IZIP E3 Protour w/ COBI Electric Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs

High tech and high performance is what the IZIP E3 Protour is all about!

The Protour comes equipped with the sophisticated COBI Plus smartphone & lighting system that adds a lot of modern functionality to this mid-drive speed pedelec. 

With pedal assist speed of up to 28 mph, integrated frame battery, components from Shimano, SRAM, Schwalbe, and a comprehensive accessory package, the Protour offers a lot for $3,299

In this first part of the review you will get a detailed look at this bike with a BUNCH of pictures and the specifications.

Part 2 of the IZIP E3 Protour review will give you info on the ride characteristics, results from the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this eBike.

Alright, let’s take a closer look at the IZIP E3 Protour!

The IZIP E3 Protour packs a ton of features into this commuting and country road explorer eBike.   

https://youtu.be/av4FqhzTfJg

First of all let’s take a look at the high tech COBI smartphone and lighting system that provides a lot of features found in cars these days. The video above will give you an overview of these features and how the COBI system combines a lot of features and accessories into one package. As seen in the video, the COBI system can be used on electric and non-electric bikes and it can work with a variety of different smartphones with different mounting options. 

To recap, here are some of the main features of the COBI system:

• Automatic or manual lighting front and rear, turn signals
• 3D turn by turn navigation with voice guidance (online and offline), estimated time of arrival
• Weather predictions along your route
• Listen to music
• Place and take calls
• Cycle computer info: speed, trip distance, odometer
• Electronic bell
• Adjust pedal assist levels (1, 2, 3, Turbo)
• Walk mode  
• eBike battery level
• Pedaling cadence (crank RPMs)
• Can be connected to a heart rate monitor for fitness tracking
• Audible alarm if the bike is tampered with when the alarm on app is set
• Your smartphone is the key to the bike. It will not work with any other smartphone after it has been paired to your phone. 
• Smartphone charging from the eBike battery
• Free updates to the COBI smartphone app
• And more!

The COBI Plus system that came equipped on this IZIP E3 Protour test bike uses the universal mount with a sample Samsung smartphone with the external charging cable. 

COBI makes cases for iPhones 6 & 7 with a rain cover (left side of image) that eliminate the external charging cable. The universal mount is shown on the right and can expand to fit wide variety of smartphones. The COBI system uses wireless Bluetooth communication so the phone can be put in your pocket or pack if you are riding on really rough terrain or if it is really raining hard. 

Here is a look at the COBI front light. With the COBI app you can adjust it to run automatically so that it turns on when it is getting dark, daytime running lights, low beam, and full beam. The light angle can easily be adjusted up or down for your riding preferences. 

The tail light mounted to the seat post is wirelessly controlled by the app to provide lighting and turn signals. The tail light is charged separately with a USB cable. 

IZIP designed the Protour frame to look very much like a traditional non-electric bike. The 48V 8.7ah (417 Wh) lithium battery is built into the side of the downtube and the 500 watt mid drive motor is hidden well by the chainring. Hydroformed 6061 aluminum tubes provide a unique look and place the material where strength is needed. 

The headtube has smoothed welds and a solid connection to the top and down tubes. 

Internal cable routing in the top tube and downtube is a nice highlight for keeping the looks of the IZIP E3 Protour clean and providing protection for the cables and electric wires. 

This is a view of the top tube. seat tube, and seat stay junction. You can see the internal cable routing in the top tube for the rear derailleur. The quick release for the seat post makes adjusting the seat height quick and easy. And what is that on the seat stays? We will take a look at that in a bit. 

The IZIP E3 Protour is powered by your pedal power and the Currie Electro-Drive®/TranzX M25 500 watt mid-drive motor. In this view it is hard to see the motor at all because it is hidden well by the 42 tooth chainring.  

On the left side of the bike you can get a better perspective on this 500 watt (70 Nm peak torque) mid-drive motor that provides assist up to 28 mph. The Currie Electro-Drive®/TranzX M25 motor uses a torque, cadence, & speed sensor pedal assist system.  

The IZIP E3 Protour is a Class 3 electric bike per California law which is a speed pedelec providing pedal assist up to 28 mph.

The IZIP E3 Protour comes stock as a pedal assist only eBike but the Boost Pad can be added for an additional $50 and it provides a throttle option in addition to the pedal assist. There is a wire connection that the Boost Pad connects to on the Protour. 

The 48V 8.7ah (417 Wh) lithium battery is “hidden” in the side of the downtube of the frame providing a low and centered weight distribution, which is good for overall bike handling. At a quick glance it is hard to tell that it is a battery because it blends so well with the overall look of the frame. 

The charging port is located at the bottom of the battery pack and it is hidden by a rubber cover. The battery can be charged on or off the bike. 

Near the top of the battery is the battery lock to the frame, the battery power button, and battery level indicator. 

Here’s a look at the frame after the battery pack has been removed. The battery is removed by unlocking it from the frame with the supplied key and removing the battery from the side of the downtube. The supplied key can fit an ABUS lock so that you have the same key for the battery lock and an ABUS bike lock.   

The battery can be charged on or off the bike and the charging port is at the bottom side of the battery pack. The charger is about the size of a laptop charger and it takes 4 to 6 hours to charge a completely empty battery. 

The battery pack weighs 5.8 pounds. 

The aluminum fork has a sleek and stylish design with a thru axle system for solid side to side wheel stability. The thru axles have a quick release system to make it quick and easy to remove the wheels. Sturdy and stylish aluminum fenders are a nice touch. 

Now let’s take a look at the handlebar control center. In the middle of the bars is the COBI smartphone system that was covered earlier. 

On the left side of the handlebar is the COBI control pad that adjusts the pedal assist levels (1, 2, 3, and Turbo) in addition to adjusting all of the COBI features that were covered earlier. The grips have an ergonomic shape to provide a comfortable platform and there are also lock on collars to provide a solid connection to the handlebars. Also visible is the front Shimano M396 hydraulic disc brake lever. The reach on the brake lever can be adjusted to fit the size of your hand. 

On the right side of the handlebar is the same ergonomic grip,  Shimano M396 hydraulic brake lever for the rear disc brake, and the SRAM X7 shifter for the 10 speed gearing. 

A SRAM X7 rear derailleur shifts through the 10 speed Shimano 11-32T cogset. The gearing range works well for cruising up to 28 mph and for climbing steep hills. A rear thru axle provides for solid side to side stiffness of the rear wheel and it has a quick release lever for quick & easy wheel removal. 

Shimano M396 hydraulic discs brakes are used front and rear. The front disc is a 180mm diameter rotor. These brakes have a solid feel with powerful and well modulated braking. 

Here is the rear Shimano M396 hydraulic disc brake with 180mm rotor and a look at the quick release for the rear wheel thru axle. 

The Schwalbe Big Ben 28″ x 2.0″ tires have nice tread pattern for an efficient ride with channels for dissipating water. These tires have significant air volume for a smooth and comfortable ride. 

Wide alloy pedals provide a stable platform and solid grip. 

The IZIP E3 Protour saddle has a narrow performance style profile with a relief section in the center for a comfortable ride. 

This is the ABUS Pro Tectic frame lock that is an easy way to prevent someone from riding off with your bike when you stop somewhere for a quick errand. 

When the lock is engaged a bar crosses between the spokes in the rear wheel and prevents the wheel from moving. 

The lever on the left is used to push the bar between the spokes and you take the key (on the right) with you when you leave the bike. This is a lock for running quick errands, you will still need a solid lock for leaving your bike unattended for longer periods of time. 

And here is the sturdy aluminum rear cargo rack that can be used with a wide variety of baskets, bags, and panniers for commuting and touring. One of the cool features of this rack is that it integrates with the stylish aluminum fenders for structural support. This creates a clean looking rack and fender combo. There are fender attachment points at the front and back of the rack. 

Here is a closer look at the rack and fender attachment at the back of the rack. Both the rack and fender have a very solid feel. 

IZIP E3 Protour Electric Bike Specifications

Frame: 6061 aluminium frame with hydroformed tubing, some smoothed welds, rear thru axle, rack and fender connections

Fork: Aluminium fork with thru axle and fender connections

Motor: Currie Electro-Drive®/TranzX M25 500W mid-motor that assists up to 28MPH

Battery: 48V 8.7Ah (417 watt hour) lithium battery. The battery weighs 5.8 pounds. 

Assist Options: 4 pedal assist levels: 1, 2, 3, and Turbo. Torque, cadence, and speed sensor pedal assist system.

Speed: Pedal assist (no throttle) up to 28 mph which makes this a Class 3 eBike. There is an option for Boost Control (throttle up to 20 mph) for additional $50.

Display: COBI Plus smartphone and lighting system

Drivetrain: 42T chainring with Shimano 11-32T 10-speed cogset.  SRAM X7 10 speed shifter & rear derailleur

Brakeset: Shimano M396 hydraulic disc brakes, 180mm rotors front and rear

Tires: Schwalbe Big Ben, 28″ x 2.0″

Sizes: Small 15″ frame (5′-3″ to 5′-6″),  Medium  17″ frame (5′-6″ to 5′-9″) Large 19″ frame (5′-9″ to 6′-0″)

Accessories: Front & rear COBI lights, aluminum fenders, rear rack, and kickstand.

Colors: Gray

Weight: 53.8 pounds. 48.0 pounds with the battery removed.

Price: $3,299 USD at the time of this review

Here is a link to the specifications page of the IZIP E3 Protour electric bike.

Now checkout part 2 of the IZIP E3 Protour review with info on the ride characteristics, the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts!

-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.

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