Izip Dash Coasting Question

[reuben bear]

I took my first long distance ride on my new Dash today and noticed that it does not freely coast . Something seems to be holding it back and I know it's not my brakes. For example, I can pedal it up to 20 mph, stop pedaling and the speed drops faster than it should. It is as if the motor is exerting a slight braking force. Is this normal?

 

[Brian(J)]

more likely it is badly adjusted brakes, and I would look at the back ones first.

To directly answer your question, when in line with and behind human powered bikes I tend to catch up to them even when not pedaling due to the greater weight of the Dash. So I do not feel that there is any hold-back at all with my Dash.

 

[Admin]

It is as if the motor is exerting a slight braking force. Is this normal?

I agree with Brian(J) about checking the brakes but two other possibilities also come to mind. The Dash uses a gearless hub motor that may experience some cogging (magnets repelling the stater when coasting) though I'm not sure if it's a direct drive (fixed axle that would drag) or has a freewheel because the Dash doesn't have regen modes... so this may not apply.

The second thing that comes to mind is motor failure. Are you hearing any grinding when you ride or coast? The motor should be very quiet but if it is not, a magnet could have come unglued inside the hub and be causing the resistance you're experiencing. IZIP has a great warranty and this kind of failure would definitely be covered within the first two years for the original owner (more info here).

 

[pcrdude]

I will also add that my Dash coasts just fine. In fact, I ride it in PAS fairly often (for exercise), and it rides like a heavy mountain bike. If you pick the bike up, and spin the wheels by hand, do they rotate freely? That would be the easiest way to check for something binding or dragging.

 

[DashRiprock]

I don't notice any drag on mine and was both assured (here) beforehand/pleasantly surprised afterwards that this was the case.

 

[wwjd]

When in pedal assist mode or throttle mode you will experience cogging, as noted above, from this motor. It’s the nature of the beast. Electricbikereview notes this little glitch in their review of the bike, so no one should seem surprised when this happens. It doesn’t do it when the motor and battery are turned off, and the bike freewheels without a hic-cup. From what I have read online, a geared motor gives you more torque (without the cogging effect); a gearless motor (as these are) gives you more speed. I wish we could have the best of both worlds. Does anyone know what kind of motor actually does that?

 

[Pace]

double check the brakes. My shop didn't set them up right and both were dragging when I got the bike, plus the rear rotor was out of true. The rear wheel does not spin as freely as the regular front wheel when on a repair stand (the motor must drag a little), but it's not noticeable to me when riding.

 

[Shea N Encinitas]

Could it be because you are on a 50 lb bike? I think the cogging issue is overrated, I get the same feel with no power on for example. -S

 

[HumanitiesHaze]

Just like in Cort's review for the 2015, the gearless design means there will always be some magnetic drag on the rear wheel which won't allow it to free wheel as easy as the front.