & Range Test [VIDEO]
Aug 08, 2018
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After many miles of testing the IZIP E3 Moda it has proven to be fast, smooth, and quiet ride that has a high performance look and feel.
A big highlight is the Brose mid drive motor that is so smooth and quiet it can be surprising how quickly you can be cruising up to 28 mph!
The Moda has some fun high performance ride characteristics like agile handling with the stable balloon style Schwalbe tires.
At $2,999 the IZIP E3 Moda offers a lot of value with features like a hydroformed aluminum frame with quality components from Brose, Hitech, Shimano, Schwalbe, and an impressive accessory package.
The Moda is a versatile eBike for getting around town quickly and exploring open roads and/or gravel roads.
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 E3 Moda:
To get acquainted with the IZIP E3 Moda, checkout this video:
Riding the IZIP E3 Moda:
Overall there are some characteristics of the IZIP E3 Moda that really stand out when riding this mid-drive speed pedelec. To summarize they are:
- Pedal assist mid drive up to 28 mph with the ability to climb almost any hill
- The smooth, quiet, solid, and efficient ride feel
- Quality components & accessories that give the Moda a high quality look & feel.
The Look & Feel of the IZIP E3 Moda
First of all we will take a closer look at the hydroformed 6061 aluminum frame that houses the battery and mid drive motor for a clean and refined look.
The aluminum tubing has been shaped to place more material where it is needed in high stress areas while minimizing it in low stress areas it for an optimized design.
These uniquely shaped tubes add style and the ability to blend in the eBike system into the frame.
The large rectangular downtube is a good example of this because it provides the area for the lithium battery to be located inside the frame for clean looks, balanced weight distribution, and protection of the battery.
Another battery highlight is that the external case for this 36V 13.8ah (497 Wh) lithium battery is aluminum instead of plastic that is normally found on many other eBikes.
It has a large on/off button that illuminates in a blue color when the bike is on. All of these battery features give the IZIP E3 Moda a high quality look and feel.
This large rectangular downtube then blends in well with the fully enclosed aluminum mid drive motor mount that is in the same alignment of the downtube.
Another good example of the hydroformed tubing is the seat tube connection to the mid drive motor mount that has an enlarged surface area for additional strength and stiffness.
Many of the welds on the bike have been smoothed to create a cohesive flowing look between the tubes.
Internal cable routing is found all over the Moda; the downtube, top tube, and even the fork! This provides a cleaner look and protection of the cables.
Another structural highlight is the front and rear thru axles on the wheels for solid lateral (side to side) stability.
This makes a lot of sense for this higher speed eBike because it minimizes flex when cornering at higher speeds.
The whole structure of the Moda feels very solid when carving into corners and that is attributed to providing the frame material where it is needed and details like thru axles on the wheels.
Similar to a quick release system it is quick and easy to remove the wheels that use these thru axles. They have a lever (similar look to a quick release lever) that unscrews the axle for removal.
Step thru frame design
There are 3 different frame sizes to fit a wide range of riders. This is a nice feature that is not found on all electric bike models on the market.
Small fits riders from 5′-3″ to 5′-6″
Medium fits riders from 5′-6″ to 5′-9″
Large fits riders from 5′-9″ to 6′-0″+
The IZIP E3 Moda that I tested was the Large frame size.
In addition there is the step thru frame option that comes in the Small and Medium frame size.
Speedy, smooth, quiet, and solid are good descriptions of the ride qualities of the IZIP E3 Moda.
With the smooth and quiet pedal assist up to 28 mph the Moda can definitely fly while having the mid drive ability to climb steep hills efficiently by leveraging the lower gear range of the drivetrain.
The IZIP E3 Moda is a Class 3 speed pedelec (pedal assist only) per eBike laws that are applicable in many US states.
The Brose mid drive motors are know for their very smooth operation and they are one of quietest mid drives on the market. It gives the Moda a refined high performance feel.
This is a torque sensor based system and it does a great job of of amplifying your pedal power with a proportional amount of assist based on how hard (or easy) you are pedaling.
If you are pedaling hard the Brose system gives you a big boost and if you are just cruising the Brose system provides you with easy going cruising power. It intuitively follows your lead and blends the assist with your pedal power to give you the feeling of a big tailwind everywhere you go.
This translates into a very intuitive ride feel in all aspects of the pedal assist. The transition of adding assist is so smooth that it can be surprising how you are suddenly up to speed without really noticing it.
Similarly the transition of stopping the assist is smooth and almost unnoticeable.
On paper 250 watts may not seem like much power but because this is a mid-drive motor it leverages the bike’s drivetrain to efficiently use this power to provide assist up to 28 mph. Also, it is important to remember that you generally get more range with a lower power motor.
The following is a summary of the pedal assist levels.
The Cruise is a pretty mellow assist that is good for riding in congested areas where you don’t want the bike to accelerate too quickly.
Tour provides a more noticeable assist while giving you a substantial amount of range.
Jumping up to Sport mode really makes the Moda fly and it has significantly more of a boost compared to Tour and Cruise. Of course, it also has the least amount of range.
Another highlight of the Brose mid drive motor is that it provides up to 90 Nm of torque which helps with accelerating and getting started on steeper climbs.
Leveraging your pedal power and the motor power through the drivetrain gives the Moda efficient hill climbing capabilities even on very steep hills.
The drivetrain is comprised of a 10 speed Shimano Deore system with a 48t chainring and an 11-32t cogset. This gear range covers many different riding conditions from steep hills to flying along flatter terrain around 28 mph.
As mentioned before the Brose motor is very quiet. The only time you can hear noise from the motor is when you are in a lower gear (larger cogs) and spinning the cranks quickly. Even then the noise if barely noticeable and generally you probably won’t be pedaling at such a fast cadence.
In the Sport mode there are times when the shifting can be a bit abrupt when shifting from the larger cogs to the smaller cogs. Easing off on your pedal power before shifting can help with these harder shifts in Sport mode.
Now let’s take a closer look at the integrated frame battery.
A Hitech 36 Volt 13.8 ah (496.8 watt hours) lithium battery provides the energy to the Brose mid drive motor and the front and rear lights.
Its location inside the downtube of the frame is a great location for centered and low weight distribution. That combined with the centered and low mid drive motor balances the bike well for good overall bike handling.
Fully charging an empty battery takes 4 to 5 hours and it can be charged on or off the bike.
Removing the battery is accomplished by unlocking it from the frame with the supplied key (it comes with 2 keys) and then lifting it out of the frame at the bottom of the battery pack.
The battery weighs 6.7 pounds and removing it brings the weight of the IZIP E3 Moda down to 47.8 pounds which makes it a little easier to load on a car rack.
Now let’s take a look at the controls and display on the IZIP E3 Moda.
The Brose display is located in the center of the handlebar and it has a large format layout with a bright backlight that provides a lot of good information without being overwhelming. 
The display provides the following information:
- Pedal assist level
- Speedometer
- Odometer
- Trip distance
- Battery level
- Ride time
- Current time
It would be nice to have an estimated range feature that other systems in this quality category are providing (Bosch, Shimano, etc.). The estimated range feature helps with making the necessary assist level adjustments to make sure you can complete a longer ride without running out of assist.
The display can be quickly removed from the bike by unclipping it and sliding it up and off of the handlebar mount.
There is a USB port under the display so that you can charge a smartphone, tablet, or other USB powered device on the go.
On the left side of the handlebars is the control pad that adjusts the pedal assist levels with the up arrow and down arrow buttons and the center button cycles through information on the display like odometer, trip distance, etc.
Now let’s take a look at the ride position on the IZIP E3 Moda.
With its 28 mph pedal assist capabilities the IZIP E3 Moda has an efficient lower aerodynamic position that is also designed for stable handling of the bike at the higher speeds.
If you are looking for a more upright position an adjustable stem can help to dial in your preferred handlebar height and fore/aft position.
Wide handlebars add to the stable ride feel at the higher speeds and ergonomic lock on grips provide a solid feel of connection to the bike.
Adding to the stable ride feel is the Schwalbe Super Moto-X 27.5″ x 2.4″ wide tires. These are a balloon style tire that have significant air volume to create a bit of built in suspension effect when the tires are run at the lower air pressure range.
They have an efficient tread pattern that is great for many miles on the road and they can also handle some light off road riding on gravel roads.
With assist speeds of up to 28 mph it would be nice to have some suspension on the IZIP E3 Moda. The Schwalbe Super Moto X tires at lower tire pressure have some built in suspension effect but you may want to a suspension fork, stem, and/or suspension seat post if you consistently ride on rough roads.
The IZIP saddle does have a narrower performance profile that is a good match for this high performance style eBike. In addition, it has a distinct graphics style that matches the overall bike well.
Slowing the IZIP E3 Moda down is handled by the Tektro M735 hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors front and rear.
The brake system uses a 4 piston caliper on the front and a 2 piston caliber on the rear.
Typical of many hydraulic disc brakes, the Tektro M735 brakes have a very solid feel with impressive stopping power. They modulate well from just a little braking to a lot of power to slow down this high speed eBike.
The brake lever reach can be adjusted to fit your hand size with a small allen wrench on the back side of the brake lever.
In addition to being a high performance eBike, the Moda comes fully equipped for the daily commute and touring ride.
One of the highlights of the accessory package are the wide and sturdy aluminum fenders that add a high quality look to the Moda. The rear fender provides a structural attachment point for the rear rack.
The rear rack can handle up to 22 pounds (10 kg) of load and bags or panniers can be added to carry extra gear to work or on longer rides.
There are front and rear LED lights that both run off the eBike battery so you don’t have to worry about charging separate batteries for the lights.
The 50 lux headlight projects a nice beam for seeing the road at night and it is also helpful for being seen by others day and night.
The rear LED light is mounted to the rear rack and provides a solid beam of light.
The aluminum kickstand is mounted to the side of the frame for a solid connection point and the height is adjustable to change the lean of the bike when it is using the kickstand.
It is really nice to have the quality selection of accessories included with the Moda so that it is ready for the daily commute, errand running, and longer adventure rides.
Okay, let’s see how the IZIP E3 Moda did out on the open road!
IZIP E3 Moda Range Test Results:
Here is the real world information on how the IZIP E3 Moda 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 E3 Moda in the highest pedal assist level (level 3 – Sport) with average pedaling on paved roads.
Range: As you can see from the GPS info that I recorded, the IZIP E3 Moda traveled 28.6 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 pretty good range for a 36 Volt 13.8 ah battery pack (496.8 Watt Hours) with a 250 watt motor assisting up to 28 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 E3 Moda will assist up to 28 mph with pedal assist only, there is no throttle.
Weight: The IZIP E3 Moda tips the scales at 54.5 lbs which is about average for an electric bike like this considering the full accessory assortment on the Moda. Removing the battery brings it down to around 47.8 pounds which makes it a little easier to load onto a car rack.
The weight distribution of the IZIP E3 Moda is very good because the battery and motor are low and centered on the bike.
Pros:
High Performance: The IZIP E3 Moda has a very high performance feel thanks its fast, smooth, solid, and quiet speed pedelec system. It also has an agile and stable ride style with its performance ride position and balloon style tires.
Quiet & Smooth Brose Mid-Drive: The quiet and smooth riding characteristics of the Brose mid drive is a big highlight to the Moda’s ride style. It does a great job of blending the assist with your pedal power and following your lead on how much assist to provide and when.
Quality Components & Accessories: The component spec on the Moda is from high quality brands like Brose, Hitech, Shimano, Tektro, Schwalbe, etc. The accessory package is equally impressive with structural aluminium fenders, rear rack, eBike battery powered lights, and kickstand. All of this adds up to a nice look & feel that should last for many miles of riding.
Cons:
Hard Shifts: When riding in the Sport mode there can be some abrupt hard shift when going from the larger cogs to smaller cogs. It would be nice if the Brose system would reduce power momentarily to make these shifts less abrupt.
Estimated Range: One feature missing from the Brose system is estimated range remaining, which some other systems in this quality category offer.
Conclusion:
Overall the IZIP E3 Moda is a fast, smooth, and quiet ride that has a high performance feel and look. The Brose mid drive motor is so smooth and quiet it can be surprising how quickly it assists you up to 28 mph!
The Moda also has fun handling characteristics with its agile handling and stable balloon style tires. With its full accessory package the Moda is a versatile eBike for around town commuting along with longer road and gravel road rides.
At $2,999 the IZIP E3 Moda offers a lot of value with its high performance and quality ride feel. That price packs in a lot of features like the sophisticated hydroformed aluminum frame & fork with quality components from Brose, Hitech, Shimano, Schwalbe, and a solid accessory package.
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.
Where to buy a IZIP E3 Moda? Check with IZIP for a dealer near you.
Do you have any questions about the IZIP E3 Moda? Do you own a IZIP E3 Moda? 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!
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I am very interested in this bike or the twin brother Raleigh Redux. It seems to hit all the points I’m looking for in a commuter like stuff, powerful, fast, smooth and quite. It’s between the turbo Vado 2.0 and this one. Thoughts?? Thanks for the review.
Hi Ryan, I haven’t had a chance to do the full testing & review of the Vado 2.0 yet.
The 2018 Izip Emoda & Raleigh Redux are using the old Gen 1 Brose Motor & Display from 2014 not the Brose Gen 2 TF MOTOR/DISPLAY introduced in 2017. HOPEFULLY they will update to the latest version of the BROSE PRODUCTS for the 2019 model year!
The reason they used the old product line is that they were already starting the manufacturing phase of production and had committed to the 204 Gen 1 products.
Looks and seems a lot like a decent copy of the expensive Stromer.
I was wondering, how does this pedal with the assist turned off? Is there any drag from the motor or does it totally disengage? Have you had a chance to compare this Izip Moda to the Specialized Vado 2?
Hi Karen, the IZIP Moda with Brose motor pedals well with the assist turned off. There isn’t noticeable drag. I haven’t had a chance to test & review the Vado 2.0 yet.